The Montreal Canadiens will take to the ice for the first time in the 2023-24 season today.
Training camp officially opened yesterday with 72 players reporting to Montreal. The players just met with the media and did some off ice testing, medicals and physical tests. They did not hit the ice, but that will change today as we will finally get to see the Canadiens skate for the first time this season.
Training camp always brings high hopes as we focus on the best case scenarios and hope to see plenty of development and growth from the team’s younger players. That could be the case in Montreal, but most pundits are still predicting them to finish low in the Atlantic Division standings, possibly in the basement of the division for the third consecutive season.
Yet, there are some reasons for optimism as we approach a new season. Those young players could take a leap forward, Sam Montembeault could become a true number one goalie or maybe they can just stay healthy long enough to show what they can do as currently constructed.
Speaking of health, there is only one injury on the roster at the moment. Christian Dvorak is out of the lineup until November, but he is the only player on the injured list with Carey Price who is pretty much considered retired at this point.
With a mostly healthy roster, there is going to be some competition in camp for roster spots. No matter the expectations of an NHL team, there are players battling for spots when training camp opens each year.
Some spots, like Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield playing on the top line, are a given. But these three battles will be worth keeping an eye on as the players finally hit the ice for the first time in training camp today.