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Montreal Canadiens: Calling up Kenny Agostino over Nikita Scherbak was the right move

By Omar L

OTTAWA, ON - SEPTEMBER 29: Montreal Canadiens left wing Kenny Agostino (47) applies pressure on the forecheck during first period National Hockey League preseason action between the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators on September 29, 2018, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON - SEPTEMBER 29: Montreal Canadiens left wing Kenny Agostino (47) applies pressure on the forecheck during first period National Hockey League preseason action between the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators on September 29, 2018, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Montreal Canadiens
LAVAL, QC – JANUARY 10: Montreal Canadiens Nikita Scherbak Kenny Agostino (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

The other side of the story isn’t as positive. Portions of Habs nation have this question ringing in their ears: why wasn’t it Scherbak?

The 2014 first-round pick is still on his conditioning stint and has played a total of four games in the minors. Scherbak hasn’t had the numbers many expected when the stint was first announced. The 22-year-old has yet to put up a point and has four shots.

Must Read. Agostino's Career AHL Dominance. light

His stint also hasn’t been going the way anyone would like. The first game against the Belleville Senators was a step in the right direction. Scherbak made a few moves to set himself up, and his linemates to score but was also caught in poor positions defensively that led to chances against.

Game number three had a lot more negativity to it. Scherbak ended up seeing the bench for most of the game, and when asked about his performance, Bouchard didn’t have the brightest things to say.

Which ties into one of Scherbak’s faults. We can talk about the defensive miscues all the time, but his engagement is something that was in question even back at training camp.

He also didn’t get much of an opportunity to build off the poor performance as he left after the first period with the flu against Utica.

It would be great to see Scherbak with the Montreal Canadiens right now. He showed signs of NHL prowess last season before getting taken out with an injury. Additionally, he was a write-in to make the team by most (including myself). But it looks like Scherbak is in a position where he still needs to find his game.

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