on the wing in the top nine of the Canadiens lineup, Sekac sai

First-round draft pick Nikita Scherbak is doing everything he can to crack the Montreal Canadiens roster, but admits its a difficult task for a first-year player. "Its very hard, a lot of pressure, a lot of people watching, but Im alright right now," Scherbak told reporters after the second day of the Canadiens development camp in Brossard, Quebec. Scherbak said his goal is to make to it to the NHL this season, but ultimately the decision will be left to the coaching staff. "Its hard work and well see," said Scherbak. "I cant say I already know (who will make the roster), its the coaches opinion… Its a big pressure for me, but Im trying to play next season, Ill try everything to make it to the NHL." The 18-year-old acknowledged he has areas of his game he needs to improve on in order to play at the top level. "I play pretty well in the offensive zone, but I need to work on defensive zone and compete level with the puck." The native of Moscow, Russia said his favourite player in the league also hails from his home country. "I think Pavel Datsyuk is my favourite player. When I was young, I watched him every time, he was my favourite." Scherbak, who joined the WHLs Saskatoon Blades last season, said hes been working on his English and has used television to help him improve. "I like SportsCentre, I watched just sports like NHL games, NBA games and everything about sports." Undrafted forward Jiri Sekac has also been given his shot with the Montreal Canadiens and he plans to make the most of it. Speaking to reporters following the second day of the development camp, Sekac told reporters he believes he earned his shot with the team through strong play overseas. "I had a really, really good season (in the KHL), and I think thats the reason why I received so many offers," Sekac said. Sekac added that he had been given roughly 10 offers, but narrowed his list to four top-level teams before signing a two-year entry-level contract with the Canadiens. The 22-year-old said he made the decision to join the Canadiens based on his knowledge of the franchise and a visit to the city of Montreal following the World Hockey Championship. He did, however, admit to having a connection with Canadiens forward Tomas Plekanec, though the Czech centre made no impact on his decision. "I didnt really know (Pleakanec), but two years ago, we started playing roller hockey together back in Kladno (Czech Republic), because were from the same town. We didnt really talk about Montreal, though he told me a few things. But it was just my decision (to join the Canadiens), I wasnt making the decision because of someones opinions," Sekac said. Sekac told the media that he hopes he is "really close" to making the NHL, but admitted no player has an easy road to making it immediately. When asked what he thought of Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin mentioning his name amongst three players he believed could fill a spot on the wing in the top nine of the Canadiens lineup, Sekac said hed "do his best to fill the spot" and added he hoped Bergevin was right. Sekac spent the last three seasons playing with Prague Lev of the KHL, finishing second on the team in points with 11 goals and 17 assists in 47 games. Custom San Francisco 49ers Jerseys . -- Andrew Wiggins is from Canada, Wayne Selden from Massachusetts and Joel Embiid from the African nation of Cameroon. Earl Mitchell Jersey . - Josh Sterk scored twice to lead the Oshawa Generals to a 7-1 rout of the Ottawa 67s in Mondays Ontario Hockey League action. http://www.officialsanfrancisco49ersfootball.com/authentic-jimmie-ward-jersey-womens . -- Southern Illinois coach Barry Hinson couldnt hear himself amid the roar in Koch Arena, so he kept stomping on the floor in a fruitless attempt to get his teams attention. Roger Craig Jersey . - After three days of light, make that very light, workouts, Team Irvin and Team Carter are ready for tonights Pro Bowl. KWaun Williams Jersey . - Alex Dostie scored two goals and assisted on another to lead the Gatineau Olympiques to a 5-3 victory over the Drummondville Voltigeurs in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action on Sunday.MINNEAPOLIS - The Minnesota Twins and free-agent right-hander Ervin Santana were working Thursday to finalize a four-year, $55 million contract, according to two people with direct knowledge of the deal.The agreement was reached in San Diego at baseballs winter meetings. The two people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the contract had not yet been signed. Included in Santanas guarantee is a $1 million buyout of a fifth-year option on the deal.The Twins again brought a need for better starting pitching into the off-season, and Santana has been one of the steadiest around. Over the last five years, Santana averaged 12 wins, 207 innings and 164 strikeouts while making 30 or more starts each season. The Twins pursued him a year ago, but he held out until March and signed with Atlanta for one season and $14.1 million.Santana, who turns 32 Friday, was 14-10 with a 3.95 ERA in 31 starts for the Braves last year.The Twins spent aggressively on starting pitching last winter, signing free agents Ricky Nolasco ($49 million), Phil Hughes ($24 million) and Mike Pelfrey ($11 million), who had previously joined the team for 2013 on a one-year deal. Nolasco was given the richest contract for a free agent in Twins history.The Twins have had the worst collective ERA by their starting pitchers in the major leagues the last two seasons (5.06 in 2014 and 5.226 in 2013), and only the Colorado Rockies were higher than their 5.dddddddddddd40 mark in 2012. Hughes was a major upgrade for the group last year, posting a 3.52 ERA and a 16-10 record with 186 strikeouts in 209 2-3 innings. But other than Kyle Gibson, who was up and down in his second season in the majors, the Twins offered little resistance to hitters around the rest of the league. Nolasco struggled badly in his first year.General manager Terry Ryan said last week that the rotation was the priority for yet another winter.Weve had a struggle on the mound so well continue to look at pitching first, Ryan said.Santana was picked for the All-Star game in 2008, his fourth of eight seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, who traded him to the Kansas City Royals for 2013. Because Santana turned down a qualifying offer from the Braves, his signing comes with draft-pick compensation. The Twins must forfeit their second-round selection next year.With Santana, Hughes, Gibson and Nolasco in line for the first four spots, Pelfrey will likely compete in spring training with prospects Trevor May and Alex Meyer for the fifth slot in the rotation with Tommy Milone also in the mix. Santana has made three career starts at Target Field, going 2-0 with a 3.10 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 20 1-3 innings.___AP Sports Writer Ronald Blum contributed to this report from San Diego. 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