The Canadiens’ talent pool hasn’t been this good in a long time. Several of these young pearls have broken out on the rinks at the Brossard complex over the past four days. Four days where they had the chance to make a good impression on the team’s staff.
Some of these caught the attention of Rob Ramage, Head of Player Development. At the end of an internal game that the Reds won 2-1, the former defender shared his impressions of what he saw.
Lane Hutson
MARTIN ALARIE / MONTREAL JOURNAL
“He continues to impress us. When we designed it, we had some concerns about its size. But he kept improving. What he did in his first season in the NCAA put our minds at ease. He has compiled excellent statistics. Every game I attended he had an impact. He was the best player on the ice.
“He’s a very smart guy. He always finds a way to find someone on the ice. Whenever he has the puck in attack, something always happens. His speed and in-game intelligence will help him tremendously to stand out from the crowd. He never gets rid of the puck. He’s always dangerous.
“He’s getting stronger. His lateral movements are impressive and his explosion keeps improving.
David Reinbacher
MARTIN ALARIE / MONTREAL JOURNAL
“He’s a big guy. He was nervous. It’s been a big month for him. Earlier he told me that he was disappointed because he didn’t score when he had chances. I said to him, “Relax! We’re in July right now.” He started the season as a fifth or sixth defender and finished with the first pair.
Logan Mailloux
MARTIN ALARIE / MONTREAL JOURNAL
“I think I’ve seen him more than my own son in the last year. He’s had a great year. He looks like an NHL player. In his case he has to play. He hasn’t played much hockey in the past three years. he wants to learn In London he became a leader. He played 30 minutes a game and it was a solid 30 minutes. He will struggle to find his place, be it here or in Laval.
Adam Engstrom
Photo Pierre Paul Poulin
“He’s quite a player. I saw him play a few games in Rogle. In the first game he was the best defender. And in the second he looked like a little boy. That’s what you expect. He takes his game to a new level. He continues to impress us. He will play one more season in Sweden before we bring him here. He is in a good position there.”
Owen Beck
MARTIN ALARIE / MONTREAL JOURNAL
“Another piece I got to play in Mississauga and Peterborough. He is a complete player, very intelligent, reliable and consistent. His trainers love him. He’s a leader, a very serious and conscientious guy. He knows how to play hockey and he’s hungry.
Luke cloth
MARTIN ALARIE / MONTREAL JOURNAL
“In his first two seasons with the organization, he was not spared from injuries. It delayed him a bit in his development. He arrived at the camp slimmer and in better physical condition. Today he had an impact on the game. He has to do it more consistently now. We want to see that in every one of his performances.
Philip Mesar
Joel Lemay / QMI Agency
“I’m not too worried about his performance. The plan was to bring him here so he could get used to North American hockey. A smaller ice rink, culture. He lived in Kitchener with a boarding family. It’s been a challenging year for him, which isn’t a bad thing.”