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BROSSARD, Que. -- Alex Galchenyuk feels it is time to step up and become a dominant player, whether it is at centre or on left wing. The 20-year-old will be tried out at centre during the Montreal Canadiens pre-season after spending most of his first two NHL seasons on the wing. "The main thing is I want to prove to myself that I can take that extra step to be a more productive player, because I truly believe I can be that player," Galchenyuk said Thursday as the Canadiens opened camp with medical and fitness testing. "I pushed myself hard in the summer and I just cant wait to get it started." Galchenyuk was mainly a centre for the Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League when the Canadiens drafted him third overall in 2012, citing his flashy skills as a scorer and playmaker as well as his six-foot-two, 205-pound frame. General manager Marc Bergevin said this week it was time to see if he can adapt to the centremans position at the NHL level, particularly with its defensive demands. "Im really confident playing on the wing," Galchenyuk said. "I like the position. "Ive played it a lot. But I dont know if Id be better playing at centre or wing. Its for the coaches to decide. Centre in the NHL is a way different game than centre in junior. Everything has to click. But Im excited for the challenge. Well see where it takes me." If he makes the move, one of the four incumbent centres will be bumped to the wing. The four in place are David Desharnais, Tomas Plekanec, Lars Eller and newcomer Manny Malhotra. Some feel Eller is most likely to move if Galchenyuk shows hes ready. "I think of myself as a centre," said Eller. "Well see what happens." Galchenyuk had nine goals and 27 points in 45 games as a rookie in 2012-13 and added 13 goals and 31 points in 65 games last season. They were decent numbers for a teenager whose ice time was carefully managed by coach Michel Therrien, but now they want to see how he handles more responsibility. Eller, who signed a four-year contract extension in the off-season, was not surprised Galchenyuk will get a look. "Theyve been saying since they drafted him that they will try him at centre at some point," he said. "Thats why they drafted him. "Things have a way of falling into place. Things can change quickly, one way or the other." The Canadiens have 64 players in camp, and there have been changes to the team that surprised many by reaching the Eastern Conference final last season. Gone are captain Brian Gionta and veteran defenceman Josh Gorges, both now with the Buffalo Sabres. Tough guy George Parros is gone. Rearguard Douglas Murray was let go, and veteran Francis Bouillon was not signed but was invited to camp on a try-out. Newcomers include Malhotra, right winger Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau and defenceman Tom Gilbert. There will be competition in camp for the job of backup goalie to Carey Price between incumbent Peter Budaj and Dustin Tokarski. Tokarski looked good late in the season and Therrien opted to put him in when Price was injured in the opening game of the conference final against the New York Rangers. That decision seemed to hang Budaj out to dry, but he has a year left on a contract that pays US$1.4 million while Tokarski is on a two-way deal, although both would have the clear waivers if sent to AHL Hamilton. There is also a battle for one or perhaps two spots on defence, with youngsters Nathan Beaulieu, Jarred Tinordi and Greg Pateryn the leading candidates. The 21-year-old Beaulieu may have the edge with a strong showing in the conference final after a call-up from Hamilton, but the rushing defenceman is not taking anything for granted. "The time to step up is now," said Beaulieu, who has adopted No. 28, which he wore in junior hockey with the Saint John Sea Dogs. "Theyre going to give me every opportunity and Ive got to show Im ready. "They did their part by giving me an opportunity at the end of last season and now its my turn to reward them." Beaulieu, drafted 17th overall in 2011, played 17 regular season NHL games and seven more in the playoffs in 2013-14. The six-foot-six Tinordi, picked 22nd overall in 2010, spent 22 games in Montreal last season, but sat out the post-season. The 24-year-old Pateryn had a good year in Hamilton with 15 goals and 19 assists. Trading Gorges will allow Alexei Emelin to move to the left side, likely with Gilbert. P.K. Subban, armed with his new eight-year $72 million contract, and Andrei Markov should be the first pair. There could be an opening for a young defenceman on the third pairing with veteran Mike Weaver, and for the seventh defencemans job. If they can show theyre better than 38-year-old Bouillon. Another spot that may be up for grabs is on right wing, where Parenteau, Brendan Gallagher and Dale Weise are the regulars. Jiri Sekac, a much sought-after 22-year-old Czech who signed as a free agent, has a shot at a job, along with hot Swedish prospect Jacob de la Rose and 2014 first-rounder Nikita Scherbak. The Canadiens are calling it a transition year in which they hope leadership shifts to younger stars like Price, Subban and goal-scoring leader Max Pacioretty. They opted for four alternates rather than replace Gionta as captain, with Subban and Pacioretty sharing an A along with veterans Markov and Plekanec. The team begins on-ice workouts Friday. Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys .C. -- Only two Syracuse teams have won their first 20 games, and C. Custom Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys . - Canadian tennis star Eugenie Bouchard has signed with WME-IMG, saying the sports management powerhouse will help maximize the value of my brand. http://www.hurricanessale.com/authentic-...ricanes-jersey/. 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A year in which the Canadian curling championship has been pushed forward a week to accommodate the Winter Olympics was deemed the perfect chance to stage the event in Montreal for the first time since 1979.INDIANAPOLIS - Chuck Pagano could blame New England for one of his most bitter football memories.On the other hand, that loss also opened a new chapter in Paganos life.Now, three years after that stinging 23-20 championship game loss against the Patriots, the former Baltimore Ravens defensive co-ordinator is getting a second chance to earn a Super Bowl ticket at New England — this time as the Indianapolis Colts head coach.We wouldnt be having this discussion right now had things transpired in a different way, Pagano said as Indianapolis prepares for Sundays AFC championship game.He has often contended that if the Ravens won that day — on Lee Evans near-touchdown catch with 27 seconds left or in overtime, if Billy Cundiff had made a 32-yard field goal with 15 seconds to go — that he never would have landed in Indy (13-5).General manager Ryan Grigson didnt go that far this week, though he did recall watching the game and going through some old notes about Pagano almost immediately after Cundiffs kick sailed wide left. Within 24 hours, Grigson had contacted Ravens coach John Harbaugh for permission to interview Pagano, who was still angry.The bitterness was still emanating from him, even when we brought him in, Grigson said. So that game was his loss, but our gain because when he finally came in, it was evident to all of us in that room that this was the right guy.Three days after the game, Pagano accepted his first head coaching job.At first, the outlook looked bleak.The Colts were in the midst of a salary-cap purge and about embarked on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects. They started by releasing a bevy of fan favourites including the seemingly untouchable Peyton Manning. Pagano now jokes that at one point he looked around his office and asked his wife, Tina, what the heck did we just do?Grigson never asked the same question about a man he viewed as a leader that could pull the best out of his players.Pagano proved to be everything Grigson envisioned and more, on and off the field.He helped convince Reggie Wayne, one of his old college players, to stick around for a hometown discount. He helped recruit defensive tackle Arthur Jones and defensive end Cory Redding, both starters who were in the Ravens locker room that awful day in New England, as free agents. It didnt take much of a push.I know what kind of guy he is,, stand-up guy, shoots it straight to you, fun, energetic at practice, expects a lot out of you in the meeting rooms to know your stuff, Redding said, explaining why he left a championship contender to join a team that went 2-14 the year before he came.dddddddddddd. Knowing the system, knowing him, it was just easy for me to make the decision.It turned out the Colts incredible turnaround was about a lot more than just wins and losses.Three games into Paganos tenure, he was diagnosed with leukemia.Pagano spent 25 days at the IU Health Simon Cancer Center in Indianapolis as longtime friends Wayne, Redding and Bruce Arians and new friends such as Robert Mathis, Andrew Luck, Grigson and team owner Jim Irsay rallied the team. After returning home, the treatments continued for two more months.The team responded to Paganos absence by winning nine times, none more electrifying than the second-half comeback against Green Bay when Wayne caught 13 passes for a career high 212 yards and the winning score with 35 seconds left. Irsay and Grigson hand-delivered the game ball to Pagano at the hospital.I cant imagine being anywhere else and having a city and a community embrace somebody they hardly know, Pagano said when he returned to the team complex on Christmas Eve. I just think thats how we roll in this great state, this great city and this great community.And Pagano just kept winning.Indy completed one its nine-game improvement over the 2011 season by winning in Paganos first game back on the sideline. The Colts have won 11 more regular-season games each of the past two seasons, the last two AFC South titles and here playoff games.But those who were with Pagano in Baltimore know thats not good enough yet.That loss lingered the whole off-season, said Jones, who was part of Baltimores 2013 world championship team. It was a tough way to end your year after making it that far. It bothers you.So this week with a second shot, Pagano is taking none at the Patriots.Hes just focused on trying to get the biggest win — and best memory — of his coaching career.Its about the game, its about the team, its about us doing our job, Pagano said Monday. We know how great a team were going to play. Youve got a Hall of Fame coach, a Hall of Fame quarterback and a bunch of great players on both sides of the ball. Its going to be a tall order. ' ' '