By J.D. Lagrange, Senior Writer, All Habs Hockey Magazine

As players are in full workout in preparation for the rookie camp scheduled for next month, all will want to make an impression on team General Manager Marc Bergevin and head coach Michel Therrien in hope to earn a spot in Montreal, or at least make them think that they are NHL ready. Bergevin has repeated the same thing each year when answering the questions about the number of spots available on his team at season start: players make that decision for him based on their play.

PENTICTON, BC. –And it didn’t take long to see that Bergevin was a man of his word when, three years ago, he not only kept top prospect Alex Galchenyuk in Montreal, but made room for a surprising player, Brendan Gallagher. In the first of this two-part article, let’s have a look at ten of the team’s most NHL ready forwards coming into camp this year.

TIM BOZON
HEIGHT: 6′ 1″
WEIGHT: 207
SHOOTS: LEFT
BORN: 24 MAR 1994 (AGE 21)
BIRTHPLACE: ST. LOUIS, MO, UNITED STATES
DRAFTED: MTL / 2012 NHL ENTRY DRAFT
ROUND: 3RD (64TH OVERALL)
Bozon’s story is an amazing one. After battling for his life against Neisseria meningitis, from which he survived, he worked his way back to full recovery and returned to the Kootenay Ice for which he scored 35 goals last season. He was rewarded with a contract and he will be starting his pro career next season. He showed up at Development Camp in great shape, weighing in at 207 pounds. Still, it’s a long way to come back in such a short time and his chances of cracking the Canadiens’ line-up so soon are very unlikely. I’d say a 1 out of 10 for this year.

MARK MACMILLAN
HEIGHT: 6′ 0″
WEIGHT: 182
SHOOTS: LEFT
BORN: 23 JAN 1992 (AGE 23)
BIRTHPLACE: PENTICTON, BC, CANADA
DRAFTED: MTL / 2010 NHL ENTRY DRAFT
ROUND: 4TH (113TH OVERALL)
The last couple of seasons have been challenging for MacMillan, not because of his play, but rather because of the injury bug. Still, he was a leader and one of the most well-rounded player in the US College leagues. A solid two-way centre with speed and grit, he also excels on faceoffs. While he did participate in drills at Development Camp earlier this summer, MacMillan could not play in games, recovering from a knee injury suffered when blocking a shot at the end of the season in North Dakota. He should open some eyes at camp but his best chance is likely to start his pro career with the Ice Caps. 1 out of 10 to start in Montreal, mostly because of the depth at centre.

DANIEL CARR
NUMBER: 43
HEIGHT: 6′ 0″
WEIGHT: 193
SHOOTS: LEFT
BORN: 1 NOV 1991 (AGE 23)
BIRTHPLACE: SHERWOOD PARK, AB, CANADA
Few would have given this guy a chance to make it to the NHL prior to last season, his first as a pro for the Bulldogs where he registered a surprising 24 goals in 76 games. He followed that up with a strong showing at Development Camp, forcing everyone to consider the gritting left winger as a potential prospect to open some eyes at training camp this year. He has a good shot and has a flair for the net, and he has proven that he can score, at the lower levels at least. Guys like him cannot be counted out when looking at potential surprises at camp. Still, he’s a long shot for this year, a 2 out of 10 I’d say.

CHRISTIAN THOMAS
HEIGHT: 5′ 9″
WEIGHT: 176
SHOOTS: RIGHT
BORN: 26 MAY 1992 (AGE 23)
BIRTHPLACE: TORONTO, ON, CANADA
DRAFTED: NYR / 2010 NHL ENTRY DRAFT
ROUND: 2ND (40TH OVERALL)
Acquired by trade from the New York Rangers, Thomas got a taste of the NHL last year, dressing up for 18 games for the Canadiens. His style of play, driving the net and his offensive flair, were not without reminding us of fan-favourite Brendan Gallagher. Both players standing at 5-foot 9-inches did nothing to sway the comparison between both players, with the exception that one is proven in the NHL and Thomas is still trying to prove his worth. The Canadiens are deep on right wing with the likes of Gallagher, Devante Smith-Pelly, Dale Weise, Brian Flynn and newly acquired Zack Kassian and Alexander Semin. Thomas will be hard-pressed to make enough of an impression to earn a spot on the big club this year, but nothing is impossible. His chances are about a 2 out of 10.

MICHAEL BOURNIVAL
HEIGHT: 5′ 11″
WEIGHT: 195
SHOOTS: LEFT
BORN: 31 MAY 1992 (AGE 23)
BIRTHPLACE: SHAWINIGAN, QC, CANADA
DRAFTED: COL / 2010 NHL ENTRY DRAFT
ROUND: 3RD (71ST OVERALL)
Not much secret when it comes to Bournival, who is the prospect off this list with the most NHL experience, having played 89 games at that level for the Canadiens in the last two seasons. The 23-year-old left winger knows that this is his chance to make it with this team and we can expect him to compete very hard to show that he is now ready for a full-time job in the NHL if not with the Canadiens, for another team in a trade. Because he has never been known for his offensive output at the pro level, the team’s biggest need, it would be surprising to see Bournival crack the opening line-up. I’d venture a 4 out of 10 chance.

SVEN ANDRIGHETTO
HEIGHT: 5′ 10″
WEIGHT: 186
SHOOTS: LEFT
BORN: 21 MAR 1993 (AGE 22)
BIRTHPLACE: ZURICH, SWITZERLAND
DRAFTED: MTL / 2013 NHL ENTRY DRAFT
ROUND: 3RD (86TH OVERALL)
Andrighetto is an intriguing prospect to say the least. He is coming off two successful seasons with the Bulldogs in the AHL, and he should be NHL ready by now. Good skater, Andrighetto scored 31 goals the last two seasons in Hamilton and he has the offensive abilities to generate scoring chances on the top-three lines. In my opinion, he is one of the most likely prospects to force Marc Bergevin’s hand. I’d say a 7 out of 10 to make the team from camp, even higher chances as a call-up.

CHARLES HUDON
HEIGHT: 5′ 10″
WEIGHT: 191
SHOOTS: LEFT
BORN: 23 JUN 1994 (AGE 21)
BIRTHPLACE: ALMA, QC, CANADA
DRAFTED: MTL / 2012 NHL ENTRY DRAFT
ROUND: 5TH (122ND OVERALL)
Hudon is a very interesting prospect, one that would be hard to peg when it comes to judging his chances to play and have an impact at the NHL level next year. Last season was his first as a pro and he was a key offensive contributor already for the Bulldogs, scoring 19 goals and obtaining 57 points in 75 games. He has been producing at every level that he’s played at and has adapted really well at playing against full-grown men. Like Gallagher, Hudon is a former 5th round pick by Trevor Timmins and I would say that he is one of the few who has a real chance at making the big club from camp. A 7 out of 10 I’d say, because of his offensive upside, a need for the Habs.

MICHAEL MCCARRON
HEIGHT: 6′ 6″
WEIGHT: 235
SHOOTS: RIGHT
BORN: 7 MAR 1995 (AGE 20)
BIRTHPLACE: GROSSE POINTE, MI, UNITED STATES
DRAFTED: MTL / 2013 NHL ENTRY DRAFT
ROUND: 1ST (25TH OVERALL)
What else can we say about McCarron, a prospect everyone knows in the organisation. After a season making some wonder if he’d pan out as a prospect two years ago, he really came into his own last year, leading his team to the Memorial Cup and showing his versatility when asked to play centre. He has the size, he has the toughness and he has impressed last year at camp. I’d give him a 7 out of 10 chance of starting in Montreal, one of the most likely candidates due to his size.

JACOB DE LA ROSE
HEIGHT: 6′ 3″
WEIGHT: 207
SHOOTS: LEFT
BORN: 20 MAY 1995 (AGE 20)
BIRTHPLACE: ARVIKA, SWEDEN
DRAFTED: MTL / 2013 NHL ENTRY DRAFT
ROUND: 2ND (34TH OVERALL)
De la Rose came from the Swedish League to make his North-American professional debuts last year, starting the season with the Hamilton Bulldogs, where he played 37 games, tallying six goals and eleven points before being a somewhat surprising call-up by the Canadiens. At only 19, the 6-foot 3-inches winger/centre opened many people’s eyes with his great defensive awareness and his hockey sense. What really stood out in my mind is how fast he is, how quick his acceleration is for such a big man. He can skate with the best of them at the NHL level and if he can find a bit of scoring touch, he could be a player with a big impact on this team. Towards the end of the season, he gave Lars Eller a run for his money and he will be pushing the young veteran. I would say that his chances of starting the season in Montreal are 9 out of 10.

NIKITA SCHERBAK
HEIGHT: 6′ 2″
WEIGHT: 204
SHOOTS: LEFT
BORN: 30 DEC 1995 (AGE 19)
BIRTHPLACE: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
DRAFTED: MTL / 2014 NHL ENTRY DRAFT
ROUND: 1ST (26TH OVERALL)
Scherbak won the hearts of all Canadiens’ fans with his personality right from the get go at the draft and the love story keeps on growing. He is a likeable kid with a smile that is only matched by his amazing skills on the ice. When he showed up at Development camp at 6-foot 2-inches and 204 pounds, it showed the team that not only are his skills NHL ready, but he now has the frame to sustain playing against bigger and tougher opponents. In my opinion, he is the most likely candidate to start the season with the NHL as the team is desperately looking for offense. I’d go as high as giving him a 9 out of 10 to make the Canadiens from camp.

While there is still plenty of time for trades to happen, the biggest disappointment for me this off-season is seeing that the team is gearing up to start the season with the same top-three centre as they have in past seasons, a weakness in my opinion. Tomas Plekanec is a true pro, a real class act and with Andrei Markov, the longest serving Canadiens’ player. But his play seems to always drop when the going gets tough and in the playoffs. David Desharnais is a feel-good story of a guy who was always told that he couldn’t play at any level yet, he is having a pretty good NHL career. Having said that, he’s not a number one centre in this league and Max Pacioretty deserves better. Lars Eller is doing a fine job as a number three centre but he is terribly inconsistent throughout the season, although he does seem to be able to elevate his play when it counts most, during the playoffs. Alex Galchenyuk is, in many people’s opinion, ready to take over at centre and he should be provided with that opportunity. One of the top three centres should have been (or should be) traded for a good left-winger to replace Galchenyuk at that position when moving him to centre.

Regardless, this team is as deep as it’s been in a long, long time and that looks very good for the team we are all cheering for. Go Habs Go!