Eric Staal hopes to practice with Canadiens on Sunday, debut still unknown

Veteran center Eric Staal joined the Montreal Canadiens via a trade from the Buffalo Sabres last Friday but hasn't been able to skate with his new teammates due to the mandatory seven-day quarantine in Canada. 

Per Dan Rosen of the NHL's official website, Staal said on the "NHL @TheRink" podcast recorded Thursday that he hopes to be cleared to practice on Sunday but doesn't know when he'll play his first game with Montreal. 

"Days have been going by relatively smoothly," he explained. "I have to go into COVID test every morning and I've been doing some video with the coaching staff to get some familiarity with systems and the way that we play.

"They've got me a bike, some dumbbells so I go through some home workouts. A couple more days, but obviously part of the process. Sunday I'm free, so I'm going to be on the ice and looking forward to it."

Montreal heads into Thursday night in fourth place in the NHL North standings with 39 points, four ahead of the Calgary Flames. The top four teams from each division qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

"It was fun watching them the other night, they played really well and beat the Oilers, played a great game," Staal said of watching Montreal's 4-0 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday. "We'll be keeping an eye again tonight (Canadiens at Ottawa Senators) and trying to pick up what I can as far as style and systems, and just be excited for when I get a chance to get in the lineup."

Per quarantine rules, Staal could be available for Monday's game versus Edmonton. As of the podcast's release, he hadn't spoken with coach Dominique Ducharme about when he'll first be in the lineup.