Wednesday Habs Headlines: Nikita Scherbak is making Montreal home

Montreal Canadiens news and notes

• Nikita Scherbak is making himself home in Montreal this summer. [Montreal Canadiens]
• Jesperi Kotkaniemi has a busy schedule ahead of him this off-season. [Journal de Montreal]
• Jesperi’s father Mikael, coach of Porin Ässät, talked about his team’s preparations for next season and how much his son will play with the team during the Liiga pre-season. [Satakunnan Kausa (Finnish)]
• Ryan Poehling will miss out on the World Junior Summer Showcase after undergoing surgery on July 7. [Mike Morreale]/

WJSS update: Updating Ryan Poehling. He had surgery for tonsillitis & a deviated septum on July 7 and will not participate in any game action for the U.S. at the World Junior Summer Showcase. He is skating on his own.

— Mike Morreale (@mikemorrealeNHL) July 31, 2018

• Projecting the Habs’ opening-night lineup. [The Hockey Writers]
• Ouellette and Poulin Hockey would like to thank everyone at the CEGEP St-Laurent for a great camp./

Thank you to all our coaches, volunteers and staff of the Cegep St-Laurent for a great week.

Lastly, thanks to the Ouellette & Poulin Hockey partners: @AirCanada #FlyTheFlag, @CanadianTire Jumpstart, @GatoradeCanada #FuelledByG, @ChevroletCanada and @hockeyshot1 pic.twitter.com/O8jAVyW2zx

— Ouellette Poulin Hockey (@HockeyCamps1329) July 30, 2018

Around the league and elsewhere

• Top 2019 prospect Jack Hughes talks about his decision to join the US National Team Development Program rather than enter the NCAA ranks. [Sportsnet]
• The Newfoundland Growlers, the new ECHL affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs, unveiled their jerseys. [Sportsnet]
• Gary Bettman wants a cut of any gambling action involving the NHL’s intellectual property. [TSN]
• Eighty-four players will gather in Calgary for the Canadian Women’s National Development and Under-18 Team selection camps this weekend. [Hockey Canada]
• Bad news for the Chicago Blackhawks, as Gustav Forsling will be out for 14 weeks following right wrist surgery. [Second City Hockey]
• It’s “put up or shut up” time for the Columbus Blue Jackets front office and head coach, as their contracts expire next off-season. [The Cannon]
• Yannick Weber and Kayla Price helped out Nashville Humane after reading about how the organization rescued many dogs from heat-related stress conditions./

After reading a story about @nashvillehumane rescuing 32 dogs from heat-related emergency conditions, Yannick Weber and his girlfriend Kayla Price wanted to help.

Today, they donated much needed supplies to the shelter 🐶🐱 pic.twitter.com/Sn3J06ocO4

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) July 31, 2018

• Other SB Nation blogs are also running editions of Top 25 Under 25 for their respective clubs, including Die By The Blade (#25: Brandon Hickey), Winging It In Motown (#25: Jack Adams), On The Forecheck (#23: Rem Pitlick), and Pension Plan Puppets (#24: Jordan Subban).
• Ryan Reaves says the Vegas Golden Knights plan to “finish the job” this season. [TSN]
• A fresh Canadian crew is focused on recapturing World Juniors gold as they gather at the WJSS. [TSN]
• Which #8 seed is most likely to suffer a drop-off this season: the Colorado Avalanche or the New Jersey Devils? [ProHockeyTalk]/