Caufield in Laval to fill up with confidence
READ ALSO : Paquette suspended two games for giving tape
The 20-year-old forward has been limited to one assist in 10 games this season. Sunday night against the Anaheim Ducks, he was employed for 11:06, his lowest total of the season.
“When he had the disc on his stick, you felt he was playing on his heels a bit, that he wasn’t as confident and dynamic with the puck,” said Canadiens coach Dominique Ducharme. He got some good chances, but he squeezed his stick a little too tight.
“In Laval, he will be able to spend a lot of time on the ice, regain his confidence, score a few goals and find his bearings. «
Ducharme wanted to downplay the magnitude of this decision, pointing out that several star players in the NHL today, such as Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak, had found themselves in the same situation, and that they had taken the opportunity to come back even stronger.
Jonathan drouin echoed his trainer’s comments. The Quebecer can easily put himself in Caufield’s shoes, he who was ceded to the AHL in his second professional season while playing with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Drouin had refused to report to Syracuse for nearly two months, however.
“When I got back to Syracuse, I thought I had to move on and get my game back,” said Drouin. If you’re pouting and you’re not playing well, you’re not going to be called back and you’re not going to improve.
“He just has to regain his feeling with the puck and with his shot, and everything will fall back into place. He is a very good youngster. He has a great work ethic and the guys love him here. We hope to see him again soon. «
Caufield made a stopover in Laval last season at the end of his college career before making the jump to the Canadiens. The Habs’ first-round pick in the 2019 draft (15th overall) had three goals and one assist in two games with the Rocket. He then impressed greatly in the playoffs last season with 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in 20 games to help the Canadiens reach the Stanley Cup final.
Drouin argued that the element of surprise played in Caufield’s favor when he arrived in the NHL.
“During the summer, all the players watch the playoffs, and they saw that he was a good player with a good pitch,” said Drouin. From the start of the season, the other teams left him no space. «
Michael pezzetta was recalled from The Rocket. The 23-year-old forward has six points (three goals, three assists) in eight games with Laval this season, in addition to posting a plus-7 rating. The Canadiens’ sixth-round pick in 2016 (160th overall), Pezzetta has yet to play a game in the NHL. He had 25 points (13 buses, 12 assists) and 186 penalty minutes in 115 games with the Rocket.
« He had a good camp, but he also had a good start to the season, » Ducharme said of Pezzetta. He plays with a lot of passion and energy, and he brings a different element. We will insert it into the training to see what it can give us. «
The main person, who trained on the fourth line with Adam Brooks and Cédric Paquette, gives a lot of credit to his trainer at the Rocket, Jean-François Houle, for his success since the start of the calendar.
“As soon as I met him he told me he knew I could play hockey and produce more, that I could do more than play with energy,” Pezzetta said. He gave me a dose of confidence from the start, and having that kind of confidence from my coach definitely helped my game. ”
Perreault injured, Drouin in the center
The lines have all been changed at the Canadiens training Monday in Brossard. These changes were brought about in part by the lack of Mathieu Perreault, who will miss two to three weeks of activity due to an eye injury, in addition to Caufield’s dismissal at Laval and Pezzetta’s recall.
With the two-game suspension to Paquette, who was sanctioned for his Sunday gesture against Trevor Zegras, the Habs are starting to run out of center players.
It is therefore in these conditions that Drouin trained in the center of the wingers. Mike Hoffman and Josh Anderson. Christian Dvorak found himself with Joel armia and Artturi Lehkonen, while Nick suzuki was flanked by Tyler Suzuki and Jake Evans.
“Even before the start of the camp, we had mentioned that it was a possibility that Jonathan would evolve in the center, recalled Ducharme. He, Hoffman, and Anderson are playing some good hockey right now, so we put them together. «
Ducharme also said he used Drouin at center for a full season while the two were part of the Halifax Mooseheads organization in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Ducharme explained that he did so at the time to give Drouin the necessary tools in the event that he was called upon to move to this position later in his career.
« I’m going to have more speed out of the zone, more than when I’m on the wing down the ramp waiting for a pass, and during my good years in the junior ranks, that’s what made me strong, » my speed in the transition game, Drouin analyzed. It’s an adaptation, but I think I’m more ready to take on this challenge than the first time I was placed at the center in Montreal. «
The defender Mattias Norlinder was back in training after a two-month absence following an injury sustained during training camp. Ducharme noted that the Swede needs to get back in shape, but that he’s not closed to using him in a game.
Ducharme also provided an update regarding the rear Joel edmundson. He has suffered a slight setback in his rehabilitation and will still need a convalescence of 10 to 14 days. Edmundson still hasn’t played a game this season, and general manager Marc Bergevin revealed last week that he returned to his sick father’s bedside.
The defender Jeff petry was not on the ice with his teammates on Monday.
Training Canadians in Coaching
Mike Hoffman – Jonathan Drouin – Josh Anderson
Tyler toffoli – Nick Suzuki – Jake evans
Joel Armia – Christian Dvorak – Artturi Lehkonen
Cedric Paquette – Adam brooks – Michael Pezzetta
Alexander Romanov – Ben chiarot
Brett Kulak – David Savard
Dennis Wideman – Sami niku
Mattias Norlinder
Jake allen
Samuel Montembeault
