The Montreal Canadiens will have a look into their future this week as their development camp began yesterday and will run through July 7th at the Complexe Bell in Brassard. Full details of the camp are available here:
#Habs five-day development camp begins tomorrow in Brossard. It's open to the public. Full details and roster: pic.twitter.com/UJuBmHK1TF
— Dave Stubbs (@Dave_Stubbs) July 2, 2016
Of note, the past four first round draft picks(2013-2016) are all in attendance: Michael McCarron, Nikita Scherbak, Noah Juulsen and Mikhail Sergachev. The only draft pick from 2012 that is participating is Charles Hudon in what must be considered a make or break year for him. The entire Canadiens draft classes from 2014, 2015, 2016 are all in attendance with NCAA players paying their own way so that they do not lose any of their college eligibility. Martin Reway (2013) is taking part as he will come over from Europe to likely start the year in the AHL. Players such as Jacob de la Rose, Sven Andrighetto and Daniel Carr have seemingly graduated from the development camp. The only player missing that is somewhat of a surprise is Arturri Lehkonen (2013) who signed his first contract with the Canadiens this past Spring after an excellent season in the SHL with Frolunda.
Spoke w Lehkonen has had no vacation since the SHL title, and intense training w. Frölunda. Now vacation, rookie camp to make the team #Habs
— Patrik B (@Zeb_Habs) July 3, 2016
Much of the focus on the first day of camp was on the 2016 9th overall pick Sergachev and fellow Russian 2014 pick Scherbak. The two are especially excited about Canadiens General Manager’s signing of Alexander Radulov and the prospect of playing with him, however unlikely it may be for the upcoming season:
#Habs Scherbak "It's gonna be crazy if it's a Russian pwr play. U don't know what to expect" joking about PP w/him, 27, A-Rad, 79, Sergachev
— John Lu (@JohnLuTSNMtl) July 3, 2016
#Habs prospect Sergachev saw Radulov in practice with Russian national team and CSKA Moscow: "He is like the beast. He works so hard."
— John Lu (@JohnLuTSNMtl) July 3, 2016
Scherbak is coming into camp with a lot to prove after he struggled in his first season of professional hockey highlighted by injuries and an attempted move to center. He is finally healthy and ready to show why the Canadiens drafted him in the first round in 2014. His skill and natural talent make him one of the Canadiens best offensive prospects amongst forwards. He knows that he has to work on his defensive game in order to make it to the NHL. Expect him to start the year in St. John’s once again but I would be surprised if he does not earn a call-up at some point.
While Sergachev is physically mature, another year in the OHL with the Windsor Spitfires will surely benefit him. Windsor is hosting the Memorial Cup and have an automatic berth into the CHL Championships. It will be an excellent opportunity for Sergachev to continue his development and work on his all around game.
Some good news out of the first day of camp is that 2015 1st round pick Noah Juulsen is healthy and received the green light to partake in the scrimmages. Juulsen suffered a fractured jaw during the second round of the WHL playoffs that ended his season. He is hoping to earn a spot on Canada’s 2017 World Junior Championship squad after having been the last cut in 2016. Considering the tournament is taking place in Toronto/Montreal again, it would certainly be exciting for Canadiens fans to cheer him on home ice. Juulsen has been invited once again to Team Canada’s Summer training camp taking place in a few weeks time.
For detailed information on the first day of scrimmages, you can read the Canadiens report here:
Two scrimmages on Day 1 of Development Camp. Here's how things played out.
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) July 3, 2016
READ | https://t.co/nKKgB1QeU3 #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/o7GqI7S5rv
All of the highlights from Sunday's scrimmages:
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) July 4, 2016
Game 1 -> https://t.co/9yYjmIpUf6
Game 2 -> https://t.co/W6lysSrCFX pic.twitter.com/9K5Xt9WzIU
I will be checking out a few of the practices in the coming days. Let me know which players you are interested in hearing reports on!
Finally, a very happy 4th of July to my American readers!
Cheers & follow along! Follow @Jenbcutler