Saturday Habs Headlines: Preseason Evaluations

Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

Montreal Canadiens News and Notes Lane Hutson is turning heads. [The Athletic | Montreal Gazette] The Habs know Xhekaj can bring physicality and some offense to the blue line, but they will need his defensive play to stand out. [Radio-Canada] Montreal’s power play should be better this year — because it can hardly be worse. (But also because they now have more options.) [La Presse] This will be an important season for Jake Evans, who is on the final year of his contract, and who has a pack of up-and-coming youngsters nipping at his heels. [Montreal Gazette] Around the League and Elsewhere McDavid, MacKinnon, and Matthews lead the way in TSN’s top 50 NHLers list. [TSN] Sportsnet’s list has similar names in slightly different orders. [Sportsnet] Derw Doughty is month-to-month with a fractured ankle. [TSN | Sportsnet | NHL] Bryan Little will retire a Winnipeg Jet. [NHL] Zayne Parekh is has been assigned to the OHL, but he learned a lot at training camp. [Sportsnet | Sportsnet] The LA Kings and other preseason talk from around the league in the most recent 32 Thoughts. [Sportsnet] Ovechkin has scored on a lot of goalies, and they’re wishing him well in his pursuit of Gretzky — but maybe not against them. [NBC Sports] Rasmus Dahlin humbled to be named the Sabres’ next captain. [NHL] Tavares day-to-day, Nylander in practice after the Leafs’ game against Montreal. [Sportsnet | Sportsnet] Montreal will host part of the 4 Nations showdown. [Radio-Canada]