Habs News: Montreal Canadiens, Connor McDavid, Carey Price, Joel Bouchard, Jon Merrill, Laval Rocket, Coaching Candidates

(Photo by Francois Lacasse/NHLI via Getty Images)

ROCKET SPORTS MEDIA | MONTREAL, QC. — The off-season has begun for the Montreal Canadiens but there is no shortage of news as teams prepare for the Seattle Expansion Draft and the NHL Entry Draft followed by free agency.

Praise from McDavid

Edmonton Oilers Connor McDavid won the Hart Memorial Trophy and the Ted Lindsay Award in 2020-21. McDavid was very complimentary with respect to the Canadiens Stanley Cup run.

McDavid said “I think if you ask anyone in the North Division who had to play [the Canadiens] nine or 10 times, they can tell you it’s not surprising. Their team was built for the playoffs, they’re big and strong and mean and they’ve got four lines that just all roll over and do the same thing.”

McDavid was also very complimentary of Canadiens goaltender Carey Price. “They obviously have one of the best goalies, if not the best goalie, backing them up,” said McDavid, “so they’re a real solid team, and we certainly had battles with them, and they had a great month.”

Rocket sign D-man

The Laval Rocket signed defenceman Tory Dello to a one-year, one-way AHL contract. The 24-year-old defenceman suited up for 19 games for the AHL’s Grand Rapid Griffins in 2020-21 recording two assists.

The Laval Rocket announced Monday that the team has agreed to terms on a one-year, one-way contract (2021-22 – AHL) with defenseman Tory Dello.#GoRocket pic.twitter.com/qdTgC9Jyb0

— Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) July 12, 2021

Dello was a teammate of Canadiens centre Jake Evans for two seasons at the University of Notre during his four year NCAA stint.

Ducks welcome Bouchard

Former Laval Rocket head coach Joel Bouchard met with the media on Monday along with Anaheim Ducks general manager Bob Murray.

“I really liked my talk with Bob (Murray) and Martin Madden and everyone with the Ducks staff,” said Bouchard, “we really connected right away.”

“I knew that was going to make my decision difficult at the end because you always have to look at all the angles, but it was a good fit. I like challenges, I like to reinvent myself – I’m not the kind of guy to back out from a challenge and I felt like that was a hell of a challenge,” said Bouchard.

Candidates for Laval

TVA Sports host JP Bertrand reported that Syracuse Crunch assistant coaches Gilles Bouchard and Eric Veilleux are candidates for the head coaching position for the Laval Rocket. Bertrand added that Louis Robitaille, the general manager and head coach of the QMJHL’s Gatineau Olympiques, is also under consideration.

It is believed that interviews are already underway for the position.

Daddy’s home!

Playing hockey in the during the pandemic has caused hardships for NHL players and their families. Canadiens defenceman Jon Merrill was away from his wife and young children for almost three months. Their reunion was endearing.

https://twitter.com/JesMolina/status/1413651846254796801

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