Montreal has invited defenseman Matt Lashoff to training camp on a tryout. He played with Zurich last season in the Swiss A League and has 74 games of NHL experience under his belt. Lashoff hasn't suited up in the NHL since 2010-11 when he skated in 11 contests with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He shouldn't be expected to make the Canadiens' roster, but he could end up starting the year in the minors if he gets a contract with them.

Matt Lashoff is playing for Switzerland's Zurich Lions and, unlike his former NHL colleagues, he's already in action. Preseason games started in Switzerland this week. "It's different. It's tough to compare," Shannon said of the Swiss game. "Players, for the most part, are in incredible shape. They take care of themselves. They're very fast, very skilled. They play the game at a really fast level. The ice is bigger. It seems like the game slows down a little bit. There's more playmaking involved." Lashoff projected to have the necessary skills to become an NHL regular. He was comfortable skating the puck out of danger and had good vision and soft hands. But like many young defensemen, Lashoff struggled when he made mistakes. He didn't have the confidence to dig himself out of trouble. As a result, the game slipped away from him even more, and he wound up in Switzerland.

Matt Lashoff has signed on to play in Switzerland this season with the Zurich Lions. He participated in a preseason game on Tuesday along with former NHLer Ryan Shannon, who is also on the Lions. Lashoff spent the 2011-12 campaign with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL and his last appearance in the NHL came the previous year when he suited up in 11 games with the Maple Leafs.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have placed Matt Lashoff on waivers. That's hardly a surprise, given how deep the Leafs' defensive corps is this season. If Lashoff clears waivers, he'll be sent to the AHL.

Matt Lashoff has signed a one-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. In 11 games with Toronto this past season, Lashoff recorded one assist and six penalty minutes. He played most the 2010-11 campaign for the Marlies in the AHL, where he notched 28 points and 137 penalty minutes in 69 contests.