Montreal Canadiens: Scouting the competition for the Rookie Showdown

The Montreal Canadiens have Jesperi Kotkaniemi as their top name at the Showdown, but the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators have stars of their own.

After Friday’s practice in Brossard, the Montreal Canadiens will be suiting up to kick off the first match of the 2018 NHL Rookie Showdown. We’ve been talking about the players the Habs have brought to camp in length.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi is the star at the tournament for Montreal and will be watched heavily given his determination and goal to make the NHL this season. Jake Evans is 100% healthy and eager to show management what kind of player he can be in a Habs uniform after four years of success at the University of Notre Dame. Lukas Vejdemo, a third-round pick from 2015, chose to play in North America this year after signing his entry-level contract instead of playing another season with Djurgårdens IF in the SHL. 

Additionally, some of the free agent signings could turn some heads. Michal Moravcik and David Sklenicka, European free agents from the Czech Republic, will be at the top of the list. But Hayden Verbeek may also be someone who stands out. Verbeek was signed out of the OHL in the post-season and had his playoffs cut short due to a broken wrist. He plays a style of game similar to that of Brendan Gallagher, so it will be interesting to see how he comes out of the gate after missing time away from the ice.

But who will the Montreal Canadiens be facing? That’s going to have an impact on how well the players perform as names on the other side will want to stand out and show what they can do as well.