Habs Review 2007-08: Gregory Stewart

The numbers

2007-08
1 GP: 0 G, 0 A, 0 Pts, 0 PIM, +0, 2 Shots

Career best year
Rookie (same as above)



Plays of the game: 0

Game pucks: 0

Domes: 1

3 Star selections: 0


The story

Where he started the season
To understand how far Stewart has come, it is necessary to understand what hope we (and I think for other pundits too) and everyone else held for him ever playing in the NHL. This is what we had to say about him after he survived the first cut:

"Up front, they simply need the numbers to make a rotational squad for games and scrimmages, so fair enough. otherwise, I don't think Greg Stewart and Cory Urquhart need to endure another camp."

After all, someone who hadn't seen him in junior or the ECHL could be forgiven for assuming he was drafted for size and size alone. He was taken in the 8th round, 264th overall in the 2004 entry draft. His numbers that season were pretty weak, and didn't improve by leaps and bounds in two further seasons. His ECHL numbers did not look like those of a player would be in the NHL anytime soon.


The season
A season of 1 game with the Canadiens was for Gregory Stewart, what could only be termed a rousing success. In a game where the Habs would clinch first overall, Stewart was among the best on the ice, taking shots and taking it to our closest rivals (the Leafs). His surprise emergence earned him a dome selection and a raving review from Tobalev:

"Stewart became the 30th player to play for us this year - the current 26 along with Murray, Huet, Chipchura and Locke. He did an outstanding job offensively, which is surprising as he is meant to be a fighter. He did have a late fight with the highly un-classy (typical Leaf) McCabe. Stewart brought a whole new level of energy to the 4th line, it was great to see"

His play in Hamilton, where he spent most of the season, probably gives a better idea of what Greg Stewart might provide the Habs in the future. 10 goals, 17 points in 69 games to go with 137 penalty minutes – it appears Greg Stewart gives us a Steve Begin in the making. only his bigger stature might actually deter people from running our players.

Stewart by the numbers: N/A

Lions' links on Stewart:
Cuts? Let's Just Invite Everyone


Grade: B
One game, one dome. Pretty good stuff from young Stewart. Play like that over a few more games would get him an A or higher. As it stands, we're impressed but not blown away yet.


Where we'd have him next season
Personally, I'd have Stewart in the team set up. 10 goals in Hamilton prove he is no passenger and one game in Montreal showed me he is hyped to play in the bigs. As poor Steve Begin falls apart bit by bit due to his rugged approach, it will be nice to have Stewart there to step in and offer a spark plug of comparable energy.