The Canadiens’ lineup will feature two rookies when the season opens Thursday night as the club announced on Monday that forward Artturi Lehkonen and defecenman Mikhail Sergachev had made the final roster.
Sergachev, 18, was the Canadiens ninth overall selection in the 2016 entry draft. The 6’3, 206 lb defender made an impressive showing throughout training camp and is coming off a season that saw him score 17 goals and 40 assists in 67 games with the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League.
According to the Canadiens press guide, Sergachev will be the youngest defenceman in team history at 18 years and 110 days, and the fourth youngest player overall. He is eight days younger than the previous youngest defenceman, Mathieu Schneider, was when he played his first game with the team in 1987.
Goaltender Olivier Michaud is the overall youngest player in team history, when he played one game for the Canadiens in 2001.
The 21-year-old Lehkonen spent the last two seasons with Frolunda of the Swedish Elite League.
He was picked in the second round of the 2013 entry draft and made a big impression in last year’s Swedish playoffs, putting up 11 goals and eight assists in 16 games.
Forward Michael McCarron was cut and sent to the St. John’s IceCaps. The 6’6 forward was among the final cuts after scoring one goal and one assist in 20 games with the big club last year.
Goaltender Mike Condon was placed on waivers on Monday. If no team claims him, he will also be assigned to the IceCaps.
Carey Price did not attend practice on Monday morning due to a virus.
