Crossing their fingers
Canadiens hope search for first-line centre ends with off-season catch Drouin
Every year since he was named general manager of the Montreal Canadiens in 2012, Marc Bergevin has been asked who will be the club’s first-line centre.
He admits it’s a good question, but says top centres are hard to find.
For now, the job still belongs to Phillip Danault, who many see as better suited to thirdline duty, but the Canadiens are ready to take a long look at off-season acquisition Jonathan Drouin when training camp opens Friday.
Drouin, 22, was listed as a winger when he was acquired June 15 from the Tampa Bay Lightning for defence prospect Mikhail Sergachev, but he has played centre in the past. The Canadiens are making no promises, but the third overall pick in the 2013 draft will at least get a chance to fill what has been the team’s biggest void in recent years.
“I didn’t make that trade to say, ‘Jo will be our next centre,”’ Bergevin said Monday at the team’s charity golf tournament. “No matter where he plays, I would have made that trade
While most of his teammates were set to tee off in the Senators’ annual charity golf tournament Monday, captain Erik Karlsson was sporting flip-flops and talking about his recovery from foot surgery.
Doctors repaired the torn tendons in Karlsson’s left foot and inserted an artificial tendon during the procedure last June. The star defenceman is still limited to open-toed footwear and his timeline for a return remains uncertain.
“Obviously I haven’t started skating yet and I don’t know when that will be,” he said. “Probably in the next two, three weeks depending on how things go. Overall, (I’m) not too worried about where I’m at or how it’s looking right now. Everything is pretty much going as expected.”
The Senators open training camp Thursday and will skate for the first time Friday.
Karlsson figures once he resumes skating, he might need at least two more weeks to get into “skating shape.” The 27-year-old added the artificial tendon feels a little strange and will require because getting a young player with that skill level doesn’t come that often, especially a French-Canadian kid that wants to be here and wants to be successful.
“It was something I couldn’t pass on.”
Last season, they tried Alex Galchenyuk at centre and it looked to be working until the 2012 third overall draft pick was injured in mid-season. But management felt he wasn’t handling the defensive side of the job, and coach Claude Julien, after he replaced Michel Therrien in February, came to the same conclusion.
So while Galchenyuk was handed a three-year contract extension worth US$4.9 million per season on July 5, he will earn it playing on the wing.
“For his and our team’s own good, we see him as a winger and there’s nothing wrong with that,” Julien said of Galchenyuk. “He’s a great shooter and with the right people, he’ll have some success and that’s what we’re looking for.”
Julien is also intrigued by what the shifty Drouin can do in the middle.
“He’s played there before and he’s got the attributes to be a good centreman,” the coach said. “He likes the space. Ottawa Senators defenceman Erik Karlsson talks with reporters in Senators dressing room in Ottawa, Saturday, May 27.
an adjustment period.
“It’s a weird feeling,” he said. “It’s never going to feel like it did before. That’s going to be my new normal.”
Karlsson also said he plans to take whatever time is necessary to get back into top form.
“Whenever I’m 100 per cent I’m going to come back and play, whether that is in October or November, for me it’s not going to make a difference,” said Karlsson. “When I do decide to
“He likes to use all the ice and that gives him an opportunity to express himself offensively. We’ve got eight exhibition games. That will give him a chance to work with teammates at that position. We’re confident it’s going to work.”
Drouin spent the summer working out with Canadiens captain Max Pacioretty, who may end up being his leftwinger. While Galchenyuk normally also plays on the left side, there is talk of stacking the first line with talent by putting him on their right side.
That’s fine with Drouin, who expects an easy transition to centre.
“Max scores at a high pace and the way he skates for a big guy is quite impressive,” said Drouin. “I’m excited to play with whoever it is but if it’s Max it’s going to be awesome.”
There was speculation Galchenyuk would be traded until he signed his new contract. Now the slick playmaker and shooter is ready to play wherever Julien puts him.
“I want to be the best player I can be, whether it’s on the wing or at centre,” he said.
The Canadiens need to fill a hole on right side caused by the unexpected departure of Alexander Radulov, who turned
come back it’s going to be 100 per cent and it’s not going to be an injury I’m going to have to battle with for the next two or three years.”
One positive for the Senators is that he’ll be well-rested when he returns.
“Timing-wise the injury didn’t come at that bad of a time for me,” said Karlsson. “I felt like at the end of last (season) I was pretty worn down and I was going to need some extra down Bergevin’s offer to sign as an unrestricted free agent with Dallas. Bergevin said he offered the same money, earlier than the Stars, but the Russian opted to leave the team that welcomed him back from the KHL on a one-year contract.
Veteran right-winger Ales Hemsky, who signed a oneyear deal, and could play on the second or third line with Tomas Plekanec.
The club also lost long-standing defence stalwart Andrei Markov to the KHL after failing to agree on a one-year deal. With Alexei Emelin claimed in the expansion draft by Las Vegas and Nathan Beaulieu traded to Buffalo, most of the left side of last season’s defence is gone.
They were replaced by free agents Karl Alzner, who inked a five-year contract at $4.6 million per season, David Schlemko, Joe Morrow and veteran Mark Streit.
Bergevin is hoping at least one prospect cracks the NHL roster. It could be big centre Michael McCarron, centre Jacob de la Rose, winger Charles Hudon or forward Nikita Scherbak.
Players report Thursday for medicals and fitness testing, with on-ice workouts starting Friday. time off to get back to where I wanted to go.
“I feel rested, I feel fine and my body’s going to be able to take the pounding that it’s going to be able to endure for this season coming up.”
Also Monday, goaltender Craig Anderson said he has been keeping a close eye on hurricane Irma as his off-season home is near Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He was relieved the storm didn’t hit the area as hard as expected, but added it’s hard not to think about the number of friends who are dealing with the aftermath.
The 36-year-old netminder is entering the final year of his contract. Anderson’s agent is expected to meet with Senators general manager Pierre Dorion later this month.
“I want to keep playing as long as I can contribute in a positive manner,” said Anderson. “At this point, after what happened last year and what I went through and how I was able to come back I know I’ve got a lot left in the tank.”
While Anderson’s age might be a factor for some, Dorion doesn’t really see it as an issue.
“He started being a No. 1 late in his career so he’s got a lot of years left in him,” said Dorion.
MATCHUPS: Of the victorious visitors, the Falcons, Raiders, Steelers and Chiefs were playoff teams last season. The Panthers were in the Super Bowl the previous season. Atlanta, Pittsburgh and Carolina were playing weaklings Chicago, Cleveland and San Francisco.
Philly and Washington was basically a toss-up game. So was Baltimore-Cincinnati.
The Bears, Browns and 49ers are rebuilding and struggle mightily at home. They went a combined 5-19 as the host in 2016.
The Bengals let perhaps their two best offensive linemen leave in free agency, and then the Ravens with their solid D and strong pass rush came calling to open the season.
QUARTERBACKS: Once again, some mismatches in the key offensive position. Think about it: 2016 league MVP Matt Ryan against career backup Mike Glennon. Ben Roethlisberger and his two Super Bowl rings vs. rookie DeShone Kizer. Cam Newton, the 2015 NFL MVP and, presumably, healed from rotator cuff issues, against journeyman Brian Hoyer.
And in the other games where the quarterbacking was relatively even — Philly’s Carson Wentz against Washington’s Kirk Cousins; Baltimore’s Joe Flacco vs. Cincinnati’s Andy Dalton; Oakland’s Derek Carr taking on Tennessee’s Marcus Mariota — the better defence played a major role in the wins.
That was particularly true for the Ravens and Eagles.