Montreal Canadiens news and notes
- We heard that Kent Hughes was working on a deal right up to the trade deadline that never happened. We also heard that a trade had come in too late that day. Elliotte Freidman confirms that an agreement was in place for Montreal to acquire Matthew Knies from the Toronto Maple Leafs, but one party was one minute too slow in submitting the paperwork. [Sportsnet]
- Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield presented the Lady Byng and Selke trophies, respectively, to one another in what they each thought was a chance to surprise their teammate. [Canadiens.com]
- The two forwards discussed their wins. [Canadiens.com]
- Caufield is happy to join Martin St-Louis and Johnny Gaudreau as winners of the Lady Byng, and believes long-time friend Gaudreau would have been proud to see him win it. [RDS]
- Six potential destinations for the disgruntled Dylan Larkin. [TVA Sports]
- The Canadiens have taken major steps forward in the past two years, and that means high draft picks could be a thing of the past. The new reality is getting creative when the most highly regarded prospects in a draft class are no longer an option. [Radio-Canada]
- Montreal’s two seven-game series to open the post-season are ranked one and two of the 14 that led up to the Stanley Cup Final. [The Athletic]
Around the league and elsewhere
- John Tortorella didn’t have an update to share on Brayden McNabb’s status after the defenceman took a shot to the face in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final. [NHL.com]
- How the 5’8″ Logan Stankoven is thriving in post-season hockey. [Sportsnet]
- Dylan Larkin’s trade request could be a cautionary tale for not seeing a rebuild all the way through. [La Presse]
- Several years from completing their rebuild and with a salary cap rapidly rising, Michael Andlauer faces his biggest test to make the Ottawa Senators competitive. [Sportsnet]
- New Toronto Maple Leafs general manager described Max Domi’s difficult surgery as a “tough situation.” [Sportsnet]
- Rob Blake has been hired as the Nashville Predators’ vice president of hockey operations. [NHL.com]
- The Swedish and Finnish hockey association have told Gary Bettman that their players won’t participate in any games in the new All-Star format featuring a team with players representing Russia. [RG.org]
- Cliff Fletcher, inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder, has died at age 90. [NHL.com]
- Potential first-round selections Markus and Liam Ruck, twin brothers who ranked first and second in WHL scoring this season, say their games have more similarities than differences. [NHL.com]
- The QMJHL is looking to expand to the United States by the 2028-29 season to combat the exodus of players to the NCAA. [La Presse]
- The signing phase of the PWHL’s new expansion to 12 teams has begun, with Brianne Jenner leaving Ottawa to sign with Hamilton and Cayla Barnes departing Seattle to play in Detroit among the first moves. [PWHL.com]
