Habs Headlines: Kovacevic is a steady hand at the wheel

Montreal Canadiens news and notes

Johnathan Kovacevic’s ‘not sexy’ game is blossoming with the Habs. [Montreal Gazette]
The Canadiens will be counting on Kovacevic and Jordan Harris to step up. [Sportsnet]
Martin St. Louis says he has confidence that his team’s depth can withstand the absences. [CBC Sports]
How can the Habs cope with the injury bug? [La Presse]
Kaiden Guhle’s injury opens the door for Justin Barron. [Montreal Gazette]
Arber Xhekaj knows how starting a new life in a new country comes with its share of obstacles. He’s trying to smooth the way. [La Presse]
Xhekaj isn’t the biggest fan of his “Wifi” nickname. [Daily Hive]
The Habs are betting on patience with Samuel Montembeault. [Radio-Canada]
The three goalie rotation isn’t the best outcome for Cayden Primeau. [A Winning Habit]
As the Canadiens’ front office brass settled in to watch Filip Mesar, they got an eyeful of Jiri Kulich. [La Presse]
Mesar is mentally prepared for a return to the OHL, if that’s the decision made by the Canadiens. [Radio-Canada]

Calgary Flames prospect Topi Rönni is taking a leave from his club Tappara Tampere after receiving a court summons in connection with an allegation of rape, the Finnish team announced Thursday. [TSN | Tappara Tampere (Finnish)]
The latest on Phil Kessel, Zach Parise, and other free agents. [The Athletic]
Four ideas to improve the NHL on-ice product. [The Hockey News]
The Winnipeg Jets and Buffalo Sabres are just two of the NHL teams struggling with attendance early in the 2023-24 campaign. [Daily Faceoff]
Eight notable upcoming RFAs and what their next contracts could look like. [The Athletic]
Is it panic time for Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals? [Daily Faceoff | Radio-Canada]
Patrik Laine… at centre? That, and six other experiments around the NHL. [The Athletic]
In 1973, a cartoon puck teaching the ins-and-outs of hockey became an instant hit. Fifty years later, Peter Puck is gearing up for a comeback. [The Hockey News]