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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. Custom Colorado Rockies Jerseys . David Perron had a career high four-point night with two goals and two assists as the Oilers experienced an offensive explosion, blasting the Columbus Blue Jackets 7-0 to record a rare home win for their second victory in a row. Rockies Jerseys 2020 . Golden States second straight road win wasnt painless. David Lee scored a season-high 29 points -- 13 in the fourth quarter -- and Nate Robinson added 17 points, leading the Warriors to a 105-95 win Tuesday night over the road-worn Cleveland Cavaliers. https://www.cheaprockiesjerseys.us/. Riethers apparent stamp on Manchester United midfielder Adnan Januzaj during Saturdays Premier League match at Craven Cottage was missed by the match officials. A three-man panel of former referees reviewed the incident and all agreed that it was a sending-off offence. Colorado Rockies Shirts . Perhaps as important, shes sending a message to 17-year-old gold medal favourite Sara Takanashi of Japan. Iraschko-Stolz relegated Takanashi, who has 10 World Cup victories this season, to second place in two of three training jumps Saturday. Cheap Rockies Jerseys . The underachieving franchise finished 17th in the 19-team league with a 6-17-11 record this season. "Our soccer team is absolutely in complete disarray," said Leiweke, drawing laughs during an Empire Club luncheon speech about the future of MLSE teams and plans to improve them.LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- The Chicago Bears said Monday that defensive tackle Henry Melton will miss the rest of the season with knee injury. Melton suffered a season-ending torn left anterior cruciate ligament in Sunday nights 40-23 win at Pittsburgh and will have surgery in a few weeks. "We lost a very good player," coach Marc Trestman said. "Unfortunately, its a next-man-up situation where the next guy has got to come up and be ready to play and help our football team. Were not happy about it, but this is the downside of the National Football League, is players are going to get hurt and the teams got to respond." Melton last year had six sacks, third most by a defensive tackle in the NFL. He was designated Chicagos franchise free agent after contract negotiations with his agent broke down, and received $8 million for this season. He will be a free agent next season. "Its sad," wide receiver Earl Bennett said. "I mean any time you see a player go down its sad because you dont know the extent of the injury. And when youre one of those guys whos been working hard all off-season, its just sad to see him go down." Melton had been off to a slow start without a sack, possibly due to another injury. He suffered a concussion on the first play of preseason and did not return until the start of the regular season. Now the Bears defence, which has produced 11 turnovers in three games to go with three touchdown returns, is looking for a tackle to line up alongside Pro Bowl defensive end Julius Peppers. Former Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Nate Collins, who was once a practice squad player for the New York Giants, gets a chance to start at Detroit on Sunday. Last year Collins made 23 tackles in seven contest, but had no sacks. He had half a sack with the Jaguars in 2011. "Hes an active player, hes got a good motor, hell mix it up in there, hes a finisher," Trestman said of Collins. &quuot;So were lucky to have Nate right now.dddddddddddd And well continue to try to piece together our front with the guys we have and well decide that over the next 24 hours and decide where were going to go for next week." Another player who could get playing time is Zach Minter, an undrafted free agent from Montana State who stood out in a couple of preseason games. Even with Melton healthy, the Bears front four had struggled getting to quarterbacks without blitzing. Last year Chicago was eighth in the league with 41 sacks. The pass rush stepped up against Pittsburgh, but it came about largely due to blitzes. Middle linebacker D.J. Williams had two sacks against the Steelers and linebacker Lance Briggs one. In 2012, the Bears had three sacks total for the season from the linebackers. "Weve been blitzing about a quarter of the time," Trestman said. "We probably picked it up a notch, a little more toward a third. Our guys did a good job of disguising and bringing the blitz and we got some hits on Ben (Roethlisberger) with those blitzes and some sacks." They also gave up plenty of yardage despite coming up with three interceptions and two fumble recoveries. Roethlisberger threw for 406 yards, most by a quarterback against Chicago since 2008. The pass defence will be challenged in Detroit by quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Calvin Johnson. It cant help the Bears that cornerback Charles Tillman left Sundays game with groin tightness. Tillman had been out of practice prior to the Steelers game due to knee soreness, but made it through his playing time with no knee problems. "Were going to be very cautious with him this week," Trestman said. "Hell probably be out on Wednesday and well go through the same progression. But he just tightened up. He was in early this morning, he worked out and got treatment, so were optimistic that hell be ready to go on Sunday." ' ' '