Canadiens Rookie Camp: Day-3

The Montreal Canadiens 2009 Rookie Camp is in its third day and the focus to date has been on Teamwork and Leadership.

Montreal’s new coaching staff of Jacques Martin (Head Coach), Assistant Coach Perry Pearn, Goaltending Coach Pierre Groulx and returning Assistant Kirk Muller have been seen at the Canadiens practice facility in Brossard, QC setting the paces both on and off the ice with drills that are designed to get the team to communicate more.

On-ice drills started early in the morning and players were seen leaving the ice at 9:30PM Tuesday Sept.8th. Off-ice drills at the in-door soccer field include teams of three players pitted against another trio with the twist being two-out-of-three players per team being blind folded while the lone seeing player guides his teammates. Clearly some new techniques being employed by the new coaching staff.

The player to watch early in the Canadiens rookie camp is 20 year-old defenseman P.K. Subban. The top rated prospect who was Montreal’s 2nd round (43rd overall) draft pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft has been by far the most vocal participant in scrimmages. Subban isn’t expected to break camp with the parent club this year and will likely spend the season with the Hamilton Bulldogs of the American Hockey League where he will improve on his defensive play. However if he can impress, Subban might just fill the type of role former Canadiens defensemen Mark Streit and Mathieu Dandenault played, as a part-time Forward/Defenseman given his high-end offensive skills. Subban is projected to be a future Powerplay quarterback with a strong leadership abilities.