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The Montreal Canadiens are back in the playoffs — and they’ve done it in thrilling fashion. After entering the post-Four Nations Face-Off stretch with just a 2% chance of qualifying, the Habs punched their postseason ticket in dramatic fashion on the final night of the regular season. It was a fitting end to a wild ride that might just be getting started. Along the way, this team made history and accomplished some notable achievements.
Here are five intriguing facts about this young, resilient Canadiens squad as they gear up for the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs:
They’ve Never Missed Playoffs Four Years in a Row
The Canadiens have a rich past that includes winning 24 Stanley Cups. They haven’t been a contender for some time, but one thing remained consistent throughout their storied history — they consistently made the playoffs. That continues with this latest run.
Montreal avoided a franchise first by clinching a playoff spot, extending their incredible streak of never missing the postseason four straight years. It’s a testament to the organization’s legacy of finding a way to succeed, particularly as the league grows and there is increased parity.
The Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs are the only Original Six teams in the playoffs this season.
Lane Hutson Put Up Historic Numbers
Rookie sensation Lane Hutson finished the regular season with 66 points, the fourth-highest total ever by a rookie defenceman. His 60 assists tied Larry Murphy for the most in a rookie season and ranked him sixth among all NHL defencemen this year.
Even more impressively, Hutson outproduced 99.9% of rookie blueliners in NHL history and led all rookie defencemen in average ice time (22:44), surpassing P.K. Subban’s debut workload.
Ivan Demidov’s Debut
When top prospect Ivan Demidov made his highly anticipated debut, Canadiens fans responded in record fashion. The team had its single biggest jersey sales day in franchise history, moving over $250,000 worth of Demidov jerseys in just one night.
Demidov has shown that he’s going to come as advertised, but it will be intriguing to see how many minutes he gets from head coach Martin St. Louis during the playoffs. In his second game — where the Canadiens had to get a point to clinch — Demidov’s minutes went down. He played more than six minutes less than in his debut.
Cap Management Comes at a Cost
Like many contending teams, the Canadiens leaned on Long-Term Injured Reserve (LTIR) to ice a competitive roster. While effective, it will come at a cost. In fact, it will cost them more than any other NHL team next season, with the exception of the St. Louis Blues.
Montreal faces a $1.7 million penalty against the salary cap next season — not ideal for a team with several players still on entry-level deals.
A Young Core Learning to Win
This year’s Canadiens are the youngest team in the 2025 playoff field. Coach Martin St. Louis emphasized development and learning how to win under pressure all season long. That mission was clearly accomplished. As captain Nick Suzuki put it, “To clinch our spot in the last game seems pretty fitting for us.”
This spring, the Canadiens might be underdogs, but they’re armed with a core of emerging stars and a growing belief in their identity. The future is arriving fast in Montreal. If they don’t go far this season, don’t be surprised if they take a huge step in 2025-26.
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Winnipeg Jets Mourn Loss of Beloved Alumni - Fans & Team Pay Tribute
The Winnipeg Jets have heartbreakingly announced the passing of team alumnus and former player Mats Lindh at the age of 77 on social media X. Former Winnipeg Jets forward and current alumni, a Frölunda regular, and Swedish national team member, Mats Lindh, has passed away, the SHL team announced on their website, which was also followed by a heartfelt post from the Winnipeg Jets. 'The Winnipeg Jets and True North Sports + Entertainment are saddened to hear of the passing of Jets alumni Mats Lindh.' - Winnipeg Jets Born in Orsa and developed by his hometown club Stackmora SK, Mats Lindh had a long and successful career. He played nine seasons at Frölunda, suiting up in 247 games and collecting 200 points. Lindh won a Silver Medal with Sweden in 1980 A skilled and consistent center, he was a member of the silver medal-winning Swedish team in 1980. Internationally, Lindh appeared for Tre Kronor in 51 games. His efforts assisted Sweden in securing two World Championship bronze medals, both in 1971 and 1975, which further cemented his status as a respected two-way player in the game. Aside from playing, Lindh pursued a career in teaching and became certified to teach sports. He became one of the driving forces behind an ice hockey secondary school in Gothenburg, where he guided and motivated prospective talents. His students included NHL prospects Daniel Alfredsson, now on the Ottawa Senators coaching staff, and Per-Johan 'Pebben' Axelsson, both of whom had fantastic careers. Mats Lindh's legacy goes far beyond his success on the ice, as he will be remembered as a skilled player but also a respected coach. He makes a lasting impact on Swedish hockey. Lindh left us at 77 years old. Rest in peace.
Vikings WR gets brutal injury news for second straight season
A Minnesota Vikings wide receiver's season is already over. The Minnesota Vikings announced on Tuesday that wide receiver Rondale Moore is being placed on season-ending injured reserve due to a leg injury that he suffered in the team's first preseason game against the Houston Texans this past weekend. It is a devastating blow for Moore, who is now being sidelined for an entire season, before it even begins, for the second year in a row. Moore signed a one-year, $2 million contract in free agency with the Vikings this offseason in the hopes he could return from a different injury that cost him the entirety of the 2024 season. Moore was a member of the Atlanta Falcons in 2024 after being acquired in a trade with the Arizona Cardinals for backup quarterback Desmond Ridder. This is now two different teams that Moore has been a part of, but will never play a game for them due to injuries. Moore was injured while returning a punt. He began his career with the Arizona Cardinals, catching 135 passes for 1,201 yards over three seasons before being traded. He was never going to be counted on to be a key contributor for the Vikings offense this season, especially given the superstars they already have at wide receiver in Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, but he still had a chance to be an interesting depth player. Now it is fair to wonder what the rest of his career might even look like. Missing two full seasons due to two different leg injuries is going to be a brutal thing to try to come back from. Missing two seasons for any reason is difficult, but when you add the leg injuries to the equation, it makes the obstacle even steeper.
How former Jets WR knew Aaron Glenn would release Aaron Rodgers
In January, former NFL wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson guaranteed that his ex-teammate, first-year New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn, would not "start off his career with Aaron Rodgers as his quarterback in September." Johnson was right, as a new-look Jets regime led by Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey decided in February that Rodgers would be leaving the club after two underwhelming seasons. For a piece published on Wednesday, Johnson spoke with The Athletic's Ian O'Connor about his accurate prediction. "I’m the first person to ever say Aaron Rodgers was not going to be on this year’s team," Johnson explained. "I didn’t get it from anybody; I just knew from looking at all the coaches Aaron Glenn has learned from: Bill Parcells. Bill Belichick. Sean Payton. Dan Campbell. I knew how they would deal with Aaron Rodgers, so I knew how AG would deal with him. AG is his own man, and he doesn’t stand for any nonsense." Before Johnson made his initial guarantee, Parcells and New Orleans Saints legend Drew Brees mentioned that Glenn "doesn’t [mess] around" and will be "a leader of men." It remains somewhat unclear if the "nonsense" referenced by Johnson has anything to do with Rodgers' weekly in-season appearances on "The Pat McAfee Show." In June 2024, Rodgers skipped the Jets' two-day mandatory minicamp because of a pre-planned trip to Egypt. He subsequently won just five of 17 starts coming off the season-ending torn Achilles tendon he suffered in September 2023. Johnson's comments indicate the Jets wouldn't have tolerated Rodgers remaining an unsigned free agent through early June as he dealt with undisclosed personal matters. Rodgers ultimately signed a team-friendly contract to join the Pittsburgh Steelers ahead of their three-day mandatory minicamp, and he seems to be quite popular among his new teammates. Meanwhile, Jets players have embraced Glenn holding more "physical" practices during training camp after former head coach Robert Saleh went 20-36 as Gang Green head coach before he was fired last fall. "Aaron Glenn is going to get in people’s ear and tell them what time it is, and that’s who he was as a player," Johnson added. "There are so many bulls----ers in this business, and he isn’t one of them. I haven’t been to a Jets game since they traded me (in 2000), and the only reason I’m going to the Jets-Giants preseason game is Aaron Glenn." The Giants will represent the home team on Saturday against the Jets at MetLife Stadium. In March, the Jets took a flier on 26-year-old quarterback Justin Fields when they signed him to a two-year, $40M contract that included $30M guaranteed. They can escape that deal as soon as next offseason, but it sounds like Glenn would rather start from scratch in 2026 than put up with Rodgers for a single campaign.
Browns HC sends message to Myles Garrett after latest speeding incident
Cleveland Browns All-Pro pass-rusher Myles Garrett became the subject of headlines when it was learned that he was cited for driving 100 mph in a 60 mph zone on an interstate in a Cleveland suburb several hours after the Browns opened the preseason with a 30-10 win at the Carolina Panthers on Friday night. While speaking with reporters ahead of the club's joint practice with the Philadelphia Eagles on Wednesday morning, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski sent a clear message regarding his feelings about Garrett's latest speeding incident. "Coming from a team leader, extremely disappointing," Stefanski said about Garrett, per Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN. "It's been addressed with Myles -- with the football team. He needs to slow down for his safety and the safety of others." Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer mentioned that Garrett has had at least eight speeding citations in Northeast Ohio since Cleveland made him the first overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft. Back in the fall of 2022, Garrett missed a game after he was involved in a single-car accident following a team practice. The Ohio State Highway Patrol ultimately issued Garrett a citation following that crash after it was determined he was using an "unsafe speed for the type of roadway being traveled." Cabot added that Stefanski declined to say if Garrett will be disciplined this summer. Earlier in the week, Cabot wrote that Garrett could "be fined for conduct detrimental to the team." Back in early February, Garrett requested a trade from the Browns coming off the club's 3-14 season. However, he later accepted a four-year, $160M contract extension that included $123.5M guaranteed to stay with the organization. Browns owner Jimmy Haslam revealed during the NFL owners meetings in the spring that he had "challenged" Garrett "to become a real leader of the team." Haslam made that comment after a March report shared that it's "well known within the Browns that Garrett is frequently late to the facility" and "has skipped mandatory team activities on multiple occasions." It remains to be seen how the 29-year-old will respond to Stefanski's comments about an incident that occurred after Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders was cited for speeding twice in June.
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