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Saturday Habs Headlines: The Canadiens can absorb Samuel Montembeault’s struggles

In today’s links, only slight concern about the netminder, Habs set up well for rising cap, Caufield’s shot at 50 goals, Hutson praised by the elite, Kent Hughes’s hopes for Demidov, and trouble in Toronto.

Posted on by Justin Blades
Mar 21, 2024; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward J.T. Miller (9) collides with Montreal Canadiens goalie Sam Montembeault (35) in the first period at Rogers Arena. | Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports

Montreal Canadiens news and notes

  • Samuel Montembeault’s issues might have been concerning if the Canadiens hadn’t evolved beyond a team that relies on a goaltender to bail it out. [La Presse]
  • Montreal having its best players signed to inexpensive deals will allow the team to make the most of a rising salary cap. [The Athletic]
  • Cole Caufield almost scored 40 goals last year. With seven through the opening two weeks, could he get to 50? [TVA Sports]
  • Lane Hutson is happy to hear praise from Quinn Hughes, Sidney Crosby, Cale Makar, Victor Hedman, Zach Werenski, and Patrick Kane, but he doesn’t believe he’s at their level yet. [Journal de Montreal]
  • A statistical comparison of Hutson and Hughes. [NHL.com]
  • Kent Hughes was hoping Ivan Demidov would have a relatively unproductive draft season so the Canadiens could select the player they had targeted early for the 2024 NHL Draft. [TVA Sports]
  • Demidov is helping chain restaurant Ashton launch its new location in Montreal. [TVA Sports]
  • Emil Heineman is off to the best start of the players who left the Canadiens organization in the off-season. [Journal de Montreal]
  • The Laval Rocket lost 4-0 on Friday to the Rochester Americans. [La Presse]

Around the league and elsewhere

  • Why Macklin Celebrini could be the NHL’s next household name. [The Athletic]
  • Gavin McKenna writes that the reason he went the NCAA route was to play versus better competition. [NHL.com]
  • Lukas Reichel was traded to the Vancouver Canucks by the Chicago Blackhawks for a fourth-round pick. [TSN]
  • The Toronto Maple Leafs lost William Nylander to injury in last night’s game in Buffalo. [Sportsnet]
  • The Maple Leafs are interested in acquiring Yegor Chinakhov from the Columbus Blue Jackets. [TSN]
  • Alex Kerfoot will be out eight to 10 weeks for the Utah Mammoth after undergoing surgery. [Sportsnet]
  • Carter Hart signed a two-year contract with the Vegas Golden Knights, and is eligible to play with the team on December 1. [NHL.com]
  • The New York Islanders will host the 2027 NHL All-Star Weekend. [NHL.com]

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