Montreal Canadiens news and notes
- Could Mikael Granlund be the second-line centre the Canadiens are looking for? [TVA Sports]
- “So far, he’s ahead of what we expected,” Pascal Vincent says of Florian Xhekaj’s play in his rookie season. [TVA Sports]
Around the league and elsewhere
- Stuart Skinner posted a third shutout in four starts as the Edmonton Oilers evened up the Western Conference Final versus the Dallas Stars. [NHL.com]
- Connor McDavid is the fourth player in NHL history to string together four 20-point post-seasons. [Sportsnet]
- Rod Brind’Amour says the Carolina Hurricanes need to trust the transition and forechecking game that got them to where they are if they want to fight their way back into the series with Florida. [NHL.com]
- An overcommitment to a core of players who couldn’t elevate their level for the playoffs may have ultimately been the undoing of Brendan Shanahan with the Toronto Maple Leafs. [The Athletic]
- The highs and lows of Shanahan’s tenure. [Sportsnet]
- Maple Leafs CEO Keith Pelley says Shanahan’s departure probably won’t be the only change to the organization. [NHL.com]
- Pelley gave votes of confidence to GM Brad Treliving and coach Craig Berube. [Sportsnet]
- Kyle Dubas wants to rebuild the Penguins. Sidney Crosby wants a few more chances to win in Pittsburgh. How will this situation get resolved? [La Presse]
- Mathieu Darche has been named general manager of the New York Islanders. [NHL.com]
- Kevin Cheveldayoff (WPG), Jim Nill (DAL), and Bill Zito (FLA) are the nominees for the GM of the year award. [NHL.com]
- Mike Zibanejad hopes new head coach Mike Sullivan can help get more out of the New York Rangers players. [NHL.com]
- Alexander Ovechkin is this year’s winner of the Mark Messier Leadership Award. [NHL.com]
- With the KHL season over, some of the star players who could be looking to move to the NHL next season. [RG.org]
