The Montreal Canadiens have given Eric Gelinas another chance to make an NHL team, signing the 26-year old defenseman to a professional tryout. Gelinas will attend Canadiens camp hoping to impress enough to deserve a contract there or around the league.
It’s been a tough road for Gelinas since a rookie season with the New Jersey Devils saw him put up 29 points. A second-round selection, the hulking defender had huge offensive potential but could never seem to make the right decision in his own end. That led to coaching staffs giving him fewer and fewer minutes, and eventually pushing him off the Devils entirely.
He has spent the last year and a half with the Colorado Avalanche organization, but only skated in 33 games with the club. He has just one point during that time, playing fewer than 12 minutes a night and losing his offensive touch almost entirely.
Montreal could prove to be a solid destination for the French-Canadian Gelinas; born in Vanier, a French part of Ottawa just a few hours west of Montreal, he would be embraced by the Canadiens fans if he could find his way. Not only does he speak the language, but he was once an up-and-coming defender who could do it all. For the Canadiens, who lack many puck-moving options after seeing Andrei Markov return to Russia, Gelinas would be an interesting fit.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
I’ve never really thought he’s gotten a fair shot. Mind you I didn’t see him play a lot, was his defense really tgat bad?