THIS Player Is Someone To Watch At Montreal Canadiens Training Camp!

THIS Player Is Someone To Watch At Montreal Canadiens Training Camp!

The Montreal Canadians looking to level up off their performance last season where obviously they make the NHL playoffs. They lose to Washington in five games. How can they get better? How can they get better? Well, the answer sometimes can be right at the tip of your nose. Getting rookie players in that perform like multi-million dollar signed pros. That’s what you’re looking for, right? So, Ivon Deidov comes in, rookie contract, but maybe can perform like a $5 million type player. That’s what we’re talking about here. So, Denitov is an obvious. He’s the He’s the ball on the lip of the cup. Just breathe on it and it goes in. Right. Last week, Marco and I did um another prospect kind of video, underrated prospects. And I want to bring it back to the table because of the reaction that came from the comment section around Florian Jackie about who this player is, who he may turn into, and in the eyes of many, he won’t be a surprise. Let’s talk about surprise players at camp that may turn our attention in a positive way. Let’s start with Florian Jackie. H how much belief do you have that maybe he reads his press clippings, maybe he believes internally that he’s a damn good hockey player? How much pressure is on this guy psychologically going into camp this fall? I don’t think there’s that much pressure. I mean, it’s his second proseason. I think I think that’s what I mean. Like you put internal pressure. We all do it in various aspects of our life. You got a PowerPoint presentation to make it work. You’re putting pressure on yourself. That’s what I’m saying. I know. I get it. Um, I think that a guy like Florian Jackie definitely has the toolbox to be just a very valuable bottom six player, be at fourth or third line, depending on how far he goes. And those are the kinds of players that if they develop the details properly, could even slot in on a top six wing if you’re depleted with injuries. That’s the kind of vision I have. But to me, I think on a competitive Stanley Cup team, if he develops properly, he’s a fourthline type of player or a third line, you know, sorry, a a third line player or a premium fourthline player if he develops well. And I think I think that’s really fair for where he was taken and what he’s done so far. And I think the goal totals despite the lack of play uh playoff time, you sorry, not playoff time, power play time, uh I think speaks for itself. great defensively, used, you know, religiously on the PK. Um, and and down the stretch in Laval, you know, was given a good third line kind of usage with Owen Beck and I believe Jared Davidson, who I’m going to get to in a sec. Yeah. So, I think I think a guy like Florian because he’s on the younger side of the rest of this class, can be used with a little bit more minutes in Laval as opposed to being like a 13th 14th forward. I know that a lot of people like the size. I know that a lot of people like the drive to the net. He’s gonna wow people at at at uh at rookie camp for sure. He’s gonna make an impact in some degree uh you know at Canadians training camp. But I I think we talked about this to a degree and I won’t break up Michael Pazetta again because people got upset that I said that he uh his last season was a good offensive season before he was called up those eight games in the AHL. Apologies. Uh how dare you? What I I know I know. But what I will say is I think if I think you want a guy like Florian to excel at multiple aspects of the game on a consistent basis before you bring him up to a consistent role in the NHL and I think that’s the key, right? It is. But like I I led you in with pressure, right? Like if Jeff Corton and Ken Hughes in the Monday after they get bounced in five by Washington are talking about guys got to step up, they got to be more prepared, in better shape when camp opens. Jeff Gorton talked about how they want that dog. They want to be harder to play against. I mean, Toronto has 25 bottom six fors they just picked up this summer. I mean, everyone’s trying to be the Florida Panthers. And I’m curious if like part of me thinks, you know, I don’t think Jeff Gordon or Ken Hughes, don’t misar me, I don’t think the upper management is gonna force Florian and Jack eyee, but I bet you they’re going to give him a longer look. I bet you they’ll give him more room just to see because they’re missing that type of player. They They really are. I can see them being patient with him. Yeah, I think they’ll give him I think they’ll definitely give him time to display where he’s at in his development. I think he’ll get a couple of games for sure. I where I think there will be uh maybe a where we I deviate from the general populace when it comes to to Florian is that his development will be far more uh relevant to the decision-m than simply what is on the ice and I think that’s the key here and don’t you know the key is to not make the same mistake that Canadians have made in the past where there is a need there was a player that fit that need and that player was not ready for the consistent everyday filling of that need at the NHL level. And I call that the the your Sperry victor mate uh paradigm where you have a hole at a position be it left D or center and you bring in these prospects who I’ll bet you know showed promise uh probably not the best for their development to bring them in as as teenagers into this situation. I feel the same way with Florian because he only had two years of junior then one year of AHL and then you’re going to bring him directly into the NHL. I just like that’s a consistent amount of change where you’re not able to build new habits at a pro level. And you know a lot we’re going to talk about this to a degree uh you know in training camp starts but that’s something that’s significantly underrated is those habits those the way of playing the game is a little different. the understanding of the system is a little different and you really just want him to thrive in that situation. So, yes, he had 24 goals last year, but you’re gonna want to see more of that playmaking ability as well. You’re gonna want to see more of that rounded game so that he’s not a one-trick pony when he gets to the NHL in terms of being a straight line scoreer. You want him to be a a strong defensive player, a good penalty killer, a good faceoff taker, a guy that can play in the corners, but also a guy that can play with pace in all three zones. So if you are able to do that, if you are able to to to allow your player that kind of benefit, then you’re going to get yourself an everyday kind of bottom six center, which I believe will be beneficial. I mean, you look at if if Michael Petta is not a good enough option in terms of an example. I always look at Jake Evans. Jake Evans was not a defensive specialist in the NCAA. He was not. He was a strong offensive player. And then when he got to Laval, he developed his two-way game on top of that offense and was a point per game talent or true point per game talent before he was called up full-time. Now, if I’m off by a po like a 10% on the point per game, I apologize, but he was close to a point per game. Um, and that’s the kind of mindset. give him two years where the second year, this year, he gets gains so that you can really kind of calibrate where he is and you can get him kind of ready to take the next step and then you see next year where he’s kind of at on a full-time basis. That’s my two cents. That makes sense to me. And you know, when we look at last season for the Laval Rocket, right, they had six players that scored at least 20 goals. Two of the six are over the age of 25. Alex Barry Boule, who scored 22, is 27. Lauron Don, the dad of the group, more or less, 29. He scored 26. Jared Davidson, the Montreal Canadian’s fifth round pick, is 22. He dropped 24. Sean Ferrell, who’s 22, he had a 20 goal season. We talked about Florian Jackie. And finally at 21, it’s Joshua Dawis. Who would be the least surprising player to you two from that class, from that grouping? Let’s talk about those four. No disrespect to Dof or Barre Boule, those other four players. Um, let’s walk through it here. Who are you expecting things from? Who would be a surprise? So, let’s start with who do you expect something from at camp from those four names? Well, one of them for obvious reasons is is Shawn Farrell. Sean Farrell. I know a lot of people like I could already see the comments. Too small, too small, too small, too small. I get it. Yeah, but Sean Farrell is a dog. A B Sean Farrell is waiver eligible and I think that is the thing to keep into consideration. The Canadians are going to want him to prove himself if they’re going to keep him up or else they are most likely going to lose him to waiverss. So, this is a guy that if he wants to stay with the Canadians has to have a pretty solidly big camp for him to prove that he belongs. Unfortunately, again, when you already have a Cole Caulfield in your top six and a Brennan Gallagher in your bottom six, it creates a situation where maybe Shawn isn’t necessarily the best fit there. And that that to me is up to to Kent Hughes and company to figure out. Maybe there’s a trade a camp if he produces well, but can’t they don’t have a spot for him where they trade him for potentially a defensive equivalent or a younger player or a prospect, whatever. That’s that’ll be then. But in terms of today, the guy that probably has that that is on the hot seat the most to show something is going to be a guy like Sean Farrell. I mean, he’s been nothing but a pro. He’s been he’s rolled with it. This is a guy who’s been through adversity. I mean, he had what, one point through his first like 15 games and then went on an absolute tear. Almost finished the season uh well finished the season on a point per game pace in terms of like those last 20 games and then into the playoffs, right? Um or sorry, those last 50 games and then into the playoffs. So, you know, really strong overall performance from him and I feel like he has the hockey IQ, the speeds, the tenacity to eventually kind of carve himself a role in the NHL, but again, with the the amount like the the sheer quantity of bottom six players, it’s just going to be a really tough time. And then the other guy is Jared Davidson. To me, Jared Davidson is the kind of guy that you can put on a bottom six and he can thrive. He’s a guy that you can put on a top six and he can complement just, you know, may not have the foot speed that you would want of a top prospect, but he has the hockey IQ and the finishing ability that I believe would make him an everyday bottom six player in the NHL uh for a long time. And this is a guy that they drafted as an overager in 2022 that they, you know, that they brought in on an AHL deal to, you know, kind of show, you know, a show me deal. and then you know how the Canadians had no choice because of how well he played to give him that entry level contract because he performed so well. So to me this is a guy to keep an eye on as well and and I bring up those two guys not to be down on a guy like Joshua. I think Joshua has to show something but I think there’s I think there’s less you know to to me it it it’s just I I just get a vibe from from him and the organization. I just I don’t I don’t know what the long term is with him. Um you know, I found that he was a little lacadasical in the first round of the playoffs in the AHL. Uh and then kind of really turned it on as the playoffs went on. You saw a grittier him. Uh much better in the second half of the second round and then into the third round. Um, but I I I feel like for Joshua, the foot speed, the pace, and playing hard. If he can add those elements to his game, then he he probably would be another player that could potentially crack that roster. But again, the competition is going to be stiff and he’s got to wow them right off the bat. And you know, brother, I come from the golf world, right? And there’s this expression in golf called manage your expectations. Yeah. And I apply that to these guys. And no disrespect, Jared Davidson, fifth round. Sean Ferrell, fourth round. Joshua, fifth round. Like the math doesn’t skew towards these guys becoming NHL Allstars. So, let’s go to the third round. We’ve spoken exclusively about surprises maybe at camp and they are pretty much all forwards. The Canadians traded away their leading point getter on the blue line in Logan Mayu that you know he’s gone. They got Zachary Bulduk coming back the other way. Kosher cool. 20-year-old Adam Angstrom, third round pick, the second leading scorer defensively for the Montreal Canadians. Are you saying he went more higher than third? No, I think he’s 21 or 22 now. He’s 21. He’s 21. Um, just speak your mind, bro. Just say it. Um, but Adam Angstrom, you know, now that Logan Mayu is there, I’m curious about does he become with David Rybacker the men in the Laval or is this someone that could I mean, there’s no room for him defensively. The Canadians have a surplus of defenseman. I just I I don’t know how they solve this puzzle other than leaving him with the rocket. I think there’s no Russian and and make like I first of all, will he surprise a camp? I think he’s going to turn some heads. I think he’ll definitely turn some heads. I think he’s got the skating, the pace, the tenacity, the physical elements that are a little underrated in his game. and he could just transport the puck out of those three zones so like so fluidly and efficiently that his controlled exits and his controlled entries are just really fun to watch. And then just the maintaining of puck possession in the offensive zone is probably his greatest feature and that’s something that Canadians defenseman currently lack. So it’s good to see that they’re they’re adding that kind of an element. But in my honest opinion, I think the top pair in Laval next year is going to be Adam Angstrom and David Rybacker. Yeah, you know, and I think that Yeah, and I think I think that makes sense. But this is a guy I expect to wow at camp as well. I expect him to really come out of the woodwork and show what he kind of player he was towards the end of it because I remember rookie camp last year, you know, there were flashes, but not exactly ideal. And then to no surprise, I really strongly believe that a guy like David Rybacker will impress at Canadians camp. I think fully healthy right now uh currently in in Switzerland. Um actually he was uh he was showing a former teammate now current AHC Clotton uh forward uh Brandon Geniac around because he signed Geniac who played for the Rocket signed with David Rybacker’s old team in Europe. So David Rybacker was the one showing him around. But I you you know he’s not walking around with a brace anymore. He’s playing he’s on the ice. He’s training. I think this is a guy that can come in and look good and and kind of reassure fans a little bit. And I think that’s that’s the biggest thing that you can do in his situation given the amount of time that he’s missed. Let me let me ask you this. Outside of David Rybacker, right, should have fans in this market be excited about the players in the Laval um for what they’re going to do with the AHL and what they may do at the NHL level once more doors open. Like there’s a lot of depth, Marco. Like we’ve spoken about a lot of potential depth pieces. There’s a lot of depth there. A lot of third line, bottom six type. Like we really haven’t other than David Rybacker, we haven’t really touched on you know, look out uh you know, Patrick Line, your job might be on the line. Like that’s Zachary Bulldook. Zachary Bulldook’s the threat. Like I don’t know where the threat is in Laval today. That’s that’s me being totally honest, you know. Uh, well, I mean, yeah, I think David Rybacker and Adam Angstrom are the threats for guys like uh like like a Jaden Strouel, for example. Sure. Yeah. To to kind of balance out. I personally think Jaden Strub is an all day every day defenseman in the NHL, but you want to have different players and I’m, you know, I’m not going to speak on on Arbor. I think we’ve done that enough where I feel like he brings different elements to the team that would be valuable to keep around. So, I wouldn’t necessarily entertain that outside of anything ridiculous. So, with that said, I don’t necessarily see anybody on the back end in Laval that will necessarily force themselves this this training camp, but crazier things have happened. And this is the thing, if there are injuries, watch out because that that is where and I don’t wish it because obviously last year with David Rybacker out for most of the season and line missing a couple of months, like that was devastating. Yeah. So, and Doc obviously. So, like I if if they could stay healthy, it is what it is. Uh my only thing and I guess my two cents on on the on the topic is I really do do feel like it’ll be at forward where that game will be played because I don’t think the Canadians mind waving Joe Valeno and Samuel Ble if they are truly outshone by a by a Laval Rocket prospect, you know. So, we haven’t talked about him. We haven’t talked about him. But Owen Beck, for example, fits this to a tea as well, right? If Owen Beck comes in and just blows by everybody, this is an empty centerman, right? And then the last of all is is Oliver Ka, right? We haven’t talked about Oliver Kapin. Well, no. And that’s that that’s me by design because like like we talked about Denito, like Owen Beck and Kain, I don’t consider them surprises. like they have head starts to me on on all the other players you and I just finished talking about shining some light on. Right. Kappa’s ahead of those guys. Owen Beck is ahead of those guys. You know, I think we’re ready to see a little bit more once camp opens later this fall. I was just trying to get in the weeds a little bit deeper on, you know, the 20 to 22 year olds that are in the pipeline. You know, what’s the chances about them, right? Like I I have expectations for Kenan and I have expectations for Owen Beck. Full stop. So what are they going to do about that? That’s the biggest question, right? And that’s what Jeff put them on the clock, man. Be ready. Be ready. Well, you’re at that point in the rebuild where you’re going to need two or three guys to truly just take another step and make their job difficult. That’s Marco Demo. You can follow him at um M and Demo with RG Media.

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When the Montreal Canadiens open up their main training camp, who are the players we think can surprise people? What is the Habs management’s plan with younger players and their path to the NHL? Shaun Starr and Marco D’Amico go over some players inside the Montreal Canadiens system and where they fit and where some don’t fit in the long term plans for the Canadiens.

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