The management of the Montreal Canadiens was delighted on Monday that around forty players were already working at the CN Sports Complex, while the Montreal hockey club’s camp will only officially start on September 20.
According to her, this not only means that the players are united, but also that they value the success of the team.
“It shows that the players love each other, that they like being together and that they love the city of Montreal,” declared general manager Kent Hughes on Monday, on the sidelines of the Tricolore golf tournament at the Laval-sur-Montreal club. Lake. They wanted to start working sooner. When the season ends early, it’s good to see them here in mid-August. »
Captain Nick Suzuki, who spent the summer in Montreal, did not have to be active in the discussion groups between the players to bring everyone together.
Suzuki explained that it happened organically as the summer progressed.
“I don’t know what role I played in it. People asked me if I was in town. Personally, I think it’s good to experience Montreal differently during the summer,” said Suzuki.
“A lot of guys have come over the last two weeks. It’s good to skate together, to have a mini-camp before the “real” in the hope of finding our bearings and our cohesion,” he added.
But if seeing players start skating together early again has such great value, why isn’t that the norm across the NHL?
“I’m not sure,” admitted forward Josh Anderson. A few teams do that. I think that here, it shows that the guys have the team at heart. We didn’t have a set date to arrive, but the guys wanted to come back early to get things going again. »
A healthy club, for now
The Canadiens players were also able to take advantage of the long summer to regain their health. Vice-president of hockey operations Jeff Gorton mentioned that only center Christian Dvorak (knee) has not received the green light for the start of camp.
Everyone else who didn’t finish the season — Anderson, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, Sean Monahan, Arber Xhekaj, Kaiden Guhle, Kirby Dach, Jordan Harris and David Savard — will begin camp recovered from their surgery or injury.
The Canadiens players had the opportunity to begin working with Jim Ramsay, who replaced Graham Rynbend as Director of Sports and Performance Medicine and Head Athletic Therapist.
While it is too early to tell if this change will have an impact on player health and limit the number of injuries for the Canadian after two record-breaking campaigns, players are encouraged so far by Ramsay’s approach.
“I think it’s going well with him,” said Caufield, who had surgery on his right shoulder in January. He communicates well with everyone and that is something we all appreciate. »
The depth of the Canadian could be relatively spared if the infirmary is less busy than last winter. That hasn’t stopped head coach Martin St-Louis from praising the Habs’ depth at every position.
“We’re going to use the camp to see where everyone is at,” he said. There is the external battle, against the other team, but also the internal battle. You want to get the best chair available and you can’t be happy with your role or you’ll get it stolen. »
St-Louis added that it does not have a pre-established hierarchy in mind when it comes to its goalkeepers. Samuel Montembeault did well last season before helping Canada win gold at the World Championship. However, veteran Jake Allen often seemed favored by St. Louis and goalie coach Eric Raymond. Cayden Primeau, now 24, and veteran Casey DeSmith, 32, will also want to mix things up.
All four are eligible for waivers, which could make it difficult for Hughes at the end of camp, when it comes time to cut the remaining skaters to establish his 23-player roster. Moreover, Hughes has not closed the door to trade a goalkeeper or to start the season with three goaltenders in his training.
Mailloux, still waiting
Gorton said prospect Logan Mailloux had been given the green light to play in the American Hockey League.
Mailloux was convicted by Swedish justice for sharing an explicit photo without the consent of his partner before he was drafted by the Canadian at 31st place in 2021. He served a long suspension in the Junior Hockey League of Ontario in 2021-2022, then did well last winter with 25 goals and 28 assists in 59 games with the London Knights.
Gorton mentioned that the Canadian will have to meet with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman one last time before Mailloux can play with the big club, when he will be recalled or if he earns a position with the team by the end of camp. The comments made by Gorton, however, implied that it was only a formality.