Headlines

Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Canadiens Rumors

Canadiens Reassign Three Players

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

Oct. 7: The Habs returned Condotta, Gignac, and Trudeau to Laval last night, the team announced Monday morning.

Oct. 5: Several teams today have promoted players from the AHL in advance of their final preseason game tonight.  Montreal is the latest to do so as they’ve recalled forwards Brandon Gignac and Lucas Condotta along with defenseman William Trudeau from AHL Laval per the NHL’s Media Portal.

Gignac spent most of last season in the minors but saw his AHL contract converted to a two-year, two-way NHL deal in February.  He got into seven games with Montreal last season, scoring his first NHL goal.  Meanwhile, in Laval, he had 19 goals and 36 assists in 61 games.

Condotta, meanwhile, has now been recalled for the second time since clearing waivers less than a week ago.  The 26-year-old was held off the scoresheet in three appearances with the Canadiens last season while adding 19 points in 65 contests for the Rocket.  Condotta, a full-time forward, wound up taking some shifts as a defenseman last weekend when the Canadiens were down to just four available to them early in a preseason game against Toronto.

As for Trudeau, the 21-year-old has yet to see NHL action in his first two professional seasons.  Instead, he has played exclusively with Laval and put up eight goals and 16 assists in 70 games in 2023-24.

Meanwhile, the team revealed earlier today (Twitter link) that blueliner Kaiden Guhle will play his first preseason game after undergoing an appendectomy last month, causing him to miss their first five contests.

As for the other three, they will likely be returned to Laval before Monday’s deadline to submit season-opening cap-compliant rosters to the NHL.

Patrik Laine Explains Decision To Forego Knee Surgery

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

  • The Ottawa Senators received good news on the injury front with Alex Adams of Sportsnet reporting that Tim Stutzle, Brady Tkachuk, and Thomas Chabot were all on the ice for practice this afternoon. All three players were seemingly injured in the team’s most recent preseason contest against the Montreal Canadiens but none of the ailments proved costly. The game between the Canadiens was one of the more chaotic preseason games in recent memory with a whopping 79 PIMs bestowed upon the clubs.

    [SOURCE LINK]

Atlantic Notes: Canadiens-Senators, Guhle, Red Wings

at CDT | by 1 Comment

No supplemental discipline is expected after a flurry of controversial hits and injuries in last night’s Canadiens-Senators preseason tilt, reports Sportsnet’s Eric Engels.

The fireworks started late in the first period when Ottawa forward Ridly Greig elevated his arms to lay a blindside hit on Montreal center Kirby Dach, receiving an interference minor and briefly knocking him out of the game. Dach would return, but that didn’t stop Habs defender Arber Xhekaj from charging Sens star Tim Stützle with a similar hit midway through the second period, earning himself an interference major and a game misconduct. He also received matching minors with Ottawa captain Brady Tkachuk after the play. Neither Stützle nor Tkachuk returned to the contest with upper-body injuries, per the team.

Dach and Greig brawled during the third after the former returned to the game. Both players received fighting majors and 10-minute misconducts. Dach also received an extra minor for interference on the play. The Xhekaj hit on Stützle was likely most prone to a potential suspension. Still, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety believes the game misconduct assessed on the play was appropriate on its own.

More from the Atlantic Division:

  • Staying with Montreal, defenseman Kaiden Guhle is skating in a regular jersey at Wednesday’s practice, per Engels. It’s the first time he’s done so since having his appendix removed at the beginning of training camp. The 2020 16th overall pick signed a six-year, $33.3MM extension to remain a Canadien for the long haul in July, but he’ll still play out this season under the final year of his entry-level contract. The Edmonton native has quickly established himself as a top-four defender, averaging 20:51 per game last season and adding 22 points (6 G, 16 A) with a -8 rating in 70 contests.
  • Red Wings head coach Derek Lalonde is “very impressed” with how forward prospects Nate Danielson, Marco Kasper, and Carter Mazur have performed in training camp, he told The Athletic’s Max Bultman. “They’ve kind of played into my optimistic vision of them,” he added. “I like all three. I think I’ve stated that quite a bit over the last year, year and a half, and they’ve done nothing to disappoint.” The trio are still long shots to make the opening night roster with some crowded roster math working against them, but it’s clear they’ll be at the top of the list for in-season call-ups and should each get at least a few NHL reps this year.

Patrik Laine Out Two To Three Months With Knee Sprain

at CDT | by 6 Comments

In a somewhat positive development for Patrik Laine and the Montreal Canadiens, the organization announced he would be out for two to three months with a knee sprain and would not require surgery. There was some speculation that Laine may have had damage to his anterior cruciate ligament but it appears that he and the Canadiens have avoided the worst-case scenario.

Laine’s injury came during the team’s game on Saturday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs when he was on the receiving end of a knee-on-knee collision with Toronto depth forward Cédric Paré. He laid on the ice several minutes after the hit, could not skate under his power, and left the game on crutches.

It’s still an unfortunate turn of events for Laine who was looking to rebuild his career after an offseason trade from the Columbus Blue Jackets. The former second-overall pick of the 2016 NHL Draft dealt with multiple injuries last year with the Blue Jackets limiting to only 18 games before finishing the season in the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program.

He was expected to be a major fixture in the Canadiens’ top six this season but will now have to wait until at least December to make an impact. He’s only two years removed from scoring 48 goals and 108 points in 111 games in Columbus from 2021-2023. If he hypothetically returns to the ice at the soonest possible date on December 1st he will still be able to suit up in 59 games for Montreal if he stays healthy for the remainder of the year.

It marks the second major injury to the Canadiens organization in the last few hours with the team also announcing defensive prospect David Reinbacher would miss most of the 2024-25 season after knee surgery. Laine’s luck avoiding a similar injury needing surgery likely saved his first year in Montreal.

The team still has a sizeable hole to fill on the right side of the second line. Familiar faces such as Brendan Gallagher or Josh Anderson will most likely fill that role until Laine is ready to return. No matter who the Canadiens pick to fill the newfound void they will find difficulty in internally replacing Laine’s ability to put the puck in the net.

David Reinbacher Out Five To Six Months After Knee Surgery

at CDT | by 5 Comments

Canadiens top defense prospect David Reinbacher will miss most of the 2024-25 season after undergoing surgery on his left knee Tuesday morning, the team announced. He’s expected to return to play in five to six months.

It’s likely worse news than Habs fans expected after Reinbacher sustained the injury during the first period of Saturday’s preseason loss to the Maple Leafs. After he was on the receiving end of a hit from Toronto defenseman Marshall Rifai, he fell awkwardly into the boards between the benches, landing awkwardly on his left leg. He was able to get off the ice under his own power but was in visible pain.

Montreal didn’t disclose the specifics of Reinbacher’s knee injury. They’re also waiting on official news regarding a return-to-play timeline for top-six winger Patrik Laine, who also sustained an injury later in the first against the Leafs after a knee-on-knee hit from Toronto depth forward Cédric Paré. He’s also likely looking at a long-term absence.

Reinbacher, 20 later this month, was the fifth overall pick in the 2023 draft. He spent his 2023-24 season on loan to Switzerland’s EHC Kloten, where his all-around numbers took a step back from his draft year. He managed a goal and 10 assists with a -15 rating in 35 games after posting 22 points and a +7 rating in 46 games for Kloten in 2022-23. He ended the season with a strong stretch of play with AHL Laval, though, logging five points and a +6 rating in 11 appearances.

He would have been looking to make his NHL debut in 2024-25, potentially on opening night, if he could have finished training camp on a high note. His season debut will now have to wait until at least early March, however, and it’s likely that he’ll spend his brief playing time this year back in Laval while getting back up to speed in his development. The Habs will be out one of their most intriguing prospects for most of the campaign, but it does mean less competition for playing time for other young defenders like Lane Hutson, Logan Mailloux, and Jayden Struble.

Since Reinbacher didn’t log any days on the NHL roster last season, he’ll carry a $0 cap hit while on season-opening injured reserve. However, he’ll still collect his prorated $855K base salary as scheduled.

Canadiens Recall Lucas Condotta, Luke Tuch

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The Canadiens have recalled forwards Lucas Condotta and Luke Tuch from the AHL’s Laval Rocket, per a team announcement. They’ll be available again to suit up in preseason action this week after they were a part of separate rounds of camp cuts in the past few days.

Condotta landed on waivers Sunday and cleared Monday without incident. The 26-year-old is entering his third full season in the Habs organization and is an alternate captain with the Rocket. An undrafted free-agent signing out of UMass-Lowell in 2022, the 6’1″, 223-lb center has 24 goals, 27 assists and 51 points in 144 appearances with Laval.

He’s also seen brief NHL action in each of the past two seasons, posting a goal and a +1 rating in four games while averaging 8:23 per contest. He’s coming off a down year with the Rocket, scoring eight goals and 19 points in 65 games after notching 16 goals and 31 points in 72 contests in 2022-23. He won’t need waivers to return to Laval, which will likely happen after tonight’s game against the Senators.

Tuch, the younger brother of Sabres fixture Alex Tuch, is a name with longer-term relevance. The 22-year-old was a second-round pick of the Habs back in 2020 and is beginning his professional career after a four-year run at Boston University. The New York-born left winger had 30 points in 39 games last year as a senior, setting career highs across the board while finishing sixth on the team in scoring. He won’t be on the opening night roster after initially being cut from camp last Saturday, but he could be a name to watch for an in-season recall if he starts off on the right foot in Laval.

Arber Xhekaj Fined By Department Of Player Safety

at CDT | by 12 Comments

The NHL Department of Player Safety has fined Montreal Canadiens defender Arber Xhekaj $3,385.42 – the maximum allowed under the CBA – for an infraction with Toronto Maple Leafs forward Cedric Pare. The incident was retaliation for an awkward knee-to-knee collision that Pare delivered to Habs winger Patrik Laine, who had to be helped off the ice and is out indefinitely. Pare was not penalized for his hit on Laine, while Xhekaj received a minor roughing penalty, 10-minute instigating misconduct, and game misconduct for fighting. Both incidents occurred in the game’s first period.

This, surprisingly, marks the first run-in with the DoPS for the enforcer Xhekaj, though he received numerous suspensions during his days in the OHL for blindside hits and instigating fights. That’s the hard-nosed style he’s leaned into early into his pro career, recording a staggering 182 penalty minutes across his first 95 NHL games. That includes 101 penalty minutes in 51 games as a rookie, a penalty-per-game average similar to what players like Kevin Bieksa and Colton Orr managed in their first seasons. Xhekaj hasn’t offset those penalties with much scoring, netting just 23 points across his NHL career – though he did manage a more stout 11 points in 17 AHL appearances last year.

Xhekaj will look to translate that production – and after this fine, likely more poise – into a full year with the Canadiens this year. He’s currently in competition with players like Jayden Struble and Kaiden Guhle for a spot on Montreal’s third-pair, though could end up the de facto seventh man thanks to his typecast as a bruiser. The Canadiens could use all the physical presence that they can get this year, as they anticipate a lineup potentially featuring all of Lane Hutson, Alex Newhook, Joshua Roy, and Nick Suzuki.

Waiver Wire: 9/29/24

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The hockey world is one week closer to the start of the regular season, with October rolling around in just a few days. That’s sparked a flurry of decisive roster cuts as teams finalize their roster or – in the case of teams like Buffalo, New Jersey, and New York – prepare for trips overseas. As always, we’ll track the day’s waiver placements here.

Boston Bruins (per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman)

F Marc McLaughlin (assigned to AHL Providence)

Calgary Flames (per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman)

F Martin Frk (assigned to AHL Calgary)
F Justin Kirkland (assigned to AHL Calgary)

Chicago Blackhawks (per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman)

F Zach Sanford (assigned to AHL Rockford)
F Brett Seney (assigned to AHL Rockford)

Edmonton Oilers (per Sportsnet’s Mark Spector)

D Cam Dineen (assigned to AHL Bakersfield)
D Connor Carrick (assigned to AHL Bakersfield)

Los Angeles Kings (per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman)

F Glenn Gawdin (assigned to AHL Ontario)
F Tyler Madden (assigned to AHL Ontario)
D Joe Hicketts (assigned to AHL Ontario)
D Reilly Walsh (assigned to AHL Ontario)

Minnesota Wild (per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman)

F Adam Raska (assigned to AHL Iowa)
D Cameron Crotty (assigned to AHL Iowa)
D Joseph Cecconi (assigned to AHL Iowa)

Montreal Canadiens (per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman)

F Lucas Condotta (assigned to AHL Laval)
F Brandon Gignac (assigned to AHL Laval)

Nashville Predators (per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman)

F Kieffer Bellows (assigned to AHL Milwaukee)
F Vinnie Hinostroza (assigned to AHL Milwaukee)
G Matt Murray (assigned to AHL Milwaukee)

St. Louis Blues (per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman)

F Mathias Laferriere (assigned to AHL Springfield)
F Mackenzie MacEachern (assigned to AHL Springfield)
F Hugh McGing (assigned to AHL Springfield)
D Hunter Skinner (assigned to AHL Springfield)

Tampa Bay Lightning (per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman)

D Tobie Paquette-Bisson (assigned to AHL Syracuse)
D Derrick Pouliot (assigned to AHL Syracuse)

East Notes: Laine, Lindholm, Brink, Othmann

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

Canadiens fans are still waiting with bated breath for news about top offseason acquisition Patrik Laine. The winger left last night’s preseason loss to the Maple Leafs in the first period after he was on the receiving end of a knee-on-knee collision with Toronto AHL depth piece Cédric Paré, preventing him from skating off under his own power (via The Athletic’s Arpon Basu).

It certainly didn’t look good for Laine, whose left knee bent awkwardly during the hit and laid on the ice for several minutes before being helped off. Paré, who inked his first NHL deal with the Maple Leafs in July, isn’t yet facing supplemental discipline. He also wasn’t penalized on the play.

Laine was visibly angry while heading back to the Montreal room, an understandable reaction for a player who desperately needed a healthy season. The 26-year-old was limited to 18 games with the Blue Jackets last season with a collarbone fracture and a lengthy stint in the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program, recording six goals and three assists for nine points with a -10 rating. Montreal acquired the 2016 second-overall pick from Columbus last month, sending depth defenseman Jordan Harris the other way.

There’s more from the Eastern Conference:

  • Bruins center Elias Lindholm is back practicing in a non-contact jersey today, The Athletic’s Fluto Shinzawa reports. He’s been day-to-day with an undisclosed injury since Tuesday and hasn’t played in any preseason action thus far. It’s a good sign the 29-year-old will be ready for opening night. He’s still on track to begin the season as Boston’s No. 1 center, anchoring a line between David Pastrňák and Pavel Zacha. He inked a seven-year, $54.25MM deal with the Bruins this summer after posting 44 points in 75 games for the Flames and Canucks last season.
  • Bobby Brink is trending toward cracking the Flyers’ opening night roster for the second year in a row, writes The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz. Brink, 23, was solid in a middle-six role last year, posting 11 goals and 23 points in 57 games. But he spent some time in the minors as well, and his path to ice time in Philly this year became a bit murkier after 2023 seventh overall pick Matvei Michkov came over from Russia and signed his entry-level contract. He’ll still need to “earn his ice time,” Kurz writes, but Brink has drawn praise from head coach John Tortorella with his strong camp performance and will challenge for a third-line role at right wing after signing a two-year, $3MM deal this summer.
  • Rangers prospect Brennan Othmann’s chances of cracking the roster appear slim after he skated with a group of players mostly ticketed for the AHL on Sunday, relays The Athletic’s Arthur Staple. Othmann, 21, went pointless in three NHL games last season – his first in the majors. The 2021 first-round pick was great in his first pro showing with AHL Hartford last season, though, posting 49 points in 67 games and earning a spot in the league’s All-Star Game. He’ll get a few more NHL looks in 2024-25 even if he’s not up with the Rangers to start.

East Notes: Luchanko, Panarin, Guhle

at CDT | by 1 Comment

Some thought the Flyers took too big a swing at this year’s draft when selecting center Jett Luchanko with the No. 13 overall pick. They’ve been impressed by the 18-year-old pivot so far in camp, though. Assistant coach Rocky Thompson told Charlie O’Connor of PHLY Sports on Thursday that Luchanko has “opened our eyes” as one of the biggest risers thus far.

Line rushes now still indicate it’s unlikely that Luchanko begins his post-draft season on the Flyers’ NHL roster. However, the well-rounded center prospect has perhaps accelerated his timeline to NHL minutes with a potential nine-game trial (or longer) in store for him in 2025-26. He’ll likely get one or two more games worth of preseason action before being returned to his junior team, the OHL’s Guelph Storm. He had a team-leading 74 points (20 G, 54 A) in 68 games last season with a -13 rating.

More notes from the Eastern Conference:

  • Rangers star Artemi Panarin still carries a day-to-day designation with a lower-body injury and won’t play in Thursday’s game against the Bruins, per The Athletic’s Peter Baugh. But the high-flying winger did skate today and doesn’t project to miss much more time. He was hurt in Tuesday’s 6-4 win over the Islanders, a game that also saw defenseman Ryan Lindgren sustain a longer-term upper-body injury that has his availability for the beginning of the regular season in doubt.
  • Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle skated Thursday morning for the first time since having his appendix removed on Sep. 18, the team said. He’s now listed as day-to-day and could see action over the course of Montreal’s four remaining preseason contests. There’s no indication he’ll still be hampered by the time their regular-season opener hits on Oct. 9 against the Maple Leafs.

Pro Hockey Rumors is not affiliated with National Hockey League, NHL or NHL.com

Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

scroll to top