Mattias Norlinder and Emil Heineman were the last two players left out of the Canadiens’ training camp, and they were far from sulking on Tuesday in Laval.
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The two Swedes were even in a very good mood, with Heineman trying to make his compatriot laugh while speaking to the media.
“I’m very motivated, I think we’re going to have a lot of fun, we’re going to have a very good team and I can’t wait,” Heineman said a few minutes earlier.
“I feel like I gave it my all and I hope I made a good impression because that’s all I can control,” added the left winger, who played four preseason games without scoring points but settled down a note in the management notebook.
More comfortable
Although few observers gave him a chance to stay in Montreal at the start of the season, Norlinder almost found success after collecting a goal and two assists in four preseason games.
“The experience was much better than last year when I had a slow start,” admitted the 23-year-old defender.
In his first full year with the Rockets last year, Norlinder had two goals and 17 assists in 67 games. It’s an honest haul, but nothing more for an offensive defender, and he explains why.
“I feel like last year I was more hesitant, I didn’t always know when to attack so I stayed back, otherwise I would move instead of joining my team’s rise.
“In this year’s camp I felt like I was a completely different player, I had more confidence with the puck and I have to keep playing like that now that I’m back here.”
Emil Heineman Photo Martin Chevalier
Progress
Jean-François Houle witnessed Norlinder’s development under his command last year, it is a different player he finds this season.
“We are really happy for him, I think the last year he spent in the American League paid off. He has said publicly that he is capable of getting better and I think he has a lot of confidence at the moment.
“I’ve seen more consistency in camp, it doesn’t have to be just one good game then three bad games, it has to be day in and day out and I think he’s capable of that.”
Houle intends to pair Norlinder with Logan Mailloux on the blue line. In Heineman’s case, he will most likely find himself to the left of Philippe Maillet and Joshua Roy in a front row that could be explosive. On Sunday, Maillet scored a goal and Roy had three assists in a 5-2 win over the Belleville Senators.
“I hope to be a good addition. They are two very good players and if we find chemistry quickly, I can help them,” said Heineman.
Filip Mesar Photo Martin Chevalier
Mesar is waiting
Furthermore, Jean-François Houle does not yet know where Filip Mesar will play this season. The 2022 first-round pick (26th) is 19 years old and can return to the Kitchener Rangers in the Ontario Junior League.
“We are not sure yet, we still have meetings with Montreal and the heads of state and government. We’ll talk about it this week and we’ll see.”
Mesar played in the Rocket’s first game last season before transferring to Kitchener.
“It’s possible he’ll stay here all year,” Houle also said. He did well in the last preseason game, he is a player who can go on the offensive, but we need to be sure we can give him quality ice.