Latest news with #Canadiens'
Montreal Gazette
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Montreal Gazette
Family values shape community involvement for Laval Rocket's Lucas Condotta
Laval Rocket By Maybe this is simply what's expected of a captain in the Canadiens' organization. During the same year in which Nick Suzuki was nominated for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy — awarded to the player who exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made the most positive impact in his community — Laval Rocket captain Lucas Condotta was nominated for the AHL equivalent, the Yanic Dupré Memorial Award. And while Condotta, the Rocket's nominee for a third successive season, didn't win — the honour went to Texas Stars captain Curtis McKenzie — he won't change his principles. 'Any chance you have to give back to the community is obviously really important to us,' Condotta recently told The Gazette. 'We wear the C's. You have to lead by example off the ice as well. 'I don't think it's just (up to) the captain,' he added. 'It's the team. We've had a lot of buy-in, with all the guys doing community events. Any chance you have to give back to people who are excited to see you, you can make 10 minutes of their day. It's important. We take pride here. As a team, we've played a part in this award. If you get nominated for an award, it's pretty cool. I'm just trying to be the best person I can be.' Condotta, 27, was named Rocket captain this season by new head coach Pascal Vincent, but has been considered a leader throughout his career. He was the UMass Lowell captain as a senior along with the team's most valuable player twice. Condotta was also named to the Hockey East all-academic team four times. Signed as a free agent by the Canadiens in 2022, Condotta has played three full seasons with the Rocket. The 6-foot-1, 218-pound centre had five goals and 31 points in 63 games this season, and has one goal through five playoff games heading into Friday night's contest against the Rochester Americans (7 p.m., RDS). The Rocket leads the best-of-five North Division final 1-0 after Wednesday's 5-4 victory. Jacob Fowler will be the starting goalie on Friday, Vincent announced after the team's morning skate. Forward Luke Tuch will also be inserted for the injured Xavier Simoneau. 'There's not enough good things I can say about (Condotta) that will justify what he does,' Vincent said. 'He's an amazing human being. Inclusive, humble and a hard-working guy. He knows who he is, knows the kind of player he is. He cares for his teammates and the team. He's a strong presence for us on the ice. I know the numbers aren't there this year offensively, but it goes way beyond the numbers. If we're having the season we're having, it starts with your No. 1 leader — and he's that guy. I'm very happy that he got recognized, because he's a special person.' A Georgetown, Ont., native, Condotta's family-first values were instilled at an early age by his parents, Joe and Sherry. 'Stick together and give back when you can,' said Condotta. 'I learned at a young age acts of service are very important.' Condotta didn't take his role lightly as Rocket captain, noting it was important to be inclusive and bring the team together on and off the ice. He also lives year-round in Laval with his wife and young daughter. And the Canadiens hold him in high esteem as well, signing him to a two-way, two-year contract extension in March. 'It just shows they believe in me and want me in the organization,' he said. Condotta played seven games for the Canadiens this season, scoring a goal against Columbus on Nov. 16. He has two goals in 11 NHL games and hopes to make his mark at next season's training camp. 'You have to be ready at any time,' he said. 'You've seen guys get called up and sent down. You never know.'
Ottawa Citizen
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Family values shape community involvement for Laval Rocket's Lucas Condotta
Article content Maybe this is simply what's expected of a captain in the Canadiens' organization. Article content During the same year in which Nick Suzuki was nominated for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy — awarded to the player who exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made the most positive impact in his community — Laval Rocket captain Lucas Condotta was nominated for the AHL equivalent, the Yanic Dupré Memorial Award. Article content Article content And while Condotta, the Rocket's nominee for a third successive season, didn't win — the honour went to Texas Stars captain Curtis McKenzie — he won't change his principles. Article content Article content 'Any chance you have to give back to the community is obviously really important to us,' Condotta recently told The Gazette. 'We wear the C's. You have to lead by example off the ice as well. Article content 'I don't think it's just (up to) the captain,' he added. 'It's the team. We've had a lot of buy-in, with all the guys doing community events. Any chance you have to give back to people who are excited to see you, you can make 10 minutes of their day. It's important. We take pride here. As a team, we've played a part in this award. If you get nominated for an award, it's pretty cool. I'm just trying to be the best person I can be.' Article content Condotta, 27, was named Rocket captain this season by new head coach Pascal Vincent, but has been considered a leader throughout his career. He was the UMass Lowell captain as a senior along with the team's most valuable player twice. Condotta was also named to the Hockey East all-academic team four times. Article content Article content Signed as a free agent by the Canadiens in 2022, Condotta has played three full seasons with the Rocket. The 6-foot-1, 218-pound centre had five goals and 31 points in 63 games this season, and has one goal through five playoff games heading into Friday night's contest against the Rochester Americans (7 p.m., RDS). The Rocket leads the best-of-five North Division final 1-0 after Wednesday's 5-4 victory. Article content Article content Jacob Fowler will be the starting goalie on Friday, Vincent announced after the team's morning skate. Forward Luke Tuch will also be inserted for the injured Xavier Simoneau. Article content 'There's not enough good things I can say about (Condotta) that will justify what he does,' Vincent said. 'He's an amazing human being. Inclusive, humble and a hard-working guy. He knows who he is, knows the kind of player he is. He cares for his teammates and the team. He's a strong presence for us on the ice. I know the numbers aren't there this year offensively, but it goes way beyond the numbers. If we're having the season we're having, it starts with your No. 1 leader — and he's that guy. I'm very happy that he got recognized, because he's a special person.'
Ottawa Citizen
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Hickey: Centres, penalty killers focal points of Canadiens' off-season
Article content What price should a team place on a competent penalty kill? Article content That's a question facing the Canadiens as they look ahead to next season. Article content One of the keys to the Canadiens' season was the penalty kill, which ranked ninth in the NHL with a success rate of 80.9 per cent. But the Canadiens are facing the loss of three of the top performers on the PK. Article content David Savard, who was second to fellow defenceman Mike Matheson in short-handed ice time, has retired and centre Christian Dvorak and winger Joel Armia, who were fourth and fifth, respectively, in short-handed ice time, are eligible to become unrestricted free agents on July 1. Article content Article content The more valuable of the two UFAs is Dvorak and he's the least likely to return. As the players cleaned out their lockers, Dvorak said he enjoyed his time in Montreal, but he also framed his experiences in the past tense. Article content Article content He's valuable because, in addition to killing penalties, he was the team's top centre in faceoffs and, as a lefty, he offers a balance to righties Nick Suzuki and Jake Evans. He also led all Montreal forwards with 74 blocked shots. But Dvorak had a cap hit of US$4.45 million and retaining him would require his accepting a deep hometown discount. Article content Armia, who leaves the impression that someone with his size and strength should produce like the first-round (No. 16 overall) draft choice he was in 2011, has begun negotiations with the Canadiens and the question is how much of a cut he's willing to take from his US$3.4-million cap hit. Article content Needy Canadiens: Montreal's off-season priority begins — and ends — with finding a second-line centre and there are two options. Article content Article content The first is to find a 30-something UFA, someone who could hold the fort for two or three seasons until Owen Beck, Michael Hage or Jared Davidson are ready for prime time. The list of top available players is limited to Matt Duchene, Brock Nelson and John Tavares. Article content If the Canadiens don't have confidence in the kids, it might be prudent to look for a long-term solution. Sam Bennett turns 29 in June and has a Stanley Cup ring, but a better ploy might be an offer sheet for a restricted free agent like Mason McTavish. The 22-year-old has good size, wins more faceoffs than he loses and has shown growth in each of his three NHL seasons. He might relish the opportunity to escape a losing team in Anaheim, particularly if he has the chance to play for a long time alongside Ivan Demidov. Article content Article content The Canadiens do not need a veteran defenceman to replace Savard. They have two veterans in Matheson and Alexander Carrier and it's time to see if Logan Mailloux, David Reinbacher and Adam Engstrom are ready for the next level.
Vancouver Sun
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
Hickey: Centres, penalty killers focal points of Canadiens' off-season
What price should a team place on a competent penalty kill? That's a question facing the Canadiens as they look ahead to next season. One of the keys to the Canadiens' season was the penalty kill, which ranked ninth in the NHL with a success rate of 80.9 per cent. But the Canadiens are facing the loss of three of the top performers on the PK. David Savard, who was second to fellow defenceman Mike Matheson in short-handed ice time, has retired and centre Christian Dvorak and winger Joel Armia, who were fourth and fifth, respectively, in short-handed ice time, are eligible to become unrestricted free agents on July 1. The more valuable of the two UFAs is Dvorak and he's the least likely to return. As the players cleaned out their lockers, Dvorak said he enjoyed his time in Montreal, but he also framed his experiences in the past tense. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. He's valuable because, in addition to killing penalties, he was the team's top centre in faceoffs and, as a lefty, he offers a balance to righties Nick Suzuki and Jake Evans. He also led all Montreal forwards with 74 blocked shots. But Dvorak had a cap hit of US$4.45 million and retaining him would require his accepting a deep hometown discount. Armia, who leaves the impression that someone with his size and strength should produce like the first-round (No. 16 overall) draft choice he was in 2011, has begun negotiations with the Canadiens and the question is how much of a cut he's willing to take from his US$3.4-million cap hit. Needy Canadiens: Montreal's off-season priority begins — and ends — with finding a second-line centre and there are two options. The first is to find a 30-something UFA, someone who could hold the fort for two or three seasons until Owen Beck, Michael Hage or Jared Davidson are ready for prime time. The list of top available players is limited to Matt Duchene, Brock Nelson and John Tavares. If the Canadiens don't have confidence in the kids, it might be prudent to look for a long-term solution. Sam Bennett turns 29 in June and has a Stanley Cup ring, but a better ploy might be an offer sheet for a restricted free agent like Mason McTavish. The 22-year-old has good size, wins more faceoffs than he loses and has shown growth in each of his three NHL seasons. He might relish the opportunity to escape a losing team in Anaheim, particularly if he has the chance to play for a long time alongside Ivan Demidov. The Canadiens do not need a veteran defenceman to replace Savard. They have two veterans in Matheson and Alexander Carrier and it's time to see if Logan Mailloux, David Reinbacher and Adam Engstrom are ready for the next level. Anyone who is concerned that the defence is too young should be reminded that the last time the Canadiens won the Stanley Cup, they had six defencemen under the age of 25 — Patrice Brisebois, Mathieu Schneider, Lyle Odelein, Éric Desjardins, Sean Hill and Kevin Haller. Battle of the goalies: Goals should be hard to come by when the Laval Rocket faces the Rochester Americans in the best-of-five AHL North Division final. Newcomer Jacob Fowler was in net for all three victories as Laval eliminated Cleveland in four games in a division semifinal. He has a 3-0 record, 1.00 goals-against average, .953 save percentage and one shutout. Those numbers are tough to beat, but Dollard-des-Ormeaux native Devon Levi led Rochester to a sweep of the Syracuse Crunch in the other semifinal. He has a 3-0 record, 0.67 GAA, .978 save percentage and two shutouts. Fowler is 5-1 since wrapping up a stellar collegiate career at Boston College. He is pencilled in as the starter in Laval next season, but don't be surprised if he challenges Jakub Dobes for the backup job with the Canadiens. Rantanen reaps revenge: It's rare for a rental to make a major impact in the playoffs, but Mikko Rantanen is leading the charge for the Dallas Stars. The Colorado Avalanche and the Carolina Hurricanes traded Rantanen because they didn't feel they could fit the 28-year-old under their salary cap after he became an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Rantanen made Colorado regret its decision Saturday when he spearheaded a comeback in Game 7 of their Western Conference quarter-final. The Avalanche led 2-0 going into the third period, but he had a period for the ages with three goals and an assist on Wyatt Johnston's game-winner to give Dallas a 4-2 victory. Rantanen had another three-goal game Wednesday as Dallas took the home-ice advantage away from Winnipeg with a 3-2 win in Game 1 of their Western semifinal. He leads the playoff scoring race with eight goals and 15 points in eight games, which makes him the clubhouse leader for the Conn Smythe Trophy.
Montreal Gazette
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Montreal Gazette
Canadiens ready to take ‘next step': Kaiden Guhle
By He's only 23 and about to enter his fourth season with the Canadiens, but Kaiden Guhle is quickly emerging as a leader in the dressing room and, more importantly, on the ice with his physical play. After reaching the playoffs for the first time in his NHL career, the defenceman believes the Canadiens are there to stay and that the painstaking rebuilding process is over. 'I think a lot of us are over the rebuild talk,' Guhle said during Friday's season-ending media availability. 'I think we're ready to go now. It was the first playoff appearance for a lot of us. It was a really good experience for a lot of us to get into these meaningful games. I think we're ready to take that next step for sure.' It wasn't the easiest of seasons for the Canadiens collectively and Guhle individually. He had an appendectomy in September and then lacerated the quadriceps muscle in his leg during a Jan. 28 game against Winnipeg. Surgery was required the next day and he returned one month later. The Canadiens' first-round (16th overall) draft choice in 2020 had six goals and 18 points in 55 games. As for the Canadiens, they rebounded after the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament to capture the Eastern Conference's final wild-card berth, making the playoffs for the first time since 2021. While Montreal fell to Washington in five games, the series was competitive. During the second period of Game 5, Guhle was part of a three-on-one break while the Canadiens were short-handed and trailing 2-0 in a game they lost, 4-1. 'Playoff hockey is hard,' Guhle said. 'It's tough. Mentally and physically, it's a grind. The bounces didn't go our way. Every play matters because it's so tight. If I score in that fifth game, who knows where we're at now? Every play matters even more in the playoffs. We know what it takes to get there. To stay there is tough. It was important to get there and experience it. I have no doubt that we'll be back. Everyone in this room is young and hungry. I have so much belief in this group. 'We were resilient all year and never gave up. There were a lot of tough days at the rink. Obviously, not every day was easy and fun. It seemed for a bit there were a lot of tough days in a row. It would have been easy for us to give up and throw the towel in. Not one guy did that. I think we take that adversity we went through this year. It's going to be huge for this group. A lot of the core guys will remember that feeling and this feeling now that we're having. Obviously, it's not guaranteed to make the playoffs every year, but we'll be back for sure.' Like Guhle, fellow defenceman Arber Xhekaj had his own struggles while trying to secure a permanent spot on the Canadiens' blue line. It always seemed like he and Jayden Struble were battling for the final spot. Nonetheless, Xhekaj, an undrafted free agent in 2021, dressed for 70 games, notching one goal and six points along with a minus-13 rating. The 6-foot-4, 240-pounder also was a healthy scratch for the opening two games against the Capitals until head coach Martin St. Louis decided the Canadiens needed his physical presence against a bigger and heavier opponent. 'It was tough and it sucks not being in the lineup,' Xhekaj said. 'You want to be part of it. You see guys all banged up after the games. They're sad that we lost and you're not playing. There's not much I could say. It's hard to change the lineup when you're winning. It's understandable. There were guys who were playing really well. 'But I think I had a good season. I had a lot of good games and figured out how to play that defensive style, become a guy who could contribute to the team. I think things went well for me.' Xhekaj's challenge will be learning to walk the fine line between playing sound defence and deciding when to keep the opposition honest. Like Guhle, the 24-year-old is entering his fourth season. 'As I learn that defensive side and get really comfortable with it, I can start adding the big hits,' he said. 'I can line guys up better and know when the time's right. It goes with experience.'
