Montreal Canadiens Reveal Gigantic Training Camp Roster

The Montreal Canadiens have announced their official roster for the main training camp. In total, 72 players will attend, including 39 forwards, 23 defencemen, and 10 goaltenders.

The Canadiens have a penchant for inviting a lot of players, and this season is no different.

Essentially, the Canadiens have the vast majority of the Laval Rocket hopefuls at camp, which should lead to an early round of cuts. Inviting 10 goaltenders to camp is a rather ambitious endeavour, though the number could have been higher if not for Tuesday’s trade that sent Casey DeSmith to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a third-round pick and Tanner Pearson.

The training camp will afford many prospects an opportunity to gain the inside track toward a full-time NHL job. Players such as Joshua Roy, Riley Kidney, Sean Farrell, and Emil Heineman will attempt to garner as much attention as possible, seeing as they’re on the cusp of cracking the lineup.

Last year Heineman, William Trudeau and Owen Beck stole the show, which quickly vaulted them up the Canadiens prospect depth chart.

There’s also the matter of establishing which players should receive a call-up from Laval should injuries occur. Rocket head coach Jean-Francois Houle will be present, giving them a little more incentive to improve their performance.

In addition to Habs head coach Martin St-Louis, Rocket head coach Jean-Francois Houle will be present, giving them a little more incentive to improve their performance.

Just four of the 72 players invited are on a tryout: Isaac Dufort, Stanislav Demin, Jan Spunar, and Joe Vrbetic, who spent the last season playing for the team’s ECHL affiliate in Trois-Rivieres.

Medical and fitness testing will begin on September 20 in Brossard. Click here to see the full schedule.

Montreal Canadiens Forwards Invited To Camp

(click on the pictures to open a larger version)

Defencemen Invited To Camp

Goaltenders Invited To Camp