First-round pick Juraj Slafkovsky will begin his quest for an NHL roster starting Thursday at a rookie tournament in Buffalo.
Slafkovsky and 25 other players will look to impress as the Montreal Canadiens’ prospects face the Buffalo Sabers on Thursday, the New Jersey Devils on Friday and the Ottawa Senators on Sunday.
The Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins have also sent delegations to Buffalo for the tournament, where each team will play three games.
The spotlight will be on Slafkovsky, on whom the Canadiens set their sights on first place in the draft on July 7, at the Bell Centre.
The 18-year-old Slovak particularly shone last winter at the Beijing Olympics, scoring seven goals in as many games, then at the World Hockey Championship.
Possessing an imposing size, Slafkovsky has already made the eyes of observers widen during the development camp of the Canadian in July. He will have the opportunity this week to give himself a break in anticipation of the Habs’ training camp, which will begin on September 21.
General manager Kent Hughes said Monday, before the Canadiens golf tournament, that the ball was in Slafkovsky’s court during camp and that a decision will eventually be made to determine what is best for his development this season. .
Four guest players will wear the colors of the Canadiens in Buffalo, including Quebecers Pierrick Dubé and Antoine Coulombe. The latter will try to imitate defender Arber Xhekaj, who rose from game to game last fall and eventually left the Canadiens’ camp with a professional contract in his pocket.
Defender Logan Mailloux and forward Joshua Roy have also been invited to the tournament, but they will not be able to play because they are injured. Mailloux, the Canadiens’ first choice in 2021, 31st overall, is still recovering from shoulder surgery. For his part, Roy is annoyed by a minor hand injury.
The Canadiens’ players will be led by the Laval Rocket staff, led by head coach Jean-François Houle.