The elements of curiosity will not be lacking in the Canadian camp at the rookie tournament in Buffalo.
The team revealed its squad on Friday for next week’s three matches. Within this group we find defenders David Reinbacher and Logan Mailloux.
Mailloux, choice of the 1st round of CH in 2021, should meanwhile, in theory, put on the team uniform for the first time. In 2021, he was simply not invited to camp, following the outcry over his selection. The Ontario Junior League (OHL) had also suspended him for the first months of the season, due to the sexual crime he had committed in Sweden.
Last year, Mailloux was recovering from shoulder surgery and only participated in training before returning to London.
However, it remains to be seen what the National League will say about it. Last year, Gary Bettman said he would have to “talk” with Mailloux before allowing him to join the NHL. In August, TVA Sports colleague Renaud Lavoie claimed that Mailloux had received the green light from the commissioner, but neither the Canadiens nor the NHL confirmed anything.
Three players will be present at the tournament by invitation and will try to land a contract. They are attacker Isaac Dufort, defender Stanislav Demin and goalkeeper Jan Spunar. Dufort played with the Baie-Comeau Drakkar last year, Demin wore the colors of Merrimack College, while Spunar defended the net of the Portland Winterhawks, in the Western Junior League (WHL).
Finally, Ty Smilanic’s name appears in the lineup. This forward, acquired in March 2022 in the transaction that sent Ben Chiarot to Florida, played at the University of Wisconsin last year. His presence at the camp suggests that he is leaving the NCAA, but he still does not have a contract.
Smilanic, the Panthers’ 3rd round pick in 2020, was limited to 2 points in 14 games last season. Early in the season, he was absent from the team for mental health reasons, before returning in January.
The Canadiens’ recruits must report to Brossard on Wednesday for a day of medical and physical tests. The players will practice on ice Thursday morning, before heading to Buffalo.
They then meet with the Sabers prospects on Friday evening, those of the Bruins on Saturday afternoon, and those of the Senators on Monday afternoon.
