Nikita Scherbak

Scherbak's shaky preseason led to him starting 2017-18 in AHL Laval. The knock on him early in his career was a lack of professionalism, but the 22-year-old Muscovite has matured since being drafted in 26th overall in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. He was busy at Laval, quickly earning a call-up, but suffered a knee injury in his second game that sidelined him until December. Once again, he disappointedly was back at Laval but averaged more than a point per game while there, resulting in him returning to the NHL in late February. Scherbak will compete for a full-time role in Montreal in 2018-19; however, the Habs are loaded with right wingers so it won't be easy. Injuries to Paul Byron (shoulder) and Andrew Shaw (knee) will give him a chance at minutes early in the season. Working in his favor is that Scherbak is waiver-eligible, so it's unlikely general manager Marc Bergevin risks losing him for nothing.