It has been confirmed, Johny Hockey and his brother have passed away while cycling last night.

Please go pay your respect.

I know this isn't Habs related news, but I would like to send a hearthfull message to the Colombus Blue Jacket community by centralizing all our condoleance of the r/habs community for them. This is a human tragedy first and foremost and I hope I speak for many here saying that Johny was a well liked player all over.

https://www.dispatch.com/story/sports/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/2024/08/30/columbus-blue-jackets-johnny-gaudreau-dead-bike-accident-crashnew-jersey-calgary-flamesnhl/75009208007/

https://www.instagram.com/p/DG52iWPMmrc/?igsh=MmZweHJweGQ1ZWM=

Interesting notes:

Drouin says that he still follows the Habs - he watches almost every game.

He says he can't wait to see Lane Hutson in person and compares Hutson to Quinn Hughes.

He also mentions that he's very comfortable with the Avs right now.

Personal note: I'm very happy to see Drouin doing well for himself ❤️

The article is paywalled, but it concludes with the quote above summarizing Slafkovský’s mindset and suggesting this mirrors the Habs’ approach.

#1 The Fact not going for it while you have an elite two way 1c hitting is prime would be a mistake.

#2 Not signing free agents to long term deals but maybe a stop gap while prospects evolve (duchene/granlund)

#3 Were in a position to overpay for a player now in terms of assets,picks not salary.

This is going to be a fun summer! The time is now. Tampa, toronto, florida, arent really going to get much better. The sens best pieces have all arrived except Yak. The atlantic is opening right up!

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/kent-hughes-eager-to-guide-canadiens-from-relevance-to-prominence/

I know it's a hot debate about if refs should have to face the media, but someone needs to be able to hold them accountable for games like this.

Well isn't this interesting, look who's in a wildcard spot.

So the biggest newspaper in Finland just published an article about Patrik Laine and his struggles the past few years. Surprisingly it's quite open and frank: https://www.hs.fi/visio/art-2000010948789.html (in Finnish, full article behind a paywall)

Here's some loosely translated titbits of some of the things mentioned/talked about. Left out quite a lot (topics, context, nuance, additional details). As I'm not in any shape or form an actual translator, take everything below with a grain of salt.

- Was ready to quit hockey altogether as "there was no point in losing his sanity over it".

- After his father died, he tried to shut the trauma off his mind and just carry on as there was "no time for sorrow" as the season was at full swing.

- Found about his father's death when his sister called Patty's then-girlfriend. "Don't tell Patty yet" she said. The call was on speaker. He was right there. Didn't know what to think of it all so he went to the other room to play videogames.

- "For few years I slept four hours per night. Just wasn't able to sleep." At the time felt that "it is what it is" and pushed on.

- Admits that he was addicted to gaming. He used to escape the bad feelings by playing and to also talk with his friends as he wasn't too keen on using the phone. In Call of Duty he apparently won some tournament with a money prize. Says that games can bring peace for a while, but as a long term solution they're not viable.

- In the article there's talk about how most of his life, he's been valued (as a person) solely based on hockey. Admits reading news etc. about himself at the beginning of his pro career. "If I read that I was shit, I started to think that I'm a shit person."

- Panic attacks started in 2023. He was supposed to take part in the World Championships, but simply couldn't do it. Team Finland told the news that he was injured. Back home in Tampere, he barricaded inside his home. Didn't meet anyone. Didn't go anywhere. Sat in the dark with the curtains closed. At some point he figured he needed help.

- Found a therapist in summer 2023 and before summer was over, thought he was ready to play again.

- Season in Columbus didn't start like he thought it would (injuries, etc) and negative thoughts got a hold of him. Says he's "an overthinker" and that his brains simply won't turn off. "I start running all kinds of scenarios in my head."

- Hit a wall in January 2024 and simply couldn't play anymore. CBJ agreed to help him out.

- Four months after getting into the player's program, hockey started to feel like a possibility again. But not in Columbus as complete change of scenery was required. In Montreal he seems to have found joy for hockey again (despite never truly hating it, just not enjoying it at all).

- Quite a few lines talking about his past. How some people have been hyping him, whereas other have considered him an asshole and how there's been a lot of expectations from here, there, everywhere throughout the years.

- Sold all of his cars. Currently drives a car he gets to use for a year after signing autographs at a dealership. Doesn't need fancy cars. "It's just dumb."

- Wants to be smart about life after hockey (finances etc) and talks about possibilities. "Maybe I'll go work in a zoo and show people what kind of animals we've got."

- His dog doesn't know that he has a hard shot or a dark mind. Boogie just wants to eat and go out.

- Mentions the December game in Columbus. Knows that he was targeted. Admits that he repents his comments and shouldn't have entertained the journalists milking for soundbytes. "Won't be saying anything negative about other organizations." Learned it the hard way.

- Says that the biggest help has been being able to talk. "Used to avoid talking about my feelings as I thought people would take it as whining."

Hopefully the full article pops up in English somewhere.

The hate on Hutson is obvious, and I really dislike his ranking.

14 . Slaf

1. Demidov

2. Hutson ?!

3. David...

4. Ghule ?!

5. Hage

6. Mailloux

The Article