Music: {allcanada} Galchenyuk prepared for more extensive role

Thursday, September 18, 2014

{allcanada} Galchenyuk prepared for more extensive role

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BROSSARD, Que. — Alex Galchenyuk feels it is time to step up and become a dominant player, whether it is at centre or on left wing.

The 20-year-old will be tried out at centre during the Montreal Canadiens training camp after spending most of his first two NHL seasons on the wing.

“The main thing is I want to prove to myself that I can take that extra step to be a more productive player, because I truly believe I can be that player,” Galchenyuk said Thursday as the Canadiens opened camp with medical and fitness testing. “I pushed myself hard in the summer and I just can’t wait to get it started.”

Galchenyuk was mainly a centre for the Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League when the Canadiens drafted him third overall in 2012, citing his flashy skills as a scorer and playmaker as well as his six-foot-two, 205-pound frame.

General manager Marc Bergevin said this week it was time to see if he can adapt to the centreman’s position, particularly with its defensive demands, at the NHL level.

“I’m really confident playing on the wing,” Galchenyuk said. “I like the position.

“I’ve played it a lot. But I don’t know if I’d be better playing at centre or wing. It’s for the coaches to decide. It’s a different game. Centre in the NHL is a way different game than centre in junior. Everything has to click. But I’m excited for the challenge. We’ll see where it takes me.”

He expected the Canadiens to try him at centre at some point.

“Even for myself, I want to see where I am at centre and it’s a good time to figure it out,” said Galchenyuk. “I have to take it in a positive way.”

But if he makes the move, one of the four incumbent centres will be bumped to the wing. The four in place are David Desharnais, Tomas Plekanec, Lars Eller and newcomer Manny Malhotra.

Some feel Eller is most likely to move if Galchenyuk shows he’s ready.

“I haven’t thought of that,” said Eller. “I think of myself as a centre. We’ll see what happens.”

Galchenyuk had nine goals and 27 points in 45 games as a rookie in 2012-13 and added 13 goals and 31 points in 65 games last season. They were decent numbers for a teenager whose ice time was carefully managed by coach Michel Therrien, but the team clearly feels it’s time to hand him more responsibility.

Eller, who signed a four-year contract extension in the off-season, was not surprised to see the team give Galchenyuk a look.

“They’ve been saying since they drafted him that they will try him at centre at some point,” he said. “That’s why they drafted him.

“Things have a way of falling into place. Things can change quickly, one way or the other.”

The Canadiens have 64 players in camp. There may be a position on right wing open for a young player, perhaps free agent Jiri Sekac, and incumbent Peter Budaj and Dustin Tokarski are battling for the job as backup goalie to Carey Price.

Young defencemen Nathan Beaulieu, Jarred Tinordi and Greg Pateryn will also be fighting for full-time NHL jobs.

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