As some Montreal Canadiens prospects are getting set for the team’s rookie camp in Laval this weekend, some prospects stayed behind in Europe and have already gotten into some game action.
Alexander Romanov, CSKA, KHL, Russia
Montreal’s scouting combine in Stockholm, Sweden has already paid off for the Canadiens. It has to be deemed a success when one of the invitees, ‘The Tsar’ Alexander Romanov got drafted in the second round and raised the bar when he took to the ice for CSKA in their first KHL game of the season. Romanov was smartly coached by CSKA head coach Igor Nikitin, giving the young defender the chance to play more minutes at the end of the periods, exemplified in the second period where Romanov only had one shift at one minute with less than two minutes to go.
In total Romanov had 10 shifts with a combined ice time of 7:40. Five of the shifts came in the third period when CSKA was up 3-0 on the road against Traktor Chelyabinsk, which also was the final result. Romanov got a hit in and spent 1:52 in the offensive zone and that should be encouraging as well as he wont only get to play defensive zone hockey.
It will be very interesting to see how Romanov adjusts, there was certain times where he was a bit off the pace, he lined up a good hip check but when the hip were to connect the attacker had already moved passed him. Small things like this will be happening at the start its a big step up from the MHL, Russia’s junior league to playing with men in the KHL. The fact that Romanov is already in KHL will make Trevor Timmins look like he might have got a steal in the draft, especially a player few had heard about when Timmins made the pick.
The days of the Tsar are here, and it will be an interesting KHL season to follow.
Joni Ikonen, KalPa, Liiga, Finland
Injured in the off-season. He is expected to return at the end of December or early January.
Jesse Ylönen, Pelicans, Liiga, Finland
Preseason is still ongoing for Jesse Ylönen and he got two more games in this week, one against HV71 (from the SHL) and one against Jukurit (Liiga). Ylönen did not get a point but he had a 17:02 TOI against Liiga colleagues Jukurit which shows he is getting some time to prepare properly for his first Liiga season that starts on September 14.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Ässät, Liiga, Finland
After taking part in previous pre-season games in Finland, Kotkaniemi is in Montreal for rookie and training camp.
Jacob Olofsson, Timrå IK, SHL, Sweden
Three games this week for Timrå and Jacob Olofsson, all against opponents that are expected to be in the lower level of the SHL (at home against Mora) or the top level of HockeyAllsvenskan (second division, against Björklöven and Modo.)
Olofsson played in all three games and had two assists, the first one to set up the game winner after a good power move in overtime, where Olofsson drives the puck from one end to another before the goal is scored from his rebound.
Gwg assist for olofsson tonight! Look very sharp this season!! @thehockeyexpert @mtl_prospects pic.twitter.com/Uh79WKCoxx
— Hockeylada (@hockeylada) August 31, 2018
The SHL season starts on September 15 and Olofsson will have an important role to play on his team.
