• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Montreal Canadiens

As Canadiens camp opens, two position battles loom

By Jared Book September 19th, 2011

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

There are not a lot of spots open as the Montreal Canadiens get set to start their preseason slate of games tomorrow night against the Dallas Stars.

Andrei Markov

(Icon SMI)

However, if you are looking for some battles in training camp, look no further than the 13th forward and seventh defenceman battles (please note that when I say seventh defenceman, I mean until Andrei Markov comes back. This is in reality the eighth defenceman.) Normally, this would be the most boring battles in camp featuring NHL journeymen (we have those!), young AHL-NHL commuters (those, too!) and prospects who have just come over from Europe (check). However, this is Montreal and the event that some might find “boring,” others find time to obsess over. (Guilty as charged.)

This decision will not affect the team one way or another but it gives the fan something to watch besides focusing on veterans play because well, that means even less. Because this is Montreal, and chilling out is not an option.

Two of the biggest names acquired by the Canadiens (and I use that term as lightly as possible) were Brian Willsie and Jeff Woywitka.

Both players have NHL experience and cannot be referred to as prospects. That bodes well for them as they fight for a roster spot. The press box can be used as a punishment, and it can be used as a place for injured players but mostly it is a place for placeholders to watch the game until they are needed because of an injury.

This logic means that you don’t necessarily want a rookie or young player spending time not playing when they could be developing either on the ice in the NHL or AHL.

Willsie has two 10-goal NHL seasons to his credit and 6’1, 202 can add physicality to the mix. Woywitka was a former 1st round pick and bounced around the league and will understand his role as “next-man-up” if injuries occur on the Montreal blue line (and history suggests, they will occur).

Other options on the blue line
Woywitka isn’t the only (or necessarily the best) option. The Canadiens have some depth at the position. They have Hamilton captain Alex Henry who has size and NHL experience, but when they needed replacements last year they didn’t go to him but to the next person on the list which is Brendon Nash.

Nash had a great training camp and used that to be near the top of the Canadiens AHL pool. He played two games for the Canadiens last year, and didn’t look out of place. He is young enough that you would like him to play, even if at the AHL level.

The other option is Mark Mitera. Acquired for Mathieu Carle in an offseason trade, Mitera is a former first round pick and is close to the NHL after spending the entire year last year with Syracuse of the AHL. He is very similar to Nash (both are 6’3, both are 210+ lbs and both are 24) and will likely stay down to start the year as the Habs brass takes a closer look at him.

The other interesting option is Raphael Diaz. Diaz was signed after leading Switzerland at the World Junior Championships and has no North American experience. That leads to the fact he will probably start the year in the AHL, but if he proves to be NHL ready it could be his spot to lose.

The Forwards
Aside from Willsie, the Canadiens have some options as well but most of them are young prospects you wouldn’t like to see waiting for ice time in the press box.

Michael Blunden is more of a physical player as evidenced by his two goals in 51 NHL games. He’s in that awkward youngster-journeyman range as they try to find a role for him.

Aaron Palushaj, Brock Trotter and Andreas Enqvist are three players that can develop into NHL players. Palushaj and Trotter are more prospects than Enqvist who tends to project as a defensive forward. Again, these are players who you may want to see play in the AHL and come up to fill a role.

No matter what the Canadiens do, there will be people who disagree with the move. No matter what, the battle is one place where people can look to see someone step up.

  • Tags
  • Aaron Palushaj
  • Andreas Enqvist
  • Brock Trotter
  • Jeff Woywitka
  • Michael Blunden
  • Raphael Diaz
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 18th 5:55 PM
Other Leagues

Ducks Will Benefit From Gulls’ Temporary Relocation to Irvine

Jan 18th 5:45 PM
Minnesota Wild

Wild Weekly: A Pair Of Comeback Wins Against The Kings

Jan 18th 5:10 PM
Column

Canucks News & Rumors: Edler, Hughes, Miller, Benn & Höglander

Jan 18th 4:35 PM
St Louis Blues

Blues Need Hoffman on Top Power Play Unit

Jan 18th 3:55 PM
Other Leagues

Windsor Spitfires’ 2010 Grubauer Trade Cemented OHL Dynasty

Jan 18th 3:45 PM
Archives

The Strangest Superstitions in NHL History

Jan 18th 3:35 PM
Florida Panthers

Newest Panthers Make Their Mark in the Season Opener

Jan 18th 3:25 PM
Montreal Canadiens

Prospects News & Rumors: Robertson, Caufield, Clarke & Harrison

Jan 18th 3:10 PM
Edmonton Oilers

Oilers News & Rumors: Yamamoto, Kahun, Bear, Goalie News, More

Jan 18th 3:00 PM
Column

Flyers Who’s Hot & Who’s Not: Konecny, Hart, Voracek & More

Editor’s Picks
World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information