Last season was a shortened season because of the lockout with each team playing a 48-game schedule. That meant everyone was pushed to their limits as well as many players being unrecognized. The Montreal Canadiens were no exception having many players flying under the radar. These are five unheralded but key players to watch out for in the upcoming seasons, whether they will stay with Les Habitants or not.
Colby Armstrong is a thirty year old Canadian born hockey player from Saskatchewan. The right winger was first drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2001. Since then he has played on three other teams including the Atlanta Thrashers, Toronto Maple Leafs and his latest team, the Montreal Canadiens. He signed a one year, one million dollar contract in July 2012 to be a part of the Habs. During the 37 games he played this season for them he contributed a total of 5 points which left GM Marc Bergevin in a difficult decision in whether or not he should keep Armstrong for the upcoming season. After further debates and no chance on Armstrong re-signing with the Canadiens, he is taking his talent to Vaxjo Sweden for the upcoming hockey season.
Even though he is not with the Canadiens anymore he is a good player to look out for when he plays in Vaxjo. I think that his speed will be a good addition to the team. Also another focus for the upcoming season for Armstrong is his passing skills. It did not show much in the previous season but I think he will be getting a lot of assists. He seems to always know where his teammates are located, is able to make quick passes and his teammates are able to make opportunities with them. Even though he is not currently playing in the NHL, I think at some point in the future he will be offered a contract to return to the NHL but whether he takes it or decides to stay in Europe will be his decision in the end.
Ryan White is a twenty-five year old Canadian born hockey player from Manitoba. The centre was drafted in 2006 by the Montreal Canadiens. He made his way through the WHL with the Calgary Hitmen and then up through the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL before finally getting his NHL shot. His first NHL game was against the Boston Bruins in November of 2009. White was soon to be known as the ‘fighter’ of the team and started serving lengthy and costly penalties. He signed his first one-way contract for the 2012-2013 season but played very few games due to punishment from costing his team several games and again when he did an illegal check on a game with Philadelphia on April 15 which resulted in a five game suspension. In the playoffs he played three games getting one goal against the Ottawa Senators in game two. On his third game with the team he suffered a punctured lung and was forced to sit out the last two games the Habs played that postseason. During the summer of 2013, he became a restricted free agent and filed for arbitration. Shortly before his arbitration was held he came to terms on a one year, one way $700,000 deal.
Ryan White can by far be an important fourth line centre for the Montreal Canadiens if he learns to control himself. Last season he his off moments with all of his penalties/suspensions costing his team games. His fighting skills are what is needed for the team but there is a right time for his choices and he did not make the right ones last season. I think he was lucky to get another contract from the team but I hope he does not expect another one next year if he has the same year he did. If he has a good year and keeps his eye on the prize the Habs would be thrilled to have him for future seasons.
Alexei Emelin is a twenty-seven year old Russian hockey player. In May 2011 Emelin signed his first NHL contract. It was a one year, two-way entry level deal with the Montreal Canadiens. That season he played sixty-seven games for the Habs and scored three goals and four assists. In June 2012 the defenceman signed a two year extension with the Montreal Canadiens. During the 2012-2013 year, he played thirty-eight games and recorded three goals and nine assists. Emelin is currently on injury leave after he suffered torn knee ligaments on when he was throwing a hit on the Boston Bruins left winger Milan Lucic. It is hoped that he will be in the Habs lineup in late-November or early December 2013.
I believe Emelin, who is still sort of a newbie in the NHL, will pull his weight this upcoming season when he returns from injury. He will always be around the net defending against the opposing team from putting the puck in. I think he is also ready to make a major step forward offensively, and raise his totals of assists and points, if all goes well and he gets some second unit powerplay time. The Habs will hope that everything goes well with his comeback and I believe that he should get re-signed for future seasons on the Habs. He is still young and growing and his sportsmanship with other players and the coaches proves he is a well fitting asset.
Raphael Diaz is a twenty-seven year old Swiss hockey player. Diaz spends part of his off season in the Swiss military which is mandatory for Swiss countrymen. It is three weeks every year and when he is not there he is playing hockey. The defenceman signed his first one year, two-way contract with the Montreal Canadiens for the 2011-12 season. That season he played fifty-nine games with the Montreal Canadiens resulting in three goals and thirteen assists. In 2012 he signed a one way, two year deal with the Montreal Canadiens which will end after this upcoming season. He played 23 NHL games for the Habs in the 2012-2013 season scoring one goal and thirteen assists.
As many NHL fans are aware, Raphael Diaz has been blamed for a terrible check that took place when Eric Gryba of the Ottawa Senators hit Lars Eller after Eller received the puck from Diaz. Diaz shot the puck across the ice to Eller when Eller was not looking at it. Yes it was a mistake but he was able to prove to his team he could help assist many goals. I think next season he will be able to show that he can help assist many other goals and get in some more goals himself. I think Diaz will be a great team leader and will be very helpful to all his teammates. I think this season he will make Montreal proud that he is on their team.
Jarred Tinordi is a 21 year old American ice hockey player from Minnesota. The defenceman grew up in a hockey family. His dad Mark Tinordi was a defencemen and captain for the Minnesota North Stars (which later became the Dallas Stars). His father also played for the Washington Capitals. Jarred Tinordi was selected by the Montreal Canadiens in a first round draft pick in 2010. In 2011, it was announced that the Habs signed Tinordi to a three year contract which would start at the (2012-2013) and last until the (2014-2015) season. The 2012-2013 season Tindori played for the Habs and the Hamilton Bulldogs. In the shortened season that Tinordi played for the Montreal Canadiens, he played eight games, scored zero goals but recorded two assists.
It is hard to judge Tinordi because he has not played much in the NHL yet. He is still at the beginning of his career. I think if CanadiensCoach Michel Therrien gives him the opportunity to play more games he will have a lot of hits and strong defensive play under his belt. Watching back some games last season, he had a good defensive game and a bit of a mean streak to his opponents and I think that is what he will be known for in the upcoming season.
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