MONTREAL — It’s a simple matter of arithmetic, but putting together a 23-man National Hockey League roster can seem as difficult as advanced calculus.
Consider the dilemma the Canadiens face as they hit the ice for the first time Friday at training camp in Brossard. There are four spots available at centre, but general manager Marc Bergevin turned a simple exercise into a topic of conversation this week when he said Alex Galchenyuk would start the camp at centre.
The 20-year-old Galchenyuk is a natural centre and the thinking has always been that he would move to the middle after he acquired some experience. With one or two less-than-stellar turns at centre, Galchenyuk has spent most of his first two seasons at left wing.
Bergevin’s comments came at a time when it appeared the Canadiens are set in the middle.
David Desharnais rebounded from a slow start last season to provide the ideal complement to sniper Max Pacioretty.
The oft-underappreciated Tomas Plekanec continued to be one of the most versatile centres in the NHL.
Lars Eller, whose development could be a blueprint for Galchenyuk’s future, finally arrived as a centre last season and reported to camp Thursday brimming with confidence after a strong playoff performance netted him a four-year, $14-million contract.
And then there’s veteran Manny Malhotra, who was signed specifically to play on the fourth line, win crucial faceoffs and kill penalties.
Barring a trade or an injury, there would seem to be no room for Galchenyuk at centre. The most likely scenario is that he’ll get a look in a few exhibition games, the coaches will be able to evaluate his progress and provide him with a goal for the future.
Galchenyuk seemed to understand the situation Thursday as he met the media after a day of fitness testing.
“I feel good about (playing centre) but right now I feel confident playing on the wing,” Galchenyuk said. “I’ve played there for two years. I want to see where I’m at as far as playing centre and take it in a positive way.
“At the end of the day, I’m just a hockey player,” he added. “I’m still young and I’ll wait to see where they want to play me.”
When asked if he expected to be at centre when the season starts, Galchenyuk replied: “It’s tough on Sept. 18 to know what’s going to happen on Oct. 8. I don’t think it’s that big a deal, I’m just coming in and trying to get into game shape because no matter how hard you train in the off-season, you have to get those legs moving in a game situation.”
Galchenyuk said his first two years in the NHL have been a learning experience and “I’m not there yet.”
He had nine goals and 18 assists in 48 games in his rookie year and last season had 13 goals and 18 assists in 65 games. He missed 15 games with a hand injury in January and a knee injury sidelined him for the final two regular-season games and the playoffs.
Brendan Gallagher, a close friend and occasional linemate, thinks Galchenyuk will be an outstanding centre.
“He’s a natural playmaker and he sees the ice so well,” Gallagher said. “He would be even more effective in the middle, where he has two options to pass. It will be a lot like (David Desharnais) who has that burst of speed up the middle.”
It has been four years since Galchenyuk has played centre on a regular basis. He missed a full year of junior and when he returned to Sarnia to begin the NHL lockout season of 2012-13, he played on the wing.
“They wanted to load one line and (Charles) Sarault could only play centre,” Galchenyuk said.
There was a brief adjustment period, but Galchenyuk earned an invitation to the Canadiens’ training camp after racking up 27 goals and 34 assists in 33 games with Sarnia.
One reason for his hot streak was a bit of advice from Martin Lapointe, the team’s director of player development. He told Galchenyuk to shoot more.
“I want to get better and I know one of the things I have to do is shoot more,” Galchenyuk said.
“I like to make plays, but I think I have a pretty good shot, and even at this level there are opportunities when I didn’t shoot the puck. You never know, you shoot it a couple more times and you have a couple more goals.”
The Canadiens will practise in Brossard through Sunday with scrimmages each morning at 11 a.m.
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