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Ryan Poehling, Nick Suzuki looking to lead Montreal Canadiens on Day 1

By Omar L

BROSSARD, QC - JUNE 26: Montreal Canadiens center Jake Evans (71) stands beside Montreal Canadiens center Nick Suzuki (14) waiting for the drills to resume during the Montreal Canadiens Development Camp on June 26, 2019, at Bell Sports Complex in Brossard, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BROSSARD, QC - JUNE 26: Montreal Canadiens center Jake Evans (71) stands beside Montreal Canadiens center Nick Suzuki (14) waiting for the drills to resume during the Montreal Canadiens Development Camp on June 26, 2019, at Bell Sports Complex in Brossard, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The 2019 Rookie Tournament is here and the Montreal Canadiens, led by Ryan Poehling and Nick Suzuki, will start with a game against the Ottawa Senators.

It’s been a while since the Montreal Canadiens had a legitimate game to prepare for. It may be the Rookie Tournament and not the NHL regular season, but many have been looking forward to this event given the personnel on the team this year starting with Ryan Poehling and Nick Suzuki.

The Tournament is in focus; however, it’s not the main goal for them heading into the 2019-20 season. Poehling and Suzuki want NHL jobs and their play over the weekend will help Claude Julien, and the rest of the coaching staff determine whether they’re up for the next level on a full-time basis. Tonight’s test will be against Erik Brannstrom and the Ottawa Senators.

The young Habs practiced in the morning ahead of the game with these lines in play:

Forwards

Harvey-Pinard – Poehling – Suzuki

McShane – Evans – Alain

Fonstad – Verbeek – Guay

Cox – Hillis – Hawe

Pezzetta – Houde – Marleau

Defence

Fairbrother – Brook

Leskinen – Fleury

Crevier-Morin – York

LeGuerrier – Plouffe

Goaltenders

Primeau

Shank

One of the forward lines and defence pairs won’t see the ice tonight, but what is interesting is the top line and pair.

Poehling and Suzuki are getting an opportunity to dominate at this tournament and potentially show how far ahead they are of the pack. Gianni Fairbrother made a lot of noise at development camp while Josh Brook is looking forward to a successful rookie season in the AHL with the Laval Rocket.

Another player to look out for with professional aspirations this season is 2017 seventh-round pick Cayden Primeau. The goaltender joined the Rocket at the end of last year after signing an entry-level contract. With Keith Kinkaid signed to back up Carey Price, there’s a three-way battle in the works to be the starter in the NHL between Primeau, Charlie Lindgren, and Michael McNiven.

A strong performance from Primeau could be the start of something special, which help him get an edge over the two more experience options.

The Ottawa Senators are firing back with this lineup for Game One:

Forwards

Formenton-Brown-Batherson

Abramov-Gruden-Veronneau

Kelly-Kastelic-Davidsson

Trepanier-Todd-Capannelli

Defence

Brannstrom-Guenette

Aspirot-McDonald

Gendron-Welsh

Melancon

Goaltenders

Daccord

Erik Brannstrom is the player to watch given the amount of buzz he’s created for himself last season in both Ottawa and Vegas’ systems. Drake Batherson will also be a name to pay attention to given the work he’s done over the summer training with the likes of Sidney Crosby. Batherson is determined to make an impact in the NHL this season and similar to Poehling and Suzuki, it starts at this tournament.

Next. Hype for trades, signings, and prospects. dark

The dynamic between Poehling and Suzuki will be exciting to watch, but seeing Otto Leskinen in a legitimate game as well as Cam Hillis suiting up for the Habs will be interesting as well.

Be there for what looks to be an exciting match starting at 7:00 PM EST (streamable on TSN/RDS).

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