Montreal Canadiens Make Third Round Of Cuts At Camp

MONTREAL —The Montreal Canadiens invited 74 players to training camp this year, but those numbers have now dropped considerably after a third wave of cuts.

After back-to-back pre-season games against the Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets, the Canadiens have cut their ranks at training camp by 23, with 45 players remaining.

The following players were cut, and will report to the Laval Rocket training camp, which opens shortly: Lucas Condotta, Gianni Fairbrother, Cam Hillis, Jan Mysak, Joël Teasdale, Pierrick Dube, John Parker-Jones, Miguel Tourigny, William Trudeau, Peter Abbandonato, Alex Green, Danick Martel, Emile Poirier, Brennan Saulnier, Brett Stapley and Joe Vrbetic.

Rocket Camp Approaches

One of the reasons for the timing of this second wave of cuts due to the fast-approaching date of October 2; the opening of training camp for the Montreal Canadiens’ AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket. On top of players on AHL deals, a large number of players currently attending the main training camp are expected to be cut in time for them to mentally prepare for yet another training camp, but at the AHL level.

The Rocket are projected to have a strong roster this season, but for the first time in a long time, the ranks will be fille with legitimate prospects rather than hired guns.

Players like Jan Mysak will now head over to Laval, allowing the Canadiens to get closer looks at prospects who are on the cusp of making the show. The stage will then be set for the Canadiens to get a closer look at the fierce competition brewing between Kaiden Guhle, Arber Xhekaj, Jordan Harris and Justin Barron; as two, if not three, of these players, are likely to find themselves on the opening roster.

The Montreal Canadiens have five preseason games left, which will go a long way in deciding who will take the final roster spots on opening night on Oct.12, against the Toronto Maple Leafs.