Habs News: Montreal Canadiens, NHL, Marc Bergevin, Logan Mailloux, Scrimmage, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Offer Sheet, OHL

Trevor Timmins, marc Bergevin (Photo by Getty Images)

ROCKET SPORTS MEDIA | MONTREAL, QC. — This is your one-stop destination every week day for your Canadiens news capsule. Here are your Habs Headlines!

Mailloux Suspended

In an unprecedented move, Ontario Hockey League Commissioner David Branch announced that Montreal Canadiens prospect Logan Mailloux has been suspended from the OHL indefinitely. Branch directed the London Knights to remove Mailloux from the active roster for at least the first three months to begin the season. Mailloux will be eligible to apply for reinstatement as of January 1, 2022.

Mailloux was suspended for violating “the League’s expectation of the appropriate conduct of an OHL player.” While on loan to SK Lejon, a third tier league in Sweden in November 2020, the then 17-year-old was charged with defamation and offensive photography. The matter was resolved with respect to the Swedish justice system in December 2020 after Mailloux paid a fine to the victim.

Training Camp

Mailloux had been taking part in the Knights training camp from Monday to Wednesday this week. “He’s just dominating,” commented a scout attending the intra-squad scrimmages about Mailloux’s play adding, “he’s the best player on the ice.”

The Canadiens had previously announced that their first round pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft would not be invited to Montreal’s rookie camp or training camp.

London’s rookie defenceman will miss at least the first 29 regular-season games of the schedule. By the terms of the OHL ruling, Mailloux will be allowed to continue training with the Knights. The WHL and QMJHL will honor the suspension and will not allow Mailloux to play.

When reviewing Mailloux’s application for reinstatement, the OHL will consider “his conduct since his return to Canada and the appropriate treatment, counselling, mentoring and or education he receives from the date of this decision.”

Red vs White

The Montreal Canadiens announced that their annual Red vs White intrasquad scrimmage will take place on Sunday, September 26, 2021 at 3:00 pm. at the Bell Centre. Tickets are now available on a first-come, first-served basis for $10 each.

In accordance with Quebec government regulations, attendance will be limited to 7,500 fans to permit social distancing. Each fan will be required to provide a government-issued vaccine passport upon entry to the event.

It’s being reported that the 7,500 limit on fans will also apply to Canadiens regular-season home games for now. The Bell Centre has a capacity of 21,302 for hockey.

COVID Protocols

The NHL and NHLPA announced new COVID-19 protocols for the 2021-22 season.

The agreement includes a testing regime for both vaccinated and unvaccinated players, rules for players mobility while on the road and a mechanism for team’s to suspend unvaccinated players if they are not able to participate in club activities. Fully vaccinated players who contract a breakthrough case of COVID-19 will be categorized as a hockey-related injury.

NHL and NHLPA define fully vaccinated as two weeks having passed since the final dose of an FDA or Health Canada approved vaccine. This may be a moving target as it appears that in the US fully vaccinated will soon be defined as three doses of an approved vaccine.

https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1433559610892304395

Deadline Looming

The deadline is quickly approaching for Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin to announce whether he is matching the offer sheet on Jesperi Kotkaniemi or letting him go to the Carolina Hurricanes. If not matching, we expect to hear how Bergevin plans to fill the spot in the lineup and if he has done so by trading the compensating draft picks.

Must read:

The Clock is Ticking | HABS HEADLINES

Bergevin Must Ditch Ego, Choose Wisely | HABS HEADLINES

Canadiens Connection podcast

Current Habs topics were discussed on this week’s episode of the Canadiens Connection.

Listen, share and subscribe!