Canadiens prospects hit the ice for first time at development camp
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Canadiens prospects hit the ice for the first time Wednesday at the team's development camp in Brossard.
The camp opened Tuesday with 31 players reporting for tests and off-ice workouts. The camp will wrap up Thursday with a scrimmage slated for 11 a.m. at the CN Sports Complex, which will be open to the public.
Tuesday's on-ice sessions saw the goalies, defencemen and forwards split up into separate groups for drills.
Among the players taking part at the camp is Michael Hage, a first-round pick at last year's NHL Draft (21st overall), who is coming off a freshman season at the University of Michigan in which he posted 13-21-34 totals. Because of NCAA eligibility rules, Hage is not allowed to attend the Canadiens' rookie camp or training camp. He will head back to Michigan next season.
The Canadiens traded both of their first-round picks (16th and 17th overall) at last Friday's NHL Draft to the New York Islanders, along with 23-year-old forward Emil Heineman, in exchange for 25-year-old defenceman Noah Dobson.
Russian winger Alexander Zharovsky, the first player selected by the Canadiens at this year's draft (second round, 34th overall), isn't at the development camp because he doesn't have a Canadian visa. The other eight players the Canadiens drafted this year are all at the camp.
Aatos Koivu, the son of former Canadiens captain Saku Koivu, is at the development camp after being selected in the third round (70th overall) of last year's NHL Draft. Koivu did not attend last year's development camp. The 6-foot, 170-pound centre posted 1-7-8 totals in 31 games last season as an 18-year-old playing for TPS Turku in the Finnish Hockey League. That's the same team his father played for after being selected by the Canadiens in the first round (21st overall) of the 1993 NHL Draft. Koivu missed time last season while battling mononucleosis.
'The moment I stepped from the airplane to Montreal, it has just been amazing,' said Koivu, who is in town with his family. 'I've been just loving the city. I came here last week already. Kind of got to enjoy the city a little bit first couple of days and I've been loving it. I really don't want to leave. The camp has been amazing. Everything has just been unbelievable.'
Koivu expects to return to TPS Turku next season.
One player who stood out on the ice Wednesday because of his size was 6-foot-5, 212-pound right-winger Tyler Thorpe, the biggest player at the camp. The Canadiens selected him in the fifth round (130th overall) of last year's NHL Draft. He had 27-25-52 totals and 69 penalty minutes in 68 games last season with the WHL's Vancouver Giants and then played one game with the AHL's Laval Rocket, picking up two assists.
The smallest player at development camp is L.J. Mooney, a 5-foot-7, 162-pound centre. The Canadiens selected him in the fourth round (113th overall) of this year's NHL Draft. Mooney posted 5-23-28 totals in 26 games last season with the U.S. National Development Team. He was considered one of the most talented players available at this year's draft, but dropped to the fourth round because of his size.
'It's unbelievable here,' said Mooney, who has been inspired by 5-foot-8 Cole Caufield's success with the Canadiens. 'Just to put on that jersey is a pretty special feeling, all the equipment. I loved it. I had a lot of fun out there just to see all the prospects and meet the coaches and everything. So it was great.'
Mooney is headed to the University of Minnesota next season.
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