Habs News: Montreal Canadiens, NHL, Cole Caufield, Jan Mysak, Kaiden Guhle, Rafael Harvey-Pinard, Rookie Camp, Jonathan Drouin, Cody Goloubef, Trevor Zegras

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

Rookie Game Recap

On Monday, the Canadiens rookies played the second of two games against rookies from the Ottawa Senators. This time, the match was held at the Bell Sports Complex in Brossard. But like Saturday’s game, today’s tilt ended in a 4-3 loss to the Sens.

After 40 minutes, it was looking like a rout as the Senators built a 4-0 lead. But the Habs rookies staged a third period comeback that fell a little short with goals from Rafael Harvey-Pinard, Joshua Roy and Mika Cyr.

Kaiden Guhle and Jan Mysak continue to stand out among the rookies in camp.

For a full game report including post-game audio, read Rookie Game: Canadiens Comeback Not Enough | RECAP

Drouin Focused on the Future

It was a disappointing season for Jonathan Drouin in 2020-21 with the Canadiens forward scoring just two goals in 44 games. Abruptly on April 28th, the Canadiens announced that Drouin would be taking an indefinite leave of absence for personal reasons. He had not been in the lineup since April 21st.

Until Monday night, Drouin had chosen not to speak about the reason that he left the team with 12 games to go in the regular season. Drouin was not available for the 22 playoff games the Canadiens played right up to the Stanley Cup Final.

Sitting down with reporters from TVA and RDS in two short, separate interviews, Drouin said that he had experienced insomnia and anxiety and did not have the energy to play hockey. At that point, the 26-year-old said that he made the decision to focus on himself and left the team. Drouin said that he needed to “take a step back from everything and kind of enjoy life.”

Without specifying any details, Drouin said that he is better equipped to start the season and looks forward to having fun. “I can’t wait to get back to this,” said Drouin.

40 for Caufield?

Trevor Zegras was selected ninth overall in the first round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft by the Anaheim Ducks. Just six picks later the Canadiens chose winger Cole Caufield. Both forwards are expected to be frontrunners for the Calder Trophy this season as the league’s top rookie.

When the NHL asked for the “biggest HOT TAKE this season”, Zegras replied “40 goals for @colecaufield.”

Goloubef Signed

Montreal Canadiens signed defenceman Cody Goloubef to a professional tryout contract on Monday. Goloubef will join training camp when it opens on Wednesday.

The right-shooting defenceman, who turns 32-years-old in November, is a veteran of 342 games in the AHL with 160 games in the NHL with Columbus, Colorado, Ottawa and Detroit.

Goloubef spent all of last season with the Belleville Senators recording six points in 31 games.

Canadiens Connection podcast

Current Habs topics were discussed on this week’s episode of the Canadiens Connection podcast. Listen, share and subscribe!