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Great to see Reinbacher get a dozen games in Laval under his belt, on smaller ice and intro to NA pro game. Laval Rocket eliminated from playoff contention with loss (habseyesontheprize.com) Luke Tuch stood out for me quite a bit among the forward group. He plays somewhat of a thankless game that probably won’t show up on the scoresheet a lot, but he back checks like his life depends on it, and is very capable in the dirty areas. If he keeps bringing that level of effort at both ends of the ice, he’ll eventually find himself getting a chance in the NHL. David Reinbacher is just so quietly effective. Outside of his assist, what really stood out for me was his puck distribution in his own zone. He seems to have an innate sense for where his teammates will be, and his first pass on the breakout is almost always right. He’s on the right track, and it will be interesting to see how he develops next season.

We need your A game tonight buddy. Habs can’t afford a win…

Ottawa pulls out the 5-3 victory.

"My son weighs about 25 pounds and I struggled to hold him in my arms for more than a minute without discomfort," he said Tuesday morning during a lengthy interview with La Presse. Despite a "daily routine" that allows him to cope with pain, sitting or standing for a long time is now painful. Air travel, therefore, is "difficult". "I got to a point where I couldn't go on," he says. "I spoke with the medical staff of what my life after hockey could look like if I didn't stop. There was a lot of doubt about how it would affect me in the long run. When we started talking about it, it became real. Life is long after the end of a career."

Years ago, on this very site, I crunched a bunch of numbers on Koivu and discovered that he produced like a PPG player, except that he would have long slumps of, like 10-15 games per season where he would basically produce nothing. 🤷‍♂️ Hence the endless argument over whether he was a #1A or a #2C. The other thing about him was that (with all due respect to Commandant) he was a playoff beast. I mean, he put Joe Thornton in his back pocket even while playing through a cracked rib. The tragedy of Koivu, as I’ve lamented many times, is that he was never the same after his knee was destroyed. I am sure he could have been a top-10 player if not for that. He was that dominant before the knee injury.

I'm not rooting for Roy. While he was a superb player for the Habs, ultimately he put himself ahead of the team and left. It wasn't all him, but the decision was his. Had he stayed, we might have won another Cup. I understand the situation, so I'm not holding a grudge, but neither am I going to root for him.

It may have taken me 18 attempts but I am glad I was able to finally pull it off. It didn’t look promising after the second to last game because the Habs needed only 1 point but Detroit’s miraculous comeback with 3 seconds left, followed by the the Habs’ overtime/shootout loss in the final game sealed the deal. Thank you @alfredoh2009 for the congrats and @Peter Puck for hosting, as always. GHG

Go Bruins, Sweep it up.

I heartily endorse the general sentiment. The Bruins are an authentic rival, and a truly great (and duly hated) opponent over the years; the Leafs are a creation of the TO hype machine. No amount of suffering is too much for them. And I know that if they win, we will NEVER hear the end of it - celebrated over and over on HNIC and the national media as the Greatest Day in Hockey History, universally beloved, blablablablah. Over and over, year after year, until we die. No thanks. The two worst things that could possibly happen to me as a hockey fan are these: 1. The Habs fold and leave town. 2. The Leafs win the Cup. I'm pulling for the Bruins 100% in this series. I'll cheer against them thereafter.

No it's not. It's an easy decision. I find it easy to cheer for the Bruins in this series.

Keep in mind any comparison is a stylistic comparison, not a talent one.... so just cause someone is compared to Aho doesn't mean that the point totals is what we are comparing. He's a centre IMO. Yes, I see him in the NHL in 25-26, but I wouldn't say regardless of who takes him. Every team has different philosophies on what they do for development, but I'd think barring injury and lost development time in 2024-25, he'd be in the NHL by then. Some teams might even put him in the NHL 2024-25. What are people missing? I think he has almost no weaknesses. He does everything you need a player to do at an above average level, while still being elite in a few areas

Arizona should celebrate with winning their last two games 🎉

WHY in the world would the Habs want to "ice their best lineup"? Wins only have the potential to worsen their draft position. Hutson is getting at least one game because that burns a year of his ELC ... THAT and getting some $$$ in his pocket immediately is why he signed now ... there was always the "possibility" of his waiting and ultimately deciding to play another NCAA season. Struble is with the Habs because they only have 7 healthy defencemen and one of them could be injured/get sick before the game roster is submitted. @dlbalr made it clear that Baby Xhekaj is playing because Stephens can't, not to "give him a game". So, not the management screw-up you seem to so often hope for.

Boy, look at Morgan Reilly's numbers. I always liked his game - my kind of defenceman. For a guy in TO, where they pump the tires of every bum who cycles through the lineup, he seems almost underrated. And that's the only nice thing I'm gonna say for the next 12 hours. F**k off, Leafs. I hope Boston or whoever takes a leaf-blower to you and sweeps you in 4.

A team filled with NHL prospects is not the way to succeed in the AHL, though, that's a different type of team construction.

College free agency has started up. I've done a series of pieces for PHR with an overview of some of the better options by position. Some goalies/defence have signed since posting while the forwards were just posted this weekend so they're all still available for now. Gorton mentioned recently that they were doing some planning for college free agency so it appears they'll be trying to sign some players, likely some of the ones in these columns. Goalies: https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/2024/03/2024-college-free-agency-preview-goaltenders.html Defence: https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/2024/03/2024-college-free-agency-preview-defensemen.html Centres: https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/2024/03/2024-college-free-agency-preview-centers.html Wingers: https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/2024/03/2024-college-free-agency-preview-wingers.html

It was a fun game to be at last night. First time in eons the Habs came away with a win in Colorado. There was a nice tribute video for Newhook, and he interacted with a few fans wearing his jersey during warmups. I was a bit surprised at the amount of "give me a stick" type signs that folks were holding up during warmups, I guess pictures or pucks isn't enough anymore to satiate some greedy fans. The Habs have a strong skating defense. Guhle and Matheson are fun to watch.

I'm quite OK with other people being excited about it now, and I'll get excited about it myself come draft day. But, for now, I'm not going to invest a ton of time learning about prospects that may never pull on the CH sweater. That's just me. 🙂 And I'm still keenly following all our prospects, and especially those that might be joining the team for the final games of the season. That's excitement enough for me!

Quinn Hughes on being small offensive d-man going form NCAA to NHL. Canadiens weekly notebook: An awkward milestone, an endorsement for Lane Hutson and more - The Athletic “I figure why you’re asking, but I’m sure he’ll figure it out and he’ll be fine.” "He, of course, is Canadiens prospect Lane Hutson, a similarly undersized offensive defenceman currently completing his season at Boston University. Hutson’s name was never mentioned to Hughes, but he had no problem identifying the reason behind the question. Hutson has been compared to Hughes for years, and Hughes clearly knows it." “Right away, for the most part, I think I felt very confident. My first year couldn’t have gone better. I had a great season, and the second year, we struggled. I thought my third fourth and then this year have been really good. It’s just about building,” Hughes said. “Lane’s going to … it’s not about how good he is at 20 or 21, it’s about how good he is at 25, 26. I tell my brother Luke that, focus on one foot in front of the other, and he’s having a great year, too, but just keep grinding so that at 23, 24 you can say you’re one of the best in the league."

Offsetting penalties would have been better but with 2 minutes to go in the game and both players were being shits, refs should have let it go. Leafs crying about it is nonsense too because Boston got screwed by the refs too. Fun game to watch

They have him at 81st, so a NHL long shot depth player am assuming. 81. Aatos Koivu, C — TPS (U20 SM-Sarja) Anni Karvinen – Aatos Koivu is a strong-skating center that has had a steep development curve during the season. He is physically quite raw which partly explains why he flew under the radar for so long. Koivu possesses a plus tool in his shot that he likes to fire frequently, especially from the half-wall. He also has a quite good hockey sense especially in the offensive zone where he is good at making himself available as an option to pass the puck to. He can play responsible two-way hockey and he’s already developed some mature habits like good scanning.

I used to despise the Canucks. Moved to the Vancouver area during the "West Coast Express" era and was appalled when the fan base rallied in support of Bertuzzi when he viciously ended Steve Moore's career. Then I heard endless fan moaning about "the Sedin Sisters" (until 2011, when that garbage finally shut up). I wanted no part of Canuckleheads Nation. However, I find myself feeling these days that they've suffered enough. This is a traumatized fanbase, rife with pessimism and a sense of perpetual doom and gloom; and to lose the devastating way they did in 2011, to be followed by over a decade of complete managerial ineptitude, has been years of unremitting agony for these fans. Even this year - a magical year by any measure - huge chunks of the fanbase could not bring themselves to even hope that the team was for real. It was almost comical; I made money by betting my friends that the Canucks would make the playoffs. Naturally they couldn't make that bet fast enough. This fanbase is always waiting for the anvil to fall on its head. This team also has players on it that are right up my alley - particularly Quinn Hughes, who is a real artist. But they have a lot of quality players I either respect or like, including Demko. So yeah, I wouldn't mind seeing them go all the way this year. It's not going to happen now, IMHO.

I dont end the rebuild with a 35 year old in stamkos or Kane. That doesnt make a lot of sense. I think you need someone who will be at least close to the age of your core and grow with them. Ending the rebuild isnt signing a 35 year old to a one year deal to try and win now and see them retire in a year or two. The goal.of the rebuild is to build a team that will be competitive for a longer window than they have left.

Utah is not going to be run the same way phoenix was, talking everyones bad contracts. That ends with the new ownership who are going to spend on actual players

He has already bathed in that cup and I blame Vancouver for letting that injustice happen. We can’t have that majestic trophy be further soiled by leaf stink.

I'm 40 yo. I've never seen the Leafs have any success, I've never been upset at the Leafs for beating us. I will never understand the hate until they elimintate us. This is why I want them to clear Boston. Once this is done, they can get beaten by anyone else, but I don't want the Bruins anywhere near another Stanley Cup.

At first glance without giving it much thought: Xhekaj: 2 x $1.4 (the Harris deal) Barron: 1 x $900K one-way Guhle: If extended, 8 x $6.5 Slafkovsky: Don't think he'll extend, think Habs will offer 8 x $7.5-$7.75. That's on the low end for #1 picks so his agent may suggest waiting. Ylonen: Takes a year at the minimum or is non-tendered. Could also go overseas and Habs then retain his rights with a QO.

I'm hoping for a Bruins sweep, with all 4 games being lopsided . I want maximum pain and suffering for the Leafs and their fans, creating absolute chaos for the Leafs organization over the offseason.

I was disappointed that Freidman went full "cruise control" just to get a mention of the Habs in the column ... ClickBait30 could have done as well.

This sums it up for me. My hate of the bruins comes from decades (minus the last ten years) of intense competition against a worthy (dirty) foe. The hate of the leafs is based only on the media and their fan base. If I was hate cheering properly, I would be hate cheering against boston, because I truly hate many players who have played for them. Including rat boy and their president Neely. And a huge list of their alumni. I don't actually hate anyone on TO. I actually like Matthews. But I still want boston, who I have reason to hate, to beat the leafs just so the media and fans can be let down. They won't shut up, but at least I can revel in their pain.

I also like Hughes' drafting logic: not drafting the best player today, but the one that will be the best in five years' time. So far, this looks to be working out with Slafkovsky.

Kovacevic is terribly underrated the same way Kulak was.

This was from April 15, I looked it over several times as I couldn't see Konsta Helenius in the 1st round. Am I going blind? How could you possibly not have him in the 1st round? Crazy. Then I did some research and this guy Jake Rill is a baseball reporter, maybe shouldn't write about things you don't have a clue about. 2024 NHL Mock Draft: Full Round 1 Projections for Every Team | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors | Bleacher Report

He just.said yesterday that if D was the clear best player, hed take him. What are you talking about?

Players hiding injuries is something no training/medical staff can prevent and it means they can't protect the players.

Hoping the Habs pair Mailloux with Hutson. They can score four goals and let in six, it would be perfect. Yes I know it’s not happening

Yes. But PK will be needed in in 2025-26 as well. Possibly after that, too. 🙂 My point really is that players like Evans and Armia do have value beyond their point production. And that we'll need some capable PK players as well. We'll see what Hughes decides to do in this regard.

Breaking the rules here but no GDT so here it is. Seriously, we need to lose this one

Yup ... and just because he is evil doesn't mean he isn't sometimes right.

It is sacrilegious but it's all about the greater good right now. Lose in regulation tonight, lose in regulation to Detroit on Monday, then they can win their final home game of the year. A perfect ending. Of course perfect endings rarely happen.

I’m looking forward to seeing if his game translates to the NHL. Not expecting to have that question answered over two games but it’s a start

And that's okay from a seventh-round pick. If he's a reserve forward who comes in when injuries arise and can kill penalties and play on the fourth line, there's nothing really wrong with that outcome. That said, his price point can't go much higher than it is now if he wants to stick around. Fortunately, management saw this as a possibility and slightly front-loaded his contract so he'll only be owed a $1M qualifying offer next summer.

Even Anderson scored! We need 4 game losing streak please.

Gallagher is overpaid, no doubt. But he's at least been an effective NHL player at a 3rd line level this season. Anderson hasn't even been that.

Anyone who has EVER thought that players "tank" was an idiot ... players can lose hope/spirit and play a stinker, but that is not the same thing.

We are trying to build an NHL team - that’s the ultimate goal. I isn’t give a rats ass if we win the Calder Cup in Laval very year but don’t win the Stanley cup. I hated the rush and no development model under Bergevin - I don’t think other than Lekhonan there is not a player he drafted that he was also successful in developing into a good NHL player - notice I didn’t use the word elite. Next is Evans as a decent NHL player. Therrien developed no one. I can’t really remember Julien being all that successful either as far as developing a young player. The AHL team was not only shit, but it wasn’t even used for development. Mailloux has been in Laval all year because that’s where he belongs. Ditto with Barron being sent down. Wifi as sent down to refine his game, and came Back a better player. Armia was garbage and Laval was used as a wake up call. Roy deserved to be promoted. He has shown he is an NHL player. The AHL is to prepare players for the NHL. If we win - great - but that’s a bonus and nice to have. It’s not the end goal. guys that needed to be sent down have been. Others like Guhle have shown they are NHL players. He is not Mete - who had no business being in the NHL - let alone on the first pairing. The only player I think belongs in Laval and isn’t is Josh friggin useless Anderson. Personally, even though I think that’s where he belongs and should have been there three months ago, I think he’d probably hurt Laval rather than help it. If he isn’t traded over the summer (highly unlikely unless we gave up major picks, pick up 50%, and have another team pickup another 25%), I hope his useless ass is buried in Laval. Feel free to buy a Josh Anderson Laval jersey in anticipation! Hell, the only mistake they probably made this year is not having Josh Anderson and Lia’s Andersson swap roles!

Hey just remember what our lineup used to be. Price was supposed to lead THEESE GUYS??? to a cup? Pacioretty-Desharnais-Cole Cammalleri-Plekanec-Kostitsyn Moen-Eller-Gionta Darche-Gomez-Leblanc Palushaj, Blunden Markov-Subban Emelin-Gorges Gill-Diaz Y. Weber Price-Budaj I’m definitely happier with where the team is now and the upward trajectory that the team is on.

Well, as a Habs rookie, Roy was of course required to go through the mandatory 4-6 week injury. Josh Anderson…even I gave up defending him months ago. He’s untradeable, so the best we can hope for is that he hits “reboot,” changes his summer regimen to ensure peak fitness, and gets his mojo back next season.