Nikita Scherbak Should Get Nine Game Tryout With Montreal Canadiens This Year
The Montreal Canadiens entered training camp with so many returning players that there was hardly any room for new forwards to crack the roster. If Michael Bournival can secure a spot on the top three lines, it appears the Habs will not have a rookie NHLer playing forward this year. Coming into camp, I would have agreed with this plan, however, one player has impressed me enough thus far in camp to change that thinking, and that player is Nikita Scherbak.
Sep 23, 2014; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens left wing Rene Bourque (17) misses a chance to score a goal against Boston Bruins goalie Niklas Svedberg (72) during the second period at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports
Scherbak was selected by the Canadiens with the 26th overall pick in the NHL draft last June, and came with a reputation of a highly skilled, scoring winger. So far in his first NHL training camp, the 18 year old rookie has lived up to that billing.
Last season with the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League, he scored 78 points in 65 games, 35 more points than his next highest scoring teammate.
Scherbak was used on a line with Alex Galchenyuk and Brendan Gallagher in one of the Habs scrimmages, and made his preseason debut two nights ago against the Boston Bruins. The Russian teenager played alongside Rene Bourque and Charles Hudon on Tuesday and his blazing speed and offensive instincts were on full display.
Scherbak will be back on a line tonight with the offensively minded Galchenyuk and Gallagher. The trio has the talent to really impress in an offensive role, and playing with two young players who can score at the NHL level is going to help Scherbak shine tonight.
Though he failed to score any points in his first preseason game, Scherbak made several great plays with the puck, and showed he has the offensive potential to be a top six player in the league in the future. With better line mates tonight, he may just dominate in the offensive zone, and show off his creativity.
He may not be ready for a full time role just yet, but I think the Montreal Canadiens should give him a brief taste of the NHL regular season life this season.
Jun 27, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Nikita Scherbak puts on a team sweater after being selected as the number twenty-six overall pick to the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Scherbak was drafted out of the Canadian Hockey League, and thus can not be sent to the AHL until next season. He either makes the Canadiens, or returns to the WHL, where he was recently traded to the Everett Silvertips.
What the Habs can do though, is give him a nine game tryout and then send him to Everett, without using up a year of his entry level contract. Once a rookie hits the ten game mark in the NHL, his contract counts for the season, and does not slide to the next year.
I think Scherbak is good enough, and could benefit enough, that keeping him around for nine games would make a lot of sense.
Scherbak is certain to dominate the WHL once again this season, and has a World Junior Tournament, in Montreal no less, to look forward to this year as well. Throwing in nine NHL games would add to an already pressure packed season for the young winger, but would also have him much more prepared for next season.
The idea is not for him to make the Canadiens roster full time this season, but for him to be ready to take a serious run at a top six roster spot a year from now. The best way for him to be ready to take that huge jump next season, would be to give him a small taste of the NHL life this October.
Scherbak has exceptional talent, and looks to be a steal of a pick so late in last year’s first round. He may not be ready to display that talent with the Montreal Canadiens this season, but giving him a brief regular season look this year could lead to him exploding out of the games in October, 2015.