Deviation Actions
Description
Defenseman Mikhail Sergachev, the No. 9 pick of the 2016 NHL Draft, was returned to Windsor of the Ontario Hockey League by the Montreal Canadiens on Monday.
Sergachev, 18, was the youngest player in the NHL this season. He had two shots on goal and averaged 10:25 of ice time in three games. He played three of the Canadiens' first four games but was a healthy scratch the past five.
"The plan was to keep him [in Montreal for] a month and evaluate after that," general manager Marc Bergevin told the Canadiens website. "He needs to go and play. It's going to be great for him [to play in Windsor]."
Last season with Windsor, Sergachev (6-foot-3, 215 pounds) had 17 goals and 57 points in 67 games. As host of the 2017 Memorial Cup, Windsor is guaranteed a spot in the four-team tournament.
Bergevin said he'd like to see Sergachev work on his quickness during the rest of the season.
Sergachev said he has his own goals.
"Win a [Memorial] Cup. Win an OHL [championship]. Be the best," he said.
There are five players picked in the 2016 draft remaining in the NHL: Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (No. 1), Winnipeg Jets right wing Patrik Laine (No. 2), Edmonton Oilers right wing Jesse Puljujarvi (No. 4), Calgary Flames left wing Matthew Tkachuk (No. 6) and Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun (No. 16).
