Montreal Canadiens news and notes
- Jayden Struble has opted for arbitration, along with 10 other NHL restricted free agents. [NHL.com]
- Martin Lapointe says Nick Bobrov gives the Canadiens a competitive advantage when it comes to properly scouting Russian prospects rather than just relying on limited viewing of their play. [TVA Sports]
- Montreal gets a B grade for its free-agency work. [The Athletic]
- Comments on all nine prospects from the Habs’ draft class from those who worked closely with them. [TVA Sports]
- Aatos Koivu recreated an image for the Canadiens’ official magazine that his father posed for 26 years ago. [Canadiens.com]
- Development camp wasn’t just for the Canadiens prospects, but also trainers from the QMJHL like Gaëlle Bergeron who learned how to improve in her job with the Val-d’Or Foreurs. [Radio-Canada]
- Ilya Kovalchuk says Ivan Demidov deciding to spend this summer in Montreal is a sign of maturity. The former Canadiens winger also expressed his desire to be involved in the process of bringing an expansion team to Atlanta. [RG.org]
- Despite the Canadiens not extending him a qualifying offer, Xavier Simoneau will return to the Laval Rocket on a minor-league deal. The Rocket also signed Josh Jacobs, as well as Darick Louis-Jean and Hunter Jones to two-way AHL/ECHL deals. [Journal de Montreal]
Around the league and elsewhere
- Nikolaj Ehlers says leaving Winnipeg was a choice he made to experience a different culture. [Sportsnet]
- The best free agents still available. [Sportsnet]
- Dmitri Voronkov signed a two-year contract extension with the Columbus Blue Jackets. [NHL.com]
- Tye Kartye signed a two-year extension with the Seattle Kraken. [TSN]
- The Washington Capitals were quiet in free agency, but general manager Chris Patrick says he’s still looking into trades. [NHL.com]
- Washington signed Lynden Lakovic, its 2025 first-round pick, to his entry-level contract. [NHL.com]
- Understanding that hockey is a life-long commitment and not just the time spent training and playing is what allows good prospects to become NHLers. [The Athletic]
- Former Boston Bruins player Lyndon Byers passed away at age 61. [NHL.com]
