Montreal Canadiens: Mike Reilly joins the team at practice
After the Montreal Canadiens acquired him ahead of yesterday’s Trade Deadline, Mike Reilly has joined the team at practice with an actual spot in the lineup.
The Montreal Canadiens didn’t do much on Trade Deadline Day, but their sole acquisition is ready to debut with his new team. Mike Reilly was at team practice this morning donning number 28, which has been used a lot in the last year. Nathan Beaulieu and Jakub Jerabek wore that number before he did and hopefully he doesn’t face the same fate as they did.
Reilly was on the bottom pairing with Jordie Benn which could hint at his probable debut with the Habs Wednesday against the New York Islanders. The 24-year-old was in the same spot on the Minnesota Wild, so it’s good that Claude Julien isn’t forcing him to do more than he is accustomed to. That could change depending on how he plays for the remainder of the season, but for now, the bottom pair is where Reilly should be.
With Reilly in the lineup, the Habs have another young mobile defenceman on the blueline which is something they’ve needed all season. Victor Mete and Noah Juulsen have excelled in their latest roles on the team, and if Reilly does the same, there will be more to look forward to next year.
#Habs practice:
— John Lu (@JohnLuTSNWpg) February 27, 2018
Pacioretty - Drouin - Lehkonen
Galchenyuk - Danault - Hudon
Byron - De La Rose - Gallagher
Carr - Froese - Scherbak
Deslauriers - L. Shaw - A. Shaw
Mete - Petry
Alzner - Juulsen
Reilly - Benn
Schlemko
Niemi
Lindgren
More from Habs News
- Montreal Canadiens: Biggest Questions Going Into 2023-24
- Montreal Canadiens: Quentin Miller’s Poise And Confidence Fuel His Game
- Montreal Canadiens: Laval Rocket Top Defence Pair Could Be Set
- Montreal Canadiens: Worst Move Of The Pierre Gauthier Era
- Montreal Canadiens: Could Casey DeSmith End Up In Colorado?
The defence pairings weren’t the only place where the Habs added more youth as Nikita Scherbak was at practice as well. Scherbak was recalled from the Laval Rocket yesterday ahead of 3:00 PM which makes him ineligible for the Calder Cup Playoffs in the AHL.
Granted, considering where Laval is in the standings, the playoffs are probably a long shot. It looks like the 22-year-old will be on the team for the rest of the season which is another great year good move by the Habs.
Scherbak was on the fourth line with Byron Froese and Daniel Carr leaving Nicolas Deslauriers, Logan Shaw, and Andrew Shaw as the extras. It would’ve been nice to see Alex Galchenyul the 2014 first-round pick reunited with Alex Galchenyuk, but having him in the lineup at all is a plus.