Nearly there. The picture is becoming quite clear. Want the world, don't want to pay. Let's see how much we think Bulldogs players are worth.
Showing posts with label Maxwell. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Maxwell. Show all posts
Friday, February 25, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Dawes, Sopel Acquired From Atlanta
Gauthier managed to find the other 5'9" 14 goal man in the league to complete his set. In addition to Nigel Dawes, he added Stanley Cup champion Brent Sopel to the backline.
The days of playing 8 D can't be far away.
What does this confirm?
Are Habs buyers?
Not sure if this confirms that or not. Dawes is a depth forward and Sopel is a depth defenceman.
Are Atlanta selling up?
Don't think this is evidence of that. Dawes is a first liner from the Chicago Wolves, but probably doesn't figure in Atlanta's plans. Sopel never seems to be in anyone's plans. If this was Ladd, then Atlanta would have sent a signal.
Is Spacek injured badly?
I think this confirms that. I can't see Gauthier spending anything to get Sopel otherwise.
Are the Habs going for it?
I think this move signals Gauthier would hate to miss the playoffs. But you know what? Without Markov, Spacek and Gorges, I'm not sure there's anything that Mara and Sopel could do about this season.
Is this signalling another trade?
People will see too many D and think someone here is on the outs. Weber is the most likely poster boy. Sopel, Mara, Picard don't make me think Weber sits, personally, but it is a possibility. Weber is probably the most valuable "tradeable" player in the lineup. I don't want him traded though.
Who wins this trade?
Maxwell had potential. Or so we heard. Third season in the AHL has not been his best. Sure there's been upheaval and changing linemates, but the onus was on Maxwell to show something by this point. The Canadiens can't hang around forever for every prospect. I think he was expendable.
The 4th round pick is a fourth round pick. Sure, there are sometimes players to be had in the 4th round or later. But on average there are not. The onus is on the Habs scouts to pick the right players with fewer picks, but not having the 4th shouldn't hurt them too much.
Dawes. 3 full NHL seasons, 3 10+ goal seasons. Not sure why he hasn't been in Atlanta, but this wouldn't be the first questionable move made in Atlanta (as they slide way out of the playoffs again). Dawes may well be the player that Gauthier wanted with Dustin Boyd. 27 goals in the AHL so far shows he can still shoot a little bit.
Sopel is the dark horse from Atlanta. Everyone hears about Byfuglien and Enstrom. He's Atlanta's 7th D in terms of TOI/G, but he's played in 59 of 61 and put up the second best +/- on the team. One of very few in the positive side of the ledger. Sopel used to be an offensive defenceman, but that was ages ago now. I think he's adapted to the lesser role and has started to make a twilight calling for himself as a solid last piece on D.
I think the Habs won this trade, but I also think this trade might be it. If that's the case, the Habs have not been a winner of this trade deadline. Chicago struck a good early deal and even Toronto has cashed in well. Pittsburgh paid nothing (on conditions) for Kovalev and other players have left Ottawa for vrtually nothing.
Montreal sures up their playoff run, but do little to change their ultimate springtime fate with this move.
Let's see where this takes us...
The days of playing 8 D can't be far away.
What does this confirm?
Are Habs buyers?
Not sure if this confirms that or not. Dawes is a depth forward and Sopel is a depth defenceman.
Are Atlanta selling up?
Don't think this is evidence of that. Dawes is a first liner from the Chicago Wolves, but probably doesn't figure in Atlanta's plans. Sopel never seems to be in anyone's plans. If this was Ladd, then Atlanta would have sent a signal.
Is Spacek injured badly?
I think this confirms that. I can't see Gauthier spending anything to get Sopel otherwise.
Are the Habs going for it?
I think this move signals Gauthier would hate to miss the playoffs. But you know what? Without Markov, Spacek and Gorges, I'm not sure there's anything that Mara and Sopel could do about this season.
Is this signalling another trade?
People will see too many D and think someone here is on the outs. Weber is the most likely poster boy. Sopel, Mara, Picard don't make me think Weber sits, personally, but it is a possibility. Weber is probably the most valuable "tradeable" player in the lineup. I don't want him traded though.
Who wins this trade?
Maxwell had potential. Or so we heard. Third season in the AHL has not been his best. Sure there's been upheaval and changing linemates, but the onus was on Maxwell to show something by this point. The Canadiens can't hang around forever for every prospect. I think he was expendable.
The 4th round pick is a fourth round pick. Sure, there are sometimes players to be had in the 4th round or later. But on average there are not. The onus is on the Habs scouts to pick the right players with fewer picks, but not having the 4th shouldn't hurt them too much.
Dawes. 3 full NHL seasons, 3 10+ goal seasons. Not sure why he hasn't been in Atlanta, but this wouldn't be the first questionable move made in Atlanta (as they slide way out of the playoffs again). Dawes may well be the player that Gauthier wanted with Dustin Boyd. 27 goals in the AHL so far shows he can still shoot a little bit.
Sopel is the dark horse from Atlanta. Everyone hears about Byfuglien and Enstrom. He's Atlanta's 7th D in terms of TOI/G, but he's played in 59 of 61 and put up the second best +/- on the team. One of very few in the positive side of the ledger. Sopel used to be an offensive defenceman, but that was ages ago now. I think he's adapted to the lesser role and has started to make a twilight calling for himself as a solid last piece on D.
I think the Habs won this trade, but I also think this trade might be it. If that's the case, the Habs have not been a winner of this trade deadline. Chicago struck a good early deal and even Toronto has cashed in well. Pittsburgh paid nothing (on conditions) for Kovalev and other players have left Ottawa for vrtually nothing.
Montreal sures up their playoff run, but do little to change their ultimate springtime fate with this move.
Let's see where this takes us...
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Canadiens Fan Trade Philosophies
The trade deadline is an interesting time for Habs fans. Everyone has a whole set of ideas on how to improve the team for the impending Cup run and the fledgling dynasty of the decade.
Trades, you see are easy. Just get rid of your bad players and bring in good ones. Simple as.
We are having a good time polling the readers and compiling their thoughts on different players (forwards, defencemen and goalies). As well as the obvious trade bait, there are some subtle surprises in fan sentiment. We'll continue polling and sharing the results as we try to build fictional trades together in our discussions.
On the subject of fictional trades, I wanted to share the perspectives of two arm-chair GMs that I read yesterday. The first perspective is that of Arpon Basu - statistical acolyte and head-screwed-on-tight reporter.
Arpon's proposed plan for the upcoming trade deadline can be summed up by the following:
1) The team won't have to give up assets
2) The youngsters will benefit from the time in pressure situations
Some would call him a pessimist. others might think it boring to draw a line in the sand at late draft picks for depth defencemen for the most overhyped TSN moment of the year.
On that note, let's consider the other end of the spectrum. If Arpon is the sparingly hopeful conservative, he shares the Internet with some some extremely optimistic (in trade abilities anyway) radicals.
Where Arpon stretched a simple thought to a few well built scenarios. The trade mongers need more than one post to get through the complete overhaul they envision for the team. Willey, the ultimate arm chair GM who wrote on Habs Addict, describes the multiple trade strategy over two posts (Part I and Part II). I'll break it down for you trade by trade here:
1) 2nd round pick (presumably 2012) and Ben Maxwell or Andreas Engqvist for Chris Phillips of the Ottawa Senators
2) Tom Pyatt or 6th round pick for Zenon Konopka of the New York Islanders
3) White up, Eller down
4) Andrei Kostitsyn, Yannick Weber, 2nd round pick (presumably 2013 now), and Danny Kristo or any Hamilton Bulldog (Blues discretion) for David Backes of the St. Louis Blues
5) Scott Gomez, 1st round pick (2011 or 2012), and Brendan Gallagher or another prospect of Toronto's choosing for Mike Komisarek of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Quite an overhaul and quite a difference from Arpon.
Willey here has traded a first round pick with second rounders from the two drafts after this one, along with our second centre (Scott Gomez), our fourth leading scorer (Andrei Kostitsyn), a young defenceman (Yannick Weber), Tom Pyatt and basically all the decent forward prospects in the system (Kristo, maxwell, Gallagher) for two underperforming defencemen (Phillips and Komisarek), Zenon Konpka and David Backes.
These trades were designed to answer the two pressing needs of the Habs (or at least the ones identified just after the Bruins game): lack of size and lack of depth. I think he addressed size, not so sure about depth.
Where should Gauthier fall?
I've made myself clear before, and through thinly-veiled amazement in this article again. I stand with Arpon.
To me, the second more radical strategy actually proves the first.
All trades starting with players a team would like to get rid of tend to become fantastic works of imagination, and you can see how draft picks get thrown around pretty quick to make up for lack of value.
I am also sure that in the long list of traded assets that you, like me, saw a few names you'd rather wait on than turn into Konopkas at this stage. And, this is an important point. There are no freebies, to get, one has to give. If the Canadiens window isn't now, then is giving Danny Kristo or Brendan Gallagher for an extra playoff jump the right thing to do? It can be if that extra jump turns into an extra series or two.
Even more than this, I look at the team at the end of the labour-intensive trading period for Gauthier here and don't see one that is greatly improved from the one before the moves.
I think there is middle ground, however, and I think there are many reasons to hope our GM will be alert to the unfolding possibilities. The Frolik trade, for example, provided the Blackhawks both the better player and the most interesting prospect. A move with a similarly sleepy GM could improve the Habs without much cost. I very much hope Gauthier comes into these conversations with serious intent, as desperate GMs are ready to be had at this time of year. Caution, of course, in the awareness that for every good deal there will be 20 neutral ones and 10 bad ones.
To those that bemoan the Mara trade today for the 5th round pick and cap space that it cost, consider the safe buffer between this trade and radical territory. For those who bemoan it because it means we now won't be trading first rounders for Komisarek, perhaps read Arpon Basu again.
Trades, you see are easy. Just get rid of your bad players and bring in good ones. Simple as.
We are having a good time polling the readers and compiling their thoughts on different players (forwards, defencemen and goalies). As well as the obvious trade bait, there are some subtle surprises in fan sentiment. We'll continue polling and sharing the results as we try to build fictional trades together in our discussions.
On the subject of fictional trades, I wanted to share the perspectives of two arm-chair GMs that I read yesterday. The first perspective is that of Arpon Basu - statistical acolyte and head-screwed-on-tight reporter.
Arpon's proposed plan for the upcoming trade deadline can be summed up by the following:
"I propose he do absolutely nothing, at least not of the major variety."His strategy is founded on the underlying belief that nothing that can be done at this stage will change the fate of the team very much:
"Frankly, the Canadiens are not in a situation where the addition of one or two players could mean the difference between a Cup run and a first round exit."He goes on to point out that doing nothing will benefit the team two-fold:
1) The team won't have to give up assets
2) The youngsters will benefit from the time in pressure situations
Some would call him a pessimist. others might think it boring to draw a line in the sand at late draft picks for depth defencemen for the most overhyped TSN moment of the year.
On that note, let's consider the other end of the spectrum. If Arpon is the sparingly hopeful conservative, he shares the Internet with some some extremely optimistic (in trade abilities anyway) radicals.
Where Arpon stretched a simple thought to a few well built scenarios. The trade mongers need more than one post to get through the complete overhaul they envision for the team. Willey, the ultimate arm chair GM who wrote on Habs Addict, describes the multiple trade strategy over two posts (Part I and Part II). I'll break it down for you trade by trade here:
1) 2nd round pick (presumably 2012) and Ben Maxwell or Andreas Engqvist for Chris Phillips of the Ottawa Senators
"One simple move that I personally feel can turn the Montreal Canadiens from a good playoff team to a team whose d-core can compete with anyone in the Eastern conference."Or at least until Part II was conceived...
2) Tom Pyatt or 6th round pick for Zenon Konopka of the New York Islanders
"What is most appealing about Konopka, however, is that he is not a one trick pony. Konopka is one of the top-five faceoff men in the league and as we know, faceoffs are everything in the playoffs."
3) White up, Eller down
4) Andrei Kostitsyn, Yannick Weber, 2nd round pick (presumably 2013 now), and Danny Kristo or any Hamilton Bulldog (Blues discretion) for David Backes of the St. Louis Blues
"We need a top-six forward with size and a mean streak. It is time to stop the stream of bandaid and UFA players, and land ourselves an impact player."
5) Scott Gomez, 1st round pick (2011 or 2012), and Brendan Gallagher or another prospect of Toronto's choosing for Mike Komisarek of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
"We know what he can provide to this team in terms of a physical presence and we know what he can do in the locker room. He is exactly what this team needs."
Quite an overhaul and quite a difference from Arpon.
Willey here has traded a first round pick with second rounders from the two drafts after this one, along with our second centre (Scott Gomez), our fourth leading scorer (Andrei Kostitsyn), a young defenceman (Yannick Weber), Tom Pyatt and basically all the decent forward prospects in the system (Kristo, maxwell, Gallagher) for two underperforming defencemen (Phillips and Komisarek), Zenon Konpka and David Backes.
These trades were designed to answer the two pressing needs of the Habs (or at least the ones identified just after the Bruins game): lack of size and lack of depth. I think he addressed size, not so sure about depth.
Where should Gauthier fall?
I've made myself clear before, and through thinly-veiled amazement in this article again. I stand with Arpon.
To me, the second more radical strategy actually proves the first.
All trades starting with players a team would like to get rid of tend to become fantastic works of imagination, and you can see how draft picks get thrown around pretty quick to make up for lack of value.
I am also sure that in the long list of traded assets that you, like me, saw a few names you'd rather wait on than turn into Konopkas at this stage. And, this is an important point. There are no freebies, to get, one has to give. If the Canadiens window isn't now, then is giving Danny Kristo or Brendan Gallagher for an extra playoff jump the right thing to do? It can be if that extra jump turns into an extra series or two.
Even more than this, I look at the team at the end of the labour-intensive trading period for Gauthier here and don't see one that is greatly improved from the one before the moves.
I think there is middle ground, however, and I think there are many reasons to hope our GM will be alert to the unfolding possibilities. The Frolik trade, for example, provided the Blackhawks both the better player and the most interesting prospect. A move with a similarly sleepy GM could improve the Habs without much cost. I very much hope Gauthier comes into these conversations with serious intent, as desperate GMs are ready to be had at this time of year. Caution, of course, in the awareness that for every good deal there will be 20 neutral ones and 10 bad ones.
To those that bemoan the Mara trade today for the 5th round pick and cap space that it cost, consider the safe buffer between this trade and radical territory. For those who bemoan it because it means we now won't be trading first rounders for Komisarek, perhaps read Arpon Basu again.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Battles, Cuts and Intrigue
Martin's Mind By Ice Time
In the world of new statistics we are told that we can tell a coach's mind to a certain extent by faceoff deployment. Important faceoffs are taken by important players (favoured players). The same can be extrapolated from ice time.
As camp winds down and the NHL team is left to rake in revenue for the Molsons, we can begin to view Martin's mind.
Battles
There are a few pitched battles going on under the radar as far as I can tell.
Up front, Eller just about locked up his place in the NHL with his display last night. But that was probably superfluous, as Martin seems smitten with the Dane - he's played 49:30 already, good for 4th most among forwards.
This has muddied the waters a bit in my opinion after the top 9. Here Pouliot has possibly slipped to earn his place along with Darche, Boyd, Maxwell, White and Pacioretty (Pyatt based on his enormous usage so far, along with Moen and Halpern, i judge to be safe). Pouliot should hold the edge but for his last 2 efforts. Even so, he holds good cards with Martin the dealer. Boyd has NHL cred to back him up. Darche the benefit of the doubt.
Its the challenges of White and Maxwell that stand out for me. Martin has used White sparingly, but with great effect thus far. Ryan looks to be what Moen, Darche and Boyd may not be. Maxwell is different. He's looked genuinely inspired at times at stark contrast with Pouliot. The fact he's a natural centre would be the only thing holding back his odds for me. Notice no mention of Pacioretty. Despite his points, his underuse to the tune of 21:19 over 2 games belies his starting position on the grid. He's a very dark horse for the big team this year indeed.
On D, there are battles too, but they seem less urgent with the injuries. With Carle out of the way, it's Weber, Picard and O'Byrne for the final two places in my opinion. Martin tips his hand with playing time here. Weber has played 64:09 in 3 games. Picard has played 49:56 in 2. O'Byrne, meanwhile lags at 36:39 for 2. It seems that Weber ad Picard have their noses in front, but we mustn't forget that a defense of Subban, Spacek, Weber, Picard, Hamrlik, Markov seems highly unfavourable to the goalies we have. O'Byrne hangs on therefore, and a couple of decent (don't even have to be great) efforts should see him through to starting lineup.
Cuts
The cuts from training camp represent a multi-tiered group. There are the players outside the plans, juniors like Lefebvre, Leblanc, Tinordi. There are the players who are tipped for the AHL. And then there are those that have played themselves out of positions.
The list of players sent to Hamilton includes:
G: Robert Mayer and Peter Delmas
D: Frederic St-Denis, Sebastien Bisaillon, Marc-Antoine Desnoyers, Kyle Klubertanz, Brendon Nash, Neil Petruic, David Urquhart and Mathieu Carle
F: Andrew Conboy, Olivier Fortier, Dany Masse, Aaron Palushaj, J.T. Wyman, Alexander Avtsin, Jimmy Bonneau, Ian Shultz, David Desharnais, Gabriel Dumont and Andreas Engqvist
The Bulldogs though are like the Habs, they are restricted in the positions they have to offer. Not to mention that 4 to 5 of the 16 forwards up in Montreal (likely to include Russell and Bishop among others), 1 or 2 of the Dmen and 1 more goalie will be demoted.
So far, only Champion has been released outright. He was a try-out with the Habs and now leaves for junior without a contract. Another in the rather lengthy list of potential goalies to attempt to fill the Canadiens shallow depth chart this summer.
Delmas is at Bulldogs camp now, but unless he does something reveletionary, he'll be in Wheeling or elsewhere come October. Ditto two of Urquhart, Bisaillon, Desnoyers and Petruic. Up front though the Canadiens only have 29 bodies to play 24 positions and fill 26 to 28 places. I'd wager Bonneau is the favourite to be deemed non-Bulldog material by the Habs, but who knows, Masse and Russell might be in that mix.
Of the cuts to be favourites on the Dogs, look for Desharnais, Engqvist and Palushaj who all got very long looks at the big camp (41:38, 35:18 and 33:11 in playing time, respectively). On D, that man would be Carle who saw 38:29, mostly out of necessity.
Intrigue
Intrigue might be a strong word, but there are some surprises from the camp.
First for me is the goalie deployment. On other teams we have seen complete unknowns get a skate out in goal. Not so in Montreal. Robert Mayer, the legitimate back-up for Hamilton got a half game, as did Sanford. The goalie overuse in these early games was probably made necessary by certain athletes needing more time to ready themselves. I feel it comes at a cost to the organization, which as I mentioned has no depth at the position.
Second has to be Spacek's playing time. What on earth is Martin driving at? 72:57 so far for the guy we all anticipate needing nights off to rest during the season. It's bordering on madness, playing Jaro as much as that. It's come at the expense of Ryan O'Byrne in part, but also the contenders like Carle, Klubertanz and St. Denis who played a combined hour between them. Not that I know what I'm doing as a coach, but I'd also have thought that it might be more useful to get those potential replacements into games ahead of Jarred Tinordi who at 18 has a few years of tutelage to come before bleu, blanc, rouge days.
Finally, there's Avtsin. Upon demotion, Martin said something about his injury from the summer really holding him back during camp. Apparently it held him back to the point that he couldn't even dress for the early undressings at the hands of the Bruins and Sens. The player commits in a big way to come to North America and doesn't even get a minute of ice. Fortier was injured a whole season and didn't have a chance of making the team at all and he got a skate. JT Wyamn is no NHLer and he got 2 games. Conboy has nothing more to offer than a scowl, he got two as well. We don't know inner workings. Maybe Avtsinn was injured. I suppose I hope he was/is, because it would be a shame if the Habs blew another prospect because Martin is stuck in his ways.
As camp winds down and the NHL team is left to rake in revenue for the Molsons, we can begin to view Martin's mind.
Battles
There are a few pitched battles going on under the radar as far as I can tell.
Up front, Eller just about locked up his place in the NHL with his display last night. But that was probably superfluous, as Martin seems smitten with the Dane - he's played 49:30 already, good for 4th most among forwards.
This has muddied the waters a bit in my opinion after the top 9. Here Pouliot has possibly slipped to earn his place along with Darche, Boyd, Maxwell, White and Pacioretty (Pyatt based on his enormous usage so far, along with Moen and Halpern, i judge to be safe). Pouliot should hold the edge but for his last 2 efforts. Even so, he holds good cards with Martin the dealer. Boyd has NHL cred to back him up. Darche the benefit of the doubt.
Its the challenges of White and Maxwell that stand out for me. Martin has used White sparingly, but with great effect thus far. Ryan looks to be what Moen, Darche and Boyd may not be. Maxwell is different. He's looked genuinely inspired at times at stark contrast with Pouliot. The fact he's a natural centre would be the only thing holding back his odds for me. Notice no mention of Pacioretty. Despite his points, his underuse to the tune of 21:19 over 2 games belies his starting position on the grid. He's a very dark horse for the big team this year indeed.
On D, there are battles too, but they seem less urgent with the injuries. With Carle out of the way, it's Weber, Picard and O'Byrne for the final two places in my opinion. Martin tips his hand with playing time here. Weber has played 64:09 in 3 games. Picard has played 49:56 in 2. O'Byrne, meanwhile lags at 36:39 for 2. It seems that Weber ad Picard have their noses in front, but we mustn't forget that a defense of Subban, Spacek, Weber, Picard, Hamrlik, Markov seems highly unfavourable to the goalies we have. O'Byrne hangs on therefore, and a couple of decent (don't even have to be great) efforts should see him through to starting lineup.
Cuts
The cuts from training camp represent a multi-tiered group. There are the players outside the plans, juniors like Lefebvre, Leblanc, Tinordi. There are the players who are tipped for the AHL. And then there are those that have played themselves out of positions.
The list of players sent to Hamilton includes:
G: Robert Mayer and Peter Delmas
D: Frederic St-Denis, Sebastien Bisaillon, Marc-Antoine Desnoyers, Kyle Klubertanz, Brendon Nash, Neil Petruic, David Urquhart and Mathieu Carle
F: Andrew Conboy, Olivier Fortier, Dany Masse, Aaron Palushaj, J.T. Wyman, Alexander Avtsin, Jimmy Bonneau, Ian Shultz, David Desharnais, Gabriel Dumont and Andreas Engqvist
The Bulldogs though are like the Habs, they are restricted in the positions they have to offer. Not to mention that 4 to 5 of the 16 forwards up in Montreal (likely to include Russell and Bishop among others), 1 or 2 of the Dmen and 1 more goalie will be demoted.
So far, only Champion has been released outright. He was a try-out with the Habs and now leaves for junior without a contract. Another in the rather lengthy list of potential goalies to attempt to fill the Canadiens shallow depth chart this summer.
Delmas is at Bulldogs camp now, but unless he does something reveletionary, he'll be in Wheeling or elsewhere come October. Ditto two of Urquhart, Bisaillon, Desnoyers and Petruic. Up front though the Canadiens only have 29 bodies to play 24 positions and fill 26 to 28 places. I'd wager Bonneau is the favourite to be deemed non-Bulldog material by the Habs, but who knows, Masse and Russell might be in that mix.
Of the cuts to be favourites on the Dogs, look for Desharnais, Engqvist and Palushaj who all got very long looks at the big camp (41:38, 35:18 and 33:11 in playing time, respectively). On D, that man would be Carle who saw 38:29, mostly out of necessity.
Intrigue
Intrigue might be a strong word, but there are some surprises from the camp.
First for me is the goalie deployment. On other teams we have seen complete unknowns get a skate out in goal. Not so in Montreal. Robert Mayer, the legitimate back-up for Hamilton got a half game, as did Sanford. The goalie overuse in these early games was probably made necessary by certain athletes needing more time to ready themselves. I feel it comes at a cost to the organization, which as I mentioned has no depth at the position.
Second has to be Spacek's playing time. What on earth is Martin driving at? 72:57 so far for the guy we all anticipate needing nights off to rest during the season. It's bordering on madness, playing Jaro as much as that. It's come at the expense of Ryan O'Byrne in part, but also the contenders like Carle, Klubertanz and St. Denis who played a combined hour between them. Not that I know what I'm doing as a coach, but I'd also have thought that it might be more useful to get those potential replacements into games ahead of Jarred Tinordi who at 18 has a few years of tutelage to come before bleu, blanc, rouge days.
Finally, there's Avtsin. Upon demotion, Martin said something about his injury from the summer really holding him back during camp. Apparently it held him back to the point that he couldn't even dress for the early undressings at the hands of the Bruins and Sens. The player commits in a big way to come to North America and doesn't even get a minute of ice. Fortier was injured a whole season and didn't have a chance of making the team at all and he got a skate. JT Wyamn is no NHLer and he got 2 games. Conboy has nothing more to offer than a scowl, he got two as well. We don't know inner workings. Maybe Avtsinn was injured. I suppose I hope he was/is, because it would be a shame if the Habs blew another prospect because Martin is stuck in his ways.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Habs Take To Our TVs
2010-11 Season Begins
An interesting game to watch (and not watch at times). Overall it was good to see the team back in action.
I'm happy to tell you I took my own advice for this game. Score? Was there one? I tried to watch players I hadn't seen before and look for improvement in those I was familiar with. I won't give a full report by any means, but I have a few notes:
Pouliot is trying to deliver on promises
He didn't score, but I thought he tried. He was energetic and importantly he shot the puck (when he could find it). His highlight came early when he saw a seam and drove with a wicked backhand and ending on the post.
Palushaj will try all night long
Aaron tries and tries, but I fear the St. Louis scouts who let him go for lack of finishing touch may have been right. But while he may never be a top-liner, he's an instant improvement on D'Agostini as a checking player and could be a good complement over the years to guys like Pyatt.
Tinordi was a good pick
Genuine surprise of the night was Tinordi's poise. I don't think Fischer ever showed this. Tinordi looked a rookie, but a rookie with a future.
Bergeron would be a great Hab
We hear about most every other French Canadian coming to Montreal. Seldom do I hear about Bergeron. But he's a good good player and he showed his quality tonight.
Gill's game is post-season
Someone else said it. You could see it every time he was on the ice for this end to end contest. Gill thrives in tight checking games with no whistles. Exhibition season is never going to flatter his talents. He did alright, but at times creaked.
Maxwell realized
Palushaj was on everyone's tongues. That's right as he played a full game. But Ben Maxwell was more impressive at times than Palushaj, and he grew into the game. If I had written this in the first intermission, it would have been about Maxwell missing the boat. I'm pleased to say he made it in time for boarding, maybe even avoided a cut or two in the end.
Some out of depth for the moment
Not yet for Dumont, St. Denis, Weber. If the Habs played Boston 82 times, Conboy would be an asset. But they don't.
Your thoughts welcome...
I'm happy to tell you I took my own advice for this game. Score? Was there one? I tried to watch players I hadn't seen before and look for improvement in those I was familiar with. I won't give a full report by any means, but I have a few notes:
Pouliot is trying to deliver on promises
He didn't score, but I thought he tried. He was energetic and importantly he shot the puck (when he could find it). His highlight came early when he saw a seam and drove with a wicked backhand and ending on the post.
Palushaj will try all night long
Aaron tries and tries, but I fear the St. Louis scouts who let him go for lack of finishing touch may have been right. But while he may never be a top-liner, he's an instant improvement on D'Agostini as a checking player and could be a good complement over the years to guys like Pyatt.
Tinordi was a good pick
Genuine surprise of the night was Tinordi's poise. I don't think Fischer ever showed this. Tinordi looked a rookie, but a rookie with a future.
Bergeron would be a great Hab
We hear about most every other French Canadian coming to Montreal. Seldom do I hear about Bergeron. But he's a good good player and he showed his quality tonight.
Gill's game is post-season
Someone else said it. You could see it every time he was on the ice for this end to end contest. Gill thrives in tight checking games with no whistles. Exhibition season is never going to flatter his talents. He did alright, but at times creaked.
Maxwell realized
Palushaj was on everyone's tongues. That's right as he played a full game. But Ben Maxwell was more impressive at times than Palushaj, and he grew into the game. If I had written this in the first intermission, it would have been about Maxwell missing the boat. I'm pleased to say he made it in time for boarding, maybe even avoided a cut or two in the end.
Some out of depth for the moment
Not yet for Dumont, St. Denis, Weber. If the Habs played Boston 82 times, Conboy would be an asset. But they don't.
Your thoughts welcome...
Friday, February 12, 2010
A Bulldog And Bulldog Hater
Thoughts On Today's Moves
With two games and a few hours to go before a rare two week break in play, Pierre Gauthier has stepped up to provide some management.
When I used to race in the swimming pool, one of the constant corrections given to me and my teammates was to swim through the walls. What the coach meant was that we should resist the temptation to see the wall and coast in, even for a metre. That's what I like about these moves. While the Habs were a metre or two out from a long break, and with all the goings on could be forgiven for coasting and hoping, these moves indicate our GM isn't willing to coast through any stretch of games, and that he's willing to do the bit of effort it took to move personnel and rejig. Maybe I should reserve my praise until the paperwork is cleared, however.
PK Subban
PK? I prefer to think of him as PP Subban.
This move is a well-timed pinch by the GM. IN a single move, he rewards Subban for his play and effort in Hamilton, while also bringing in a potential PP piece for two games that project to have their share of penalties.
The move is all the more brilliant in its timing. If the season to this point has revealed anything about the development plans of the Habs, it's that PP Subban is being ripened in Hamilton. There were several occasions when his call-up was more pressing than yesterday, yet he remained a Bulldog. His promotion for these two games are bordered by the Olympic break, which means his re-demotion is a certainty, and won't be clouded by any play, goal or rush.
Maxwell
Maxwell's second stint in the big leagues told us much. Firstly, it was no different than his first stint, which tells me his progression isn't as impressive as Hockey's Future seems to paint it. Secondly, having watched him for several games, I don't see him somehow metamorphosing into a second line centre. Not next season. Perhaps never.
We should neer right any one off completely, but Maxwell has some searching to during this stint in Hamilton. He knows his deficiencies now vs. NHL competition. It is up to him to get to work on them.
Dominic Moore
The Bulldog-hater here is former Harvard man Dominic Moore, who must be grateful the Canadiens unloaded that freeloading Yale Bulldog, Higgins, in the summer of discontent.
In the land of "No one can ever just be pleased", this trade has already been hailed as many things. I've seen people question Moore without really doing more than linking to career stats. I've seen others talk about too high a pick going the other way.
I have to say, I am quite positive about this move.
In one sense, I am pleased for Dominic's fans – I happen to be very good friends with some of his biggest fans (family). They will finally be able to wash the blue out of their clothes and burn those horrible Leafs sweaters.
But for our hockey team, I am doubly pleased. Gauthier has chosen a player that, if I know anything about hockey, should be a complement to our team. He is fast, he is intelligent and he is disciplined.
It is interesting to look at his career and find average numbers, but a mere season ago, Dominic was spearheading the Leafs attack on many nights. The fact that he managed 41 points in 63 games may not herald a breakout, but it promises that given a wide open mandate, he can be in the right place enough times to contribute significantly.
I've always had this impression as I watched his career (with interest). He doesn't have the Kostitsyn wrist shot or the Pouliot sneakiness, but he knows how to position himself in two zones.
I look at Dominic therefore as our Toronto Mathieu Darche – a solid contributor, who with a bit of timing and the right linemates can easily surprise his doubters (who will no doubt remember telling this blogger Darche was not an answer, before he had a hand in 10 goals in 11 games).
The other very very positive thing about this trade is that it was Florida who made it. Florida is a team supposedly in pitched battle with the Canadiens for a playoff spot this spring. Their team is not exactly blessed with scorers, nor with forwards any team would covet. Moore is not the devastating blow that will debilitate the team for the next months, but it seems like a pretty good signal that Randy Sexton has seen what the future may hold and decided to find draft picks instead.
It seems we might be able to add Florida to the list that includes the quitting Thrashers and the hopeless Leafs as teams that are booking concerts in their stadia and golf games in their iphones.
In sum, these moves are not major moves. Nevertheless, this is the kind of active management I have been waiting to see. Subban up against an opponent that fits and Moore to fill a hole, no matter how temporary.
The Habs seem to be committing to trying to win games this weekend and for the rest of the season. Perhaps we won't look like Cup favourites on the cusp of playoff time vs. NJ or Ottawa (!?!), but as any self-respecting Senators, Sabres, Hurricanes or Bruins fan will tell you, there's no amount of planning or analysis that can ever really tell what might happen with your team in this new NHL.
When I used to race in the swimming pool, one of the constant corrections given to me and my teammates was to swim through the walls. What the coach meant was that we should resist the temptation to see the wall and coast in, even for a metre. That's what I like about these moves. While the Habs were a metre or two out from a long break, and with all the goings on could be forgiven for coasting and hoping, these moves indicate our GM isn't willing to coast through any stretch of games, and that he's willing to do the bit of effort it took to move personnel and rejig. Maybe I should reserve my praise until the paperwork is cleared, however.
PK Subban
PK? I prefer to think of him as PP Subban.
This move is a well-timed pinch by the GM. IN a single move, he rewards Subban for his play and effort in Hamilton, while also bringing in a potential PP piece for two games that project to have their share of penalties.
The move is all the more brilliant in its timing. If the season to this point has revealed anything about the development plans of the Habs, it's that PP Subban is being ripened in Hamilton. There were several occasions when his call-up was more pressing than yesterday, yet he remained a Bulldog. His promotion for these two games are bordered by the Olympic break, which means his re-demotion is a certainty, and won't be clouded by any play, goal or rush.
Maxwell
Maxwell's second stint in the big leagues told us much. Firstly, it was no different than his first stint, which tells me his progression isn't as impressive as Hockey's Future seems to paint it. Secondly, having watched him for several games, I don't see him somehow metamorphosing into a second line centre. Not next season. Perhaps never.
We should neer right any one off completely, but Maxwell has some searching to during this stint in Hamilton. He knows his deficiencies now vs. NHL competition. It is up to him to get to work on them.
Dominic Moore
The Bulldog-hater here is former Harvard man Dominic Moore, who must be grateful the Canadiens unloaded that freeloading Yale Bulldog, Higgins, in the summer of discontent.
In the land of "No one can ever just be pleased", this trade has already been hailed as many things. I've seen people question Moore without really doing more than linking to career stats. I've seen others talk about too high a pick going the other way.
I have to say, I am quite positive about this move.
In one sense, I am pleased for Dominic's fans – I happen to be very good friends with some of his biggest fans (family). They will finally be able to wash the blue out of their clothes and burn those horrible Leafs sweaters.
But for our hockey team, I am doubly pleased. Gauthier has chosen a player that, if I know anything about hockey, should be a complement to our team. He is fast, he is intelligent and he is disciplined.
It is interesting to look at his career and find average numbers, but a mere season ago, Dominic was spearheading the Leafs attack on many nights. The fact that he managed 41 points in 63 games may not herald a breakout, but it promises that given a wide open mandate, he can be in the right place enough times to contribute significantly.
I've always had this impression as I watched his career (with interest). He doesn't have the Kostitsyn wrist shot or the Pouliot sneakiness, but he knows how to position himself in two zones.
I look at Dominic therefore as our Toronto Mathieu Darche – a solid contributor, who with a bit of timing and the right linemates can easily surprise his doubters (who will no doubt remember telling this blogger Darche was not an answer, before he had a hand in 10 goals in 11 games).
The other very very positive thing about this trade is that it was Florida who made it. Florida is a team supposedly in pitched battle with the Canadiens for a playoff spot this spring. Their team is not exactly blessed with scorers, nor with forwards any team would covet. Moore is not the devastating blow that will debilitate the team for the next months, but it seems like a pretty good signal that Randy Sexton has seen what the future may hold and decided to find draft picks instead.
It seems we might be able to add Florida to the list that includes the quitting Thrashers and the hopeless Leafs as teams that are booking concerts in their stadia and golf games in their iphones.
In sum, these moves are not major moves. Nevertheless, this is the kind of active management I have been waiting to see. Subban up against an opponent that fits and Moore to fill a hole, no matter how temporary.
The Habs seem to be committing to trying to win games this weekend and for the rest of the season. Perhaps we won't look like Cup favourites on the cusp of playoff time vs. NJ or Ottawa (!?!), but as any self-respecting Senators, Sabres, Hurricanes or Bruins fan will tell you, there's no amount of planning or analysis that can ever really tell what might happen with your team in this new NHL.
Monday, January 25, 2010
You Asked For It
Habs Demote Slumping Wingers
I say you asked for it, I asked for it too. The players vying for 54-games of futility have been demoted to Hamilton to either find the remnants of their talent or acclimatise to minor league play before a career in Switzerland.
The demotion of Pacioretty and then D'Agostini capped a week of movement from Bob Gainey and his team, finally recognising that hoping for the best just no longer seemed to be working.
No Pacioretty till next season
Count me among those who don't want to see Pacioretty in Montreal until at least next season. This has nothing to do with the guy, or indeed the NHL player. He is efficient and an example to his teammates from the blueline (ours) in. But at the end of the day, you don't draft in the first round to get a slightly better version of Mathieu Dandenault.
Whether Pacioretty has talent enough to be more than a glorified checker is yet to be seen. But it has to be seen. Apart from a truncated AHL season and short NCAA career, Max has no formation in playing offensively outside US high school. His effort was endearing at times, but he was having as much trouble piecing together what he should and shouldn't do to succeed as I was having watching him. Now in Hamilton, there will be less eyes, far less critical eyes and a league set up for exactly Max's need.
Leave him for a sustained bout. Let him stew, let him revamp, let him thrive. Then let's see.
D'Agostini needs an intervention
D'Agostini isn't that different from Max, except that he is. Older than Pacioretty, smaller, less willing and a lower draft investment mean that there's much less organizational will behind D'Agostini. In short, not many ever expected him to succeed, and so no one will lose sleep over seeing this come to fruition.
D'Agostini, for whatever reason, never understood the gravity of this situation as it affected his career. Alleged overweight at the outset of camp, he was meant to be in a tight battle for a top job. Given his chance with Gomez and Plekanec, he always looked like he'd rather be somewhere else.
It made you want to scream at the TV: "Wake up kid, your career is slipping away."
Hamilton is a different challenge for Matt. No contract at the end of the year, Matt is struggling to keep his head above water. There may be some coddling in Hamilton, and that's because Guy Boucher seems to live for reclamation projects like this, but the Habs can just as easily move on. Someone needs to impress this important lesson on Matt himself, though I'm worried that nothing will get through to the player after 4 months of high-level coaching and people willing him on.
The other problem for D'Agostini is that there isn't a big future for him in the NHL as a checker. Lapierre is better, Sergei is better, Pacioretty is better, White is better, Pyatt too, the Canadiens have depth in forwards who can play, if not score. His way back comes through goals and assists, or at the very least making room for linemates who can take the stats. I wish him luck in finding his way there. At this point his odds on a contract are slim to none.
Lapierre escapes
Loyal readers will know that LIW is keeping track of the biggest duds this season. Pacioretty and Dagger were contenders, but Lapierre has found ways to surpass them in futility on so many nights.
Max, then, can be thankful to Mike Cammalleri for providing the call, and Mathieu Darche for providing the breakfast in bed. He has been roused just in time to avoid D'Agostini's fate.
I'm well ware that cap and other restraints make the possibility of sending this kind of message to Lapierre less than realistic. However, stranger things have happened. And Lapierre, despite the undying love from RDS, has not been relaunched for long, and he hasn't been better than Pacioretty on most nights. I'm glad he doesn't need to use these demotions as a wake up call, I'm glad he stirred before it was too late.
Maxwell recalled
Of Gainey's moves, this is my least favourite. When Trotter and Maxwell were overlooked for Darche, I saw great sense. Pacioretty has been spoiled, Sergei before him, D'Agostini might be beyond repair. All projects were held in the NHL because a quick start and a shallow team made it easier.
I'm sure Maxwell deserves a shot, and he wouldn't want it differently. However, with things progressing so well in Hamilton, the Canadiens risked developing prospects in a successful environment for the first time in decades. The incubator can do wonders for growth – both skill and confidence. I'm just a little bit worried that a season and a half is not enough to make a top two centre from a 20-goalscorer in the WHL.
Then again, Andrei Kostitsyn has a place, and so do 11 other forwards. Perhaps Ben is just getting a glimpse of the big league for some added inspiration.
Gainey's week of action
It's too bad it took losses that we could all see coming to actually stir our GM into action. Whoever said patience was a virtue?
I don't know if anyone is keeping count, but Gainey's revamp in the season is approaching his revamp out of season. Since October, the 2008-09 incumbents have lost Guillaume Latendresse, Georges Laraque, Kyle Chipchura and now temporarily Pacioretty and D'Agostini. At least we know that Gainey coach probably didn't put the crisis of Spring 2009 down to one of the remaining 5 or 6 Habs...
Anyway, I want to know what you think. Will Pacioretty grow wrist strength? Will he develop into more than his preview suggested? Will D'Agostini ever recover? Will Lapierrs keep his play at the new level, or will he slip again? Will Maxwell benefit from a stint in Montreal?
The demotion of Pacioretty and then D'Agostini capped a week of movement from Bob Gainey and his team, finally recognising that hoping for the best just no longer seemed to be working.
No Pacioretty till next season
Count me among those who don't want to see Pacioretty in Montreal until at least next season. This has nothing to do with the guy, or indeed the NHL player. He is efficient and an example to his teammates from the blueline (ours) in. But at the end of the day, you don't draft in the first round to get a slightly better version of Mathieu Dandenault.
Whether Pacioretty has talent enough to be more than a glorified checker is yet to be seen. But it has to be seen. Apart from a truncated AHL season and short NCAA career, Max has no formation in playing offensively outside US high school. His effort was endearing at times, but he was having as much trouble piecing together what he should and shouldn't do to succeed as I was having watching him. Now in Hamilton, there will be less eyes, far less critical eyes and a league set up for exactly Max's need.
Leave him for a sustained bout. Let him stew, let him revamp, let him thrive. Then let's see.
D'Agostini needs an intervention
D'Agostini isn't that different from Max, except that he is. Older than Pacioretty, smaller, less willing and a lower draft investment mean that there's much less organizational will behind D'Agostini. In short, not many ever expected him to succeed, and so no one will lose sleep over seeing this come to fruition.
D'Agostini, for whatever reason, never understood the gravity of this situation as it affected his career. Alleged overweight at the outset of camp, he was meant to be in a tight battle for a top job. Given his chance with Gomez and Plekanec, he always looked like he'd rather be somewhere else.
It made you want to scream at the TV: "Wake up kid, your career is slipping away."
Hamilton is a different challenge for Matt. No contract at the end of the year, Matt is struggling to keep his head above water. There may be some coddling in Hamilton, and that's because Guy Boucher seems to live for reclamation projects like this, but the Habs can just as easily move on. Someone needs to impress this important lesson on Matt himself, though I'm worried that nothing will get through to the player after 4 months of high-level coaching and people willing him on.
The other problem for D'Agostini is that there isn't a big future for him in the NHL as a checker. Lapierre is better, Sergei is better, Pacioretty is better, White is better, Pyatt too, the Canadiens have depth in forwards who can play, if not score. His way back comes through goals and assists, or at the very least making room for linemates who can take the stats. I wish him luck in finding his way there. At this point his odds on a contract are slim to none.
Lapierre escapes
Loyal readers will know that LIW is keeping track of the biggest duds this season. Pacioretty and Dagger were contenders, but Lapierre has found ways to surpass them in futility on so many nights.
Max, then, can be thankful to Mike Cammalleri for providing the call, and Mathieu Darche for providing the breakfast in bed. He has been roused just in time to avoid D'Agostini's fate.
I'm well ware that cap and other restraints make the possibility of sending this kind of message to Lapierre less than realistic. However, stranger things have happened. And Lapierre, despite the undying love from RDS, has not been relaunched for long, and he hasn't been better than Pacioretty on most nights. I'm glad he doesn't need to use these demotions as a wake up call, I'm glad he stirred before it was too late.
Maxwell recalled
Of Gainey's moves, this is my least favourite. When Trotter and Maxwell were overlooked for Darche, I saw great sense. Pacioretty has been spoiled, Sergei before him, D'Agostini might be beyond repair. All projects were held in the NHL because a quick start and a shallow team made it easier.
I'm sure Maxwell deserves a shot, and he wouldn't want it differently. However, with things progressing so well in Hamilton, the Canadiens risked developing prospects in a successful environment for the first time in decades. The incubator can do wonders for growth – both skill and confidence. I'm just a little bit worried that a season and a half is not enough to make a top two centre from a 20-goalscorer in the WHL.
Then again, Andrei Kostitsyn has a place, and so do 11 other forwards. Perhaps Ben is just getting a glimpse of the big league for some added inspiration.
Gainey's week of action
It's too bad it took losses that we could all see coming to actually stir our GM into action. Whoever said patience was a virtue?
I don't know if anyone is keeping count, but Gainey's revamp in the season is approaching his revamp out of season. Since October, the 2008-09 incumbents have lost Guillaume Latendresse, Georges Laraque, Kyle Chipchura and now temporarily Pacioretty and D'Agostini. At least we know that Gainey coach probably didn't put the crisis of Spring 2009 down to one of the remaining 5 or 6 Habs...
Anyway, I want to know what you think. Will Pacioretty grow wrist strength? Will he develop into more than his preview suggested? Will D'Agostini ever recover? Will Lapierrs keep his play at the new level, or will he slip again? Will Maxwell benefit from a stint in Montreal?
Friday, July 31, 2009
Canadiens Waiver Confusion
I'm not sure if the confusion was all mine, but I took some time to look into the Canadiens waiver exemptions for the upcoming season as a remedy.
I thought I'd share on another slow news day.
You'll remember that post I wrote about Latendresse the other day. I wrote it to point out that it was make or break time for the guy. What I probably didn't fully consider was that his situation may be more critical than I originally thought.
The reason is simple. The current Canadiens roster is stacked with veteran (and young) players who do not carry a waiver wire exemption. I didn't quite understand how this could be, but with a bit of a rummage around, I think I do now.
1) Waiver eligibility has nothing to do with age really – it has much more to do with experience and being paid at the pro level
2) Unlike the old NHL, waiver status under the 2005 CBA is determined by professional games, not just NHL games. That means players who've played 160 games for Hamilton, Cincinnati, Montreal or some combination are all exposed to other teams on demotion during the season.
The question is particularly pertinent when it comes to Latendresse and his rivals. Now, I assumed (and rightly so) that Pacioretty and Sergei Kostitsyn were waiver exempt. They both come under the cap for games and years since their first pro contract. Matt D'Agostini and Kyle Chipchura, however, who I thought were in the same boat are not at all. Because of their prolonged attachment to the Bulldogs both have easily amassed more than 160 professional games and are full-fledged NHL bait now. And, when you do some Kostitsyn math (and I could be wrong) one comes to the conclusion that he has one game of exemption left – so he's not really at all. This impacts on Latendresse (and others, but I have a fixation) because I thought he would benefit from being one of a few who could not be shunted to Hamilton. He's one of many. You can imagine that Glen Metropolit might also be thinking about trying to put in a big training camp if he'd like to stay with the Habs.
Here is a somewhat complete list of the Canadiens players as they fall into the waiver eligible or exempt pots:
Waiver eligible
Scott Gomez, Brian Gionta, Mike Cammalleri, Tomas Plekanec, Andrei Kostitsyn, Guillaume Latendresse, Maxime Lapierre, Georges Laraque, Glen Metropolit, Travis Moen, Greg Stewart, Matt D'Agostini, Kyle Chipchura, Andrei Markov, Roman Hamrlik, Jaroslav Spacek, Josh Gorges, Hal Gill, Paul Mara, Ryan O'Byrne
Waiver exempt (and for how long):
Sergei Kostitsyn (until 2010-11 or 1st game this year), Max Pacioretty (until 2011-12 or 89th game this year), Yannick Weber (until 2012-13 or 84th game this year), Ben Maxwell (until 2011-12 or 74th game this year), Mathieu Carle (until 2012-13 or 31st game this year), Subban (undetermined length as of today)
The interesting finding was initially D'Agostini, but certainly Kostitsyn (if I'm not off base) is a big deal. Either one of those players could be a legitimate waiver target for other GMs, so Gainey will be wary. It should also say something to Paccioretty backers – as the only NHL trialled forward who can commute, you shouldn't be too hopeful of his guaranteed place on a top line.
The final group of interest here to me are the Swedes. Because of their newness to the league, they carry with them the exemption. What looked like a couple of experimental pick-ups in Johansson and Engqvist might turn out to be very valuable filler if short-term injuries occur. Marks to Gainey on that front.
Maybe now that I understand this a bit better, I'll stop calling for Shawn Belle to be promoted and risking waivers. Then again, maybe not...
I thought I'd share on another slow news day.
You'll remember that post I wrote about Latendresse the other day. I wrote it to point out that it was make or break time for the guy. What I probably didn't fully consider was that his situation may be more critical than I originally thought.
The reason is simple. The current Canadiens roster is stacked with veteran (and young) players who do not carry a waiver wire exemption. I didn't quite understand how this could be, but with a bit of a rummage around, I think I do now.
1) Waiver eligibility has nothing to do with age really – it has much more to do with experience and being paid at the pro level
2) Unlike the old NHL, waiver status under the 2005 CBA is determined by professional games, not just NHL games. That means players who've played 160 games for Hamilton, Cincinnati, Montreal or some combination are all exposed to other teams on demotion during the season.
The question is particularly pertinent when it comes to Latendresse and his rivals. Now, I assumed (and rightly so) that Pacioretty and Sergei Kostitsyn were waiver exempt. They both come under the cap for games and years since their first pro contract. Matt D'Agostini and Kyle Chipchura, however, who I thought were in the same boat are not at all. Because of their prolonged attachment to the Bulldogs both have easily amassed more than 160 professional games and are full-fledged NHL bait now. And, when you do some Kostitsyn math (and I could be wrong) one comes to the conclusion that he has one game of exemption left – so he's not really at all. This impacts on Latendresse (and others, but I have a fixation) because I thought he would benefit from being one of a few who could not be shunted to Hamilton. He's one of many. You can imagine that Glen Metropolit might also be thinking about trying to put in a big training camp if he'd like to stay with the Habs.
Here is a somewhat complete list of the Canadiens players as they fall into the waiver eligible or exempt pots:
Waiver eligible
Scott Gomez, Brian Gionta, Mike Cammalleri, Tomas Plekanec, Andrei Kostitsyn, Guillaume Latendresse, Maxime Lapierre, Georges Laraque, Glen Metropolit, Travis Moen, Greg Stewart, Matt D'Agostini, Kyle Chipchura, Andrei Markov, Roman Hamrlik, Jaroslav Spacek, Josh Gorges, Hal Gill, Paul Mara, Ryan O'Byrne
Waiver exempt (and for how long):
Sergei Kostitsyn (until 2010-11 or 1st game this year), Max Pacioretty (until 2011-12 or 89th game this year), Yannick Weber (until 2012-13 or 84th game this year), Ben Maxwell (until 2011-12 or 74th game this year), Mathieu Carle (until 2012-13 or 31st game this year), Subban (undetermined length as of today)
The interesting finding was initially D'Agostini, but certainly Kostitsyn (if I'm not off base) is a big deal. Either one of those players could be a legitimate waiver target for other GMs, so Gainey will be wary. It should also say something to Paccioretty backers – as the only NHL trialled forward who can commute, you shouldn't be too hopeful of his guaranteed place on a top line.
The final group of interest here to me are the Swedes. Because of their newness to the league, they carry with them the exemption. What looked like a couple of experimental pick-ups in Johansson and Engqvist might turn out to be very valuable filler if short-term injuries occur. Marks to Gainey on that front.
Maybe now that I understand this a bit better, I'll stop calling for Shawn Belle to be promoted and risking waivers. Then again, maybe not...
Friday, January 02, 2009
Promotions and Demotions
Gainey Comes To Life And Moves
According to Canadiens.com:
This coincides with the demotion of Maxwell (largely ineffective so far) and the embattled Ryan O'Byrne.
The moves make sense in that Weber is the PP specialist we have desperately needed for months, and could not be any worse than a nervous Ryan O'Byrne. Chipchura, captain of the Bulldogs, has already proven he can play NHL hockey, which should be an improvement over Maxwell who had trouble proving the same. And Pacioretty comes in to replace the injured Alex Tanguay, who is out of the lineup for up to 6 weeks. It has been painful waiting for Gainey to move this year again, but the team's success has papered over the cracks. It is great to see him make these moves now, even so late, as the current formula was bulging under the stress of tight games.
The promotion of Marc Denis is more temporary. Price has lower body discomfort (read "the runs", in all likelihood). The way Price played and ended the last game, it is hard to believe the injury is substantial. The Denis call-up feels odd. Perhaps this is part of a showcase move as the Canadiens need for winger may need to be addressed through the trade of a goaltender. Speculation on my part, but I feel something is up.
Hopefully Weber will play this evening, as we have been waiting for his promotion for an age. Chipchura should make the cut too, based on ability and experience, and I would be surprised to see Pacioretty (though that would be interesting too). Three good reasons to tune in tonight...
as for the demotions, Maxwell will benefit from more time. As for O'Byrne, I don't think it could be any worse for him than being bolted to a bench in Montreal.
The Canadiens announced Thursday that defenseman Yannick Weber, goaltender Marc Denis as well as forwards Max Pacioretty and Kyle Chipchura have been recalled from the Hamilton Bulldogs of the American Hockey League. All four players will join the Canadiens tonight in New Jersey.
This coincides with the demotion of Maxwell (largely ineffective so far) and the embattled Ryan O'Byrne.
The moves make sense in that Weber is the PP specialist we have desperately needed for months, and could not be any worse than a nervous Ryan O'Byrne. Chipchura, captain of the Bulldogs, has already proven he can play NHL hockey, which should be an improvement over Maxwell who had trouble proving the same. And Pacioretty comes in to replace the injured Alex Tanguay, who is out of the lineup for up to 6 weeks. It has been painful waiting for Gainey to move this year again, but the team's success has papered over the cracks. It is great to see him make these moves now, even so late, as the current formula was bulging under the stress of tight games.
The promotion of Marc Denis is more temporary. Price has lower body discomfort (read "the runs", in all likelihood). The way Price played and ended the last game, it is hard to believe the injury is substantial. The Denis call-up feels odd. Perhaps this is part of a showcase move as the Canadiens need for winger may need to be addressed through the trade of a goaltender. Speculation on my part, but I feel something is up.
Hopefully Weber will play this evening, as we have been waiting for his promotion for an age. Chipchura should make the cut too, based on ability and experience, and I would be surprised to see Pacioretty (though that would be interesting too). Three good reasons to tune in tonight...
as for the demotions, Maxwell will benefit from more time. As for O'Byrne, I don't think it could be any worse for him than being bolted to a bench in Montreal.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Game #29
Caps Win Game of Chance
The Canadiens Game in Review
Date: Saturday December 13th, 2008
Opponent: Washington Capitals
Venue: Bell Centre, Montreal, QC
Team Stripes
Final Score: 1-2 - Loss
Date: Saturday December 13th, 2008
Opponent: Washington Capitals
Venue: Bell Centre, Montreal, QC
Team Stripes
Final Score: 1-2 - Loss
Habs starting goalie: Jaroslav Halak (L)
Opposition starting goalie: Simeon Varlamov (W)
Habs goalscorers: Patrice Brisebois
Opposition goalscorers: Nicklas Backstrom, Michael Nylander
Play of the game
The play you're straining to see on the press catwalk monitor...
Halak made an incredible save early on in the game which gave me a full indication he was going to be strong in this one. On a 2-on-1 Ovechkin made a great pass to Semin, but there was Halak, with his right pad to slam the door shut.
Game puck
Trophies are for the end of the year, play well in the game, you get a lovely puck...
Jaroslav Halak
I couldn't believe the poor kid's luck when Nylander banked one in off of him late in the third to win it. Jaro had played one heck of a game and was the only reason we were still tied until very late in the third. He did not seem intimidated at all by the talented Capital players as time and time again he stoned them all.
Dome hockey team
We're going into the last minute with these 6 (and they're attached to the ice, so they're not coming off)...
Forwards
Alexei Kovalev
Alex wore the 'C' tonight and I thought that he did a good job as he lead the team well. He had tons of chances and created a lot too. Late in the third he seemed poised to finally score, but alas it was off the post - soon after Nylander scored. At some point a player must score, but let's face it, the effort and intensity are both there for poor Alex. I suppose luck is finally catching up to him as last year it seemed that every bounce went his way.
Andrei Kostitsyn
Kostitsyn looked quite dangerous tonight and I was actually surprised that he didn't score. Like Kovy he also had a glorious chance late in the third, but unfortunately he was robbed. I liked the way he played with his brother, something which was tried towards the end. I didn't see too much happening with him and Maxwell and I think that of all the players Andrei will miss Koivu the most.
Maxim Lapierre
Two things happened tonight - Benoit Brunet proposed to Max, and Max saw some serious PP time. I don't at all agree with Carbo using the 4th line in key situations like that, but I can't fault Lapierre for it. He played a strong game in both ends and added a lot of energy to the building. It would be nice if he or his line could score on a consistent basis though as I think they are seeing way too much ice for what they actually bring.
Defencemen
Patrice Brisebois
No, this isn't a typo. After 2 years of waiting and hoping I can finally say that Breezer played better than 4 of our defencemen. There was the odd lapse, but after watching just how pathetic a player O'Byrne has become I kind of forgave Patrice, fast. He is now the only Hab to score since Tuesday and to boot he stopped Ovechkin on a 1-on-1 late in the third. I really hope, however, for the Habs sake that his appearance in here doesn't become a regularity. I know the best Patrice has to offer and that is way below the standard we need to make the playoffs.
Andrei Markov
Like all of his troupe Andrei had some difficult times tonight, but overall he was our best defenceman. There was a great defensive play on Ovechkin, again late in the third, that stands out. He once again proved that he is of only 2 Habs able to skate with the puck from our zone into the other team's. It is a sad day when you have fewer and fewer players that can gain the zone, but unfortunately that is what seems to be happening.
Goaltender
Jaroslav Halak
This was a third straight start for Halak and thank goodness he played well; the alternative is Marc Denis. I really liked the way he played tonight as he followed the play so well and was able to stay one step ahead of the shooters. Both goals were essentially scored on goal-mouth scrambles and I think it is now painfully obvious that this is an area that the D and goalies need some serious work on.
Eye-Openers
In this new section we are going to try and shed some light on certain plays or events that would otherwise go unnoticed
You know that way we play at points in the game where we are all over the other team in their end? There is a constant forecheck, a lot of hits, quality shots and it seems like we win all the 1-on1 battles. Those periods are often disturbed by penalties, whether they be ours or the opponents. So the question remains how can we, at times (quite regularly), be so dominant at even-strength and then turn around and be quite dismal on the PP? The answer really is beyond me, but I do have a suggestion. I call this is 'an outsider suggestion' as I imagine it is what someone who knows little about hockey and hockey strategy (but indeed knows sport) may suggest.
My suggestion is forgetting the standard, 30-team, we-have-to-do-it-like-this, PP setup. Why do we need 2 players at the point? Why do we need one on the half-boards, one in front of the net? Why do we have to slow play down to a snail pace to achieve this setup? My guess is we do it because: A - it worked in the past and B - other teams do it. Why don't we just play like we do at even-strength? Get in the zone and just work, work and then work some more. Get the puck towards the net, hit, disturb and create chances. I can't stand waiting 30 seconds (if we're lucky) for a predictable point-shot when all along we could have been applying constant pressure. The added bonuses to this strategy are that the other team wouldn't really be prepared and, with there being one less defender on the ice, space will indeed open up. It will be like even-strength, but only with more space, more chances and essentially more possession. I have been calling for this style of man-up play for years (mostly because it is how other sports do it), but I think now would be the best time to try it. It is obvious that the NHL-taught formula isn't right for us this year, so please let's try something new.
Overall Comments
The game started well with good excitement from both teams, but then 10 minutes in Washigton scored and it seemed to scare us. We stopped playing an exciting brand of hockey for about 20 minutes as we let the Caps run the show. Midway though the second period, however, we started to play better and it was actually us who were dominating Washington. We were getting a lot of decent chances and wouldn't you know it, they led to a goal. The rest of the game seemed about the same to me. We out-chanced and out-shot the Caps, but our 3 posts were simply no match for their 1 goal. Washington are a strong team with a lot of good players and we were unfortunate that not only were Fedorov, Semin, Green and Poti back from injury, but also that they finally played goaltending phenom - Varlamov. He is likely the best of their 3 goalies (Theodore, Johnson) so it was unfortunate that his first NHL game had to be against us. He did play a very good game and, like Halak, was a big reason this was a low-scoring affair.
2 losses in a row and all of a sudden we have work to do. We now have 4 games to go before Christmas and we need 6 points out of those. It is not an impossible feat, but it would have been nice to at least get one point tonight to help us on our way. On Tuesday we play Carolina on the road and I think we all know that that game now is being called a Must-Win.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Canadiens Depth Preview: The Centres (Part 2)
It has been said for some time that a major strength of the Canadiens has been organizational depth. Up to last season, depth was nothing more than a nice thought, but youngsters graduating at impressive rates, the depth is now being put to the test.
Ahead of what should be an exciting season, I wanted to take a look at the team's overall depth at each position. I'm starting with centres. Part 1 will be big-team guys, Part 2 will be the farm system as it stands now.
Based on team lists, prospect lists and my evaluations, here is the list of centres in order of importance to the team:
First call-ups
Brock Trotter
Other than a name that would make any American Ryder Cup player proud, what do we know about this young player.
Well, for starters, we should know that with Grabovski and Locke traded, Higgins and Sergei now entrenched as wingers and everyone else largely devoid of top-tier professional hockey experience, he is the next in line. A couple of injuries to some centres and Brock Trotter could be wearing bleu, blanc, rouge. Gosh, that would be memories of Craig Darby on the second line.
A look at his career stats tells us that Brock Trotter, barring a drastic change in personality, will never be an top-line forward in the NHL. Despite an obvious level of talent (based on this week's showing), his results from Metropolitan Junior to Hamilton show that he can score but never to the point of being prolific.
So, if not an offensive star, or a giant (he's 5'9"), what drew the Canadiens to Brock in the midst of his NCAA season last year. Well, it's the steady improvement, for one thing – last season was his best. And, on top of that, he fits nicely into the mould of the new Canadiens prospect: an educated, mature player with patience and determination.
This is the insight we can get from Trevor Timmins:
Hockeywise, Timmins feels Brock's a smart playmaker whose strength is from the blueline in, and scouting reports put it this way:
All in all, a good prospect. Had he been drafted, there would be no questioning his stats or ability. But, Brock seems to have overcome all that and made his way up the depth chart. He benefits (in my rankings) from Maxwell probably being tested for durability, as in any year beyond this one (and probably sooner than that), Brock falls below Ben. For now, for me, he's the Johnny-on-the-spot.
Ben Maxwell
Hockey's Future designates Ben Maxwell the number 7 prospect in the Canadiens system, the number 3 who is not on the big team already – behind Ryan McDonagh and Max Pacioretty.
This is significant, if only because the website now sees Ben as more promising than Kyle Chipchura (the maligned) and David Fischer (falling out of favour there as he commits to more college time). While I question the leapfrogging of Chipchura (and this week will tell), it is good for the organization that a young centre is progressing. Because, as you've seen already, the depth at this position is tied together with string.
Ben, like Brock, has not set the world on fire with his scoring. A look at his stats show a consistent output, without any eye-catching achievements. I'll grant that today's WHL is not the one in which Pat Falloon and Ray Whitney ran rampant, but point-per-game in junior is not usually the makings of an NHL scoring champion.
If we're looking for positive signs with Maxwell, it appears to be his clutch play – never a bad thing. In 10 playoff games last spring, Ben contributed 6 goals for his team, with 3 assists – outscoring his teammates. 2 years previous, it was 8 points in 6 games in the playoffs. No Memorial Cup or anything, but at least the Ice won a playoff round last season...
He's also big. well for a Canadiens centre anyway. Over 6' tall and a frame big enough to hold 200 lbs (though it doesn't yet). His junior coach doesn't exactly rave about Ben, but he does seem to pinpoint what we might expect:
If we're looking for negative signs, Ben is already showing himself to be as fragile as Havlat or Gaborik in junior. It was an elbow injury two years ago that limited Ben to less than 40 games, whereas last year a freak calcification event. It will remain to be seen if he is durable enough for the pros, or whether freak occurrences are not so freak with him. If he can't be healthy and play big, it seems he might not be worth the risk. That being said, a year with some top fitness and strength coaches in Hamilton may cure his ills and pave the way for an NHL career in the not-too-distant future.
David Desharnais
I'll go out on a limb and say that if David Desharnais was 3 years younger, he would have been drafted in the top 3 rounds of this year's draft. Now that the moratorium on small players has been lifted, he can be appreciated for his skill.
But small he is – Theo Fleury small. He's listed at 5'6" and we all know how they embellish those numbers. And though there is anew day for small players being drafted, it is still a hard road for tiny players to crack the big leagues and stick. What it ends up taking is top-line skill, because no one is playing a 5 footer on the checking lines. His talent analysis gives some idea of what kind of player he could be:
So, does David have the skill to overcome? Anyone who looks at stats alone would have to say yes. But, I think there's good evidence from elsewhere too. Take his progression, for example. Junior scoring star, to consistent junior scoring star. Undrafted – this is sometimes enough to break anyone's spirit (see his teammate Maxime Boisclair). David toughs it out and dominates the ECHL. He then leads his team to the championship.
I think this camp is a real junction for Desharnais. Given the lack of forwards in Hamilton he will play there to start with. but, impress enough in the next two weeks and he's call-up material. Given that Corey Locke is gone, I think we have a new little super-scorer to root for.
Ryan White
Durable, reliable, and already 200 lbs, Ryan White rounds out the top-level talent among prospects at centre.
Hockey's Future wants to project White as an energy forward. Not having seen enough of him, I would ask whether this means: energy forward because he plays like a Tasmanian devil, or energy forward as code for not good enough to ever reach beyond that.
Over the years, there have been plenty of people to back up the reservation of the scouts. Highly rated early in his draft year, many GMs passed on Ryan. Team Canada passed on him too. Sooner or later, this opinion has to add up. Something can't be quite right.
Even so, the Canadiens in a pickle with centres have signed White to 3 years – meaning that he'll be a Bulldog and perhaps an occasional Canadien for now. I think Gainey has made the right move. Ryan White's a player who leads his team in scoring, who has played no less than 59 playoff games in 4 years, who from all accounts plays a rough-and-tumble style while not forgetting that the goal in hockey is to score goals not win fights. I even see evidence of maturity in Ryan with a mere 8 PIMs in 16 playoff games last spring vs. 36 the year before.
Last year, I think I had Ryan White playing a game or two in my predictions. This year, I see the same. In the long run, I think Ryan could be the Hab of this bunch, but for now he'll be a Bulldog waiting behind the other three guys.
Minor leaguers
Mathieu Aubin
Huge, but not physical. Hands, but no feet. His scouting report reads like a cell-phone contract. You think there are benefits there, but the conditions that come with them are quite big drawbacks.
I demoted Matthieu to the minor leaguer category because I see that Mathieu's best chance may have passed him by. Take this from his scouting report:
Guess what, none of the materialised. He got a chance in Hamilton, but was largely a flop as an offensive player. He was demoted to Cincinnati, where he did win a championship, but was leapfrogged by Desharnais.
A turn-around is possible, but not necessarily anticipated. A shame, because a big francophone centre who can score is something we have missed for decades.
Ryan Russell
Ben Maxwell's older and shorter Kootenay teammate. He outscores Ben at every turn, so why is he lower in the depth chart? Well, that's just the way it works, isn't it?
The main knock on Ryan is that he is small and he plays small. he is gifted offensively, but not to the point of a Desharnais, so he falls down the chart there. he has flopped in the pros thus far, making his climb up that much more daunting. When you are the small forward, it helps to be the best one around if you want to make it. Behind Koivu, Plekanec, Trotter and Desharnais makes Russell's task a very tough one indeed.
The good news for Ryan is that he is still young. Things could turn around with a decent stint (probably in Cincinnati). But in all honesty, barring a catastrophe or a miracle training camp from Russell, i don't see him as anything more than a piece in a trade for the Habs.
For the future
Olivier Fortier
I've seen the phrase diamond in the rough tossed around a lot recently. When it comes to prospects, it is a phrase I would reserve for the few. Olivier is one of those players.
There's no doubt he's in the rough – he doesn't lead his team in scoring, he doesn't win Memorial Cups (though he'll play in one as a host, this spring). To make him a diamond, I saw this piece of evidence from Timmins:
Add to that, the Guy Carbonneau trophy he won last spring, and we have an intriguing player here.
http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif
Obviously, my reservations about drafting a defensive player (expressed regarding Chipchura) apply here, but from reports, his attitude and evidence, he looks like a player, to borrow the words of Mr. Timmins. If he even gets to the point of Chipchura, that'd be very encouraging indeed.
Not this year, though. he'll be playing junior and in the Memorial Cup (hopefully for Canada, too). Next year, we'll see where we're at with him.
Other
Olivier Latendresse
Though a goal in a scrimmage can't hurt, Olivier has a long way to climb to even see time as a centre in Hamilton. He has shown great progress in the ECHL, but hasn't yet grasped hold of an AHL opportunity.
he is an intriguing addition to the organization. Guillaume's brother could conceivably help him in the way Andrei relished having Sergei around, though Gui will have to make do with same franchise proximity, I think. Olivier is another smallish offensive-minded centre, and to boot he is from the area, which is great. I would wish him all the luck, but a game in a Habs sweater seems a long way off.
Yanick Lehoux
The last man in the order. He's the career minor leaguer in this order. His career serves as a reminder to the other guys about what they should most likely expect, and how failing to grasp an opportunity and hold on for dear life can be costly.
Lehoux is not here to play in the NHL (I don't think). He has 10 games with Phoenix under his belt, but his 6 AHL seasons speak greater volumes. A nice addition to help Hamilton from repeating their miserable 2008, but not one for the Habs.
He's so low-profile that most of us didn't notice his signing in the summer. But I'll tell you, having so many Montrealers down on the farm dying for a chance to get up to the bigs might not be such a bad thing...
Ahead of what should be an exciting season, I wanted to take a look at the team's overall depth at each position. I'm starting with centres. Part 1 will be big-team guys, Part 2 will be the farm system as it stands now.
Based on team lists, prospect lists and my evaluations, here is the list of centres in order of importance to the team:
- Saku Koivu
- Tomas Plekanec
- Robert Lang
- Maxim Lapierre
- Kyle Chipchura
- Steve Begin
- Brock Trotter
- Ben Maxwell
- David Desharnais
- Ryan White
- Mathieu Aubin
- Ryan Russell
- Olivier Fortier
- Olivier Latendresse
- Yanick Lehoux
First call-ups
Brock Trotter
Other than a name that would make any American Ryder Cup player proud, what do we know about this young player.
Well, for starters, we should know that with Grabovski and Locke traded, Higgins and Sergei now entrenched as wingers and everyone else largely devoid of top-tier professional hockey experience, he is the next in line. A couple of injuries to some centres and Brock Trotter could be wearing bleu, blanc, rouge. Gosh, that would be memories of Craig Darby on the second line.
A look at his career stats tells us that Brock Trotter, barring a drastic change in personality, will never be an top-line forward in the NHL. Despite an obvious level of talent (based on this week's showing), his results from Metropolitan Junior to Hamilton show that he can score but never to the point of being prolific.
So, if not an offensive star, or a giant (he's 5'9"), what drew the Canadiens to Brock in the midst of his NCAA season last year. Well, it's the steady improvement, for one thing – last season was his best. And, on top of that, he fits nicely into the mould of the new Canadiens prospect: an educated, mature player with patience and determination.
This is the insight we can get from Trevor Timmins:
"Brock was on our draft list and our scout visited his family before the draft. We knew the player and the person. When he indicated he was coming out of college and turning pro, we were Johnny-On-The-Spot."
Hockeywise, Timmins feels Brock's a smart playmaker whose strength is from the blueline in, and scouting reports put it this way:
"Trotter is extremely strong from the blueline in and displays a strong nose for the net."
All in all, a good prospect. Had he been drafted, there would be no questioning his stats or ability. But, Brock seems to have overcome all that and made his way up the depth chart. He benefits (in my rankings) from Maxwell probably being tested for durability, as in any year beyond this one (and probably sooner than that), Brock falls below Ben. For now, for me, he's the Johnny-on-the-spot.
Ben Maxwell
Hockey's Future designates Ben Maxwell the number 7 prospect in the Canadiens system, the number 3 who is not on the big team already – behind Ryan McDonagh and Max Pacioretty.
This is significant, if only because the website now sees Ben as more promising than Kyle Chipchura (the maligned) and David Fischer (falling out of favour there as he commits to more college time). While I question the leapfrogging of Chipchura (and this week will tell), it is good for the organization that a young centre is progressing. Because, as you've seen already, the depth at this position is tied together with string.
Ben, like Brock, has not set the world on fire with his scoring. A look at his stats show a consistent output, without any eye-catching achievements. I'll grant that today's WHL is not the one in which Pat Falloon and Ray Whitney ran rampant, but point-per-game in junior is not usually the makings of an NHL scoring champion.
If we're looking for positive signs with Maxwell, it appears to be his clutch play – never a bad thing. In 10 playoff games last spring, Ben contributed 6 goals for his team, with 3 assists – outscoring his teammates. 2 years previous, it was 8 points in 6 games in the playoffs. No Memorial Cup or anything, but at least the Ice won a playoff round last season...
He's also big. well for a Canadiens centre anyway. Over 6' tall and a frame big enough to hold 200 lbs (though it doesn't yet). His junior coach doesn't exactly rave about Ben, but he does seem to pinpoint what we might expect:
"He’s a key guy for us because when you play teams with three good lines, Ben will be matched up with somebody who has a real good physical presence. Ben is a guy who will make things difficult for opponents. He generally responds quite well in the physical department.”
If we're looking for negative signs, Ben is already showing himself to be as fragile as Havlat or Gaborik in junior. It was an elbow injury two years ago that limited Ben to less than 40 games, whereas last year a freak calcification event. It will remain to be seen if he is durable enough for the pros, or whether freak occurrences are not so freak with him. If he can't be healthy and play big, it seems he might not be worth the risk. That being said, a year with some top fitness and strength coaches in Hamilton may cure his ills and pave the way for an NHL career in the not-too-distant future.
David Desharnais
I'll go out on a limb and say that if David Desharnais was 3 years younger, he would have been drafted in the top 3 rounds of this year's draft. Now that the moratorium on small players has been lifted, he can be appreciated for his skill.
But small he is – Theo Fleury small. He's listed at 5'6" and we all know how they embellish those numbers. And though there is anew day for small players being drafted, it is still a hard road for tiny players to crack the big leagues and stick. What it ends up taking is top-line skill, because no one is playing a 5 footer on the checking lines. His talent analysis gives some idea of what kind of player he could be:
"He has a strong instinct around the net and is excellent with the puck. The young center likes to use his teammates in the best possible way but will never shy from shooting the puck."
So, does David have the skill to overcome? Anyone who looks at stats alone would have to say yes. But, I think there's good evidence from elsewhere too. Take his progression, for example. Junior scoring star, to consistent junior scoring star. Undrafted – this is sometimes enough to break anyone's spirit (see his teammate Maxime Boisclair). David toughs it out and dominates the ECHL. He then leads his team to the championship.
I think this camp is a real junction for Desharnais. Given the lack of forwards in Hamilton he will play there to start with. but, impress enough in the next two weeks and he's call-up material. Given that Corey Locke is gone, I think we have a new little super-scorer to root for.
Ryan White
Durable, reliable, and already 200 lbs, Ryan White rounds out the top-level talent among prospects at centre.
Hockey's Future wants to project White as an energy forward. Not having seen enough of him, I would ask whether this means: energy forward because he plays like a Tasmanian devil, or energy forward as code for not good enough to ever reach beyond that.
Over the years, there have been plenty of people to back up the reservation of the scouts. Highly rated early in his draft year, many GMs passed on Ryan. Team Canada passed on him too. Sooner or later, this opinion has to add up. Something can't be quite right.
Even so, the Canadiens in a pickle with centres have signed White to 3 years – meaning that he'll be a Bulldog and perhaps an occasional Canadien for now. I think Gainey has made the right move. Ryan White's a player who leads his team in scoring, who has played no less than 59 playoff games in 4 years, who from all accounts plays a rough-and-tumble style while not forgetting that the goal in hockey is to score goals not win fights. I even see evidence of maturity in Ryan with a mere 8 PIMs in 16 playoff games last spring vs. 36 the year before.
Last year, I think I had Ryan White playing a game or two in my predictions. This year, I see the same. In the long run, I think Ryan could be the Hab of this bunch, but for now he'll be a Bulldog waiting behind the other three guys.
Minor leaguers
Mathieu Aubin
Huge, but not physical. Hands, but no feet. His scouting report reads like a cell-phone contract. You think there are benefits there, but the conditions that come with them are quite big drawbacks.
I demoted Matthieu to the minor leaguer category because I see that Mathieu's best chance may have passed him by. Take this from his scouting report:
"The Canadiens are expecting big things from Aubin offensively in 2007-08. Last year he bounced between Hamilton and Cincinnati, never comfortably finding a home. This year, the club will be looking for him to fill some of the offensive void that may be created should the elder Kostitsyn, Chipchura, and/or Grabovski make the jump to the NHL. The thought is a more settled environment and regular shift could help accelerate Aubin's growth and take advantage of his offensive potential."
Guess what, none of the materialised. He got a chance in Hamilton, but was largely a flop as an offensive player. He was demoted to Cincinnati, where he did win a championship, but was leapfrogged by Desharnais.
A turn-around is possible, but not necessarily anticipated. A shame, because a big francophone centre who can score is something we have missed for decades.
Ryan Russell
Ben Maxwell's older and shorter Kootenay teammate. He outscores Ben at every turn, so why is he lower in the depth chart? Well, that's just the way it works, isn't it?
The main knock on Ryan is that he is small and he plays small. he is gifted offensively, but not to the point of a Desharnais, so he falls down the chart there. he has flopped in the pros thus far, making his climb up that much more daunting. When you are the small forward, it helps to be the best one around if you want to make it. Behind Koivu, Plekanec, Trotter and Desharnais makes Russell's task a very tough one indeed.
The good news for Ryan is that he is still young. Things could turn around with a decent stint (probably in Cincinnati). But in all honesty, barring a catastrophe or a miracle training camp from Russell, i don't see him as anything more than a piece in a trade for the Habs.
For the future
Olivier Fortier
I've seen the phrase diamond in the rough tossed around a lot recently. When it comes to prospects, it is a phrase I would reserve for the few. Olivier is one of those players.
There's no doubt he's in the rough – he doesn't lead his team in scoring, he doesn't win Memorial Cups (though he'll play in one as a host, this spring). To make him a diamond, I saw this piece of evidence from Timmins:
"At every level he plays, his coaches can’t say enough good things about him. They know each and every time he steps on the ice what they’re going to get. He’s a low-maintenance player. He’s a solid two-way player – Ihttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif can’t say he has any real weaknesses. He’s got that twinkle in his eye – he’s going to be a player. The last guy that I saw with that look was Maxime Lapierre.”
Add to that, the Guy Carbonneau trophy he won last spring, and we have an intriguing player here.
http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif
Obviously, my reservations about drafting a defensive player (expressed regarding Chipchura) apply here, but from reports, his attitude and evidence, he looks like a player, to borrow the words of Mr. Timmins. If he even gets to the point of Chipchura, that'd be very encouraging indeed.
Not this year, though. he'll be playing junior and in the Memorial Cup (hopefully for Canada, too). Next year, we'll see where we're at with him.
Other
Olivier Latendresse
Though a goal in a scrimmage can't hurt, Olivier has a long way to climb to even see time as a centre in Hamilton. He has shown great progress in the ECHL, but hasn't yet grasped hold of an AHL opportunity.
he is an intriguing addition to the organization. Guillaume's brother could conceivably help him in the way Andrei relished having Sergei around, though Gui will have to make do with same franchise proximity, I think. Olivier is another smallish offensive-minded centre, and to boot he is from the area, which is great. I would wish him all the luck, but a game in a Habs sweater seems a long way off.
Yanick Lehoux
The last man in the order. He's the career minor leaguer in this order. His career serves as a reminder to the other guys about what they should most likely expect, and how failing to grasp an opportunity and hold on for dear life can be costly.
Lehoux is not here to play in the NHL (I don't think). He has 10 games with Phoenix under his belt, but his 6 AHL seasons speak greater volumes. A nice addition to help Hamilton from repeating their miserable 2008, but not one for the Habs.
He's so low-profile that most of us didn't notice his signing in the summer. But I'll tell you, having so many Montrealers down on the farm dying for a chance to get up to the bigs might not be such a bad thing...
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