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News & Notes From The Canadiens 1st Practice of Training Camp |
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After the golf tournament and medicals, the Montreal Canadiens training camp finally got underway as the players hit the ice on Friday morning. The were divided up into Team White and Red as they faced each other in a scrimmage, sandwiched between each group’s practice. The tempo of the morning felt like the players were just getting their toes wet. There was little if any intensity throughout the game. On the positive side, the practice offered a glimpse into head coach Michel Therrien’s projected opening night lines, despite the fact that the team is still missing key players at the World Cup of Hockey. For now, it appears as the top 13 are:
Pacioretty-Galchenyuk-Gallagher
Shaw-Plekanec-Radulov
Carr-Desharnais-Andrighetto
Danault-Mitchell-Byron
Flynn
These lines are not exactly earth shattering and are based upon NHL experience. If no prospect wows in camp then the top 13 will not change. However, that is the beauty of training camp. Someone will do all that they can to force general manager Marc Bergevin’s to make room for him on the roster. Last year it was Mike Condon. This year, the top candidates are Artturi Lehkonen and Michael McCarron.
Lehkonen held Pacioretty’s spot warm on the top line for the first day of practice while Flynn took Plekanec’s place down the middle on the second line. Lehkonen is going to have to prove that he is worthy of an immediate top 9 spot in order for it to be worth it to stay in North America. While the first day of practice is not going to make or break it for him, Lehkonen will need to bring more on the ice in a short amount of time in order to earn his spot. The question though, is what kind of an opportunity will Lehkonen receive once Pacioretty returns imminently from the World Cup? Therrien said he will the yound forward a real chance to test himself but where might he fit best? Practice is about building chemistry but it is hard to do so with so many bodies in camp. Lehkonen is obviously a smart player. Without the puck he is following the play and makes sure that he is in the right position offensively and defensively. He is a goal scorer though and will need to display his ability to put the puck in the net in a very short period of time to stay in the NHL, regardless who his linemates might be.
McCarron is doing his best to prove that he is ready to endure a full NHL season. He is so strong on the puck and was constantly involved in the play. At this point it would be a shock if he doesn’t continue to impress throughout camp. Will Bergevin be able to make room for him to start the season? He centered Charles Hudon and Stefan Matteau today in what might become the St. John’s Ice Caps first line. Many believe that McCarron could replace David Desharnais immediately as the team’s third line center. While that may very well happen, don’t be surprised if we see Desharnais on McCarron’s wing at some point during training camp. The current line of Carr-Desharnais-Andrighetto is reminiscent of the 1990’s smurf line but they are unlikely to stick together. They need some size and grit on the third line and McCarron would solve that problem.
The practice was also Alexander Radulov’s first as a Canadiens and he impressed by scoring the game winning goal on a penalty shot:
Training camp for Radulov will only really get under way once Tomas Plekanec arrives and the two can attempt to build chemistry along with Andrew Shaw.
The defence pairings are still a bit of a mystery though as the Canadiens are still without Shea Weber, Andrei Markov and Alexei Emelin. Jeff Petry was paired with Mark Barberio which means that Nathan Beaulieu will not be on the 2nd unit. Beaulieu played alongside Greg Pateryn today on could be the 3rd pairing if Markov gets the first chance to play with Weber on the top unit. For now, the 6th spot on defence is Pateryn’s to lose as Barberio and Zach Redmond will challenge for minutes. The defence will eventually look like:
Markov-Weber
Emelin-Petry
Beaulieu-Pateryn
Barberio-Redmond
Or:
Beaulieu-Weber
Markov-Petry
Emelin-Pateryn
Barberio-Redmond
The pairings could get even murkier once 2016 1st round draft pick Mikhail Sergachev recovers from his upper body injury and joins practice sometime next week. Alexei Emelin has been having a strong World Cup for Team Russia and I would imagine that the Habs brass are hoping that he and Petry and rediscover their previous chemistry and success.
The teams will practice again on Saturday before hitting the Bell Centre for the Rouge vs Blanc match in front of fans on Sunday.
Cheers & follow along!
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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