Marc Dumont
Here are the Montreal Canadiens news items, highlights, and stories you may have missed on the weekend.
Montreal Canadiens News
A Russian interview with top prospect Ivan Demidov is available, though we should note the closed captioning from YouTube probably isn’t entirely accurate. In the clip Demidov discusses the last year of his deal with SKA Saint-Petersburg, where he may play in the lineup, why there probably won’t be a contract buyout, and more. To access auto-translated closed captioning, click on the button at the bottom right of the video labelled ‘CC’, then click on the icon to the right of closed captioning identified with a gear. Change the subtitles to ‘auto-translate’, and then select the language you desire.
ICYMI: Prospect Joshua Roy clocked-in at No.4 in our 2024 Montreal Canadiens summer prospect rankings. The well-rounded forward underwent an impressive evolution in the QMJHL, which he followed up with a great start to his professional career with the Laval Rocket. Playing well in Junior hockey is fine, and the AHL is quite the step-up in competition, but the true test was the audition he was given with the Canadiens. Roy passed his test with flying colours, finishing among the team leaders in a laundry-list of important statistics. [Canadiens Prospect Rankings: Joshua Roy Deserves More Credit]
Columbus Blue Jackets forward Patrik Laine isn’t getting much attention in the NHL’s trade market. We discussed the possibility of a Canadiens trade involving the former 40-goal scorer last month, and while there are certainly some red flags in play, he could fit the bill for a team that needs an injection of offensive firepower. [Canadiens Trade Talk: Exploring A Potential Patrik Laine Trade]
Can obviously change with one phone call, but sense is #CBJ aren’t getting much traction on trade talks involving Patrik Laine.
It is a quiet time across the NHL, of course.— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) August 9, 2024
National Hockey Now Network
The NHL Edge statistical analysis doesn’t count the goals a player should have scored or other ethereal wizardry designed to quantify the game, but it instead gives the physical statistics, including speed. Unfortunately for Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan, he is still dealing with a team that is below average in the most crucial aspect of the speed game. [Pittsburgh Penguins]
When the New Jersey Devils walked up to the podium at the 2024 NHL Draft on June 28th to make a selection at 10th overall, it was a surprise to see they weren’t going to trade the pick. It was additionally surprising to see Russian defenceman Anton Silayev’s name still on the board. The Devils didn’t allow Silayev to fall any further in the draft, selecting the 6-foot-7, 207 lb blue liner. He’s since been ranked among the best U20 Russian players in the world. [New Jersey Devils]
What could the Blackhawks lines look like this year? Here’s a way too early look, prior to even camp commencing, that gives some reasoning as to roster decisions heading into the 2024-25 season. [Chicago Blackhawks]
