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In Hainsight: Less than a Month to Go |
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Follow me @KarineHains for all updates about the Montreal Canadiens and women's hockey
In the hockey world, summer seems to last forever, if not weather wise in length at least especially when your team fails to make the playoffs. The last time the Canadiens played it was Arpril 13th against the Bruins, it’s been four and a half months already, but thankfully, in less than a month, on September 25, life will come back at the Bell Centre, at least for a preseason game against the New Jersey Devils.
Watching a rebuilding team is not always easy, the wins are few and far between, but it’s at least interesting to see the players develop before your very eyes. Watching Caufield whack pucks into the net from the side of the net gets the fans out of their seats, even if it’s in a losing cause. Watching Xhekaj put down Zack Kassian and show the logo on his jersey gives them goosebumps. Watching Kirby Dach come into his own and show skills that the Blackhawks thought long gone is satisfying as well, but in the offseason, there is none of that. There are no big trades either, just deals aiming to make room for youth or shift out dead wood. As for free agency, it means nothing, the team is not ready to contend and there’s no point in signing free agents at that stage.
Except there was one deal this offseason that meant something, Newhook’s acquisition on the eve of the draft in return for two draft picks. It seems like it happened ages ago and if it turns out like the Dach trade did, it will have been a big trade for the Canadiens. When the puck drops on the first preseason game, if Newhook is dressed I’ll be watching him particularly closely, he’s the most interesting part of this long offseason.
Then, there is the fact that Hughes managed to ship out Mike Hoffman making some much-needed room up front, but who will take advantage of it? Will Harvey-Pinard keep going strong and force the team to keep him in the line-up? That would be a great underdog story for a seventh-round pick who took advantage of a truckload of injury to make his name and stuck once everyone was healthy.
Even on the blue line, sending Joel Edmunson to Washington also means more room for youth on the blue line as well, even though there’s still a crowd back there. I’m looking forward to watching the battle for ice-time back there and to see if any of the new guys coming up will give the established blue liners a run for their money. I don’t think there’s any way Reinbacher makes the jump straight in the NHL, but I’m certain he’ll stick around after rookie camp to get a taste of the NHL, even if it’s just a little one.
Sit tight Habs fans, there are less than three weeks left until the Canadiens hopeful compete in the 2023 prospect challenge in Buffalo alongside the Sabres, Bruins, Devils, Senators and Penguins.
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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