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Recrutes: Hockey scouting from a professional perspective from Grant McCagg and Habs coverage from a 33 year veteran covering the NHL from Brian Wilde.

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Habs Welcome Eric Gelinas

August 29, 2017

By Brian Wilde

The Montreal Canadiens have invited defenceman Eric Gelinas to camp this September. Gelinas was unable to find a contract during the summer free agent period after splitting time last season between the woeful Colorado Avalanche and the equally woeful San Antonio Rampage of the AHL.

Gelinas was a second-round draft choice in 2009 taken 54th overall and in the beginning of his career it appeared the 6-4 defender with a powerful skating stride would enjoy a long and successful NHL career.

He’s 26 years of age now and struggling to find his footing in an NHL that has suddenly passed him by at an age when defencemen are usually enjoying their best years.

Recrutes’ head scout Grant McCagg notes “Gelinas was a very promising young defenceman at one time – a good skater with some offensive skills. He regressed in the last three seasons after scoring 29 points as a 23-year-old in New Jersey.  As one NHL scout said to me this morning ‘he’s a very good skater with a very good shot’.  The main issue with him has always been his defensive play and decision-making, but at 26, he still has time to further refine those parts of his game.”

The last time that the Canadiens offered a PTO to a player was Thomas Fleischmann who went on to have a solid season. When Montreal was out of the playoff picture in February of 2016, Fleischmann and Dale Weise were packaged to Chicago for Phillip Danault and a second-round pick.

Gelinas played four seasons in the QMJHL with three different clubs before being drafted by New Jersey. With the Habs depth at defence, the goal of Gelinas may be at this point trying to simply land a blueline spot on the Laval Rocket.

The Habs main camp opens in mid-September.

About Brian Wilde

Brian Wilde has worked in hockey since he was 20. He was the rink side host for the Edmonton Oilers at CTV and Ottawa Senators for Sportsnet. He was also lead reporter on the Montreal Canadiens for 17 years at CTV Montreal.

View all posts by Brian Wilde

  • Sean Boudreau says

    August 29, 2017 at 12:47 pm

    Always love PTO’s. Wanna see a guy compete and push others???? Great for both sides #inMBwetrust

  • Ben Simco says

    August 29, 2017 at 3:29 pm

    Never a bad idea to have young Dmen chomping at the bit to land a roster spot. Pushes the others to compete. Not enough of that in recent years.

  • Scott Chisling says

    August 30, 2017 at 4:39 pm

    I like it. I think Morrow and Gelinas will push each other in camp to see who plays in MTL or Laval

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