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Montreal Canadiens: Things to look out for during training camp

By Omar L

TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 24: Montreal Canadiens Center Nick Suzuki (88) skates with the puck during the NHL preseason game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs on September 24, 2018, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON, Canada. (Photo by Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 24: Montreal Canadiens Center Nick Suzuki (88) skates with the puck during the NHL preseason game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs on September 24, 2018, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON, Canada. (Photo by Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Montreal Canadiens
MONTREAL, QC – APRIL 2: Montreal Canadiens (Photo by Francois Lacasse/NHLI via Getty Images) /

The Montreal Canadiens may not have had the flashiest offseason, but there are five things that could happen in training camp which may impact the roster.

September brings the winds of change in the NHL. For the Montreal Canadiens, it begins with the Rookie Showcase in Belleville against prospects from the Ottawa Senators and Winnipeg Jets leading directly into training camp.

Save for the Sebastian Aho attempt, the first offer sheet attempt in years, Marc Bergevin kept things fairly tame. He resigned Artturi Lehkonen, Joel Armia, Mike Reilly, Brett Kulak, and Christian Folin and brought in Ben Chiarot, Nick Cousins and Keith Kinkaid. With the playoffs clearly insight after losing out last season, many things will need to go right for the Habs, and it starts at training camp.

Many believe there isn’t much to care about in those weeks before the regular season. However, the scoring issues for the Habs at training camp ahead of the 2017/18 season carried out throughout the year. Injuries didn’t help the process one bit, but it was a mixed bag of poor luck for Montreal that year.

The Montreal Canadiens improved their 5v5 play and production last season and got a bounce-back year from Carey Price; however, the man advantage and timely scoring held them back.

So what is there to look for at this upcoming training camp? Last year saw Jesperi Kotkaniemi get the majority of the spotlight as it would be the deciding factor as to where he played. This year there are a lot more questions that need answer and camp will be the place to get some of them.

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