October 7, 2024 The Montreal Canadiens played their last preseason game on Saturday night, and not a minute too soon. From losing off-season acquisition Patrik Laine to injury, to the coach refusing to play his top line in the final preparation match fearing the same outcome, the preseason was a bit of a shit show.Continue reading “With the crazy preseason done, HuGo shouldn’t pull any punches”
Author Archives: Lori Bennett
Critical storylines as we transition to the Habs main training camp
September 17, 2024 The annual golf tournament is a sure sign that a new season for the Montreal Canadiens is about to kick off. On Monday, players, coaching staff and management teed off in Laval, and we can almost smell the rink. The rookie tournament is done and there were no major surprises. Lane HutsonContinue reading “Critical storylines as we transition to the Habs main training camp”
Three players who’ll want to shift the narrative at Habs rookie camp
September 7, 2024 On Friday, the Montreal Canadiens announced the roster of players that are due to participate in this year’s rookie camp, which is set to get underway on September 11th. Some familiar faces are returning under the weight of expectation while others are getting their first real glimpse at life in the NHL.Continue reading “Three players who’ll want to shift the narrative at Habs rookie camp”
Is a “cherry on top” trade possible to end this Habs off-season?
August 31, 2024 It’s been one helluva summer for the Montreal Canadiens. Since the Habs finished at the bottom of the standings, and secured the fifth overall pick following the draft lottery, GM Kent Hughes has been a busy man. It began at the draft. After packaging picks to improve on their second pick inContinue reading “Is a “cherry on top” trade possible to end this Habs off-season?”
Checking in on the Habs progress against the McGuire Profile
August 24, 2024 On April 20, 2023 I wrote an article assessing where the Montreal Canadiens were in their development against what I named the McGuire Profile. The McGuire Profile is a 7-player profile which hockey analyst Pierre McGuire says was developed based on conversations with Scotty Bowman. The profile identifies seven essential pieces toContinue reading “Checking in on the Habs progress against the McGuire Profile”
Kent Hughes is an August fiend, and Patrik Laine is a Hab
August 19, 2024 There it is, right when you least expected it. On a sleepy Monday afternoon in the third week of August, the casual tweet from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. Minutes later, the full deal was confirmed. The Montreal Canadiens sent Jordan Harris to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Patrik Laine and a second roundContinue reading “Kent Hughes is an August fiend, and Patrik Laine is a Hab”
The Habs have placeholder options to complete the top six
August 17, 2024 The 2023-24 season for the Montreal Canadiens ended with a definitive top line. The Caufield-Suzuki-Slafkovsky line was strong down the stretch, and there is no reason to expect they won’t be set up to continue growing together this coming season. With Alex Newhook having a strong year despite injuries, and with KirbyContinue reading “The Habs have placeholder options to complete the top six”
Are we there yet? How close is the end of the Habs rebuild?
August 10, 2024 Are we there yet? That’s the question that inevitably surfaces deep into a long journey, and Habs fans have begun asking with respect to the status of rebuild. On November 28, 2021, the Montreal Canadiens fired General Manager Marc Bergevin and hired Jeff Gorton as the Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations,Continue reading “Are we there yet? How close is the end of the Habs rebuild?”
Three signings later, the Habs D group may be coming into focus
August 4, 2024 After striking out in free agency and dealing with the contract extension for Juraj Slafkovsky, the Montreal Canadiens were pretty quiet in July. Perhaps a vacation was in order for the management group before getting down to business again this week with three contracts signed with three young defenders. Arber Xhekaj hasContinue reading “Three signings later, the Habs D group may be coming into focus”
How can the Habs add physicality to their roster?
July 21, 2024 The rebuild of the Montreal Canadiens has been underway, in earnest, since owner Geoff Molson relieved General Manager Marc Bergevin of his duties, and replaced him with the management duo of Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes. In less than three years of their tenure, the transformation has been profound, but it isContinue reading “How can the Habs add physicality to their roster?”
Hab At Her 