BHN Puck Links: NHL Hires Influencer Who Promptly Blasts Habs

This hasn’t been a great week for Habs fans, has it?

First the Montreal Canadiens have lost each of the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final while falling behind 0-2 to the juggernaut Tampa Bay Lightning in the best-of-seven series. Game 1 saw Montreal simply outclassed by the Lightning from beginning to end, and Game 2 saw the Canadiens lose a 3-1 decision despite playing pretty close to their best against Tampa.

If that wasn’t enough, the NHL also hired a TikTok creator named Josh Richards as a “special advisor” to help promote the league to the younger generation, and the social media influencer uttered “F#$% the Habs” during his first day on the job.

NHL hires TikToker Josh Richards who says “f*ck the #Habs” on first day 😶 https://t.co/Lh0RblUM9z pic.twitter.com/IUL62p0Xl2

— Offside (@OffsideDH) June 30, 2021

Richards has over 25 million followers on TikTok and will be featured at NHL marque events, so perhaps he’ll get a chance to explain his feelings on the Canadiens at a later date.

“I grew up a Leafs fan. If I cheer for the Habs, my parents disown me,” said Richards during a TikTok video, prior to Wednesday night’s Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, that has since been made private. “It’s not a good look. It’s not the move. [Expletive] the Habs.”

That’s a far cry from this hard-hitting interview with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman where he asked things like whether he’s a Dunkin’ Donuts or Tim Horton’s guy.

Well, the NHL might disown you after putting one of their Original Six franchises on blast on your first day on the job, bud. File it all under it perhaps being a bad idea for the NHL to try being the hip league with the TikTok presence.

Now on to the BHN Puck Links:

*It sounds like the Boston Bruins will be losing a key member of their coaching staff as Jay Pandolfo is reportedly going to accept an associate head coaching job with Boston University. (Boston Hockey Now)

*The Philadelphia Flyers appear to be monitoring a lot of NHL defenseman available on the trade market, including Adam Larsson with the Edmonton Oilers. (Philly Hockey Now)

*The Detroit Red Wings have hired Alex Tanguay as an assistant coach as Steve Yzerman continues to put his imprint on the Winged Wheels. (Detroit Hockey Now)

*Should the Washington Capitals consider keeping Henrik Lundqvist in the fold after this year was a mulligan due to his heart issues? (Washington Hockey Now)

*Good piece about the very strong connections between the Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning organizations as they do battle in the Stanley Cup Final. (Montreal Gazette)

*Interesting note about Norris Trophy-winning Adam Fox, who is the first Jewish NHL player to win a major NHL Award. (Jewish News)

*For something completely different: It really is astounding that this dude thought to himself, “You know what? I’m gonna do this with my shirt off.” Really and truly, it was only the best people down in Washington DC at that Jan. 6 insurrection on the Capitol Building.