Three Canadiens were nowhere to be seen at practice this morning after Montreal’s two wins over Toronto, and the group missing included two players who are usually right in the middle of things.
Alexandre Carrier, Jake Evans and Lucas Condotta did not skate with the rest of the regular group.
Nothing has been confirmed about why they were held out, and it could end up being nothing more than a maintenance day for one or all of them. Still, the timing makes it hard not to notice, especially with the Canadiens set for a third preseason game tomorrow in Trois-Rivières against the Ottawa Senators.
Those preseason games can get chippy in a hurry, even this early, which only adds a little more weight to any absence this close to puck drop.
Karine Hains reported that Josh Nadeau and Dillan Bentley were moved into Group A to replace the missing regulars. Laurent Dauphin also slid into Group B to cover for Evans’ absence there.
Carrier, Condotta and Evans are not skating today, so Nadeau and Bentley join Group A for practice and Dauphin joins Group B. No word on the lineup for tomorrow's game in Trois-Rivieres yet.
Jake Evans also briefly left yesterday’s game because of an apparent injury, which naturally makes his absence from practice stand out even more.
Condotta’s situation may be easier to explain, at least on the surface. He dropped the gloves against Michael Pezzetta last night, and that could be the reason he was held out.
For now, though, the Canadiens have not said anything definitive about any of the three, and there’s still no word on the lineup that will face the Senators tomorrow night.
In Other News...
Florian Xhekaj Just Forced A Bigger Canadiens Roster Debate
Florian Xhekaj has spent training camp making himself harder to ignore, and not just because of the name on the back of the sweater. He has been skating with established players, showing the kind of physical development that tends to catch a coachs eye in September, and the broader Canadiens picture only adds to the intrigue with his brother Arber having recently signed a one-year deal in the organization.
The latest reminder came in a preseason meeting with Toronto, where Xhekaj dropped the gloves and added another layer to an already interesting camp battle. For Montreal, it is the sort of development that can sharpen a roster conversation quickly: a young player pushing for attention, a team looking at its depth and identity, and a decision that gets tougher when the physical edge starts to show up in real games. [Read more 🡒]
Arber Xhekaj Created A Canadiens Issue Fans Didn't Expect
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Montreal fans already had reason to keep an eye on Florian, who has been pushing for a roster spot and turned in a solid outing with an assist, a blocked shot and plenty of physical play. Now the focus has shifted to what comes next for Arber, because the NHL bans cell phones on the bench and in the penalty box, making this less of a lighthearted family moment and more of a situation that could carry a penalty of its own. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Keeping One Kraft Hockeyville Answer Under Wraps
The Canadiens are set for a notable stop in Trois-Rivires on Monday, when they face the Ottawa Senators at the Colise de Trois-Rivires in the Kraft Hockeyville game. Both clubs will be on the ice there for practice before puck drop, with arrival and session times already announced, turning the rink into a full day of team activity and a hometown showcase for the area.
One piece of the picture remains fuzzy, though, and it is the one fans usually care about most: who will actually suit up for Montreal. The lineup has not yet been confirmed, even as Samuel Montembeault and Zachary Bolduc are expected to be part of the trip, leaving the Canadiens with a little bit of suspense heading into what should be a lively showcase game. [Read more 🡒]