Jiri Sekac was a hot commodity this summer.

There were over a dozen NHL and KHL teams interested in signing the 22-year-old free agent from the Czech Republic. His goal was always to play in the NHL, but after having difficulty cracking the line-up in the OHL and USHL, he returned to Europe mainly playing in the KHL.

The Canadiens invited Sekac to Montreal last May to show him around and he liked what he saw.

"It was just a gut feeling, I wanted to be a part of the Montreal Canadiens" Sekac explained as the reason why he chose Montreal.

Tomas Plekanec has taken on a mentorship type of role with Sekac, they're both from Kladno of the Czech Republic, but only briefly knew each other from playing roller hockey together one summer. The two have gotten to know each other better in the past few months and Sekac has been very grateful for the guidance Plekanec has given him since arriving in Montreal.

"He's been showing me around the city and helping me out in the locker room" Sekac said.

So far at training camp Michel Therrien has placed the two Czech players together on a line with Sven Andrighetto.

"We want to give him an opportunity to feel comfortable as quick as he can and putting him with Plekanec we think is the best thing for him" the head coach told the media.

The Canadiens are hoping that the six-foot-three Sekac can fill the empty right wing spot left behind from Brian Gionta.

Plekanec has been impressed with the play of his linemate and feels Sekac could be ready to be a full time NHL player.

"It's up to the management and coaches but as a player you can see he's pretty much ready, he knows what he is doing out there" Plekanec told reporters.