Montreal Canadiens' intra-squad game draws 17,000 fans at the Bell Centre

MONTREAL - The Montreal Canadiens were greeted by an enthusiastic crowd of more than 17,000 fans Thursday night when they took the ice for an intra-squad game at the Bell Centre.

The players and new head coach Michel Therrien arrived to chants of "Ole! Ole! Ole!"

Many in the crowd crowd also chanted "We want to P.K.," referring to restricted free-agent defenceman P.K. Subban, who is in the process of a negotiating a contract with the Habs and is not with the club.

The 23-year-old is seeking a new deal with the team after his entry-level contract expired at the end of the 2011-12 season.

The Canadiens, who finished last in the Eastern Conference last season, open their lockout-shortened season at home on Saturday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs.