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Rookie Camp Ends + Training Camp Begins. Invitees, Schedule, and Thoughts |
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The Montreal Canadiens announced their training camp invitees and schedule today, providing another piece of the roadmap on the way to the 2017-2018 season.
The Rookie Camp concluded this morning but before doing so sent 7 players back to their respective clubs yesterday. Those players who’ve been return are: Alexandre Alain (Blainville-Broisbriand), Will Bitten (Hamilton), Josh Brook (Moose Jaw), Cale Fleury (Kootenay), Michael Pezzetta (Sudbury), Jarret Tyszka (Seattle), and Scott Walford (Victoria).
No real surprises here aside from Bitten, for me. Bitten is likely on a path to become a bottom six NHL forward one day and I do suppose the Canadiens already have a healthy compliment of those at the moment. Alain appeared to have a decent camp in my opinion and perhaps there’s a contract coming his way soon, two way of course. The 16 that survived the culling received invites to the main camp.
With the Rookies time over the focus will shift to the Canadiens main camp, slated to start tomorrow (September 14, 2017) at the Bell Sports Complex in Brossard, QC. Only one junior eligible player was invited to the Canadiens Training Camp, 19 year old defenseman Victor Mete. Mete performed well at the rookie camp while pared with Noah Juulsen. I am looking forward to seeing how Mete handles the competition at the main camp. He is my favourite Canadiens prospect at the moment, with all due respect to the newly drafted Ryan Poehling and Joni Ikonen. He is coming off a great year with the London Knights where he put up 15 goals and 29 assists in 50 games. For comparisons sake, Mikhail Sergachev had 10 goals and 33 assists last year with the Windsor Spitfires, also in 50 games.
Players participating in the Montreal Canadiens Training Camp are:
FORWARDS:
Jeremiah ADDISON (20 yrs)
Daniel AUDETTE (21 yrs)
Jordan BOUCHER (23 yrs)
David BROLL (24 yrs)
Paul BYRON (28 yrs)
Daniel CARR (26 yrs)
Kevin DUFOUR (25 yrs)
Phillip DANAULT (24 yrs)
Jacob DE LA ROSE (22 yrs)
Jonathan DROUIN (22 yrs)
Thomas EBBING (22 yrs)
Markus EISENSCHMID (22 yrs)
Maxime FORTIER (19 yrs)
Byron FROESE (28 yrs)
Alex GALCHENYUK (23 yrs)
Brendan GALLAGHER (25 yrs)
Alexandre GOULET (21 yrs)
Jeremy GREGOIRE (22 yrs)
Ales HEMSKY (34 yrs)
Peter HOLLAND (26 yrs)
Charles HUDON (23 yrs)
Atturi LEHKONEN (22 yrs)
Andreas MARTINSEN (27 yrs)
Michael MCCARRON (22 yrs)
James MCEWAN (20 yrs)
Torrey MITCHELL (32 yrs)
Max PACIORETTY (28 yrs)
Niki PETTI (21 yrs)
Tomas PLEKANEC (34 yrs)
Martin REWAY (22 yrs)
Nikita SCHERBAK (21 yrs)
Andrew SHAW (26 yrs)
Chris TERRY (28 yrs)
Yannick VEILLEUX (24 yrs)
Antoine WAKED (21 yrs)
DEFENCE:
Karl ALZNER (28 yrs)
Jordie BENN (30 yrs)
Simon BOURQUE (20 yrs)
William CORRIN (26 yrs)
Brandon DAVIDSON (26 yrs)
Eric GELINAS (26 yrs)
Jakub JERABEK (26 yrs)
Noah JUULSEN (20 yrs)
Stefan LEBLANC (21 yrs)
Brett LERNOUT (21 yrs)
Victor METE (19 yrs)
Joe MORROW (24 yrs)
Thomas PARISI (24 yrs)
Saverio POSA (25 yrs)
Jeff PETRY (29 yrs)
Zach REDMOND (29 yrs)
Matt TOARMINA (30 yrs)
David SCHLEMKO (30 yrs)
Mark STREIT (39 yrs)
Shea WEBER (32 yrs)
GOALTENDERS:
Zachary FUCALE (22 yrs)
Charlie LINDGREN (23 yrs)
Michael MCNIVEN (20 yrs)
Al MONTOYA (32 yrs)
Carey PRICE (30 yrs)
Antoine SAMUEL (19 yrs)
We all know there are not many NHL spots available to be earned by young players and training camp invites. This camp will likely only offer one forward position and if any young defensemen truly force the teams hand it would mean even more players will have to hit the waiver wire as the Canadiens currently have 9 D under contract on one way deals.
The likely candidates to earn a opening night spot (or press box seat) are Charles Hudon, Nikita Scherbak, Michael McCarron, and Jacob De La Rose. Arguments could be made for all these players to be on the big club, but most would agree that the most deserving right now would be Hudon. He has been consistent for the Canadiens AHL club almost routinely finishing second in team scoring. His shot should come this October, if he puts it all together during camp.
I’m very interested in seeing how Addison, Ebbing, Goulet, Fortier, and Waked do in camp. These players have performed well in the Rookie Camp and in their previous junior season. All these players will hopefully provide offence to the Laval Rocket squad and develop into players the Canadiens can call on when needed.
The training camp schedule looks like this.
Thursday, September 14: 12:30 p.m. Photo opportunity.
Friday, September 15: 9 am Practice (Group C), 10 am Practice (Group B - Media availability @12pm). 12 pm Practice (Group A).
Saturday, September 16: 9 am Practice (Group C), 10 am Practice (Group A - Media availability @12pm). 12 pm Practice (Group B).
Sunday, September 17: 1 pm Game Reds vs. Whites @ Bell Centre.
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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