Juraj Slafkovsky, Kaiden Guhle, Arber Xhekaj and Jordan Harris. The Canadian has rarely started a season with so many rookies on the roster.
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Obviously, the situation would have been different on the blue line if Mike Matheson and Joel Edmundson had not fallen in battle in recent weeks. We can assume that the last two would not currently be in the entourage of the team.
Moreover, Kent Hughes took care to warn that nothing was guaranteed for the young wolves of his club.
“They remain under review. When we met them, we told them that they made the team today, but that they had to continue to prove themselves, ”said the general manager of the Canadian.
Very little experience
If we add Johnathan Kovacevic – who is also considered a rookie despite his 25 years – to the name of the three defenders mentioned above, we obtain a quartet which displayed, before this first meeting of the season, a grand total of 14 NHL experience. There is something to be nervous about.
“Yes, it brings some concern for the team, but it also brings excitement at the idea of seeing our young defenders play. Xhekaj, in Bouctouche, despite what DJ Smith [l’entraîneur des Sénateurs d’Ottawa] said before the game, I don’t believe the heartbeat was over 70,” Hughes gave as an example.
“Guhle, it’s the same thing. He improved day by day. He was better during the preseason schedule than during the rookie tournament in Buffalo. »
Rollover to be expected
The beauty of it is that the pressure to win is not very high. Of course, the staff wants to see the CH win as many matches as possible, but not at the expense of player development.
This is the reason why there could be turnover at the blue line.
“We also have [Corey] Schueneman who can play in the NHL,” Hughes recalled.
Schueneman’s case is a little more complicated since he has to go on waivers every time the Canadian wants to send him back with the Rocket.
However, this is not the case for Justin-Barron, Otto Leskinen and Mattias Norlinder who can commute without constraint.
“If we see that, for the development of a young player, it is better to send him to the American League, we will send him to Laval. Even if, at the moment, he gives us a better chance of winning. We will prioritize development. »
A procedure that also applies to Slafkovsky.