(Brossard) The Montreal Canadiens made room for new players on their defensive corps this summer by selling off two established players, but the team’s prospects on the blue line don’t want to look too far ahead even if they all dream of taking advantage of this opportunity to earn a job in the NHL.
Johnathan Kovacevic was traded to the New Jersey Devils, while Jordan Harris was sacrificed in the deal that allowed the Habs to acquire forward Patrik Laine from the Columbus Blue Jackets.
David Savard and Mike Matheson are the only two defensemen on the team with more than 115 games of NHL experience. Youngster Kaiden Guhle is also guaranteed a spot on the blue line. After that, the picture is less clear.
Jayden Struble, Arber Xhekaj and Justin Barron will likely have a leg up on rookies Lane Hutson, David Reinbacher and Logan Mailloux at main camp. But the latter three have the profile to become top-tier NHL players, while the other three are likely destined to remain supporting players.
PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
Filip Mesar
Hutson, Reinbacher and Mailloux took to the ice at the CN Sports Complex on the second day of rookie camp on Thursday. The Canadiens’ prospects showed great intensity during drills.
“I wouldn’t say I’m surprised,” Mailloux said of the good body checking during practice. “There’s a lot of guys competing for spots with one team or the other. It’s an NHL camp. It’s fun.
“It’s good to be able to enjoy these training sessions, to battle and play two games before the main camp,” he added. “We want to push each other to surpass ourselves.”
We have rarely seen such an interesting fight to follow at a position with the Canadiens in recent years, particularly from the rookie camp.
All three players said they feel ready to play in the NHL this fall. They will be tasked with making it difficult for management when it comes to cutting the last players at the end of the main camp.
PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
Lane Hutson
“My game has never been more complete,” said Mailloux, who spent last season with the Laval Rocket and played one game with the Canadiens at the end of the season.
“I can still contribute to the attack, but I know I can play against anyone in my zone, play physical and quickly get the attack going, and do it night after night. That’s what’s going to allow me to stay with the big club: being consistent.”
Mailloux noted that he tried to refine certain details in his game during the summer. Hutson, for his part, also sought to prepare for a first full season in the professional ranks and to survive the busy schedule at that level.
“I want to play my game and do it with intensity,” said Hutson, who played the Habs’ last two games last spring after completing his internship at the American university level.
“One thing that is important here is not to denature yourself as a player,” he continued. “You also have to play with intensity, make quick decisions and annoy the opponent.”
PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
David Reinbacher
Reinbacher, for his part, did not play with the Canadiens last winter, even after he arrived in North America following the elimination of the Kloten, Switzerland club. He did, however, play 11 games with the Rocket and said he learned a lot during that short experience.
“Those games were tough, important games at the end of the season,” said the 19-year-old Austrian. “I learned a lot and then had a good summer. Now I’m here and I hope to make a good impression.”
Sweden’s Adam Engström will also have his first chance to show off in North America this season and could shake things up with a good camp.
They will have their first opportunity to make their mark in pre-season games this weekend, when the Canadiens’ prospects will face the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Bell Centre on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
In addition, Quebec goaltender Quentin Miller did not participate in the first on-ice session of the Tricolore rookie camp. The Rimouski Oceanic member is bothered by an upper-body injury and his health will be reassessed on a daily basis.