Montreal Canadiens news and notes
- The Habs face difficult roster decisions, beginning with Florian Xhekaj. [Montreal Gazette | La Presse | Journal de Montreal]
- Montreal’s late first-round pick at the 2026 NHL Draft says more about the present than the future. [Montreal Canadiens]
- Alex Newhook has a lot to celebrate as he begins his sixth full season playing in the NHL. [CBC Nfld. & Labrador]
- Samuel Montembeault hasn’t given up yet. [Journal de Montreal]
- Eric Engels takes a closer look at how the Habs are ready to take yet another step toward their ultimate goal. [Sportsnet (Video)]
- Luke Gadzic says that the Chris Kreider move indicates that the Canadiens are ready to push the chips in and win now. [Sportsnet (Video)]
Around the league and elsewhere
- “I think everybody’s taking a wait-and-see attitude to see what’s being presented and what the pros and cons are,” Gary Bettman said about potential expansion. [Sportsnet]
- “Blood is thicker than water, and let’s just say that his father and his brother got in his kitchen,” Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer said about Brady Tkachuk. [The Athletic]
- Mikael Granlund is the Anaheim Ducks’ new captain. [Sportsnet]
- NHL fitness tests are no more, and not everyone is happy about it. [The Athletic]
- Ted Leonsis will replace Jeremy Jacobs as the chair of NHL’s board of governors. [Sportsnet]
- Bold predictions for every NHL team in 2026-27. [ESPN]
- The Minnesota Wild signed GM Bill Guerin to a multi-year contract extension. [Sportsnet]
- Arizona State did not vet the training plan for the workout led by a former Green Beret, during which a hockey player collapsed last month, according to a preliminary report the university released Tuesday. [ESPN | Sportsnet | The Athletic]
