The Montreal Canadiens 2019 Training Camp opened up on Thursday Sept 12, 2019.
In all, 57 players were invited to camp. All eyes on Ryan Poehling and Nick Suzuki, two centres vying for a spot. First on-ice session of camp saw Habs split the team in two squads.
Split Teams
Team A
Forwards
Team B
Injuries
At the start of camp, it was announced that defenceman Gustav Olofsson is out with an upper body innjury he sustained prior to camp. Since them Habs already have a couple of more injuries to report. Karl Alzner is out with lower body injury. And Noah Juulsen, who missed most of last season with an eye injury, is out with upper body injury.
Training Camp Schedule
Training camp pre-season games begins Monday Sept 16 at the Bell centre vs the New Jersey Devils. Habs play 7 pre-season games. All available on TV and radio.
As per Montreal Gazette:
Monday, Sept. 16, 7 p.m., vs. Devils: TSN2, RDS*
Wednesday, Sept. 18, 7 p.m., vs. Florida Panthers at Bathurst, N.B.: SN1, TVA Sports
Thursday, Sept. 19, 7 p.m., vs. Florida Panthers: TSN2, RDS*
Saturday, Sept. 21, 7:30 p.m., at Ottawa Senators: TSN5, RDS*
Monday, Sept. 23, 7 p.m., vs. Toronto Maple Leafs: TSN2, RDS**
Wednesday, Sept. 25, 7 p.m. at Toronto Maple Leafs: TSN2, RDS**
Saturday, Sept. 28, 7 p.m., vs. Ottawa Senators: TSN5, RDS*
* Only available in Canadiens broadcast region: Quebec, Atlantic Canada and eastern Ontario
** Also available in Maple Leafs broadcast region (Ontario except eastern Ontario) on TSN4
All pre-season matches will also be broadcast on radio on TSN 690 and 98.5 FM in Montreal.
TV Coverage
On the topic of TV coverage, this is Year 5 of the NHL’s 11-year National deal with Rogers Sportsnet. Steve Faguy provides an update for 2019-20, and not much has changed in terms of Montreal Canadiens National coverage. Canadiens will be on national exposure for 32 games (unchanged from last season) and 50 regional games.
In French, TVA Sports has 22 Canadiens games (Saturday nights), and RDS has the remainder 60.
On Sunday Sept 15, the Canadiens held their annual Red vs White scrimmage. Over 15,000 paid $5 to watch the two split squads play. Prior to the game, the players welcomed fans into the Bell Centre.
Rumours
What’s training camp without some rumours and water-cooling talk. At start of Camp , Canadiens made it be known that they made an offer UFA Jake Gardiner. However Gardiner elected to sign with Carolina who offered less money but one-year longer. Factor in taxes, and Gardiner comes out ahead with Carolina. Which leads to discussion once again why it’s difficult to attract Free Agents to come here. Richard Labbé captures it nicely why players don’t sign with Montreal;
Another rumour circulating is that the Dallas Stars’ young defenceman Julius Honka has requested a trade. Whereby the Montreal Canadiens are one of the teams trying to acquire him.
The @CanadiensMTL are among the teams interested in a trade for @DallasStars defenceman Julius Honka, according to @EricEngels.https://t.co/J5p0I9Yly7
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) September 14, 2019
It all starts Thursday October 3 as the Canadiens visit Carolina to commence the 2019-20 season.
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