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Montreal Canadiens: Three Prospects With Something To Prove At Rookie Camp

By Ken MacMillan

PLYMOUTH, MI - DECEMBER 11: Ty Smilanic #59 of the U.S. Nationals passes the puck against the Slovakia Nationals during game two of day one of the 2018 Under-17 Four Nations Tournament game at USA Hockey Arena on December 11, 2018 in Plymouth, Michigan. USA defeated Slovakia 7-2. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)
PLYMOUTH, MI - DECEMBER 11: Ty Smilanic #59 of the U.S. Nationals passes the puck against the Slovakia Nationals during game two of day one of the 2018 Under-17 Four Nations Tournament game at USA Hockey Arena on December 11, 2018 in Plymouth, Michigan. USA defeated Slovakia 7-2. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images) /
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The Montreal Canadiens training camp will begin soon. We have the annual golf tournament coming up on Monday as all the Habs players will gather in the city for the first time.

From there, we will see rookies get together on Wednesday as they prepare for the team’s annual rookie camp. These players will partake in physical and off-ice testing on Wednesday before heading to Buffalo to take part in a rookie tournament on Tuesday.

Habs draft picks, free agent signings and invitees will play three games over four days against prospects from the Ottawa Senators, Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres as they gear up for the team’s main training camp. Or, at least they hope to be heading to the team’s main training camp.

Not every player in the rookie tournament will head to Canadiens camp afterwards, but many will get the invitation. In total, there are 27 players heading to Buffalo to play in the tournament. This includes 15 forwards, nine defensemen and three goaltenders.

Of the list, there are some players like Joshua Roy and Sean Farrell who are just turning pro and you kind of know they are going to get a good look at training camp and will likely play a big role with the Laval Rocket in the AHL to begin the season.

Other players like Noah Laaouan and Christopher Ortiz are likely ticketed for the ECHL if all the Habs defenders are healthy to begin the season.

There are also a handful of players that we don’t really know what to expect from this season. These three players really do have to show something at this rookie camp to catch the attention of the Habs brass and ensure they get a longer look at main training camp and get into a few exhibition games to show what they can do.

Otherwise, if they struggle against rookies next week, they could find themselves falling so far off the Habs organizational depth chart that we don’t really hear much from them again.

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