Mikhail Sergachev‘s days in the NHL this season appear to be numbered after the rookie defenceman sat out his fourth-straight game Thursday night.
Sergachev, 18, didn’t find the Canadiens’ defensive pairings for their home game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Russian, who was drafted ninth overall at the 2016 NHL Draft, has played in just three games this season for Montreal. Sergachev has yet to record more than 12 minutes of ice time in those games while also being held pointless.
Head coach Michel Therrien has a history of not taking favour with younger players and it appears that Sergachev is no exception.
The six foot three, 215 pounder is property of the Ontario Hockey League’s Windsor Spitfires. He marvelled with Windsor in his inaugural season last year, earning the OHL’s most outstanding defenceman award along with first all-star team honours.
The Spitfires would certainly welcome his addition back to the fold should the Canadiens decided to send him down. Windsor (8-4-0) is sixth in the Western Conference and are hosting this year’s Memorial Cup. The team has already bolstered their blue line by acquiring defenceman Sean Day from the Mississauga Steelheads.
