Zero win in eight games (0-6-2). This is the sad record of the Canadian for this preparatory calendar. To use the words of a wise old man, we won’t be afraid with a simple camp, but it’s still a taste of a difficult season on the horizon.
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In another sport and in another era, the Expos often won the Grapefruit League. But grapefruit juice never turned into champagne at the end of the year. We should keep the same logic for the CH record during this interminable camp.
However, there is a clearly visible cloud of smoke. The Habs are a rebuilding team and victories will remain rare for the 2022-2023 season. Fans will have to get used to it. Patience, a virtue often non-existent in Montreal, is the key.
The newspaper presents winners and losers of the last camp under different categories.
The revelation
Kaiden Guhle
There were no doubts regarding his talent and potential. Long before camp, we might already predict that he would knock on the door of the team for a position within the top six at the blue line. But there was never any real issue. Guhle won the fight among the young contenders within the defensive squad. The former Edmonton Oil Kings and Prince Albert Raiders was probably the best defenseman at this camp along with Mike Matheson, a much more experienced player.
Deceptions
Justin Barron
With Joel Edmundson’s lower back injury, Barron had more of a position to lose than gain. Acquired in the trade of Artturi Lehkonen with the Colorado Avalanche, Barron has sorely lacked consistency at this camp. Kent Hughes wisely chose not to cut corners with him. The general manager of the Canadian called for defender Johnathan Kovacevic, of the Winnipeg Jets, to obtain reinforcement on the right side at the blue line. Barron, who will turn 21 on November 15, will continue his apprenticeship with the Laval Rocket.
Cayden Primeau
On paper, we believed in a possible fight between Primeau and Samuel Montembeault for the position of number two following Jake Allen. Sparkling during the Rocket’s long run in the playoffs last year, Primeau did not continue his momentum at the CH camp. He looked more like the goalie who had confidence in his heels during his time last winter in Montreal. In defense of Keith’s son, he wasn’t exactly playing in front of a defensive stronghold at this camp. In Laval, the 7th round choice will have the opportunity to play several games and block several pucks. This is exactly what he needs.
Mattias Norlinder
Marc Bergevin said in his days as GM that it was up to young players to force the hand of management. Norlinder did not understand this principle. The Swede wore his ghost costume for the rookie tournament in Buffalo, rookie camp and the actual team camp. He’s a long way from the NHL or he hasn’t yet realized what he’ll have to accomplish to stay there.
The surprise
Arber Xhekaj
The beautiful story of the camp is called Arber Xhekaj. For the first few days at the rookie tournament in Buffalo, we still had to check the spelling of his last name. But we ended up memorizing it. And it will still remain imprinted in our brains. Xhekaj seized his chance by playing a robust game from the first to the last day of camp. The Ontarian has said it more than once, he’s not just a big guy, he can also play good hockey by restarting the game well and with good passes. He proved it at this camp, but he will now have to keep the same pace.
L’adolescent
Juraj Slafkovsky
Montreal or Laval? There were two possible destinations for Slafkovsky. The class leader of the 2022 draft will make his North American debut with the Canadiens jersey on his back. The Slovak had a most honest side without upsetting everything in his path. In Montreal, he will benefit from the advice of Martin St-Louis on a daily basis.