The Canadiens are taking their rookie tournament on the road this September, and the change is a notable one.
Instead of being staged at the Bell Centre, the event will be held at the Slush Puppie Centre in Gatineau. That puts Montreal’s prospects far from their usual home and brings the team closer to fans in the Outaouais region.
As Renaud Lavoie put it: "Just a reminder that the rookie tournament won't be at the Bell Center this year. Canadiens will play against the Jets on September 12 and the Senators the next day at the Slush Puppie Center in Gatineau."
The tournament is set for September 12 and 13, with two games on the schedule for the Canadiens’ young players. Montreal will open against the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday and then face the Ottawa Senators on Sunday.
For prospects, this is usually the first real measuring stick of the year. David Reinbacher, Adam Engstrom, Florian Xhekaj and others could all get an opportunity to make an impression, while young Alexey Vlasov could soon be part of that mix as well.
After a long summer, it also gives fans their first live hockey fix again, and this year it comes with a rare trip to the Outaouais. The setup raises an interesting question for the Canadiens: could a player like Florian Xhekaj use the rookie tournament to make a strong first statement and carry that momentum into main camp? That's exactly what his older brother did a few years ago!
In Other News...
Arber Xhekaj Suddenly Has Real Pressure In Canadiens Camp
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For Xhekaj, that changes the tone of camp considerably. He has a job to protect, trade chatter is never far away, and the competition around him means every shift matters a little more than it might have a month ago. Montreal does not need to decide everything immediately, but the way this race unfolds will say plenty about how the club sees its defense moving forward and where Xhekaj stands in that plan. [Read more 🡒]
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Marchenko is not short on potential suitors, either, with the Senators, Sabres, Kraken and Utah Mammoth all mentioned as possible bidders if talks ever open up in earnest. For Montreal, the challenge is obvious: any pursuit is likely to turn into a crowded fight, and the Blue Jackets are trying to stay competitive while navigating a situation that could take some time to clarify. [Read more 🡒]
Patrik Laines Next Move Is Raising A Tough Canadiens Question
Patrik Laines situation has become one of the more intriguing loose ends around the Canadiens this summer. Even with interest coming from teams such as the Rangers and Maple Leafs, the former Canadiens winger is still without an NHL contract, leaving his next move very much unsettled as the market has continued to sort itself out.
What makes the delay notable is that there is no concrete NHL offer sitting in front of him right now, and the idea of a return to Europe is starting to sound less like a fallback and more like a real option. Jeff Skinners recent one-year deal with EHC Biel-Bienne in Switzerland has only added to that conversation, and for Canadiens fans keeping an eye on Laines future, the big question is whether the next chapter ends up being in North America at all. [Read more 🡒]