Bryce Pickford “came in as a different player”

Montreal Canadiens news and notes

• Bryce Pickford is delivering a ‘pretty crazy’ season. [Sportsnet]
• Brendan Gallagher’s journey to 900 NHL games. [Journal de Montreal]
• The Canadiens just need average goaltending to have success. [The Hockey Writers]
• Dillan Bentley signed a two-year, one-way AHL contract with the Laval Rocket after completing his season at UMass Lowell. [Montreal Gazette]

Around the league and elsewhere

• Player safety was a hot topic at the GM meetings. [32 Thoughts]
• What can hurt the Buffalo Sabres ahead of the playoffs? [Sportsnet]
• The New York Islanders plan to relocate their AHL affiliate from Bridgeport, Conn., to Hamilton’s TD Coliseum for the 2026-27 season. [Sportsnet]
• Auston Matthews undergoes surgery for an MCL tear, with recovery expected to take 12 weeks. [Daily Faceoff]
• Why the Toronto Maple Leafs shouldn’t just tear it all down this off-season. [The Athletic]
• Ryan Johansen officially announces his retirement after 13 seasons. [Daily Faceoff]
• Keaton Verhoeff breaks down the challenges of going from Major Junior to NCAA. [Daily Faceoff]