CP) - The Montreal Canadiens will begin the NHL season with six rookies.
Mark Streit, captain of the Swiss national team, beat out Ron Hainsey for the one open job on defence. "I'm very surprised and very happy," Streit said after getting the word. "The first couple of days everything was so different, the hockey - everything - but after the first week I felt more comfortable and every day was a little better.
"There's still a lot of space to improve farther. I want to work even harder now."
Streit, 27, has come a long way. He was the 262nd player selected in the 2004 entry draft.
Raitis Ivanans was the surprise winner of the enforcer's job over Peter Vandermeer, who along with Hainsey was assigned to the AHL farm team in Hamilton. Ivanans, 26, may have won the Habs job by taking on Ottawa bruiser Brian McGratton on Saturday.
The six-foot-three Latvian arrived in Canada at age 17 to play junior hockey in Aurora, Ont. He was never drafted. He had a tryout with Detroit four years and didn't make it. He was playing in the United Hockey League for a team in Illinois just two years ago.
GM Bob Gainey likes Ivanans' size.
"We're not a big team compared to other teams in the NHL, but we are a quick team and I think we can handle our own in the physical areas, in front of the net and in the corners," says Gainey. "I don't see us being disadvantaged in size."
Other rookies to start the season with the Habs are forwards Chris Higgins, Alexander Perezhogin and Tomas Plekanec, and goaltender Yann Danis, who will back up Jose Theodore until Cristobal Huet returns from a knee injury in late November or early December.
"You always need younger guys if you're going to be successful in the long term," said captain Saku Koivu. "Now we have young guys and they're hungry.
"They want to show they belong in this league, and it drives us older guys to work harder to keep our spots."
Higgins, 22, an American who was Montreal's first pick and 14th overall in 2002, is a strong two-way player. He got into two NHL games in 2003-2004.
"I definitely knew I had the chance and that I had the ability and work ethic to grab a spot on the roster, but I had to put out a consistent effort every day," he said. "Obviously, it worked out."
Plekanec, 22, tied with Radek Bonk for the team scoring lead in the pre-season with eight points (4-4-8). The Czech left-winger adds speed to the right side.
Perezhogin, 22, is the Kazakh winger who was banned from the AHL for a year after slashing an opponent across the face during a playoff game in 2004. He played on a Russian team with Jaromir Jagr last winter.
Elsewhere:
-Veteran defenceman Curtis Leschyshyn retired. Leschyshyn, 36, helped the Colorado Avalanche win the Stanley Cup in 1996. He spent his last three seasons with Ottawa and returned to Denver this year to compete for a roster spot. The native of Thompson, Man., played more than 1,000 games for six teams in his 16 big-league seasons.
-Edmonton sent American centre Rob Schremp back to London of the OHL and assigned his former Knights teammate Danny Syvret, a defenceman from Millgrove, Ont., to Hamilton.
-The Maple Leafs assigned defencemen Carlo Colaiacovo of Toronto and Swede Staphan Kronvall to the AHL's Toronto Marlies.
-Ottawa sent winger Denis Hamel of Lachute, Que., to the AHL's Binghamton Senators, pending waiver clearance on Tuesday.
-The Calgary Flames assigned six players to the AHL's Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights. Forwards Lynn Loyns of Naicam, Sask., Brantt Myhres of Edmonton and Eric Nystrom were demoted, as were defencemen Richie Regehr and Mark Girdano and goalie Brent Krahn of Winnipeg.
-Boston assigned centre Ben Walter of Beaconsfield, Que., and American goalie Tim Thomas to the AHL's Providence Bruins. Boston starts the season with another Orr. Rugged right-winger Colton Orr of Winnipeg, no relation to Hockey Hall of Famer Bobby Orr, has made the team.
-Anaheim named Edmonton-born defenceman Scott Niedermayer captain. It also acquired defenceman Bruno St. Jacques of Montreal from Carolina for right-winger Craig Adams of Calgary.
-Detroit released forwards Rem Murray of Stratford, Ont., and Americans Dan LaCouture and Blake Sloan. That left Newfoundlander Dan Cleary among forwards set to start the season.
-Buffalo assigned forward Derek Roy of Ottawa to the AHL's Rochester Americans and placed Jason Pominville of Repentigny, Que., Milan Bartovic and Doug Janik on waivers. If any of those players go unclaimed, they will also be sent to Rochester on Tuesday.
-Nashville assigned forwards Randy Robitaille of Ottawa, Jerred Smithson of Vernon, B.C., and Scottie Upshall of Fort McMurray, Alta., and defenceman Greg Zanon of Burnaby, B.C., to the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals. Meanwhile, veteran centre Yannic Perreault of Sherbrooke, Que., remains with the team after attending training camp on a tryout basis.
-Dallas assigned Swedish centre Yared Hagos, right-winger Junior Lessard of St-Joseph-de-Beauce, Que., and Czechoslovakia-born left-winger Vojtech Polak to the AHL's Iowa Stars. Swedish left-winger Mathias Tjarnqvist (ankle) was placed on injured reserve.
-Colorado assigned goaltender Vitaly Kolesnik to the AHL's Lowell Lock Monsters. Centre Jason Krog of Fernie, B.C., was released from his tryout contract by the Avalanche while Brett McLean of Comox, B.C., was placed on waivers.
-The New York Islanders sent Sean Bergenheim to their AHL affiliate in Bridgeport, Conn. GM Mike Milbury had toyed with keeping the Finn as a 13th forward.
"Prospects need to play," said Milbury. "He'll get plenty of ice time (with the Sound Tigers) and I'm sure we'll see him soon."
-Phoenix assigned American defenceman Matt Jones to the AHL's San Antonio Rampage.
-Los Angeles sent American left-winger Jeff Giuliano to the AHL's Manchester Monarchs.
Mark Streit, captain of the Swiss national team, beat out Ron Hainsey for the one open job on defence. "I'm very surprised and very happy," Streit said after getting the word. "The first couple of days everything was so different, the hockey - everything - but after the first week I felt more comfortable and every day was a little better.
"There's still a lot of space to improve farther. I want to work even harder now."
Streit, 27, has come a long way. He was the 262nd player selected in the 2004 entry draft.
Raitis Ivanans was the surprise winner of the enforcer's job over Peter Vandermeer, who along with Hainsey was assigned to the AHL farm team in Hamilton. Ivanans, 26, may have won the Habs job by taking on Ottawa bruiser Brian McGratton on Saturday.
The six-foot-three Latvian arrived in Canada at age 17 to play junior hockey in Aurora, Ont. He was never drafted. He had a tryout with Detroit four years and didn't make it. He was playing in the United Hockey League for a team in Illinois just two years ago.
GM Bob Gainey likes Ivanans' size.
"We're not a big team compared to other teams in the NHL, but we are a quick team and I think we can handle our own in the physical areas, in front of the net and in the corners," says Gainey. "I don't see us being disadvantaged in size."
Other rookies to start the season with the Habs are forwards Chris Higgins, Alexander Perezhogin and Tomas Plekanec, and goaltender Yann Danis, who will back up Jose Theodore until Cristobal Huet returns from a knee injury in late November or early December.
"You always need younger guys if you're going to be successful in the long term," said captain Saku Koivu. "Now we have young guys and they're hungry.
"They want to show they belong in this league, and it drives us older guys to work harder to keep our spots."
Higgins, 22, an American who was Montreal's first pick and 14th overall in 2002, is a strong two-way player. He got into two NHL games in 2003-2004.
"I definitely knew I had the chance and that I had the ability and work ethic to grab a spot on the roster, but I had to put out a consistent effort every day," he said. "Obviously, it worked out."
Plekanec, 22, tied with Radek Bonk for the team scoring lead in the pre-season with eight points (4-4-8). The Czech left-winger adds speed to the right side.
Perezhogin, 22, is the Kazakh winger who was banned from the AHL for a year after slashing an opponent across the face during a playoff game in 2004. He played on a Russian team with Jaromir Jagr last winter.
Elsewhere:
-Veteran defenceman Curtis Leschyshyn retired. Leschyshyn, 36, helped the Colorado Avalanche win the Stanley Cup in 1996. He spent his last three seasons with Ottawa and returned to Denver this year to compete for a roster spot. The native of Thompson, Man., played more than 1,000 games for six teams in his 16 big-league seasons.
-Edmonton sent American centre Rob Schremp back to London of the OHL and assigned his former Knights teammate Danny Syvret, a defenceman from Millgrove, Ont., to Hamilton.
-The Maple Leafs assigned defencemen Carlo Colaiacovo of Toronto and Swede Staphan Kronvall to the AHL's Toronto Marlies.
-Ottawa sent winger Denis Hamel of Lachute, Que., to the AHL's Binghamton Senators, pending waiver clearance on Tuesday.
-The Calgary Flames assigned six players to the AHL's Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights. Forwards Lynn Loyns of Naicam, Sask., Brantt Myhres of Edmonton and Eric Nystrom were demoted, as were defencemen Richie Regehr and Mark Girdano and goalie Brent Krahn of Winnipeg.
-Boston assigned centre Ben Walter of Beaconsfield, Que., and American goalie Tim Thomas to the AHL's Providence Bruins. Boston starts the season with another Orr. Rugged right-winger Colton Orr of Winnipeg, no relation to Hockey Hall of Famer Bobby Orr, has made the team.
-Anaheim named Edmonton-born defenceman Scott Niedermayer captain. It also acquired defenceman Bruno St. Jacques of Montreal from Carolina for right-winger Craig Adams of Calgary.
-Detroit released forwards Rem Murray of Stratford, Ont., and Americans Dan LaCouture and Blake Sloan. That left Newfoundlander Dan Cleary among forwards set to start the season.
-Buffalo assigned forward Derek Roy of Ottawa to the AHL's Rochester Americans and placed Jason Pominville of Repentigny, Que., Milan Bartovic and Doug Janik on waivers. If any of those players go unclaimed, they will also be sent to Rochester on Tuesday.
-Nashville assigned forwards Randy Robitaille of Ottawa, Jerred Smithson of Vernon, B.C., and Scottie Upshall of Fort McMurray, Alta., and defenceman Greg Zanon of Burnaby, B.C., to the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals. Meanwhile, veteran centre Yannic Perreault of Sherbrooke, Que., remains with the team after attending training camp on a tryout basis.
-Dallas assigned Swedish centre Yared Hagos, right-winger Junior Lessard of St-Joseph-de-Beauce, Que., and Czechoslovakia-born left-winger Vojtech Polak to the AHL's Iowa Stars. Swedish left-winger Mathias Tjarnqvist (ankle) was placed on injured reserve.
-Colorado assigned goaltender Vitaly Kolesnik to the AHL's Lowell Lock Monsters. Centre Jason Krog of Fernie, B.C., was released from his tryout contract by the Avalanche while Brett McLean of Comox, B.C., was placed on waivers.
-The New York Islanders sent Sean Bergenheim to their AHL affiliate in Bridgeport, Conn. GM Mike Milbury had toyed with keeping the Finn as a 13th forward.
"Prospects need to play," said Milbury. "He'll get plenty of ice time (with the Sound Tigers) and I'm sure we'll see him soon."
-Phoenix assigned American defenceman Matt Jones to the AHL's San Antonio Rampage.
-Los Angeles sent American left-winger Jeff Giuliano to the AHL's Manchester Monarchs.
