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NHL: Stanley Cup Playoffs-Carolina Hurricanes at Montreal Canadiens
Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

MONTREAL — It feels like every hour features more Montreal Canadiens news, and we’re all bound to miss a story or two. With that in mind, we will recap the relevant NHL news you may have missed, to help you stay in the Canadiens loop.

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Montreal Canadiens News And Notes

  • The Canadiens made several trades over the weekend, though none of them to acquire an NHL player. Rather, they moved up to pick Gleb Pugachyov, as well as Timofei Runtso. In total, the team would go on to make eight picks.
  • The recurring theme when evaluating the players chosen by the Canadiens was the fact that none of them stood below 6’0″. In fact, five of the players stand at 6’3″, or taller. A focus on physicality was definitely on the menu for the Canadiens. [Canadiens Draft Recap: Aggressive Trades And Violent Prospects]
  • Even though they did not pull off a blockbuster trade, it was not for a lack of trying. The Canadiens reportedly submitted a “massive offer” for Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kirill Marchenko. While the actual assets involved were not revealed, it does align with the team’s desire to add high-end talent to the lineup. [Canadiens Submit “MASSIVE” Trade Offer For Marchenko]
  • The Habs are convinced they’ve drafted another “unicorn”, as described by Martin Lapointe. While Pugachyov is a heavy hitter, he’s not simply a goon. He’s an excellent skater with offensive potential.
  • Pugachyov spoke to the media on Saturday, predicting it will take him roughly two seasons before he makes his way to the NHL.
  • It should be noted that there’s a possibility we’ll eventually see a Pugachyov, Ivan Demdidov, and Alexander Zharovsky trio in Montreal.
  • It’s not always easy to get a good read on the prospects who are developing in Russia, which is why we turned to various scouting outlets to acquire as much information as possible on Pugachyov’s potential. He’s fast, he’s a hard worker, and he absolutely loves violence. [Scouting Profile: Canadiens Add Physicality With Pugachyov]
  • By trading both Brendan Gallagher and Joshua Roy, the Canadiens are setting emotions aside for the ultimate task: creating a Stanley Cup-contending lineup. [Canadiens Focus On Future]
  • Two Canadiens prospects, L.J. Mooney and Timofei Runtso, have been invited to Team USA’s Summer Showcase camp.
  • The Canadiens made a significant announcement on Wednesday, though it wasn’t regarding an unrestricted free agent. The Habs came to an agreement with Ivan Demidov on an eight-year contract extension which carries a $9.125M annual average value. The timing of the deal, in particular, was key. [Instant Analysis: Impact Of Demidov Mega Contract Extension]
  • Demidov is yet to see a penny of his new deal, and he won’t actually cash a bigger cheque until next season.
  • Speaking of Demidov, his contract is loaded with signing bonuses a situation that won’t necessarily be possible under the new CBA.
  • It wasn’t a particularly exciting free agency for the Canadiens, other than the Demidov deal, but they did sign two depth players to deals, forward Samuel Poulin, and defenceman Ethan Samson. Both are likely to spend the majority of the season playing for the Laval Rocket in the AHL.
  • In the same vein, both Alex Belzile and Kaapo Kahkonen will likely be heading back to Laval by the time the main training camp in the NHL is over.
  • The Canadiens have essentially already signed all their star players to long-term, team-friendly deals. Their salary-cap situation isn’t perfect, but it’s definitely healthy, especially compared to most other NHL teams. By the time the 2027-28 season comes around, the Habs will be in great shape. [Canadiens Analysis: Looking Ahead To Salary Cap Situation]
  • Speaking of the salary cap, Canadiens players are well aware that building a competitive team means you may end up leaving some money on the table.
  • Can we interest you in a little Hage to Zharovsky action?
  • Juraj Slafkovsky continues his usual off-season regime, training with fellow NHLers in Slovakia.
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By Marc Dumont
Marc has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for Journal Metro, The Athletic, The ... More about Marc Dumont

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