In fact, the young right-winger's patience is being tested right now. Scherbak is dealing with a shoulder injury at a time when the Canadiens are making their fair share of call-ups, so he's had to watch as many of his teammates, including Michael McCarron, live out their big-league dreams.
"I'm happy for guys when they get called up. It's nice to see that one day McCarron and I are playing video games and the next day you're playing in the NHL. I keep telling myself that my time will come," said the Canadiens' first-round pick in 2014, who is expected to return to the St. John's IceCaps' lineup around January 1.
"This year, I've learned that you have to be patient. Montreal is one of the best organizations in the League. There are so many good players on the team that it's tough to get a roster spot. Some guys get hurt, others aren't playing well, so things are always going to change. I need to keep working, show what I can do, and earn my spot here," added Scherbak.
The Russian forward has obviously experienced his fair share of disappointment - and even a measure of frustration - when he was cut from his most recent NHL training camp experience. His head coach, Sylvain Lefebvre, felt it first-hand. But, the IceCaps' bench boss says that it really only took Scherbak a few games at the start of the year to begin producing.
"There was a bit of a letdown at one point in time when players were called up. I think he was a little bit disappointed. But, just before he got hurt, he was playing well," said Lefebvre.
It's just that Scherbak put a lot of pressure on himself this season. He spent practically the entire summer in Montreal training with Canadiens strength and conditioning coach Pierre Allard.
"I like training with him. He knows that I need to improve in the gym in order to be better on the ice. I put in the most work this past summer. I came to training camp ready to play because last year I didn't show who I really was. I was also dealing with a tough injury, so I want to prove myself again and show everybody that there's a reason why the Canadiens drafted me," admitted the Moscow native.
Tips from Radu
Scherbak was in Montreal just prior to the Christmas break and he had the opportunity to have dinner with some of the Canadiens' Russian-born players. Not only could he spend the night talking in his native language, but he also received some precious advice from his friends.
"Their support is very important to me. They really give of their time and they try to help me. I really appreciate it. They're NHL superstars and I just want to learn from them," said Scherbak.
For his part, veteran Alexander Radulov really enjoys sharing his knowledge with his countryman.
"He tells me to be patient, to play my game, to listen to the coaching staff and to train hard. He knows what it's all about. He was once where I am now when he started out with the Nashville Predators, playing in the AHL. He talked to me about how tough it was to make the jump from Junior to the pros. He gives me advice and I listen," continued Scherbak, who will celebrate his 21st birthday on December 30.
And, he's hoping that one day he'll be able to call Montreal home year-round, instead of just during the summer months.
"It's a dream. I hope it happens soon," concluded Scherbak, who has nine goals and eight assists for 17 points in 23 games so far this season.
