The newest member of the Canadiens will hit the ice tonight in the team's match against the Boston Bruins.
Sergei Gonchar took his first practice with the Habs on Thursday morning, and the 40-year-old defenceman said he had never seen so many fans and reporters covering a practice.
Gonchar played with the Dallas Stars until Tuesday, when he was traded for Travis Moen.
He will be paired with another newcomer, Tom Gilbert, and is expected to make a large difference on the team's power play.
"We're very happy to have him," said PK Subban.
"What he brings in terms of experience and when you think of having threats like that on the blue line it's only going to help our team."
The Canadiens have a very bad power play this season, scoring just three goals throughout 23 games when having an extra man on the ice.
Gonchar said he is happy to be with his new club and said he will have to work out the kinks.
"I have to get out there and see, what they do. Obviously I got a sense of it this morning. At the same time, you know, it seemed like they were missing a left shot, so I think i'm going to give them opportunity to play with Andrei (Markov) and be there for a one-timer with him," said Gonchar.
It turns out Gonchar, in his lengthy career, has already played with sometime Hab Jarred Tinordi.
Gonchar and Tinordi's father, Mark, played together decades ago and when Jarred was three or four-years-old, his father occasionally brought him to practice to skate with his teammates.
