Montreal Canadiens feeling good about team after promising pre-season
MONTREAL — After a rocky summer, the Montreal Canadiens are brimming with unexpected positivity.
The Canadiens went 4-3-0 in exhibition play — certainly not an outstanding record. But in those seven games, coach Claude Julien’s men managed to turn skepticism into optimism.
A lot of that is due to top prospect Jesperi Kotkaniemi looking like he’s ready for NHL play — at least two years earlier than anyone could have expected due to his young age and unfamiliarity with North American hockey. The 18-year-old centre has cracked the Canadiens’ opening-night roster for Wednesday’s game in Toronto against the Maple Leafs.
It was a much different story just three weeks ago.