Report: Former Habs prospect Sergachev slams organization

Mikhail Sergachev, before being traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning for forward Jonathan Drouin a month ago, was arguably the Montreal Canadiens’ most promising defensive prospect since PK Subban. And, just like Subban, Sergachev be patrolling the blue line for a different club when the puck drops on the 2017-18 NHL season.

The 19 year-old defender seems intent on cracking the Lightning’s roster for the upcoming season and is relishing the opportunity to prove the team that drafted him wrong by trading him. "I played a lot in juniors and I learned a lot from Windsor … so I think I'm ready for the NHL,” he said when speaking with TSN.

For Sergachev, it’s just nice to feel wanted for a change. "It's amazing that this team wants me more than Montreal, and they want me to come play in the NHL and they want me to try to help them," he said. "That's why I love this team. Montreal needed Drouin, he's from there, and I think this is the only way Tampa would have traded him was for me. They asked for me.”

And they got you, Sarge. Lightning fans are going to love this kid when he eventually develops into a full-time NHLer. Whether that happens in 2017-18 or not remains to be seen, but his package of size, skill and smarts makes him one of the NHL’s most intriguing prospects. Watch for big things from him in the next few seasons.