Hockey

Three issues to watch for the rest of the Canadiens’ camp
Charles-Alexis Brisebois
Three issues to watch for the rest of the Canadiens’ camp
Credit: Getty Images

The Canadiens' training camp is in full swing, with tomorrow night's game in Quebec City against the Senators, and Saturday night's game at the Bell Centre against the Senators. Then, next Wednesday, the season begins. That's pretty fast, isn't it?Of course, in the meantime, there will also be a number of training sessions. Of necessity, all these moments will represent chances to see some of the guys stand up and try to improve their lot for the coming season. And we'll be keeping an eye on a few things. What are they? 1. Of necessity, one of the big issues right now is the health of Kaiden Guhle and Noah Dobson. Will they be able to skate today? Will they be able to play this week? Who knows, given that the last update is starting to date, in their case.

2. One has to wonder which players will be able to make the club. If we take for granted that the five players submitted yesterday to the waivers will either go to Laval or elsewhere in the NHL as of 2pm this afternoon, we see that there are 29 guys left in camp.

That leaves six or seven cuts to make to get down to 22 or 23 guys. Five or six, actually, since David Reinbacher is one of the guys still in camp, but won't be able to start the season. #InjuryOne goalie will be cut among Montembeault, Dobes and Kahkonen. Put an old $2 on Kahkonen, if nothing changes. Defensively, Carrier, Dobson, Engstrom, Guhle, Hutson, Matheson, Reinbacher (injured), Struble, Trudeau and Xhekaj are still here. Trudeau and Engstrom should start at the bottom and Reinbacher will go on the injured list. But what about the forwards? Anderson, Beck, Blais, Bolduc, Caufield, Dach, Demidov, Evans, Gallagher, Kapanen, Laine, Newhook, Slafkovsky, Suzuki, Veleno and Xhekaj are still here. Owen Beck, Samuel Blais, Oliver Kapanen, Joe Veleno and Florian Xhekaj are the players fighting for two positions. I say two positions because I don't see the Habs going with 14 forwards at the moment. Samuel Blais has a good chance of starting as the 13th forward, and therefore of being in the press gallery on October 8. But which player will be on the ice? I wouldn't be surprised if Joe Veleno is the lucky one. I see a path to Oliver Kapanen. I think the Canadiens are really considering Florian Xhekaj. And I'd be surprised if Owen Beck starts the season in town. But… anything's possible

3. How much does Martin St-Louis want to test? Clearly, the Canadiens' coach is banking on stability in camp for his trios and defensive pairs. But doesn't he want to see if Zachary Bolduc has any chemistry with Ivan Demidov, for example?

That might be good to know before the season starts. We give this example because it's often asked for, but it applies to a few cases, if need be. Wouldn't Martin St-Louis like to have some data on hand to see, if need be, if Demidov and Bolduc can develop chemistry?Because who knows how much Patrik Laine has on the top-6….

'en

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