One of the developing stories around the Montreal Canadiens this offseason will be how the situation in net evolves. For now, at least, Samuel Montembeault is the Habs’ number one goaltender, and it looks like the backup role will be Jakub Dobes’ to lose.

 Former Canadiens’ Third-Overall Pick Kotkaniemi Still Struggling
Canadiens: The Grades Are In – Mike Matheson
Canadiens: The Grades Are In – Arber Xhekaj

Newly signed prospect Jacob Fowler will need at least one season of full-time action in the AHL before the organization can even consider bringing him into the NHL. Meanwhile, Connor Hughes has already announced that he’ll be heading back to Switzerland, and Cayden Primeau will be a restricted free agent once more.

Joe Verbatic, drafted in the seventh round in 2022, has yet to be signed to an ELC, and unless he is by June 1, the Canadiens will relinquish their rights to him. Emmett Croteau, who was a sixth-round pick in 2022 will still be plying his trade with Dartmouth in the NCAA, fifth-round pick at the 2024 draft Mikus Vecvanags will move from the QJMHL to the NCAA with the University of Maine, Quentin Miller who went from the Quebec Remparts to the BCHL since he was picked 128th overall at the 2023 draft will also be moving to the NCAA with the University of Denver.

But there’s another goaltending prospect who will still be skating in the KHL: Yevgeni Volokhin. We’ve not heard much about him so far, but on Tuesday. RG.org published a lengthy interview with the netminder who was picked in the fifth round of the 2023 draft, and clearly, he has his sights set on the Canadiens and the NHL.

While we’ve not heard much about him this season, compared to, say, Ivan Demidov, whose every move was on social media, the Canadiens are keeping close tabs on him. Nick Bobrov calls or texts him every two to three weeks, and every time there’s something important. The Canadiens' co-director of amateur scouting provides advice on his game and/or mental preparation.

According to the interview, Volokhin plans to attend the development camp this Summer, and it will be interesting to see what he can bring to the table. While most people believe Fowler will be the Canadiens’ number one when the team is ready to contend, it’s worth remembering that there are other options in the depth chart.

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Florida Panthers minority owner Doug Cifu was suspended by the NHL after making "unacceptable and inappropriate" comments on social media, the league announced Tuesday.

The incident occurred following the Panthers' 2-0 win in Game 4 vs. the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday. Following the victory, Cifu engaged in a back-and-forth with a fan that included profanity, taunting and comments about the conflict between Israel and Palestine. The latter issue was brought up by the fan due to Cifu's support of Israel on his X account. Cifu also had five Israeli flag emojis in his bio. His X account was set to private and then deleted shortly after the back-and-forth.

After multiple tweets with the fan, Cifu eventually responded, "Eat s*** 51st state anti-semite loser. Israel now and forever. Until ever [sic] last Hamas rat is eliminated."

The NHL did not specify a particular tweet in its announcement, merely stating Cifu was suspended for "unacceptable and inappropriate" posts. 

Cifu will need to meet with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman before being reinstated from the suspension, per the league statement. 

"The NHL has concluded that Mr. Cifu's X posts were unacceptable and inappropriate," the league said in a statement. "As a result, Mr. Cifu has been suspended indefinitely from any involvement with the Club and the NHL. An in-person meeting will be scheduled with Mr. Cifu and the Commissioner at a date to be determined."

Cifu apologized for those comments in a statement to Florida Hockey Now. In the statement, Cifu said he made "regrettable and inflammatory comments."

“Two days ago, I posted regrettable and inflammatory comments on social media,’’ Cifu wrote in a statement. "My behavior does not reflect the standards of the Florida Panthers organization and the Viola family. I sincerely apologize to all those affected by my comments. I am committed to working with the NHL to amend my actions.”

The Panthers are owned by Vincent J. Viola. He and Cifu co-founded Virtu Financial in 2008. Cifu has held an ownership stake in the Panthers since 2013, when Viola purchased the team. 

Cifu is listed as the "vice chairman, partner, and alternate governor of Sunrise Sports & Entertainment (SSE), the National Hockey League's Florida Panthers, FLA Live Arena, and SSE's additional operating entities," on the Panthers' website. He still serves as the CEO at Virtu Financial and sits on the board of directors of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. 

In a recent article published by Sheng Peng with San Jose Hockey Now, it seems as though two members of the San Jose Sharks' organization want to play in the NHL next season, but may not get that shot with the Sharks.

Danil Gushchin and Andrew Poturalski played the 2024-25 season with the San Jose Barracuda in the American Hockey League (AHL) and weren't given too much of an opportunity to make a name for themselves at the NHL level. 

Poturalski only played three games, notching one assist with the Sharks, but had 73 points through 59 games with the Barracuda. Gushchin played 12 games with the Sharks, notching one assist, but had 51 points through 56 games with the Barracuda this season.

Poturalski admitted it was frustrating not to get more of an opportunity with the Sharks this season. It's also important to mention that he did not directly rule out the possibility of heading to the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) next season.

While neither of them flat-out said they would be leaving or would try to pursue other opportunities, they hinted that they would prefer to get a real shot at playing in the NHL, and it doesn't sound like that opportunity would come with the Sharks next season.

Sharks Sign Defense Prospect To Entry-Level DealThe San Jose Sharks signed defense prospect Mattias Hävelid to a three-year entry-level contract on Saturday.

Sharks Prospect Carson Wetsch Flipped In Blockbuster WHL TradeThe 2025 WHL Prospects Draft has now come and gone, and while there weren't many surprises or much news to report from those couple of days, there was one massive trade that caught some attention.

Celebrini Calls Playing With Crosby “Dream Come True”With the 2025 IIHF World Championships starting tomorrow, the NHLPA sat down with San Jose Sharks’ Macklin Celebrini.

1. Edmonton's oft-reviled goaltender Stu Skinner proved Rangers GM Emile Francis had it right when he said, "Hockey is a slippery game; it's played on ice."

2. A couple of nights ago Skinner's blunder on Vegas' game-winning goal had Oilers fans demanding that Stu be shipped somewhere South of Pago-Pago.

3. Undaunted, Skinner took the crease last night and fooled his critics as only a haunted goalie could – with a shutout.

4. Meanwhile, Toronto's backup netminder Joseph Woll will be in goal tonight, hoping to stop the surging champion Panthers. 

5. Despite the Leafs loss in Game Four, Woll was somewhere betweenbrilliant and amazing. It wouldn't surprise me if Woll pulls off a Skinner type shutout.

6. Cup-winning coach Paul Maurice on the Blueshirts: "They have some world-class players, but they have to show up!"

7. More Maurice: "The Rangers were too often uninspired and were reacting too much and not initiating. There was not enough putting the puck in, chasing it and going to the net." (Quick! Show this to Mike Sullivan before it's too late!)

8. Gary Bettman on the Winnipeg Jets: "The hockey team has brought the people of the city together and that's all good."

9. Dallas coach Peter DeBoer on Mikko Rantanen's hot scoring: "It's the best performance I've witnessed from a guy on my team for this extended period!"

10. Neil Smith on his NHL Roundup podcast with Vic Morren: "The Rangers need more players like Will Cuylle." (By the way Cuylle was drafted by Jeff Gorton.)

11. John Tortorella's future remains cloudy. He still has a year on his current contract so he really does not have to work.

12. Until proven otherwise, Juuso Parssinen's nickname will be "Useless."

13. Unsolved remains the mystery of former Rangers trainer Jim Ramsey – one of the all-time best – and why he was fired. (And now thriving with the Canadiens.)

14. Maven Prediction via Jess Rubenstein: The Rangers will try to move K'Andre Miller, "rather than risk having to go to arbitration with him."

15. How many remember that Marv Albert once was the Rangers radio play-by-play man? (And that Marv once wrote a book called "Ranger Fever?)