Canadiens Rookie Camp Highlights: Nadeau And Mittelstadt Shine
The Montreal Canadiens were back in action on Sunday, as their rookies faced the Ottawa Senators at the Centre Slush Puppie in Gatineau.
The Senators clearly had the better lineup on paper, but the Canadiens made a game out of it thanks to an excellent outing from Josh Nadeau and Luke Mittelstadt, in particular.
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Former University of Maine forward Nadeau scored a hat trick, while Mittelstadt registered three assists in the 5-4 win for the Canadiens.
Nadeau Snipes
It was a very limited sample size, but Nadeau did not look out of place when he joined the Laval Rocket at the conclusion of his NCAA career.
He carried the momentum through the offseason, leading to a fantastic outing against the Senators in which Nadeau clearly drove the offensive play.
It’s worth noting the Senators were in complete control of the game before Nadeau decided to drag the Canadiens back into it, a very encouraging sign for the 22-year-old winger.
Nadeau is bound for the AHL this season, but the rookie tournament is the perfect opportunity to improve his stock within the organization, as all the top brass are paying close attention.
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Lucky Luke
Even though Nadeau was the most notable forward on the ice, he had some competition when it came to the best player overall, due to Mittetlstadt’s great outing. Seeing as it was a rookie game, official time on ice was not officially, but I feel comfortable saying Mittelstadt was Montreal’s busiest player, and with good reason.
The former University of Minnesota captain enjoyed a three-point night, setting up Nadeau on two occasions. His excellent decision to drive the net prior to Nadeau’s hat trick goal was the epitome of a beautiful play.
It was a ‘breaking ankles and collecting apple’ type of night for Mittelstadt, who is a player to watch as the main Canadiens training camp looms.
Honourable Mentions
Owen Protz had a much better game on Sunday, as evidenced during a smart play on the penalty kill in which he cut off a pass, and then cleared the zone despite being outnumbered.
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Tyler Thorpe continues to be a menace, dropping players with the greatest of ease.
Jean Samuel Daigneault also enjoyed a solid game, including a game-tying goal in the third period. However, his most notable play involved a massive hit on top Senators prospect Jaxon Cover.
It wouldn’t be a Senators-Canadiens game without a heavy dose of shenanigans. On Sunday, we were treated to an old school fight by former OHL forward Wesley Royston.
The nicest goal of the game came in the shootout, where Alexandr Legkov scored a beautiful goal that gave the Senators goaltender absolutely no chance to make a desperation save.
The Canadiens will hold their annual golf tournament on Monday, before officially ending their rookie camp on September 15, at their practice facility in Brossard.
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The main training camp is scheduled to open the following day, on September 16.
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