Despite the general failure of the Montreal Canadiens’ 2017-18 season, the year did see several silver linings emerge as the coaching staff experimented and presented opportunities. One of these was Nikita Scherbak.
After an early-season knee injury that saw him sidelined for six weeks, the young Russian winger broke out in Laval with a point-per-game-plus season before finishing the campaign as a regular with Montreal. Six points in 26 games may not look particularly impressive, but Scherbak tantalized fans with displays of skill and flair that the Canadiens were hoping would eventually emerge when they drafted him back in 2014.