Canadien Rookies Have Short Hair, Big Talent

Montreal Canadiens rookies have discovered that hard-rock teammate Chris Nilan is as deadly with a pair of scissors as he is with his fists.

“He (Nilan) did this,” large-sized forward Sergio Momesso said as he slumped in the training room whirlpool and pointed to his bristly head. “But making the team was worth getting my hair cut. I’d go through this every year if it meant staying with the Canadiens.”

The 6-3, 202-pound left-winger is one of eight rookies who underwent Nilan’s shaved-head initiation rite six weeks ago. They left their hair on the floor, but they still bring their hearts to the arena for each game.

Momesso and three other rookie forwards--Kjell Dahlin, Stephane Richer and Brian Skrudland--have won regular spots on the team. The other four are rotated into the lineup, depending on injuries and slumps by veteran players.

They are the biggest contingent of rookies on any NHL team and have given Montreal added scoring punch and depth.

Dahlin, a Swede, was the leading rookie goal-scorer in the NHL with 10 goals going into Nov. 23-24 weekend.

Richer, out of action with a sprained ankle for at least another weekend, was the second-leading scorer on the team after Mats Naslund until he was injured against the Boston Bruins.

Richer, with nine goals and 10 assists, is showing some of the best stickhandling since Guy Lafleur.

Rookie coach Jean Perron uses both Dahlin and Richer on the power play.

In nets, Patrick Roy, 20, has played in seven regular-season games. Observers say he is the Canadiens’ goalie of the future. The future could be soon if second-year man Steve Penney continues to experience his early-season shakes.

Skrudland, a good forechecking centerman, has played in all but one of the Canadiens’ regular-season matches.

Forwards Steve Rooney and Claude Lemieux, together with defenseman Mike Lalor, have been rotated in and out of the lineup.

“They’ve got a lot of good kids in the lineup,” Edmonton Oilers’ center Wayne Gretzky said after his team beat Montreal, 5-4, in overtime Nov. 20. “But it takes an awfully long time to get to know each other and to jell. It’s going to take the Canadiens some time to get things together.”

Montreal then was in fourth place in the Adams Division, just ahead of the Hartford Whalers.

Canadiens’ general manager Serge Savard says there is no panic.

“We’re not looking to make a trade,” he said. “We want to develop what we have. We came close to making the Stanley Cup finals two years ago with a lot less scoring punch than we have now.”

Dahlin’s goal-scoring ability has been a surprise, Savard said.

“We didn’t expect him to produce at this pace because he didn’t even make the Swedish national team,” Savard said. “He has a great wrist shot, quick hands. He has good hockey sense and is a very good skater.”

Richer is “a good skater and playmaker,” Savard said. “And he’s only 19.”

Momesso is “a decent but not a great skater,” Savard said. “But he’s tough.”

Management was disappointed that Lemieux, the most highly touted of all the rookies before training camp, has not won a regular spot.

“He has a great shot, is a good skater and has good size,” Savard said of the 6-1, 208-pound rightwinger. “He has to play physical to be effective. He’s young, but he’s definitely an NHL player.”

The rookies are an integral part of the team, captain Bob Gainey, 32, said.

“They make up 30% of the team in terms of importance,” he said. “I’d be disappointed if we don’t make a battle for first place by the end of the season.

“They’re (rookies) playing well and that helps the veterans. We older players leave our age at the door when we come in the dressing room.”