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Habs Youth Infusion Excelling Early

By Wesley W

The salary cap pushed the Montreal Canadiens to insert three younger players in to their lineup this season, and not many people could have expected things to start of so well for all three of them. Wanting to give each player the best possible chance of succeeding, management placed them in key positions and is playing them alongside core players. 

Filip Chlapik is a long-developing 2nd round pick of the Canadiens, and is finally getting his shot, thrown right in the deep end playing top minutes between Nik Bergsfors and Michael Dal Colle. So far he seems to be able to hang with 6 points in 9 games, however he is clearly physically outmatched on most shifts and is propped up by two of the best players in the game. With the team succeeding and leading the eastern conference for the time being there's no reason to think a change is coming, but it will be interesting to see if the 23-year old can hold up long term.


On the second line newcomer Brock McGinn is found. He was acquired for Guillaume Latendresse in a snap trade to both clear cap and prepare for the expansion draft. Some thought the Habs could have gotten a more prime offensive prospect for the star, but Walsh wanted a banger. "Playing with the two-Kyles using a lot of energy, we think he will challenge for the Calder". So far, he's in the discussion with 8 points in 9 games.

Last but not least, he's been gestating for a long 9 years, Anton Zlobin, a third-round pick of the Canadiens. With 7 points in 22 games throughout prior shots in the FNHL, Zlobin has already eclipsed that with 10 points so far this season. He's hiding out at the bottom of the lineup potting the points thanks to double-shifted time of Bergsfors and Wellwood. At 26 years old he's likely not to get another shot like this, and he's making the most of it.

11/1/2020 - 328 words


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