Mattias Norlinder’s return to Laval is a sign that the Canadian has decided to give Justin Barron a chance on the blue line.
• Also read: CH: Norlinder and Heineman demoted to Laval
We say this because Norlinder, who is 23 years old, had a good training camp, which Martin St-Louis confirmed.
“Norlinder is still getting used to the smaller ice and he had a heck of a camp, I was really impressed with him.”
“I’m happy to be there, I’m happy with my camp,” Barron said.
Preferably
The 21-year-old Nova Scotia defender believes he has done slightly better in the preseason calendar compared to last year.
“When I look at my camp last year, I wasn’t particularly happy,” he admitted. This year I was more confident and tried to be more confident in my game.”
The team’s decision to keep him in Montreal is the result of necessary internal competition.
“There will always be competition,” Barron agreed. Norlinder had a good camp and I’m sure we’ll see him here again at some point.”
Jesse Ylönen Getty Images via AFP
Ylönen is ripe
If the Canadian had wanted to send Jesse Ylönen back to Laval, the Finn would have had to go through waivers first, but that is not the reason he was chosen over Emil Heineman.
“There is his experience gained over the last year,” Martin-St-Louis began. He came back heavier and I think he’s ready for the next level.
“I’m not saying Heineman isn’t ready, but we have to see what we need from him so that he continues to develop and take a better place in Laval, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see him back here this year. “
We understand from this that the head coach liked what he saw from the young 21-year-old Swede.
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Ylönen smiled carefree on Monday lunchtime and we understand it. After all, he played almost half the season in Montreal last year, 37 games in which he scored 6 goals and 10 assists.
“Of course I want to stay here, I think I’ve worked hard for it,” said the 2018 second-round pick.
Ylönen knows what he has to do to stay in the NHL and he has an idea of what contribution he can make.
“There are a lot of things I can still improve on, but I picked up minutes on penalties and I think that’s an aspect of my game that has improved. I think I can contribute in that way this year.”