Thomas’s Canadiens debut could be a family affair

The green-apple quickstep might be all that’s separating Canadiens prospect Christian Thomas from his Habs debut.

And if that flu bug has dug deeply into gritty forward Brandon Prust, who on Friday was too ill for practice in Brossard, then Thomas could skate onto the Montreal stage Saturday afternoon in a most memorable way.

The 21-year-old’s father, Steve, is an assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning, and Thomas Sr. will be behind the visitors’ bench at the Bell Centre for the 1 p.m. contest.

So wouldn’t it be something for Christian to race down the ice, a father feeling his son’s breeze?

“Hopefully,” Thomas said Friday of the possibility, having skated in Prust’s spot with centre Lars Eller and winger Rene Bourque.

“It would be awesome to play, especially against a team with my dad on the bench. I’ve worked hard in Hamilton and shown some good stuff. I think I deserve (the call-up).”

And then he checked his enthusiasm lest it boil over. “I’m just happy to be here.” Thomas’s Hamilton Bulldogs duffle bag was still at his feet, less than 18 hours after he’d arrived in Montreal from the Canadiens’ AHL farm club. While the rest of the Bulldogs headed out to B.C. Thursday, Thomas was held back, in case the Habs chose to bring him up.

That they did, announcing the move at the end of the afternoon.

“I didn’t know what to think,” Thomas said of not going making the road trip. “I was traded (last) summer and I hoped I wasn’t going to go 2-for-2 here.”

The 5-foot-9, 180-pounder has one game of NHL experience to his name, just 1,234 fewer than his father who played 21 seasons for six clubs. Christian played for the New York Rangers last Feb. 23 against the Canadiens at the Bell Centre, skating 12:46 on 17 shifts in the Rangers’ 3-0 loss, then was traded to the Habs last July 2 for fellow forward Danny Kristo.

Thomas has five goals and nine assists in 23 games with the Bulldogs this season.

“It would be unbelievable, especially wearing the Habs jersey this time,” he said. “This arena is so special. I’m really excited to be here.”

Thomas said he expected to make contact later Friday with his father, whom he had called Thursday when he was summoned.

“He wishes me the best,” he said, “and hopes I play against (the Lightning) and try to score against them.”

“Try” being the operative word, surely.

The sense of occasion of a son playing against a team co-coached by his father is not lost on Canadiens coach Michel Therrien. But the Habs boss wasn’t prepared to declare the farmhand in the lineup just yet.

“We’ll see. We understand (the good story),” Therrien said. “But in the meantime, a lot of guys have done good jobs for us. We’re thinking about the team and whatever we do it will be regarding the team concept.”

With no morning skate Saturday, it could come down to a decision made after the noonhour warm-up skate.