There’s been a lot of questions surrounding Mikhail Sergachev in Montreal throughout training camp, but it sounds like we’re about to get some answers.
According to TVA Sports’ Renaud Lavoie, the 18-year-old will begin the season with the Canadiens.
Sergachev, who was the ninth overall pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, stood out in rookie camp and he’s made quite the impression during the team’s main training camp as well.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that he’ll stick for the entire season. The Habs can dress him for up to nine games without burning the first year of his entry-level contract.
In Thursday’s preseason finale against the Leafs, the Russian blue liner had one assist, a plus-2 rating, four penalty minutes, four hits and one blocked shot in 18:09 of ice time. He played on the right side (he’s a left-handed shot) on a pairing with fellow countryman Alexei Emelin.
The leap to the NHL is a pretty big one for Sergachev, as he only has one year of junior experience under his belt. He scored 17 goals and 57 points in 67 games as a rookie with the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires.
It also sounds like another prospect will start the season with the team.
There’s been a lot of buzz surrounding forward Artturi Lehkonen and it looks like he’ll also be on the opening night roster too.
The Finn spent most of training camp on one of the top two lines and he closed out the preseason playing with Tomas Plekanec and Alexander Radulov.
Oh, and he also showed off his incredible wrist shot in the win over the Leafs.
Like Sergachev, the Habs will give Lehkonen a look before making a final decision on where he’ll play this season. If he doesn’t make the team, he’ll return to the Swedish League, not the AHL.