[ad_1]
Breadcrumb Path Hyperlinks
SportsNHLMontreal CanadiensHockey Inside OutHockey
“Regular, dependable, nothing flashy,” head coach Martin St. Louis says about Swedish defenceman acquired from Detroit within the Jeff Petry commerce.
Article content material
Johnathan Kovacevic is aware of what it’s prefer to get lower by an NHL group and be despatched right down to the AHL.
It occurred to him all three years he was with the Winnipeg Jets after being chosen within the third spherical (74th total) of the 2017 NHL Draft. Kovacevic spent three seasons with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose and solely performed 4 video games within the NHL with the Jets throughout the 2021-22 season earlier than being claimed off waivers by the Canadiens final October.
Commercial 2
Article content material
Article content material
Kovacevic, 26, has made probably the most out of his change of surroundings and has grow to be a stable common on the blue line.
Gustav Lindström, 25, is making an attempt to profit from his new probability with the Canadiens after being acquired in August from the Detroit Purple Wings (together with a conditional fourth-round draft choose in 2025) in trade for Jeff Petry.
Lindstrom performed 36 video games with the Purple Wings final season, posting 1-7-8 totals, however he was lower by the Canadiens in coaching camp this yr and began the season with the AHL’s Laval Rocket. The 6-foot-2, 194-pound defenceman was referred to as up on an emergency foundation Tuesday after David Savard was sidelined with a fractured wrist and made his Canadiens debut that evening, logging 11:47 in a 5-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils.
“Our professional (scouts) like him,” Canadiens GM Kent Hughes stated after buying Lindström from the Purple Wings. “They really feel like he’s a extremely good, puck-moving defenceman, that he nonetheless has a whole lot of room to develop in his recreation. I believe the quantity that they threw out was he was about 70 per cent of what they imagine his potential is — and he’s younger.”
Street to the Cup
Article content material
Commercial 3
Article content material
Hughes is hoping Lindström is one other younger participant who wanted a recent begin some place else and may develop additional underneath Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis and his workers the identical approach Kovacevic and Kirby Dach did final season and the way in which Alex Newhook has to date this season.
Commercial 4
Article content material
St. Louis stated Lindström got here as marketed in his Canadiens debut.
“Regular, dependable, nothing flashy,” the coach stated after the Canadiens’ morning skate Thursday on the Bell Centre earlier than going through the Columbus Blue Jackets with Lindström again within the lineup. “I assumed he performed rather well.”
Kovacevic thought the identical factor.
“I believe it’s all the time arduous your first recreation if you get referred to as up,” Kovacevic stated after the morning skate. “He took it in stride. A relaxed however optimistic angle. That’s a manner that I believe is one of the simplest ways to method it. Optimistic, optimistic, excited to be a part of the group and never overexcited the place you’re extending your self. He stays inside his recreation. I assumed he did an superior job.
“I do know it’s by no means a straightforward factor to be despatched down,” Kovacevic added. “It’s occurred to me a number of occasions. However he appears much like me within the sense that after it occurs, properly, what are you going to do now? You might have two choices — both you’ll be able to sulk otherwise you may be optimistic with it and profit from it. He’s clearly completed that. For me, personally, I believe that’s why he performed so properly. If you already know you probably did all the pieces you’ll be able to after you bought despatched down for a few weeks, let’s say, and then you definately get referred to as up, properly there’s nothing holding you again if you get the possibility to play your first recreation and I believe that’s what he did.”
Commercial 5
Article content material
Rising up in Sweden didn’t permit Lindström to look at many NHL video games as a child due to the time distinction. However he did watch highlights within the morning, specializing in fellow Swedish defenceman Erik Karlsson.
“For our era, everybody was seeking to be the subsequent Erik Karlsson,” Lindström stated. “He’s one in all a form … I’m not making an attempt to say I play like him, however I used to be all the time watching him once I was rising up.”
Lindström performs extra like Kovacevic, which is unquestionably not a nasty factor. Calm and regular — and that’s the way in which Lindström got here throughout whereas chatting with him one-on-one within the locker room after Thursday’s morning skate. He stated he was completely happy and excited when the Canadiens acquired him and was additionally completely happy when he cleared NHL waivers, which allowed the group to ship him to Laval.
“In fact, everybody needs to be right here,” Lindström stated. “However I had no drawback going to Laval to play. Simply have some enjoyable once more and play some minutes. Take it day-by-day and now I’m right here. It’s been good.”
Lindström remains to be attending to know his new teammates and his new metropolis, though he acquired to know Montreal a bit final season when the Purple Wings held their father’s journey right here in January. He’s hoping to nonetheless be with the Canadiens once they head out on a three-game highway journey subsequent week.
“You simply attempt to get pleasure from day-after-day and take it day-by-day,” he stated. “It’s enjoyable to be right here.”
scowan@postmedia.com
twitter.com/StuCowan1
Associated Tales
Samuel Montembeault will begin in objective for Canadiens vs. Blue Jackets
Why do Canadiens gamers preserve getting injured? | HI/O Present
What the Puck: Canadiens have a goaltending carousel and no clear No. 1
Canadiens’ David Savard sidelined 6-8 weeks with fractured hand
Commercial 6
Article content material
Article content material
Share this text in your social community
[ad_2]
Source link
