Canadiens notebook: Jared Davidson gets opportunity to experience NHL atmosphere

MONTREAL— It’s 1:00 p.m., on a breathtaking, blue-bird-sky Sunday in Montreal. This is a day to be anywhere but inside a freezing cold arena—even one as magnificent as the Bell Centre—but that doesn’t stop roughly 21,000 people from filing through the doors up on Av. des Canadiens-de-Montréal.

As they pass through security, they’re greeted by the players they’re about to watch, and it’s a gift they deserve for spending the money they did on an intrasquad scrimmage and sacrificing a precious, sun-soaked afternoon ahead of another long, gloomy and grey winter.

But they’re the ones who are really giving on this day. These fans are providing several of the players they’re watching with a first taste of what it’s really like to play in Montreal. They’re offering an atmosphere that makes this feel like a real NHL game instead of a September shinny, and we don’t know if they can even fathom how much is being taken from it.

For a kid like Florian Xhekaj, who scored for Team White, went through interviews with media in the Canadiens dressing room and then was returned back to the OHL Hamilton Bulldogs, these fans are making a dream come true.

“I’ve never played in front of that many people before,” the 19-year-old said. “It was crazy.”

It wasn’t only inspiring for Jared Davidson; it was illuminating.

On Sunday, the 21-year-old, who’s participating in his second Canadiens camp, took his smoothest turn in what’s been a hazardous journey to this point. Here’s a player who was cut by several minor-league teams in Alberta, who went undrafted in the WHL before making the Seattle Thunderbirds as a walk-on, who was overlooked by Team Canada for several international competitions, who was passed over twice in the NHL Draft before being taken in the fifth round a year ago, and he stood out on nearly every shift of this game.

Davidson, who scored three goals in a scrimmage earlier this week, ripped his shot right through Jake Allen to open the scoring on Sunday. He created several good chances for his linemates as the afternoon continued, and then he brought the fans to their feet once again when he scored in the shootout.

“It’s special,” Davidson said afterwards. “This is a red-white game, it doesn’t mean anything, but that was so cool to see. Felt like the whole city was on our back.”

Davidson said it also made him feel like his NHL dream might actually be realized with time.

Not that he hasn’t been a believer all along, but as he put it, “Even last year, it looks like it’s so far away and kind of just a hope.”

“But camp this year has been really good and it helps my confidence knowing that I’m almost there,” Davidson adds. “The experience today with those fans takes it that much further. Makes me feel I’m not that far off.”

Not that the Edmonton native has an open lane to a spot on this year’s Canadiens roster. He’s under contract with the AHL’s Laval Rocket, on the verge of making his professional debut, and all he could really do (under those circumstances) was make himself as noticeable as possible.

Davidson has accomplished that already within the span of five days, and that’s a big win for him.

“I find he’s been unreal this week,” said Canadiens assistant coach Alexandre Burrows. “I think he’s a shooter. It doesn’t take long (for him to shoot), he’s got a quick release. He sees the ice well, he’s always well-positioned defensively, and he works extremely hard, and he’s been impressive since Day 1 this year.”

Burrows, who went from being passed over the NHL Draft to becoming a player who produced over 400 points and appeared in over 900 games, can relate to what Davidson must be feeling.

“As an undrafted player, you feel that you’re behind the eight ball, you’re far away from your dream, but I think a week like this one for him—it’s been all positive, he can see that he’s not that far off,” the coach says. “He played as an over-age last year, but he’s just starting his pro career. He’s got a lot to learn still, but we see there’s something there. I think for him to be able to score some goals against quality goalies today—he was against Jake Allen, and that was a great shot—I think he’s got a bright future and wouldn’t be surprised to see him here in not too long.”

Davidson remains for the time being, with pre-season games ahead and more opportunities within reach to continue proving himself.

Mattias Norlinder sighting

Norlinder is the forgotten man at this year’s camp and, on Sunday, he was completely forgotten on a two-on-one rush that gave him a clean shot at a goal once the puck came to him from Nick Suzuki.

Norlinder scored, and not just into the yawning net; he scored points with management with the way he played, serving up a reminder that he’s someone who shouldn’t be forgotten or dismissed in the competition on defence.

Not that the Swede, who was taken in the third round of the 2019 draft, is in line for a spot in Montreal to start the season. But with William Trudeau knocking on the door, and with Logan Mailloux, Miguel Tourigny and Jayden Struble showing NHL potential, it was essential that Norlinder show he can also be an option for the big club.

He did that on Sunday—and has done it under the radar throughout camp—by making an essential adjustment: moving his feet constantly, with or without the puck.

There was so much hype about this player before he came over from Sweden. He was a highlight factory on the big ice.

But Norlinder arrived at his first camp two years ago and suffered an injury that set him back. And at last year’s camp, the only time you noticed him was when someone was burning right by him because he was flatfooted.

Norlinder said on Sunday that a full season in Laval last year did him a lot of good, that he developed a lot as a player and feels much more like himself now.

He can be a threatening offensive player, and he showed that on Sunday.

But in order for Norlinder to be that in Montreal, in order for him to hit his ceiling at this level, he’ll have to continue to establish his floor.

“If you get those top minutes, sometimes your leash is a little bigger,” said Canadiens defence coach Stephane Robidas. “But sometimes to come in as a fifth or sixth D, or seventh D (like Norlinder would as a call-up to Montreal—you have to make sure the coach can trust you whenever they put you on the ice. If you don’t play those power play minutes and don’t get put in those situations as much, offensively, you gotta make sure you take care of defence and make sure you’re a reliable player for your team. And I think that’s where, a lot of time, young dmen take time. It takes time, it’s not easy. It’s not an easy position. You get a lot more exposed as a dman than you’d be as a forward, and that’s why sometimes it takes longer as a dman to make it to the NHL.”

The good news for Norlinder is he appears to be advancing on that timeline.

Pearson making a strong impression

Another player who showed well on Sunday was Tanner Pearson, who was playing his first game in 10 months.

It was interesting to see him on a line with Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki.

We don’t expect Pearson to be there when the season starts but, considering he and Emil Heineman have been the only ones to line up with the Canadiens’ offensive stars, it’s fairly evident the coaches like the idea of having someone who’s big—or plays big—complete the trio.

What really stood about both the six-foot-two Heineman and the six-foot-one Pearson playing alongside Caufield and Suzuki was their board play.

Pearson said he was cut from the Los Angeles Kings early in his career for his not being up to snuff, but he learned quick under Darryl Sutter and found a way to make it a strength.

That strength was on full display on Sunday, as was some nifty playmaking from Pearson on a goal he set for Caufield.

As for what the 31-year-old can bring to the Canadiens, in general, Burrows feels it’s more than just Stanley Cup-winning pedigree.

“He’s a big winger who’s capable of scoring, and he’s a good player who’s able to play on any line. He knows the league, too. It’s obvious he’s a veteran, he’s a pro. He prepares well. Now he’s excited to have an opportunity here after his injury in Vancouver last year. He’ll be a good option for us, and we can put him pretty much anywhere—on special teams, be it on the penalty kill or the power play, and even across the lineup…he can play left, right, on any line. That’s a good asset for our depth.

“And what’s even more fun is he’s an excellent team player who comes with a good attitude, who works hard, who wants his teammates to do well, who wants the best for the team. We’re very happy to have him with us.”

Quick hits

• Three players, in addition to Xhekaj, were cut from Canadiens camp late on Sunday: Cedrick Guindon, Quentin Miller and Jan Spunar.
• Cayden Primeau, who said he had a rough scrimmage on Saturday, stopped all 12 shots he faced in the opening half of Sunday’s game.
• The Canadiens will play their first pre-season game at the Bell Centre Monday against the New Jersey Devils.