When he attended his first training camp with the Montreal Canadiens more than 25 years ago, Jean-François Houle didn’t have the opportunity to experience a rookie camp like the one he would lead. here on Monday. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t understand the importance of these next few days for 27 young prospects in the Habs organization.

” What I like [d’un camp des recrues], is that it is the first time the players will wear the Canadian jersey. It’s a great opportunity for them to compete against players their age. “I think the ‘fun’ is great,” the Laval Rocket head coach said in a press scrum Wednesday morning at the CN Sports Complex in Brossard.

Houle and his assistants Martin Laperrière and Kelly Buchberger marched in front of a handful of journalists to mark the opening day of this camp as the players underwent a series of physical tests and medical exams.

On Thursday morning, the players will participate in a short ice practice in Brossard before flying to Buffalo at 11 a.m.

Starting Friday, they will play three games in four days against the up-and-coming Buffalo Sabres, the Boston Bruins (Saturday) and the Ottawa Senators (Monday).

Houle, Laperrière and Buchberger will be on the bench in these three games.

An important step

Like Buchberger when he took his first steps in the NHL with the Edmonton Oilers in the late 1980s, Houle was invited directly to the NHL team’s main training camp – without any prior steps. It was 1997, but he still remembers exactly how he felt.

“I was nervous. Very nervous. For a young man who was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens, it was impressive to see all these great players,” Houle recalled, admitting that he would have liked to experience such a camp.

“It allows them to get their feet wet a little bit, test out their equipment and feel like they’re on the ice with players their age. I think it’s a beautiful thing,” he added.

The Habs’ young talents will undoubtedly be nervous in the games they will take part in in the coming days. For this reason, Houle, Laperrière and Buchberger will not focus on imposing too rigid a structure on them.

“It’s not a tournament that’s very easy mentally because the players want to perform so well,” noted Houle.

“We want them to play with a clear mind. We don’t give them too much structure. We think it’s important to let them play, see what they can give us, see what they can do and give leaders a chance to evaluate them. It’s an important moment for them,” he added.

Houle also reminded that such a camp can provide a young player with the opportunity to gain exposure and progress more quickly than one might have expected. In this regard, he cited the example of defender Arber Xhekaj last year.

“He played freely, he didn’t worry about anything. He went on the ice and played hockey. He gave good, hard checks, made good passes and played within his abilities. “He had a good camp last year that allowed him to earn a spot with the Canadiens,” Houle recalled.

“That’s what the rookie camp is for. You want to make a good impression on the executives you’re considering, and this is a start. It is an important element for a young prospect in an organization,” he added.

This rookie camp could also allow Houle and his assistants to get a clearer idea of ​​the players who will join the Rockets next season.

And like the team in Montreal, growth will be the main theme for the Habs Farm Club in 2024-2024.

“The growth will be very significant. We want all of our young players or our experienced players to be ready when they are asked to play in Montreal. “We will work with the National League and Canadiens coaches here in Montreal to be on the same page and ensure all of our players are ready when they are called up,” Houle said.

“We will have a good team. We will be young. The progress will be significant. We take it day by day. There is so much uncertainty in the American League when it comes to players who can be drafted. But I think that after Christmas we want to see good progress from our young players,” he concluded.

To watch in the video