Jump to content

habsguy26

Blogger
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    432

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    1

 Content Type 

Blog Entries posted by habsguy26

  1. habsguy26
    Hi there folks. The dog days of summer are finally winding down, and I hope you all enjoyed your summer as much as I did. But, with the NHL season looming, the leaves on the trees will soon fade to brown and the lights in the arenas will turn on and our favourite superstars will hit the ice once again. The Montreal Canadiens enjoyed an offseason that could be be described as "transitional". We all knew Brian Gionta likely wouldn't be brought back and we'd have a new captain for this season, but the real surprise came when Gionta's apparent successor, Josh Gorges was traded to Buffalo a day after Gionta signed with the Sabres. Personally I am a Gorges fan as he gave his heart and soul to the Habs, but unfortunately the way Gorges plays, it tends to wear you down faster and it showed in the Eastern Final against the New York Rangers. Saying that, he will bring great leadership to the Sabres along with sturdy defensive capability and Sabres fans are going to love him.
    Who do I think will be named captain? P.K Subban is an easy choice but I think choosing him right now would put too much pressure on the young superstar. It would make sense though, and I feel like if that's the way it plays out then it would work out fine, but there is always that possibility that Subban could crumble under the microscope. Brendan Gallagher is also a name that I've been seeing pop up in articles about the vacant captaincy and I'd be fine with that choice. He is a tenacious forward who is his coach's favourite player and the opposing coach's most hated, He drives the net like a bat out of hell and doesn't back down from anything, all while being a smart and efficient player. Super friendly with an infectious smile off the ice, he'd be a perfect choice if it weren't for his mere 2 years of NHL experience. Then again. the Colorado Avalanche named Gabriel Landeskog captain just before his second year and they experience tremendous success last season. But to me the obvious choice is Andrei Markov. The long time Canadiens defenceman just signed a new deal this summer that will likely take him into retirement so it would make perfect sense. The offensive minded Markov will be playing full time with P.K Subban this season so it seems, so his offensive numbers should rise, especially if he his named captain considering he is often labeled as more of an "on-ice leader" as opposed to a "locker room guy". His shy demeanor may have had something to do with him turning down the offer to become captain in 2010, but general feeling is he would accept the offer this time around. There are other candidates like Max Pacioretty and Tomas Plekanec out there, but Markov or Subban would be my first two choices.
    2014 Draft Picks:
    26th overall: Nikita Scherbak, RW
    2015 Team: Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
    6-2 174lbs
    Projection: Top 6 forward
    Scherbak was expected to be picked in the top half of the draft but fell to the Habs at 26th. He was an outstanding offensive player in his first year with the Saskatoon Blades, leading the rookie scoring race by 19 points and at the same time leading a sub par Blades teams in points.

    73rd overall: Brett Lernout, D
    2015 Team: Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
    6-4, 205lbs
    Projection: 6-7 defenceman
    This is a player that the Canadiens have been needing to draft for a long time. A hulking defenceman who clears the crease, has a big shot, can hit and is just a nasty competitor who is difficult to play against. Trevor Timmins (Canadiens director of Amateur Scouting) felt so highly about this prospect that the Canadiens flipped two picks (3rd & 4th round) to the Arizona Coyotes for the pick (3rd round) used to select Lernout.
    125th overall: Nicholas Koberstein, D
    2015 team: Olds Grizzlys (AJHL)
    6-2 190lbs
    Projection: solid NHL defenceman
    Kobserstein won't be rushed to turn pro, that's for sure. The 18 year old defender will play this season with the Grizzlys before heading off to the NCAA's Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks in 2016.
    147th overall: Daniel Audette, C
    2015 team: Sherbrooke Phoenix (QMJHL)
    5-8, 168lbs
    Projection: depth/AHL forward
    At first glance, Audette is a very small centre with flashy offensive talent. Timmins felt that the organization could not overlook his talent despite his small stature or the team could miss out on another possible Brendan Gallagher-type prospect.
    177th overall: Hayden Hawkey, G
    2015 team: Omaha Lancers (USHL)
    6-1, 180 lbs
    Projection: solid NHL backup
    Hawkey was the USHL goaltender of the year and the first goalie in 12 years to have a sub 2.00 goals against average in the USHL. This was another selection with a five-year development plan. Timmins likes the fact that the young netminder was returning to the Omaha Lancers for another year at the junior level before heading to Providence College in 2015-16
    207th overall: Jake Evans, C
    2015 team: Notre Dame FIghting Irish
    6-3, 200lbs
    Projection: 4th line centre
    The last pick for the Canadiens at the draft, Evans hopes to hone his skills over the next four years at Notre Dame. Timmins believes this prospect will evolve into the type of player that teams need in order to win championships: character, determination, grit and difficult to play against.
    2014-2015 Roster:
    Additions: P.A Parenteau, Manny Malholtra, Tom Gilbert, Jiri Sekac
    Subtractions: Daniel Briere(COL), Brian Gionta(BUF), Josh Gorges(BUF), George Parros, Douglas Murray, Thomas Vanek(MIN), Devan Dubnyk, Ryan White(PHI), Francis Boullion
    LW C RW
    Max Pacioretty David Desharnais P.A Parenteau
    Alex Galchenyuk Tomas Plekanec Brendan Gallagher
    Brandon Prust Lars Eller Rene Bourque
    Michael Bournival Manny Malholtra Dale Weise
    Extras: Travis Moen
    LD RD
    P.K Subban Andrei Markov
    Alexei Emelin Tom Gilbert
    Nathan Beaulieu Mike Weaver
    Extras: Davis Drewiske, Jarrod Tinordi
    Starting Goalie: Carey Price
    Back Up Goalie: Peter Budaj
    3rd String: Dustin Tokarski
    Remember how I described the Habs' offseason as transitional? Well one look at the depth chart and you'll see why. Montreal will heavily rely on their young guns this season as studs Alex Galchenyuk and Brendan Gallagher should see jumps in their point categories this season as they look to accept more offensive burden. Rene Bourque was great in the playoffs, but if he doesn't contribute at the same pace then I'd expect a trade in order to fill the spot on the right side, or Bourque could be moved for a pick or a prospect to allow Jiri Sekac some NHL minutes. The former KHL winger was a highly sought after free agent this summer before he decided to sign with the Canadiens. Sekac is said to have NHL level talent with decent defensive ability and he will get a great chance to make the team through training camp, but I suspect he will be sent to Hamilton so he can adjust to North American style ice. Look for Sekac to be called up should there be an injury or trade. I like the addition of P.A Parenteau too, as he will be looking to bounce back from an injury plagued season. Manny Malholtra was brought in to bring some character and grit to the 4th line, but Malholtra's value really shines through at the faceoff cirlce as he is one of the NHL's best in that category.
    The departure of Josh Gorges opens up some room on the left side, meaning Alexei Emelin can return to his natural position. Canadiens will need to rely on young Nathan Beaulieu to play consistently during the season, something he did in the playoffs. Beaulieu's growth between the playoffs and this season may really relieve the burn of the Gorges trade. Also look for him to play some power play time with Tom Gilbert on the 2nd defence pairing. Gilbert had a rebound season in Florida last year after jumping from Edmonton to Minnesota. With Gilbert, the Habs get someone who can play the right side of the ice naturally and play on the 2nd powerplay pairing (last season it was Emelin-Boullion- ouch). Right now, I am uncertain about Gilbert because he's been shaky in the past and we don't really have anyone else who can come up right now and play those minutes besides Beaulieu, who is a rookie.
    It's never really a problem when you have 3 good goalies. If it is, then it's a really good problem to have. Carey Price is the undisputed starter of this team and is a superstar in his own right. Peter Budaj was extremely helpful when called upon, and Dustin Tokarski was lights out in the playoffs after Price went down. I think we will see Tokarski start with the Hamilton Bulldogs this year but I don't think the Canadiens would be hesitant to trade/waive Budaj if he was outplayed in training camp.
    Awards & Highlights:
    Carey Price: Olympic Gold Medalist, named best Goaltender of Tournament by IIHF
    P.K Subban, Olympic Gold Medalist, signed 8 year $72m contract in August 2014
    Tomas Plekanec: Named captain of Czech Men's Olympic Ice Hockey team
    Max Pacioretty: Named to USA Men's Olympic Ice Hockey team
    Peter Budaj: Named to Slovenia Men's Olympic Ice Hockey team
    Acquired Mike Weaver from Florida Panthers
    Acquired Dale Weise from Vancouver Canucks
    Acquired Thomas Vanek from New York Islanders
    Projection: I'm horrible at predicting the standings, but I'll give it a shot anyway. I think the Canadiens will finish 2nd in the Atlantic division this year under the Bruins and ahead of the Toronto Maple Leafs
    Until next time,
    Habsguy26
  2. habsguy26
    Hello folks. I wanted to post this today before tonight's Eastern Conference Game 5 showdown between the Habs and the Rangers, because regardless of tonight's final score, whether the Habs are eliminated, or whether they live to fight another day, there is one, shining, bright light that we've seen emerge over the past year or so, and that is our goaltending is looking stellar, and the future is now. Carey Price is only 27 years old, is obviously a top 5 goalie in the league, signed to a long term deal, has won 2 gold medals (and a Calder Cup, for what it's worth) and he may be back for the Stanley Cup final if the Canadiens make it there.
    But we already know everything about Carey Price and we can't change that he's injured. But, like I said earlier, the future looks bright for the young goalies within the Canadiens organization (the addition of goaltending coach Stephan Waite last off season was huge for us too). Dustin Tokarski is in the spot light right now, looking phenomenal in his brief NHL post season career. My earliest memories of Dustin Tokarski are his incredible, super-human like saves in the 2009 IIHF World Juniors, leading Team Canada to it's fifth consecutive gold medal. Although Tokarski wasn't statistically great in the tournament, it's the wins that really matter when it comes down to it. A year prior to his gold medal win, Tokarski led the WHL's Spokane Chiefs to the Memorial Cup championship, including a 53 save game win against the Kitchener Rangers, earning him the tournament's best goaltender award. You may remember the 2008 Memorial cup celebration, because the Spokane Chiefs infamously broke the championship trophy during the after party on the ice.
    But Tokarski isn't the only young goaltender in Montreal with elite potential. Zachary Fucale was drafted by the Habs in last year's draft in the 2nd round. Fucale also played for Team Canada in this past year's World Junior's, but unfortunately the team wasn't as successful as the 2009 version. Although his international play hasn't blossomed fully, Fucale is a championship goaltender. Along with highly regarded team mates Nathan Mackinnion and Johnathan Drouin, Fucale back stopped the Halifax Mooseheads to the 2013 Memorial cup title, downing Seth Jones' Portland Winterhawks.
    I am fairly certain that Tokarski, who will likely be named the starter for tonight's game 5, will be able to help his team win. He has been great so far and I am confident in his ability, but I wish he'd stay in his crease a little more. I love the fact he plays aggressively in his crease, but his puck handling skills could improve.
    I'm not gonna talk about the Prust hit. It was dirty hit. Brandon Prust is not a dirty player. I'm leaving it at that.
    The Habs look like they are really exhausted. The Rangers are really just blowing our defencemen and there's nothing we can really do to stop them besides playing a better neutral zone trap. I'm not suggesting the infamous 1-3-1 strategy by any means, but coach Michel Therrien better have a plan to contain these speedy forwards or the Habs are toast. Tokarski will be great but you can't stop them all unless you have a little bit of help. The Habs' defence just haven't been getting it done. P.K Subban in particular, has looked slow on the ice and frustrated by the Ranger's penalty kill. He'll need to play with more speed (easier said than done, I know) and a little bit more passive and the Habs will win games.
    The Habs forwards on the other hand really need to hit the Ranger's defenceman and wear them down. That's all they can do. The Ranger's have been running the goalies, so all I can suggest is that they run into Henrik Lundqvist's crease and try to bang some pucks past the line. Also. Lundqvist likes to play deep in his net so if they can shoot on his short side they might be able to beat him.
    Here's what I would expect the Hab's lineup to look like tonight:
    Forwards
    Pacioretty-Desharnais-Gallagher
    Gionta-Plekanec-Galchenyuk
    Bourque-Eller-Briere
    Weise-White-Vanek
    Defence
    Subban-Gorges
    Markov-Emelin
    Boullion-Weaver
    Goalies
    Tokarski
    Budaj
    Moen/Bournival//Murray/Parros//Beaulieu
    Price (INJ)
    Prust (SUS)
    Thomas Vanek has played great for the Canadiens in the past since he was picked up at the Trade Deadline, but not as of late. He has looked unmotivated out there and reminds me of Alex Kovalev. A player with tremendous talent but lacks the effort. So I've been calling him "Alexei" lately and it's looking like it's going to stick until he signs with Minnesota. He looked great on the first line with DD and Patches but he's just not putting any effort in. He could also be injured, who knows with the secrecy of the NHL during the playoffs so I wouldn't be surprised if it was announced after the Habs are eventually eliminated (or after they win the cup ). So for some reason, during all of this, Therrien still plays Vanek on the power play, in over time of game 4. Did I mention the Rangers have killed off almost 30 straight power plays during these play offs, which is incredible. Vanek needs to be taken off the power play, and here's what I think it should look like:
    1
    Pacioretty-Desharnais-Galchenyuk
    2
    Weise-Briere-Gallagher
    Subban-Markov/Boullion
    The first unit has the most skilled players on the team, to score goals. Desharnais is an electric skater and uses his skating to open up passing lanes. He needs to be out there. Pacioretty has a great shot, has chemistry with Desharnais, and is the biggest forward in the top 6. Galchenyuk is a beast plain and simple.
    Second unit, I put Dale Weise out there because he's been one of the unsung heroes of the play offs (along with Mike Weaver) and deserves a shot. You could park him right in front of King Henrik, which is usually Gallagher's job, but Weise is much bigger. Briere is of course clutch in the play offs so I want him out there and he's good on face offs. Gallagher's out there because he drives the crease and has a decent shot and great speed.
    Subban stays out there most of the time. He has to stay at the point though, not much moving around and just strictly at the blue line, right in the centre of the ice. Have Markov rotate with Boullion because Gorges, Emelin and Weaver have to stay fresh at all times no matter what because they are out best defensively.
    Anyways guys now I'm just blabbing, I'm done playing arm-chair coach for now. I'll hopefully be back soon for another blog.
    Go Habs Go
    Allan
  3. habsguy26

    Team Canada 2018

    By habsguy26,

    First of all, congratulations to the 2014 Men's Canadian Olympic Hockey Team. Go Canada Go! I'll be cheering from home!
    Also, in case you missed it, here are the 25 members of the team, arranged by where I think they'll be playing.
    Forwards
    Kunitz-Crosby-Stamkos
    Perry-Getzlaf-Tavares
    Sharp-Toews-Duchene
    Benn-Bergeron-Nash
    Carter/Marleau
    Defence
    Weber-Keith
    Doughty-Pietrangelo
    Bouweester-Subban
    Hamhuis/Vlasic
    Goalies
    Luongo (will start 1st game)
    Price
    Smith
    As for my evaluation of this team, I expect nothing less of gold in Sochi. I trust that Steve Yzerman and Mike Babcock, and all of Hockey Canada made the right choices and all I can do as a die hard fan of Canadian hockey is cheer them on. Not sit here and criticize every move made. Management and the coaching staff know what they're doing (re 2010), so don't doubt Team Canada.
    Now, moving on. Today, Hockey Canada announced their 25 man roster for the upcoming Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. With very close attention being paid to the members of this squad, I've decided to look a bit further. The 2018 Winter Olympic Games are scheduled to take place in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Canada's quest for gold at the 2018 games is set to begin in a few weeks, Sunday, February 23rd. Immediately after this year's gold medal game. Yup.
    While, my squad for the 2018 games is a complete shot in the dark and is just for fun, the guys I picked are based off of who I think will be the best players come February 2018. Enjoy!
    Forwards (in no particular order)
    Jonathan Drouin
    Sidney Crosby
    Steven Stamkos
    Jamie Benn
    Jonathon Toews
    Connor McDavid
    Nathan MacKinnon
    Sean Couturier
    Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
    Johnathan Tavares
    Taylor Hall
    Jordan Eberle
    Tyler Seguin
    James Neal
    Defencemen (in no particular order)
    Kris Letang
    Drew Doughty
    Alex Pietrangelo
    P.K Subban
    Shea Weber
    Aaron Ekblad
    Duncan Keith
    Dougie Hamilton
    Goalies (not in particular order)
    Carey Price
    Jonathan Bernier
    Jake Allen
    Honorable Mentions (a lot of them)
    Malcom Subban, Braden Holtby, Claude Giroux, Corey Perry, Matt Duchene, Ryan Getzlaf, Tyler Benson, Sean Day, Mark Visentien, Logan Couture, Patrice Bergeron, Brendan Gallagher, Zachary Fucale, Steve Mason, Marc-Eduard Vlasic, Cam Ward, Marc-Andre Fluery, Nazem Kadri, Morgan Rielly, Brent Seabrook, Milan Lucic, Brent Burns, Chris Chelios, Mike Green, Dion Phaneuf, Jeff Carter, Mike Richards, Rick Nash, Eric Staal, Jordan Staal, Mark Staal, Cody Hodgson, Luke Schenn, Braydon Schenn, Jared Cowen, Tyler Myers, Evander Kane, Ryan Murray, Mathew Dumba, Travis Hamonic, Mark Schiefele, Mike Smith, and Patrick Sharp
    Did I miss anyone? Do you think you can come up with a better team! Let me know and leave a comment!
    Thanks for reading and stay classy.
    Habsguy26
  4. habsguy26
    Although only 6 players from The Montreal Canadiens prospect pool were selected to attend their respective countries' training camps for the upcoming World Juniors set to take place in Malmo, Sweden, they are sure fire bets to not only make their squads, but all 6 are almost sure to play huge roles.
    Team Canada:
    F Charles Hudon
    Drafted 122nd overall by MTL in 2012
    Hudon appears to be one of the steals of the 2012 NHL draft. He made Team Canada last year, but missed the whole tournament due to a back injury. Hudon has always been criticized for his skating as he lacks the speed you would like to see in an undersized winger. But, he actually made improvements in his skating over the past season but he still lacks the separation speed and it was noticeable. However, Hudon compensates his slow feet by using his elite hockey sense, slippery hands and an NHL ready wrist shot. For a smaller player, Hudon was exceptional at gaining body position against larger opponents allowing him to protect the puck and create magic with his puck skills. As a bonus, Montreal’s Hudon is a valuable player on the defensive side of the puck as well and that should assure him a good opportunity in the NHL some day, and a top 9 role on Team Canada.
    G Zachary Fucale
    Drafted 36th overall by MTL in 2013
    Fucale may be the best World Junior goalie to lace up for Team Canada since Montreal's very own Carey Price. While a lot of attention has been paid attention to the team in front of him last year, Fucale put together a solid season that showed he was an integral part of the Halifax Mooseheads success. In 55 games, he posted a 45-5-2 record. He also finished with a 0.909 save percentage, 2.35 goals against average and two shutouts. In the playoffs he compiled 16 wins and one loss as he backstopped the Mooseheads to the President Cup. The Mooseheads (also guided by top picks Nathan Mackinnon and Jonathan Drouin) went on to defeat Seth Jone's Portland Winterhawks in the Memorial Cup, where Fucale was exceptional. I have no doubt in my mind that Fucale will be able to lead Team Canada to a gold medal this year and maybe next year, too. He could be the best goalie in the tournament.
    Team Sweden:
    F Sebastian Collberg
    Drafted 33rd overall by MTL in 2012
    Sebastian Collberg is an electric skater and a mesmerizing stick-handler. The 19-year-old boasts a quick and deadly accurate wrist shot, though he has yet to consistently display his offensive skills playing in Sweden’s top league. A little undersized, Collberg will spend at least another season or two either in Sweden or in North American minor leagues, bulking up to prepare for the rigors of playing in the NHL. Collberg was a big part of Sweden's silver medal team last year, as he scored 4 goals and 6 points in 6 games. Also, the super swede could turn out to be a shootout specialist, which could be crucial to Sweden's success on home ice this year.
    F Jacob De la Rose
    Drafted 34th overall by MTL in 2013
    With Jacob De la Rose you know what you are getting – a two-way forward with great versatility. De la Rose is a great skater with who employs good physicality but his offensive ceiling is relatively low. Look for De la Rose to develop into a player a coach relies on for tough defensive minutes and become a real quality third line centre. De la Rose posted a modest six goals and 12 points in 38 games for Leksand last year. Although his offensive capabilities are considered limited, De la Rose is among those up for the captaincy of Team Sweden.
    Team Slovakia:
    F Martin Reway (pronounced Re-vaie)
    Drafted 116th overall by MTL in 2013
    Reway is a diminutive yet dazzling offensive force with the QMJHL's Gatineau Olympiques who's play has been soaring in his 2nd season in North America. Don't believe me? Take a look for yourself.

    Here is what The Scouting Report has to say about Reway: "Nobody is quite sure what to make of Martin Reway as the undersized Slovak winger certainly is not lacking talent... Can be a dynamic talent with the ability to keep the D honest as a result of his ability to burn them... Questions about his desire and passion are significant concerns heading into the draft and could see him fall into the later rounds."
    Team Finland:
    F Artturi Lehkonen
    Drafted 55th overall by MTL in 2013
    And finally we have Artturi Lehkonen. Lehkonen is a diminutive but speedy winger with great hockey vision. Lehkonen has superb acceleration speed and very good wrist shot. Despite lacking the size he uses his body well and is not afraid of going into tight situations.He had an impressive year heading into the draft with 30 points in 45 games playing against men in Finland. Size will always be an issue but the talent is certainly there. In last year's WJC, Lehkonen played along side top pick Alexsander Barkov for Finland and saw success, of which he will try to repeat this season.
    There you have it folks. I will end this blog with one note on Team USA though; why the heck was the monster we drafted with our first pick, 6'5" Michael Mccarron not even invited to camp?? McCarron is off to a slow start to his OHL career with just 12 points in 30 games. While his size and physical play are not in question, his offensive game remains a work in progress. His physicality could have been an edge for Team USA.
    Happy hockey,
    Habsguy26
  5. habsguy26
    Habs sign veteran Doug Murray to 1 year/$1.5m deal
    I like this signing by Bergevin. Doug Murray brings a physical edge to Montreal's blue line, and with Alexei Emelin sidelined until mid-November, Murray will be counted on to play minutes against the opposing teams grinder lines that forecheck hard, something Murray has grown accustomed to while playing with the San Jose Sharks and Pittsburgh Penguins. Although Murray proved last season that he no longer has the foot speed to play with the game's elite, he should be a solid third line pairing defender to play along side Montreal's young rookie blueliners this season. This is a scouting report from an NHL scout, taken directly out of Eric Engel's latest blog:
    Here is how I expect to see the Hab's d-corps on opening night. *Emelin injured until mid-November*
    Subban-Gorges
    Markov-Diaz
    Murray-Boullion/Tinordi/Beaulieu
    Why Carey Price can rebound
    I'll be the first to admit, the Canadiens' young goaltender had a horrid season last year, by his standards anyway. The now 26 year old tender finished last season with a 2.59 GAA and a mere .905 sv%. But, all signs point to him being the player everyone knows he can be in 2014.
    Firstly, the addition of new goalie coach Stephene Waite is huge. Waite previously worked in the Blackhawks organization (I think I'm starting to see a trend...), and he took two previously unheard of goalies, Antti Niemi and Corey Crawford, and turned them into superstars. Infact, not just superstars, but turned them into Stanley Cup winners. I think everyone can agree that if he can do that to Niemi and Crawford, he shouldn't have a problem coaching Price into his full potential.
    Secondly, the opportunity to start for Team (freaking) Canada is knocking at Carey's front door. Price has proved himself at the international level once before, winning a gold medal at the 2006 World Junior Championships with Team Canada. He has also shown he is a very poised goalie who seems naturally calm during big game moments, which is one of the reasons why I believe Price will enter the Sochi Olympics as the starter.
    The third and final reason why Carey Price will rebound this year is because he is starting to realize he can be replaced. Carey loves the city of Montreal, and more importantly loves playing there, as his recent 6 year deal proves evident. I'm sure Price was questioning the scouting team's choice to select Halifax goalie Zach Fucale, who many believe has elite goalie potential, early in the 2013 NHL draft this year. I wonder if Price might think that the organization is perhaps seeking a replacement for down the line? Who knows, but, it should be just another motive to have an awesome 2014, and hopefully a kickstart to a Hall of Fame career.
    Why Montreal should offer sheet Nazim Kadri
    I actually came across this topic online, and it made some gears in my head start to crank.
    I mean, why wouldn't we?
    Why wouldn't we offer sheet an up-and-coming centre, someone that can slot behind Alex Galchenyuk for years to come, for a price that Toronto couldn't afford?
    Kadri has expressed in recent days that he is seeking a long term, $5m deal from Toronto. Toronto however, would like to make a ''bridge deal'' ala P.K Subban. A deal that would pay Kadri 2-3 million bucks for 2 years.
    Firstly, before Leaf fans get on my case, let me express that I don't think Bergevin would dream of offer-sheeting Kadri, or anyone for that matter, considering reigning Norris trophy winner P.K Subban is a restricted free agent next summer. So, I'm sure a team would give Bergevin a taste of his own medicine, and sent an offer-seet into Subban. Hockey politics.
    But really, when an opportunity comes knocking to one, not only boost your squad, and two, screw with a division rival, especially the Toronto Maple Leafs, why the heck not? Of course, if this were to happen (which it won't, I can't express that enough) there would have to be a trade or two, in order to clear some roster space and free up a littler bit of cap room. It would be ideal for Montreal in this situation to trade either David Desharnais, who would fetch a significant return, most likely a first round draft choice and a prospect, or someone along the lines of Travis Moen or Ryan White, guys who have been taking way too many penalites lately.
    Well that's all I have for today. Hopefully I can start blogging some more soon.Thanks for reading.
    Cheers,
    Allan
  6. habsguy26
    Keep an eye out for Trade Wars II: Habsguy26 vs HF101. First blog will be posted January 2013. HF and I are really looking forward to v2 of Trade Wars, as we had so much fun last year doing it. If you're new to the site, click on the "Blogs" tab at the top (underneath the team logos) and click "Trade Wars"!
  7. habsguy26
    Prepare yourself, this is going to be a very long blog. I thought about splitting it into two parts, but I'm not sure when I will be logging on again. Anyways, hope you enjoy.
    2013 NHL Entry Draft:
    25th overall pick: Michael McCarron
    2014 Team: London Knights(OHL)
    Height:6'5"
    228lbs
    59-16-21(182 PIM's)
    I cannot say I was very impressed by this pick when it was announced. With Valentin Zykov, Morgan Klimchuk and Ryan Hartman on the board, I envisioned a selection of a player that had a much higher offensive ceiling. While McCarron obviously brings a physical aspect to the game that most can't match, will he be bringing the puck skills to make himself a Top-6 player?
    McCarron's scoring in lower levels of hockey doesn't inspire much confidence; one can hope he is a late developer in this area, but precedent for such players is not overly strong. This isn't to say it's impossible, and analysis suggests his upside is better than I originally expected, but his scoring numbers are underwhelming so far. There is the probability he will be able to mix his physical brand of hockey into the game to help him create offensive opportunities most can't, but the ability to finish on a chance will need to be there.
    We should not discount Timmins is ahead of the curve though. He's spotted talent that most people completely ignored or underrated, to the great benefit of the Canadiens. Some of his best work has gone unappreciated before it was lost (see Ryan McDonagh, Mark Streit, Mikhail Grabovski) so for now, we will see what McCarron does. He has made the choice to play for the Hunter Brothers in London rather than playing for Western Michigan University this upcoming season, which won't hurt his game a bit. My preference would be to the Knights due to the solid reputation of the Hunters in developing NHL-quality prospects.
    Personal Projection: He will start auditioning for a NHL spot in 2016 at the earliest.
    34th overall pick: Jacob De La Rose
    2014 Team: Leksands IF (Allsvenskan)
    Height: 6'2"
    190lbs
    38-6-6 (31PIM)
    I'll be quite honest I felt a lot better about the selection of De La Rose than I did of McCarron. I still had Valentin Zykov on the board ahead of him, but De La Rose does bring his own skill set to the table.
    De La Rose has already displayed an ability to match against professionals thanks to his season in the secondary Swedish professional league, the Allsvenskan, this past year. Given that he both managed to produce in a men's league as a 17-year-old while playing a responsible two-way game and delivering a physical impact, it speaks very well to his pro prospects.
    The concern of course is De La Rose's scoring impact. There isn't a ton of praise for him as being either creative or having a particularly accurate shot; there is a compliment for power in it, but no scouting group will come out and say he's a decent finisher. Granted he has just turned 18 and was playing against men this past season, his career numbers in Swedish hockey do not show much of a scoring touch, especially compared to say Sebastian Collberg. If he puts in a ton of work, he could make his offensive tools useful enough to be a complementary winger, but I imagine he would need to benefit from a creative centre to really generate any solid offensive numbers.
    De La Rose I think projects well for a Top-9 role, but he would really have to max out his tools to warrant as a full-time Top-6 skater.
    Personal Projection: Starts auditioning for a roster spot in 2016.
    36th overall pick: Zachary Fucale
    2014 Team: Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
    Height: 6'
    181lbs
    55-45-8 GAA 2.35, Save % .909
    Fucale was exactly the name I was hoping to get called at this stage in the Draft. Fucale has a pretty good championship pedigree from this past season with a QMJHL and Memorial Cup Championship on his resume, but he also played on what was likely the best team in the whole CHL. He had to be good enough to help the Halifax Mooseheads win of course, but junior championship success has not folded well into NHL success. From 1998 to 2008, the only active NHL goalies who can be credited with a championship in the QMJHL, OHL or WHL are Roberto Luongo (2 titles), Michal Neuvirth (1) and Jonathan Bernier (QMJHL title, Memorial Cup Championship). Montreal's No. 1 goaltender in Hamilton, Dustin Tokarski, also has a WHL championship and a Memorial Cup win, but he has yet to prove he is NHL material. It should be noted Michal Neuvirth's championship pedigree is further enhanced by twin AHL Championships and an AHL Playoff MVP award. Of the five goaltenders who backstopped Canada's incredible run of five gold medals from 2005 to 2009, only Carey Price is considered a true quality starter among them. Overall, there is not a lot of evidence of championship experience from the junior level transitioning to the NHL.
    This is not to say Fucale can't be an exception to recent history given he won the QMJHL title in his draft year, which is not very common among goaltenders in the junior level. Typically junior teams stack an experienced goaltender to bring them the title, but Fucale got the job done, going 16-1 in the post-season and raising his regular season save percentage from .909 to .918 during the playoff run. He lived up to what his team needed him to do and arguably more.
    Fucale does have the compliments from the scouts of a sound mental game and solid maturity, which are pretty much demanded for any goalie who might think of playing under the bright lights of the Bell Centre. He has two more years left at the junior level to further hone his game and will likely have an opportunity to represent Canada at the World Junior Championships in 2014 or 2015. He also has the advantage of being able to develop further in the AHL without the pressure of having to be the saviour at 20, as was foisted upon Carey Price. However the thought remains, will he transition? Many of the favoured goalies in the NHL these days were unheralded picks, not top-ranked goaltenders in their draft year, and they have not had an overly strong record of success in the last decade.
    I think given the uncertainties surrounding goalies, a later pick could have been used for a goaltender such as Eric Comrie or Spencer Martin. Will they be better goaltenders? Impossible to say. This could be a very good pick but I would think this is a long-term project, and it will be a long time before we have a good idea of what Fucale is truly capable of. That is probably what bothers me most about the pick, even goalies taken very highly can take a long time to develop and the results can still be disappointing. We should see a solid test of Fucale next season though as the Halifax Mooseheads will see a heavy talent depletion as MacKinnon and Drouin move on to the NHL, and will put pressure on Fucale to possibly be the difference for Halifax. It will be an interesting challenge after a year of arguably relaxed play for Fucale.
    Personal Projection: Begins pushing for a roster spot in 2017.
    55th overall pick: Artturi Lehkonen
    2014 Team: KalPa (SM-Liiga)
    Height: 6'
    162lbs
    45-14-16 (12 PIM's)
    I cannot say I was particularly pleased with MTL waiting until 55th overall to select a prospect with a good potential for a Top-6 offensive ceiling, but Lekhonen may end up being their best move out of this draft.
    At 17, Artturi Lekhonen was one of the most productive young players in the Finnish SM-Liiga, the top professional league in the country. With 30 points in 45 games, Lekhonen bowed only to fellow draft-eligible Aleksander Barkov, the 2nd overall pick, Joel Armia from the 2011 Draft and 2012 selection Teuvo Teravainen for players under 20 in the men's league. Given that Lekhonen is only turning 18 on July 4th, his potential is very promising given his youth, and he may not even be finished growing yet either. He displays the instincts of a goal scorer, good vision, puckhandling and speed and that is never a bad thing to add to a team's system. The Canadiens still find themselves short of pure scoring in their farm system between Christian Thomas, Sebastian Collberg and Tim Bozon as the only players who seem to have projectable ceilings as goal scorers. Given that not all of these players will work out either, it is convenient to add another name to the list. Lekhonen also brings some International experience with him: he scored three goals and an assist in six games at the 2013 World Junior Championships, and would later score three goals and six assists to help Team Finland earn a Bronze at the World Under-18 Championships.
    Concerns, of course, rest on that frame and his health. At 163 pounds, it will obviously take some time for Lekhonen to add the muscle to his frame that will allow him to handle the potential grind of the NHL season. It is possible Lekhonen may not develop physically enough to handle the NHL game, and his frame will not be up to the rigors of it. There is also the consideration of the two concussions Lekhonen suffered playing this past season. While he does not appear to be suffering ongoing ill effects, brain injuries can always become an issue. He could theoretically never suffer another one, but it can raise questions about whether future concussions could quickly complicate or damage what could be a very promising career.
    Lekhonen was easily one of the most talented players available at this stage of the draft and as I so often argue, a team's drafting philosophy should always focus on Best Player Available, in my view this is the first time they did so in this draft.
    Personal Projection: Begins pushing for a roster spot in 2017.
    77th overall pick: Conner Crisp
    2014 Team: Erie Otters
    Height:6'4"
    225lbs
    62-23-24 (139 PIM's)
    This is the pick that still leaves me shaking my head. Connor Crisp was passed over in the 2012 Draft and scored less than 40 points, even on a weak junior team that is not what we call encouraging for being a scorer at the NHL level. Crisp can be argued to be a 'man amongst boys' in physical stature in the OHL but didn't seem to be able to employ that advantage to help his numbers.
    While Crisp did essentially miss the 2011-12 season due to injuries and that no doubt affected his development, one has to wonder what his ultimate upside is when Future Considerations, McKeen's and even the NHL's Central Scouting Bureau didn't seem to consider him worthy of being ranked.
    At this stage I feel this is a wasted pick, and Crisp will have to make a pretty dramatic jump in his production to gain any relevance as a prospect. Without a consensus of scouting data from other sources either, it is hard to gauge just how accurate HockeyProspect's scouting data on Crisp is as well. He reads as a fringe candidate for any serious work in pro hockey given the knocks on his skating and low numbers in his 18-year-old year in the OHL.
    Personal projection: Begins challenging for a roster spot in 2018.
    86th overall pick: Sven Andrighetto
    2014 Team: Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL)
    Height: 5'9"
    181lbs
    53-31-67 (45 PIM's)
    While the size isn't ideal for most, this is a much more reasonable selection in the risk/reward column in my view. Hockey Prospect seems to think the world of his offensive skills and he certainly has a production level that backs it up, especially doing better than two points per game in the QMJHL playoffs. He was 6th in the QMJHL in regular season scoring and 4th in playoff scoring. While obviously this does have a lot to do with his age and development compared to 17/18 year old prospects, if he had been drafted in 2011 this would read as excellent production from a player finishing his junior hockey career.
    There are concerns, of course. Why is it that despite his great production, Andrighetto went unranked? We have seen players posting exceptional overage years get ranked for draft consideration but Andrighetto seemed to go unnoticed by Future Considerations and McKeen's as well as the NHL Central Scouting Bureau. His size is not ideal either, but his skills package seems built to bypass the issues typically surrounding smaller players.
    Can't see him jumping on to the Canadiens roster right away, and since he has just turned 20, he is likely destined to be playing with the Hamilton Bulldogs as he adapts to pro-level hockey and works on adding more muscle. Not a player I was coveting, but his scoring and skills package does offer the promise of being a potential contributor at the pro level.
    Personal Projection: Begins challenging for a roster spot in 2016.
    116th overall pick: Martin Renway
    2014 Team: Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL)
    Height:5'10"
    174lbs
    47-22-28 (56 PIM's)
    The Canadiens go back to selecting 1st-time eligibles here, and Reway does have some appealing attributes. He displays high-end vision and top playmaking skills, and this was his transition year to the North American rink so he could show a notable improvement in 2013-14. His skating fits in well with his small frame, although like any smaller player he will likely have to get even faster to help his pro prospects along.
    What disturbs me is the notes that he seems to be unwilling and is perhaps even afraid of contact. Even small players need to be able to willing to take some kind of physical toll to play in the NHL, and if Reway will not show a willingness to get into the physical side of hockey, then I would severely doubt his pro prospects and deem him a long-term project as this is unlikely a stage of his game that will change overnight, if it can change at all. I suspect his unwillingness to deal in contact may have been why he was left unranked by other services.
    Personal Projection: Begins challenging for a roster spot in 2018.
    176th overall pick: Jérémy Grégoire
    2014 Team: Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL)
    Height:6'
    190lbs
    62-19-13 (100 PIM's)
    Grégoire was taken right at the back of the draft and while his rankings would argue he fell, falling at this point any draft year can be a little irrelevant given the probability of such a player reaching the NHL. While there are good compliments to his defensive and physical game, it was hard to get many remarks about his puck skills and the talk on his skating abilities was divided, but mostly in the negative which never bodes well for an NHL player's prospects.
    It is hard to really argue against a 6th-round selection except to say he is not likely to make the NHL, and it is the longshot area of the draft. His display of defensive acumen is a good sign that he has a skill set he could develop that would make him a useful player at higher levels, but there will be a lot of work between now and that time before it can happen, with some breaks along the way as well. He will need to improve his skating and likely his puck skills to fold into further defensive improvements to make the professional levels of hockey.
    Personal Projection: Can start challenging for a roster spot in 2018.
    Free Agent Frenzy
    Additions: Daniel Briere(2 years, 8M) George Parros(Trade w/Florida)
    Subtractions: Michael Ryder(NJD), Colby Armstrong(FA), Jeff Halpern(FA), Petteri Nokelainen(FA), Tomas Kaberle(FA), Yannick Weber(VAN)
    Wow, looking at that list, we lost 3 players that played a big role in last seasons run. Ryder was the leading goal scorer while Armstrong and Halpern played key roles on the 4th line. They will be replaced by Daniel Briere and George Parros respectively. Also look out for some rookies to emerge from Hamilton, like Michael Bournival and Christian Thomas.
    Starting with Briere, I'm not sure if he can replace the goal scoring that Ryder gave us. He will definitely be a positive presence in the locker room, and should add 40 or so points, which isn't great, but he will be a leader in the room and that's what sold him to Bergevein.
    Parros is a player I've called out specifically () that I would want Montreal to acquire. He is among the NHL's toughest heavyweights, no matter what Georges Laraque says (guy was as useless as a white crayon) and will be able to handle rivals like Milan Lucic, David Clarkson and Jordan Tootoo, guys who may have been out of Brandon Prust's weight class.
    Projected Line-Up(As of July 25th 2013)
    LW C RW
    Max Pacioretty Tomas Plekanec Daniel Briere
    Brian Gionta David Desharnais Alex Galchenyuk
    Brandon Prust Lars Eller Brendan Gallagher
    Travis Moen Ryan White George Parros
    LD RD
    P.K Subban Josh Gorges
    Raphael Diaz Andrei Markov
    Alexei Emelin(INJ) Francis Boullion/Jarred Tinordi/Nathan Beaulieu
    Starting Goalie
    Carey Price
    Back Up Goalie
    Peter Budaj
    Honours and Awards
    P.K Subban: 2013 NHL 1st team all star, 2013 Norris Trophy winner, Team Canada Olympic Orientation Camp invitee
    Brendan Gallagher: 2013 NHL All Rookie all star, 2013 Calder Trophy finalist
    Carey Price: Team Canada Olympic Orientation Camp invitee
    That's all folks. Hope you enjoyed. Sorry for the long blog, wanted to split it up into two parts but I wasn't sure when I'd be able to log on again.
    Happy Hockey,
    Allan.
  8. habsguy26
    Draft Day. June 30th, Newark, New Jersey. Marc Bergevin and his super side-kick Trevor Timmins (pictured with 2012 draft pick and WJC standout Charles Hudon) will wake up with one goal in mind: supplementing one of the NHL's deepest prospect pools. with a late first rounder (25th overall, to be exact) and three 2nd round picks in a very deep draft (the best in a decade), something has to give.
    June 30th will be a busy day for all 30 organizations, from Colorado to Chicago, all looking to acquire top prospects. Who will go number 1? Seth Jones? Nathan Mackinnion? Jonathon Drouin? I don't really care. All I really care about is who goes #25 to Montreal.
    Don't get me wrong, I love the draft. It is my favourite day of the year. Although I am particularly interested in who is selected by Montreal more than I am the others.
    Today I will be bringing you a list of 5 prospects the Habs would love to select.
    1) Anthony Mantha
    69-50-39-89
    Mantha is a 6'4", 201 lb power forward who has charged up most draft boards this year due to his QMJHL-leading 50 goals. Mantha's best asset is likely his elite skating, but his shot isn't far behind. Despite his stature, Mantha isn't a prototypical power forward in that he generates a large percentage of his offense from outside the hash marks. He can be a physical presence, but he doesn't need to be to succeed. He can snipe from just about anywhere on the ice, and he's not afraid to shoot, leading the Q this year in shots, with 323, or 4.8 per game. It would be one thing to see a player jump from 22 to 50 goals because of a high shooting percentage, but the development of his overall game mixed with his tendency to choose shot over pass leads me to believe that he can be a dominant scorer in the NHL for years to come. I don't see him being available at #25, so it is likely that Montreal would have to trade up a few selections to get this man-child.
    2) Ryan Hartman
    56-23-37-60
    A scrappy player, Hartman can put pucks in the net and will drop the gloves with any body. He is exactly the player Montreal needs and you can bet that if he is available at 25 the Habs will select him.
    3) Kerby Rychel
    68-40-47-87
    Rychel is a 6'1", 205 lb winger whose best attributes are his puck control, his grit, and his shot. He's a hard worker who will go to the corners, drive the net, and pot a lot of goals from close in. His wrist shot, however, also allows him to score from mid-range when given the chance. His biggest weaknesses are likely his skating and his lack of creativity. Scouts differ on exactly how much of both a possession-driver and a goal-scorer in the NHL he can be, but the more popular opinion seems to be that he lacks the upside to be a top-6 forward. He is an imposing figure, often appearing even bigger than his frame, which will make him an appealing pick for some teams.
    4) Valentin Zykov
    67-40-35-75
    Zykov is a Russian-born power forward - measuring 6'1", 215 lbs - who won rookie of the year honours in the QMJHL this past season. Although not the tallest player, has a large body and uses it effectively to drive to the net, with a goal scorer's instinct. He also possesses a very quick release, which has fooled Q goalies all year long. Scouts deviate on how good of a skater he is, with some praising his lateral quickness and ability to go east-west, and some saying that his hunched-over style means that his top level quickness and first few strides aren't as fast as they should be for a player of his talent level, and that if he doesn't adjust that could hold him back from being a top-6 forward at the NHL level. Nobody will question Zykov's puck handling or ability to take on a defender 1-on-1 however, as he does a great job shielding the puck with his body and can muscle past defenders.
    5) Samuel Morin
    46-4-12-16
    He stands at 6'6", 205 lbs, and uses that size to his advantage, both in terms of a physical presence and in terms of long reach to break up plays. He is a dominant defensive defenseman whose greatest advantage, besides his size, is his fluid skating ability, something which can set him apart from other big men at the highest level. Morin came into the year as a potential mid-round selection, but has charged up the rankings thanks to a strong showing at the U-18s with Canada - winning a gold medal - and a solid regular season in which he doubled his points, but most of all, an incredible playoff in which he tied for second in team scoring with seven points in six games. Many scouts believe there is untapped offensive potential here, and at that size, Morin could become something special.
    Honourable Mentions: Adam Erne, Jordan Subban
    So there we have it folks. I certainly believe that Montreal will leave the Prudential Centre this Sunday with one, or maybe two of these prospects. I would be a very happy camper if we got any one off of this list. But for now, we can only speculate.
    The cheque is in the mail, and I'm out of here. See you Sunday.
    Habsguy26.
  9. habsguy26
    Besides from having one of the most handsome GM's in the league (that title belongs to Jay Feaster), The Montreal Canadiens are in a very good position right now, 2 days after being embarrassed, albeit by a very good Ottawa Senators team, Marc Bergevin will likely be announced as 1 of the 3 candidates for NHL GM of the Year.
    After all, he has turned around this franchise. This time last year, the future of the Canadiens looked almost grim. They were fresh off finishing 15th in the East, and uncertainty was not uncommon.
    Bergevin has had a little help from his friends, Rick Dudley, Michel Therrien and co., plus some stable leadership with the return of captain Brian Gionta, Andrei Markov, and off season additions Frankie Boullion and Brandon Prust.
    P.K Subban put up stellar numbers, has drastically changed his attitude while gaining trust from his team mates, and as of now an official candidate for the Norris Trophy, which most say he has a very good chance of winning.
    Before his mid-April slump, Carey Price was back to playing Vezina calibre hockey this year. He was almost super human for most of the season, quietly putting up pretty decent numbers.
    Add an influx of young talent, Brendan Gallagher, who is an official candidate for the Calder Trophy (a whole blog in itself) and budding superstar Alex Galchenyuk, and you've got a pretty good hockey team.
    Did the Canadiens over-achieve this year? Yes. Majorly. I have a hard time believing this team, the one who a year ago, just narrowly missing a shot at the #1 overall pick, finished first in a stacked (ya, I said it) North East division. Do I believe they can do it on a consistent basis the next 3 years? No. But I hope they can. The emergence of the Sens and the Leafs, and the heavyweight of the North East, the Bruins, will only be a hurdle for them, Give this team time, and I believe they will be a Stanley Cup winner. Heck, I will even give a year. 2016. 2016 will be the year the Habs will win the Stanley Cup. I'm going on record.
    Happy Hockey,
    Habsguy26
  10. habsguy26
    This is P.K Subban's team. Mind you, in 3, maybe even a year or two from now, Alex Galchenyuk will have something to say about that.
    Don't get me wrong. The Habs have had many key contributors to their magical season. A team that was supposed to finish dead last (or somewhere close) and have a lottery pick is at this current moment leading the North East division, a throne the Bruins or Senators were supposed to battle over this season. They are a lock for the play offs and sit at 55 points, only 3 behind a Crosby-less Pittsburgh Penguins.
    After all, Michael Ryder has played in 18 games since being reacquired by Montreal from Dallas, and has been phenomenal. Brendan Gallagher is making a strong case for Rookie Of The Year, Carey Price is starting to get into the Vezina conversation, Brandon Prust has brought a much needed proverbial back bone, Tomas Plekanec is one of the best two way players in the league, Rene Bourque was playing great before going down with a concussion, Alexei Emelin is emerging, Lars Eller has stepped up his game, the captain, Brain Gionta, is in the building and playing well, Josh Gorges is, well, a friggin' brick wall. Oh, and the presence and offense from Andrei Markov has helped, too.
    It's almost like nothing can go wrong for Marc Bergevin, Michel Therrien and company (knock on wood).
    P.K Subban though, is only scratching the surface of his potential. Last year, the cocky, arrogant blueliner had 36 points in 81 games. Fast forward to today. 32 games played, 32 points. That's tops among all NHL blueliners this season. 10 of those points are goals, also tops among defensemen. He is also sitting at the plus/minus of +13. Not too shabby.
    It is apparent that Subban, who is still only 23 years old, has been rehabed by Therrien and his coaching staff. His plays are safer, and when he does take chances and plays aggressively, he makes sure he is right back to get into perfect defensive position. His play this season has been, dare I say it, almost flawless. I simply cannot point out 1 thing he has done wrong (knock on wood, again)
    If it matters, I also think Subban would be the #1 candidate for the next captain of the team, if and when Brian Gionta is done in Montreal.
    Need more proof Subban is a changed man forever? Look no further than 24CH, a documentary of this season. It is obvious Subban has matured and been humbled by his team mates. His play and his attitude this season has definitely helped him gained the respect of the team, the coaches, his peers, the media and most importantly, the fans (we are still working on Boston).

    "The Subbanator" is making his case to be the Norris Trophy winner, and he deserves it. When I watch him play, he reminds me of Paul Coffey.He chirps, he fights, he scores and he can skate. He moves the puck exceptionally. There is never a dull moment when Subban is on the ice. He reminds me why I love the game. It's no longer the "P.K Show". P.K is a team first player this season and beyond. We are truly witnessing the birth of a superstar. You could credit Therrien or Bergevin, but really, its Subban the one putting in the effort night in and night out.
    Subban for Coots is off the table. Sorry, Flyers' fans.
    #SubbanatorForNorris
    Happy Hockey,
    habsguy26
  11. habsguy26

    Mock Draft 2013

    By habsguy26,

    Well its that time of the year again.
    Teams are now determining whether they are buyers, in order to make a push for Lord Stanley's mug, or, whether they will be sellers, trying to unload as many assets as they can in order to make a push for a chance to draft the world's best young players. Today, I'll be looking to give you an update, as to what teams might select who. The order of selection is updated up to today's date, March 27th. Anyways, let's get to it! The first overall pick belongs to the Florida Panthers!
    With the 1st overall pick, The Florida Panthers are proud to select...
    from the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL, defenceman Seth Jones.
    Scouting Report: Big, strong defenseman has all tools to be a leader in the NHL
    With the 2nd overall pick, The Colorado Avalanche are proud to select...
    from the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL, left winger Jonathan Drouin.
    Scouting Report: Dynamic playmaker with speed, shiftiness and creativity; set team record for point-scoring streak
    With the 3rd overall pick, The Tampa Bay Lightning are proud select...
    from the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL, centre/winger Nathan MacKinnion.
    Scouting Report: Extremely skilled with elite skating ability and knack for making spectacular plays at top speed
    With the 4th overall pick, The Calgary Flames are proud to select...
    from the Sault Saint Marie Greyhounds of the OHL, defenceman Darnell Nurse.
    Scouting Report: Nephew of former Eagles QB Donovan McNabb is a natural athelete; skates well and can play physical game
    With the 5th overall pick, The Philadelphia Flyers are proud to select...
    from the London Knights of the OHL, defenceman Nikita Zadorov.
    Scouting Report: Pissed because they lost out on Nurse, Flyers take the 3rd best blueliner in the draft. Big and physical with developing offensive game
    With the 6th overall pick, The Edmonton Oilers are proud to select...
    from the Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL, defenceman Ryan Pulock.
    Scouting Report: Offensive-minded defender with great mobility; knows how to be the fourth offensive option, would make a great pairing with Justin Schultz
    With the 7th overall pick, The Buffalo Sabres are proud to select...
    from Brynas of the SEL, centre Elias Lindholm.
    Scouting Report: Great acceleration, good hands and effective in traffic; on-ice vision complements playmaking skills
    With the 8th overall pick, The Phoenix Coyotes are proud to select...
    from Chelyabinsk of the Russian Jr. League, left winger Valeri Nichushkin.
    Scouting Report: Big, strong two-way forward who is difficult to stop when driving the net and in 1-on-1 situations
    With the 9th overall pick, The New York Islanders are proud to select...
    from the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL, centre/winger Hunter Shinkaruk.
    Scouting Report: He might be the best give-and-go setup man in the draft; offers a great understanding of the game, would be great on a line with Tavares and Moulson.
    With the 10th overall pick, The Washington Capitals are proud to select...
    from TPS of SM-LIGA, defenceman Rasmus Ristolainen.
    Scouting Report: Solid skater who can carry or pass the puck out of danger; uses size in the defensive zone
    With the 11th overall pick, The Columbus Blue Jackets are proud to select...
    from Taapara of SM-LIGA, centre Alexsander Barkov.
    Scouting Report: Slips due his poor playoff, the Finnish forward is the first pick selected by first Finnish GM Jarmo Kekalainen. Barkov is a two-way center can set up scoring chances for teammates and has good knowledge of 'D' duties
    With the 12th overall pick, The Nashville Predators are proud to select...
    from the Ottawa 67's of the OHL, centre Sean Monahan.
    Scouting Report: A smart, playmaking center who gets the puck through traffic, and can be used in all situations
    With the 13th overall pick, The San Jose Sharks are proud to select...
    from Val D'or of the QMJHL, left winger Anthony Mantha.
    Scouting Report: Missed cut for '12 Draft by 1 day; skates well for his size (6-4, 190) and has a goal-scorer's mentality.
    With the 14th overall pick, The Carolina Hurricanes are proud to select...
    from the Quebec Ramparts of the QMJHL, right winger Adam Erne.
    Scouting Report: Has a good offensive game -- can contribute and put up solid numbers; he'll battle and play physical
    With the 15th overall pick, The Columbus Blue Jackets (from NYR) are proud to select...
    from the London Knights of the OHL, centre Max Domi.
    Scouting Report: Son of former NHLer Tie has solid skill set, great instincts and hands, and makes teammates better
    With the 16th overall pick, The Dallas Stars are proud to select...
    from Malmo of the SEL, left winger Andre Burakovsky.
    Scouting Report: Great speed and effective in traffic; good hands and on-ice vision complement playmaking skills
    With the 17th overall pick, The New Jersey Devils are proud to select...
    from the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL, goaltender Zach Fucale.
    Scouting Report: With Marty soon retiring, The Devils need to load up on young goalies.... Franchise record-holder for career wins offers great stance, strong butterfly and is tough to beat low
    With the 18th overall pick, The St.Louis Blues are proud to select...
    from the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL, centre Curtis Lazar.
    Scouting Report: Compared by some to Jonathan Toews; the 5'11.75, 193-pounder has speed and a nose for the net
    With the 19th overall pick, The Columbus Blue Jackets (from LAK) are proud to select...
    from the Everett Silvertips of the WHL, defenceman Mirco Mueller.
    Scouting Report: Smart puck-mover played alongside Jackets prospect Ryan Murray early in the season
    With the 20th overall pick, The Winnipeg Jets are proud to select...
    from the Plymouth Whalers of the OHL, centre/winger Ryan Hartman.
    Scouting Report: Versatile offensive talent can play center/wing, excels at speed on forecheck and loves physical play
    With the 21st overall pick, The Toronto Maple Leafs are proud to select...
    from the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL, centre Kerby Rychel.
    Scouting Report: Supplies a good mix of skill and nastiness, and is a playmaker that's also good in the faceoff circle
    With the 22nd overall pick, The Detroit Red Wings are proud to select...
    from the Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL, defenceman Josh Morrissey.
    Scouting Report: Slips a bit due to his mediocre 2nd half, this skilled, smart defenseman eventually will make a solid piece in new-look Red Wings back end
    With the 23rd overall pick, The Minnesota Wild are proud to select...
    from the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL, defenceman Shea Theodore.
    Scouting Report: Offensively gifted and a strong skater, and scouts really like his leadership abilities
    With the 24th overall pick, The Ottawa Senators are proud to select...
    from Modo of the SEL, defenceman Robert Hagg.
    Scouting Report: Two-way defenseman made a name for himself with an outstanding showing at the World Juniors
    With the 25th overall pick, The Vancouver Canucks are proud to select...
    from the London Knights of the OHL, winger/centre Bo Horvat.
    Scouting Report: Gritty power forward skates hard, is aggressive offensively and wins battles at the net for loose pucks
    With the 26th overall pick, The Boston Bruins are proud to select...
    from Waterloo of the USHL, defenceman Ian Mccoshen.
    Scouting Report: Two-way defenseman can skate well, and at 6-2.25, 207, physical play won't be a problem
    With the 27th overall pick, The Montreal Canadiens are proud to select...
    from the Rimouski Oceanic of the QMJHL, centre Fredrick Gauthier (no relation).
    Scouting Report: Big and skilled offensively, but two best gifts might be his skating and defensive awareness.
    With the 28th overall pick, The Anaheim Ducks are proud to select...
    from the Guelph Storm of the OHL, centre Jason Dickinson.
    Scouting Report: Willing and able to get to the net offensively, and also is a skilled penalty killer
    With the 29th overall pick, The Pittsburgh Penguins are proud to select...
    from the USA u-18 of the USHL, left winger J.T Compher.
    Scouting Report: There's a lot to like with this smooth-skating winger who does everything well
    With the 30th overall pick, The Chicago Blackhawks are proud to select...
    from the Regina Pats of the WHL, left winger Morgan Klimchuck.
    Scouting Report: Heady player that doesn't do anything excellent, but does everything very well
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFDyiXKmWQY
  12. habsguy26

    Trade Bait 2013

    By habsguy26,

    The 2013 NHL Trade Deadline should be an interesting one to say the least.
    With so many teams who think they have a shot at the post season, the cup, or the #1 overall pick, I expect many teams will be active come April 3rd.
    This blog is devised to show you who could be put on the hook for teams that are actively buying, or rebuilding. Let's get right down to it.
    Goaltenders:
    Ben Bishop - Ottawa Senators
    Age: 26, Contract Status: 1 year @ $650 000
    Ottawa has 3 NHL calibre goalies in Craig Anderson, Robin Lehner and Bishop. He has played great for Ottawa this season while Anderson was injured, but he is back now. Lehner on the other hand is younger and appears to have a higher ceiling than Bishop.
    Potential Suitors: New Jersey Devils, Philadelphia Flyers, Calgary Flames
    Johnathon Bernier - Los Angeles Kings
    Age: 24, Contract Status: 1 year @ $1.25M
    With Quick as the unquestioned starter in L.A, Bernier is the odd man out. He requested a trade from the Kings in the summer, but Dean Lombardi likes the fact he can roll 2 great goalies that can give him a chance every night to win. If Bernier is traded this deadline, you will see a big return for the former first round pick.
    Potential Suitors: New Jersey Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs, Calgary Flames
    Nik Khabibulin - Edmonton Oilers
    Age: 40, Contract Status: 1 year @ $3.75
    The Bulin Wall is getting up there in age, and with his expiring contract, he could be a piece the Oilers could move, to help with their rebuild.
    Potential Suitors: Winnipeg Jets, Dallas Stars
    Miika Kiprusoff - Calgary Flames
    Age: 36 Contract Status: 2 years @ $5.83M
    I am in the boat that says Calgary should just blow it up and start a new. In other words, TRADE KIPPER AND IGINLA NOW. Kipper is still a top 10 goalie in the league, and would help any team going into the play offs.
    Potential Suitors: Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, Washington Capitals
    Roberto Luongo - Vancouver Canucks
    Age: 33, Contract Status: 9 years @ $5.3M
    Luongo has played great for the Canucks this season, as he has been their best goalie. That has only made the price for him go up, and if he's not traded this deadline, he will be traded in the summer.
    Potential Suitors: Toronto Maple Leafs, Florida Panthers, New Jersey Devils, Philadelphia Flyers
    Defencemen:
    Jay Bouwmeester - Calgary Flames
    Age: 29, Contract Status: 2 years @ $6.83M
    Bouwmeester has played a ton of games, and not one of them in the play offs. If I'm Jay, I'm BEGGING for a trade out of Calgary.
    Potential Suitors: Philadelphia Flyers, Chicago Black Hawks, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs
    Ryan Whitney - Edmonton Oilers
    Age: 30, Contract Status: 1 year @ $4M
    Ryan Whitney will be dealt. The question right now is where.
    Potential Suitors: Philadelphia Flyers, New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs
    Sergei Gonchar - Ottawa Senators
    Age: 38, Contract Status: 1 year @ $5.5M
    Gonchar is getting up there and age and I expect him to retire after this season.. Ottawa could use him as trade bait.
    Potential Suitors: Philadelphia Flyers, New York Rangers, Chicago Black Hawks, Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Blues
    Mike Komisarek - Toronto Maple Leafs
    Age: 31. Contract Status: 1 year @ $4.5M
    Remember this guy? Trade rumours swirling, looks like he could be on the way out.
    Potentail Suitors: Philadelphia Flyers, Edmonton Oilers, New York Islanders
    Forwards:
    Jarome Iginla - Calgary Flames
    Age: 35, Contract Status: 1 year @ $7M
    Jarome Iginla is a class act, but he may decide to pull a Ray Bourque and try to win a cup before retiring, while helping his Calgary Flames move on.
    Potential Suitors: Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, L.A Kings
    Daniel Alfredsson - Ottawa Senators
    Age: 40, Contract Status: 1 year @ $4.87M
    Alfredsson is in the same place as Iginla. Long time captian of the Sens, Alfredsson should move on if he wants to help the Sens -- and another team win the Cup. Word is, he'd only accept a trade to division rival Boston, where his pal Zdeno Chara roams around.
    Potential Suitors: Boston Bruins
    Ales Hemsky - Edmonton Oilers
    Age: 29, Contract Status: 2 years @ $5M
    Hemsky is very talented, but injury prone. Plus, he is eating up minutes that could be given to younger players that need to develop. If Hemsky played with elite line mates, the vet Czech native could probably score up to 80 points.
    Potential Suitors: Detroit Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins, Vancouver Canucks, Anaheim Ducks, L.A Kings
    Paul Statsny - Colorado Avalanche
    Age: 27, Contract Status: 2 years @ $6.78M
    Paul has a big cap hit, and he would be a valuable member of any contending team. The young Avs need to move on from him, and officially enter the Landeskog era.
    Potential Suitors: Chicago Black Hawks, Vancouver Canucks, St. Louis Blues, New York Rangers, Boston Bruins
    Brendan Morrow - Dallas Stars
    Age: 34, Contract Status: 1 year @ $4.1M
    Morrow is a gritty, in your face type player any team covets down the stretch. He will be a hot commodity.
    Potential Suitors: Philadelphia Flyers, Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins, Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres,
    Corey Perry - Anaheim Ducks
    Age: 27, Contract Status: 1 year @5.46M
    This year's big fish, Perry's future in Anaheim was already in doubt before the start of the season. The former Hart Trophy winner will likely be dealt as his counter part, captain Ryan Getzlaf signed a huge 8 year deal. It is believed Perry will test the FA market, so Anaheim needs to get him off the books. It is a possibility however, that the Ducks sign him to an 8 year deal, then trade him immediately after.
    Potential Suitors: Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Philadelphia Flyers, Buffao Sabres, Montreal Canadiens
    Hope you enjoyed, Happy hockey!
    Habsguy26
  13. habsguy26
    Hello again! Today we will be covering the confirmed, NHLPA approved plan of realignment.
    NHLPA executive director Don Fehr released a statement on Thursday, saying, "After discussions with the Executive Board, the NHLPA has given consent to realignment, to be re-evaluated following the 2014-15 season."
    Major moves include the aging Detroit Red Wings and the dismal Columbus Blue Jackets to the Eastern conference. while the Winnipeg Jets will move back West. The Jets have been playing in the Southeast Division since the Atlanta Thrashers franchise moved north to Winnipeg prior to last season.
    Here are the proposed divisions as per TSN.
    My initial thoughts are... well.... f$!&. Montreal is in a division with Boston, Detroit, Florida (will be a good team before you know it), Ottawa, Tampa and the Laffs (who are progressing as well. Buffalo, is, well... Buffalo. What a stinky franchise at the moment. But that is a blog in itself. Anways, another thing I don't like is the fact that the two Florida teams are in the central divison. What exactly is ''central" about Tampa Bay and Miami?
    Also don't even get me started on the names of the divisions. I was really hoping they would name them after a few legends. But after thinking about it, I suppose it wouldn't have been the right thing to do, because no matter what, you could NEVER get it right. Too many great legends deserving, too few divisions. If I were to name the divisions, I'd probably go; Gretzky Divison, Roy Divison, Howe Division, Orr Division. But that would be my personal opinion. If you want, tell me what you would name the divisions in the comments.
    Anyways, a good thing about this realignment would be the travel times for teams. It was really annoying for teams like Detroit and especially Winnipeg to go play games against conference rivals, which ultimately spurred the two switching sides.
    One more thing I'd like to speculate on here -- I would expect that any day/week/month now, you can expect the NHL will expand to 32 teams, and plop one in Seattle and one somewhere else. I speculate this because this realignment just doesn't work with 30 teams, as the Eastern conference has 16 teams compared to the West having 14. I'd be willing to bet the 2nd team won't be in Quebec, Hamilton or Toronto (unless one of them plays in the West, which would be unlikely).
    Switching gears now, some time next week I will be posting my annual mock draft. I have already done all my scouting reports, I'd just like to get a better feel of the standings so I can determine which team needs what.
    Happy hockey!
  14. habsguy26
    The image to the left perfectly sums up Ryan White's season.
    White is a gritty player. He hits, goes to the net, goes to the corners, sticks up for his team mates. Sounds like a great 4th line player correct?
    No. Ryan White has about as much discipline as a 3 year old child.
    I will go on a limb here, and quote me, but Ryan White is responsible for atleast half of the Habs' 10 losses this season, including tonight's 6-3 loss against the Islanders. The Habs were heading into the 2nd period with a head full of steam after scoring the first goal of the game early. The Isles recovered and tied the game, but it was fairly obvious who the better team was. 10 minutes into the second period, Alexei Emelin takes a dumb penatly and the Isles once again tie it up, 2-2. Off the next faceoff, Ryan White takes an even dumber cross checking penalty. Totally un-needed. Hey, what do you know! The Isles take the lead, and eventually take the game 6-3. Carey Price wasn't as sharp as he needed to be, but is it totally his fault? I'd say about 75-25.
    White faced the media after a game in Buffalo, when the Sabres scored while he was in the penalty box, then tied the game with 1.9 seconds left. The Sabres went on to win in the shootout.
    White received a double-minor penalty for roughing after he took issue with a check by Sabres forward Steve Ott and tried unsuccessfully to get him to fight.
    “I thought he was taking a shot at my knees and I didn’t like it, so I guess I put myself in front of the team,” said White.
    White has taken costly penalties in games against Toronto (x2), Ottawa, Buffalo, and now Rhode Island.
    I looked into it, White is on a 1 way deal. IMO, put him on waivers (you'd have to be am idiot, or Holmgren [] to take him) send him down to the minors, teach this clown a lesson and when he's ready to not take any dumb penalties, He can come back. I would say put him the press box, but that didn't work, Therrien already tried that.
    Hopefully this guy turns it around, I used to like him as a player before this season, but now I catch myself crossing my fingers, mumbling under my breath, praying that he won't take a bad penalty, every time he's on the ice.
    Happy hockey,
    Habsguy26.
  15. habsguy26
    Sometime back in the long, long summer of Habs fans' most recent discontent, I thought about compiling a top ten of the best moments from last season. It wasn't easy. It was, after all, a desperately depressing year. Still, after some thought, I did come up with ten small things we could take to heart from 2011-12. It never got published because, in the end, I felt celebrating just ten things in a wasteland of a season seemed a little hopeless. For what it's worth, though, number three in that top ten was Lars Eller's four-goal night.
    That was such fun for fans. It was one of those nights when potential became reality for one sparkling game. Even better was Eller's over-the-top, exuberant basking in the glow of the Bell Centre crowd after his first-star selection. The quiet, obliging Dane who lived mostly in the shadow of his more in-your-face teammates knew enough to let loose and celebrate his moment in the sun. The guys in the room still poke fun at it, but that's because they like Eller and it certainly was an occasion to remember. It was also an occasion to take notice.
    Eller was a first-round pick in the same 2007 draft as Max Pacioretty and P.K. Subban. He came with a scouting report that lauded him as a fine skater, a "mature two-way player with a fine shot and above-average playmaking skills." The fact that his first-round selection wasn't a surprise speaks for itself. When the Habs traded Jaro Halak for Eller, his stock was still high as a promising prospect. Canadiens fans in favour of the trade saw him as a future Tomas Plekanec, but bigger.
    Now, almost three years later, he finds himself stuck on third or fourth lines most of the time, averaging only about 12-13 minutes of ice time per game. This season, he's getting about a minute of PP time per game, but in the two years previous, his average time on the PP was 25 seconds a night. He, as so many prospects before him, fell into a situation early in his NHL career in which he was forced to work his way up the lineup with limited minutes and limited linemates. Now, at 23, he's at a make-or-break point in his career. Either he breaks through or he'll end up pigeon-holed as a big, low-scoring journeyman with wasted potential. Michel Therrien has pretty much confirmed that, saying he wants more from Eller; that it's time for him to take the next step.
    To make that happen, Eller now needs better linemates and better minutes. The problem is, those things aren't readily available unless there's an injury or a slump, neither of which is desirable. He also needs time on the PP and a chance to play his natural centre position with players who can finish. This week, Therrien has decided to switch things up, mainly because of the lack of execution of last year's first line. David Desharnais and the foggy Erik Cole will now be playing with Brandon Prust, while Max Pacioretty has moved to play with the Brendan Gallagher and Alex Galchenyuk. Eller, once again, has been bypassed for ice time and linemates, this time by the rookie Galchenyuk. And Desharnais continues to hold a centre spot ahead of Eller while not really producing.
    An interesting comparison for Eller is teammate Pacioretty. His first two seasons in Montreal, totalling 34 and 52 games, resulted in 11 and 14 points respectively. In the first season, he averaged about 12-13 minutes per game, got a minute a night on the PP and spent most of his shifts with Tomas Plekanec and Alex Kovalev. The second year, 2009-2010, he got 30 seconds a game on the PP and skated mostly with Travis Moen and Glen Metropolit. In other words, he had an Eller season. Unsurprisingly, his PPG total dropped from 0.32 in the first year, to 0.26 in the second. There was a lot of talk at the time about Pacioretty being another Habs first-round bust. It didn't help when he started the following year in Hamilton and didn't get called up until Christmas. Yet, given a chance to build up some confidence with the Bulldogs and a place in the top-six when recalled to Montreal, Pacioretty blossomed and became the key component of the Habs youth movement we see today.
    The clock is ticking for Lars Eller. If a guy hasn't made a solid impact on an NHL roster by 24 or 25, he starts to look like trade bait. I think Eller's got too much ability to be allowed to drift away. It would be similar to having let Pacioretty go two years ago. It's fine then, for Therrien to say he wants more from Eller, but he's got to do his part as well. He has to put Eller in a position to succeed and let the player do the rest. We've seen him show signs of real ability. It was one of the very few high points from the 2011-12 Habs lost season.
  16. habsguy26
    Today, Montreal GM Marc Bergevin announced that Scott Gomez had played his last game for the Habs.
    The newly appointed General Manager say he spoke to Gomez around 7:30 this morning and told him to sit this one out. The remainder of his contract will be bought out this summer, when the Amnesty Buy out clause comes into affect.
    Where he will not be missed on the ice, he will however be missed in the locker room, where Gomez was a team leader.
    "Unfortunately, the personal side of the game is really hard when the business side takes over," said captain Brian Gionta of his linemate in both New Jersey and later in Montreal. "We'll do whatever we can to support him.
    Under the new rules, the Canadiens will still have to pay Gomez his $10 million total salary for the next two seasons, but will save $900,000 in cap space this season (down to $6.457 million) and remove the cap hit entirely in 2013-14.
    What do I think about it? I think "Hey, we have 900,000 more to offer P.K. But what's the point?" I understand that he needs to be 100% healthy in order to qualify for buyout, but wasn't it just last week that the league AND the players were whining about being broke?! Scott Gomez is going to be paid 10 million bucks to sit at home and do nothing. He is, essentially and hypothetically of course, the next Paris Hilton.
    Other news from Habs training camp is that Alex Galchenyuk looked great skating with Lars Eller and Brian Gionta.
    - P.K Subban, who remains a restricted free agent, did not report to training camp today. Bergevin was in Toronto on Saturday to meet with Subban and agent Don Meehan. He hopes to have a contract done soon.
    - Tomas Plekanec (day to day with a rib injury) and Petteri Nokelainen (back) both sat out today. Mike Commodore (who is signed to a tryout contract) also didn't skate today, as he was undergoing his medical.
    - Newcomer Brandon Prust was at centre with Travis Moen and Rene Bourque, while Ryan White centred Colby Armstrong and prospect Brendan Gallagher, with Gabriel Dumont slotting in.
    - Russian defencemen Andrei Markov and Alexei Emelin played together, while Tomas Kaberle was in Subban's place with Josh Gorges. Francis Bouillon was paired with Rafael Diaz and Jarred Tinordi with Yannick Weber.
    - Carey Price and Peter Budaj are the only goalies in camp.
    - The team announced it has invited fans to an intrasquad game for free on Thursday night at the Bell Centre.
    Happy Hockey,
    Habsguy26
  17. habsguy26

    2013 Cup Contenders

    By habsguy26,

    The Montreal Canadiens’ organization will be competing for a Cup during the 2012-2013 season. Am I a crazy “homer” of a Habs fan? Have I been drinking the Kool-Aid on the Brandon Prust and Francis Bouillon signings? No, I’ve been pretty straightforward with my expectation of another potentially difficult and long season in Montreal, barring a succession of 2-3 significant trades (unlikely.) However, that won’t deprive Habs fans of following what looks to be a promising and highly intriguing playoff drive next Spring.
    Your 2012-13 Hamilton Bulldogs – the Habs’ AHL affiliate – are absolutely stacked. Combine a high-profile incoming class with the likes of Brendan Gallagher, Jarred Tinordi, and Nathan Beaulieu with some established AHL stars such as Aaron Palushaj, Blake Geoffrion, and Frederic St. Denis, and you have the recipe for the best American Hockey League team the organization has iced since their last Carey Price-led Calder Cup conquest in 2007.
    While there is much to be decided during this Fall’s training camp (assuming the CBA issues are resolved on time for an October start), we do have a picture of – as of today – the players who will make up the Bulldogs’ roster. NHL teams cannot carry more than 23 healthy players, and barring injuries, the Canadiens already have 13 forwards, eight defensemen (once P.K. Subban is signed), and two goaltenders on one-way deals. That’s not to say that a Petteri Nokelainen couldn’t be waived and sent down if beaten for a roster spot, but it’s unlikely out of the gate, meaning we’re looking at something like the following in Hamilton barring spots created by Marc Bergevin moves:
    Blake Geoffrion – Louis Leblanc – Aaron Palushaj
    Patrick Holland – Joonas Nattinen – Brendan Gallagher
    Alexander Avtsin – Michael Bournival – Steve Quailer
    Ian Schultz – Gabriel Dumont – Mike Blunden
    Jarred Tinordi - Frederic St. Denis
    Brendon Nash - Morgan Ellis
    Greg Pateryn – Nathan Beaulieu
    Cedric Desjardins
    Robert Mayer
    The top trio centered by Louis Leblanc was utterly dominant when together in short spurts last season. Ideally, Leblanc would line up at right wing, where he projects in the NHL, but the club both lacks scoring depth at the center position and has an abundance of right wingers already, so it’s likely he fills this role when not in Montreal. And before anyone asks in the comments, no I don’t expect him to swap places with Scott Gomez.
    Blake Geoffrion is in a final season of not needing to clear waivers to be sent down, while Aaron Palushaj will need to be passed over by all 29 other clubs to join the ‘Dogs, but I do believe that to be possible. Both make little enough money once in Hamilton to not require waivers to be called back up to the Canadiens. Coach Sylvain Lefebvre may choose to sprinkle these known quantities throughout his lineup, but alternatively, keeping them together would give him a line he can depend on, meaning he wouldn’t have to rely on rookies for production at all times.
    Joonas Nattinen will get a chance to improve on an inconsistent rookie season, but one which showed promise as he adapted to the North American game, also using his 6-foot-2 frame to make room for smaller wingers. On his wings, Patrick Holland may be a quality set-up man for sniper Brendan Gallagher, with Holland’s set-up game looking easier to translate to the left side from his natural right than Gallagher’s to me.
    A third scoring unit has Michael Bournival between two big bodies in Alexander Avtsin and Steve Quailer. For Avtsin, this season may be a final chance to prove that he can consistently play in an offensive role in a professional league, or else his fate may include a return to his native Russia. Quailer’s size and physicality should work nicely with Bournival’s grind-and-cycle style game.
    Don’t consider that “fourth line” a true bottom trio, as there will undoubtedly by games and situations where they play more than either the second or third lines. Part energy line, part shutdown unit, the experience and physicality of all three of Ian Schultz, Gabriel Dumont, and Mike Blunden are what truly cements the ‘Dogs as a serious threat for a championship drive, beyond the skill players and exciting rookies on the roster.
    Another key improvement over last year’s Bulldogs is the depth this team has. If injuries or call-ups should take their course – which they will at some point – the club can still count on Alain Berger (likely to battle hard for a top 12 job in training camp) and Philippe Lefebvre (likely to start with the ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers) before having to dip into tryouts and others who may be signed to AHL contracts.
    On defense last year, the ‘Dogs were a patchwork group of career AHL’er types. While the team may miss the experience of Alex Henry, Garrett Stafford, and Joe Callahan at times this coming season, they’ve upped both the skill quotient and depth considerably.
    While it’s possible Jarred Tinordi will require the same time and adjustment period as he did in transitioning to the OHL, he is a natural to pair with a veteran like Frederic St. Denis as a shutdown duo, even if it means sticking two lefties together. Many see Morgan Ellis as one of the more complete, NHL-ready defensive prospects on the team, so playing him with a veteran as well – in this case Brendon Nash - might help fast-track his transition to the pro game.
    There is a lot to like about the skill and skating of Nathan Beaulieu, but he also has clear areas where his game needs improvement. His defensive prowess, mental game, and maturity have all been called into question at times, so I’d see him starting on a bottom duo, while getting plenty of extra work on the top powerplay unit. This will take the pressure off, as he has been known to also try to do too much at times, while he works closely with staff like Sylvain Lefebvre and Patrice Brisebois to make the leap on and off the ice.
    Competition for Beaulieu’s partner will be between Greg Pateryn, Joe Stejskal, and Kyle Hagel. Hagel may dress as a 7th defenseman at times in place of a forward due to his talents as a pugilist, something generally required more frequently in the AHL than in the NHL.
    The organization has been pretty honest about its “empty” goaltending pipeline, with neither Robert Mayer or Peter Delmas projecting as future NHL’ers. Repatriating Cedric Desjardins serves as a fine starter fill-in for Nathan Lawson who struggled with injury issues much of last year. Desjardins had his best two seasons wearing Bulldog colours back in 2008-09 and 2009-10, and is coming off a year with even better numbers, posting a sparkling .932 save percentage and 2.11 goals against average for the Lake Erie Monsters.
    All in all, this group should easily be on par with any other team in the American Hockey League. It has everything one could want, with a mix of veterans and rookies, skill and grit, and offense and defense. During the regular season, Bulldog and Hab fans will have to hope for fewer injuries than a year ago to avoid decimating the roster, but a bit of good news is that further reinforcements could join the club come playoff time. Assuming that either (or both) of Danny Kristo and/or Alex Galchenyuk‘s college and junior seasons respectively come to an end before Hamilton’s, they would be eligible to join the ‘Dogs on Amateur Tryout Agreements for the stretch run. That added scoring should be sufficient to put this team over the top and make them favourites to bring a Cup to the Canadiens’ organization in 2013.
  18. habsguy26
    Hey guys, just a little blog here to get you into the hockey mood! If you love trivia then this one is for you!

    Just something to keep your eyes happy!
    1) Who were the first three Canadiens to score 500 career goals?
    2) Who leads the Habs in career playoff games played?
    3) I was the first European captain for Montreal.
    4) I am 4th in team wins as a goalie.
    5) I was drafted 10th overall and traded for a 2nd round pick 9 years later.
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    10 NHL Questions
    1) Who will win the Labour wars? Bettman or Fehr?
    2) Bruins signing Seguin and Marchand to multi-year contracts. Love it or hate it?
    3) Who will be the Flyer's next captain?
    4) Sidney Crosby will score ___ points next season.
    5) NHL in Seattle? Yay or nay?
    6) _______ will lead next season with __ fighting majors.
    7) Will Ilya Bryzgalov be the first goalie to allow a goal in zero gravity (in the humangous universe)?
    8) Will Roberto Luongo's next game be as a Canuck or a Panther?
    9) Taylor Hall will score ___ points next season.
    10) Will Alex Galchenyuk crack the Hab's next season?
    *******BONUS QUESTION FOR 1 TRILLION TOKENS****************
    Can you believe it's not butter?
  19. habsguy26
    Hello again! Welcome back to my Future Watch! This time, we'll be scouring the Pacific division of the Western Conference for top prospects. NEW in Part 4 is NHL comparisons. I have gone back to Parts 1, 2 and 3 to put them in. Go back and check it out! Unfortunately, not a lot of big names stand out but upon digging in I found the talent is there and although the Pacific isn't quite as loaded as other divisions like the North East or the Central, it will be an exciting division to watch in the future. Anyways, don't forget to leave a comment and a vote!
    10) Jamie Oleksiak - Dallas Stars
    drafted by DAL 1(14) in 2011
    Rounding out the Top 10 is the behemoth, 2011 first-round pick (14th overall) of the Dallas Stars, Jamie Oleksiak. Oleksiak has tremendous size, agility and soft hands, and has been among the top defenders in the OHL all season. Oleksiak posted 21 points in 28 games after moving to Niagara’s stacked defensive zone in a mid-season trade from Saginaw, and is an anchor on a unit that includes the likes of Dougie Hamilton and Jesse Graham. Oleksiak may play another year in the OHL (he will not turn 20 until December), but with his superb athletic abilities and physical play, a more likely scenario would have him starting his pro career with the AHL's Texas Stars.
    NHl Comparison: Kurtis Foster with more offensive upside
    9) Tyler Toffoli - Los Angeles Kings
    drafted by LAK 2(47) in 2010
    Tyler Toffoli has solid hockey sense, good puck handling skills, a solid work ethic and a very quick release along with an NHL-caliber shot. For the second consecutive season, the Ottawa 67s' sniper has scored more than 50 goals and has 163 goals in his four year OHL career. He has established himself as a premier finisher at the junior level and has a sixth sense to find loose pucks around the opposition’s net. Although the offensive winger has improved his skating speed and added to his strength, he will need to work with a power skating coach and gain more muscle mass to play his game at the NHL level. Toffoli has become the Kings' best scoring prospect and could be an NHL sniper in the future.
    NHL Comparison: Mike Cammalleri
    8) Peter Holland - Anaheim Ducks
    drafted by ANA 1(15) in 2009
    A big, offensively talented center, Peter Holland is a noted finisher who also has the ability to set up chances for his linemates. He has a powerful skating stride and can use his 6-3, 200-pound frame to protect the puck and work through traffic. An incredibly smart hockey player at both ends of the rink, the 21-year-old Holland is well-suited to the responsibilities of a center in the defensive end and at the faceoff dot. A lack of consistency has been his biggest knock, but ample opportunity with Syracuse in the AHL led to a productive rookie season that helped even out his performance. Anaheim envisions him as an eventual top-six center, and a full-time role with the big club may not be far off for Holland.
    NHL Comparion: Jordan Staal
    7) Tanner Pearson - Los Angeles Kings
    drafted by LAK 1(30) in 2012
    Pearson went from being passed over repeatedly in the past two drafts to being selected as a 2012 first-round pick. His newfound attractiveness came after a monster season in which he recorded 91 points in 60 games. He also competed for Canada at the World Juniors. His hockey sense, tenacity and versatility make him a player with multiple development paths open to him.
    Pearson can play anywhere up front and, despite being listed commonly as a left winger, he scored more points on the right wing this season. Although the Kings’ NHL roster seems relatively set with only one unrestricted free agent remaining from their Stanley Cup-winning club, Pearson will be eligible to play in the AHL where he could help the Manchester Monarchs immediately. He said his vision was his strongest asset and while he was a two-way playmaker at the junior level, he said he would be willing to adjust his role as necessary. He is a player with skill that was undaunted by physical contact and dangerous areas of the ice.
    NHL Comparison: Mike Richards
    6) Tomas Hertl - San Jose Sharks
    drafted by SJS 1(17) in 2012
    The Sharks decided that the right pick for their first rounder was Tomas Hertl who can play all forward positions and has the physical game to match his offensive skills. The 18-year old Czech played this past season against men in the Czech league, scoring 12 goals along with 13 assist and a good plus-nine rating in 38 games for Slavia Praha. The talented playmaker was one of the best players for his Czech team at the 2012 WJC.
    Hertl has upside potential to be a centerman who can play in all situations; he can defend, has a long reach, has an ability to strip pucks, can make offensive plays, and can play very well in the tight and dirty areas of ice. The big, agile Czech has good quickness and when combined with his excellent hockey sense, has shown the ability to adjust his skating speed with ease.
    NHL Comparison: Johnathon Toews
    5) Jack Campbell - Dallas Stars
    drafted by DAL1(11) in 2011
    Athletic goaltender with great reflexes. Never gives up on plays and competes hard on every shot. Sometimes he overplays the on-coming rush and can get into trouble. Has a very good glove and blocker. Stickhandles very well and is a fine outlet passer. Shows up majorly in big game situations throughout his career. Loves to compete, has a winning attitude, confidence and is always looking to improve. Consistency of any young goalie can be called into question and Campbell is no exception, maturity should ward off those untimely soft goals.
    NHL Comparison: A more talented (and less injury prone) Rick DiPietro
    4) Hampus Lindholm - Anaheim Ducks
    drafted by ANA 1(6) in 2012
    Lindholm competed for Rogle’s junior and senior Allsvenskan clubs, coming on strong in the second half of the season. He projects as a puck-moving defenseman with NHL size, solid mobility and respectable defensive ability. Lindholm was projected in the 20's in many mock drafts, but some scouts identified him as an appreciating commodity as the draft neared. Yet even Lindholm was surprised that he was selected a No. 6 overall. In a top 10 that featured eight defenseman, one could not identify Lindholm as the most excellent in any particular area. That said, his well-rounded ability, physical maturity and growing professional experience may have been attractive to the Ducks. Lindholm is projected to be a top 4, power play defenseman with two way upside.
    NHL Comparison: Sami Salo
    3) David Rundblad - Phoenix Coyotes
    drafted by STL 1(17) in 2009
    Expectations were high for David Rundblad heading into his first season of hockey in North America after being named the SEL's top defender in 2010-11. After he made the Senators roster out of camp, Ottawa needed more immediate help offensively and traded the gifted defender to the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for center Kyle Turris. The 21-year-old Rundblad spent a majority of his season with Portland in the AHL following the transaction, but he still boasts a high offensive ceiling. The Swede's vision and passing ability make him a threat at any time and he can also unleash a heavy, accurate shot from the blue line. He skates well and is capable of leading the rush as well as running the power play. At 6'2, he also has a sizable frame and a solid build. More attention to his defensive game will be necessary if he is to become a complete defenseman, but Rundblad's offensive skills put him head and shoulders above most other blue line prospects.
    NHL Comparison: Mark Striet
    2) Emerson Etem - Anaheim Ducks
    drafted by ANA 1(29) in 2010
    Bet this one hurts, eh Flyer fans? This was the pick the Ducks acquired in the Pronger trade. Anywho, Emerson Etem flat out dominated the WHL circuit this season, becoming the first WHL player to hit the 60-goal mark in 11 seasons. He finished the year with 61 goals and 107 points in 65 games for the Medicine Hat Tigers. He did have an underwhelming showing at the World Juniors, but he wasn’t the only American to underachieve there. One of the best skaters outside of the NHL, Etem not only uses his speed to score, but also uses it to aggressively forecheck and pressure the opposition into making mistakes. There might be a slight adjustment period for Etem when he turns pro next season, but it seems like it’s only going to be a matter of time before he’s frequently lighting the lamp at the NHL level.
    NHL Comparison: Dany Heatley circa 2006
    1) Brandon Gormley - Phoenix Coyotes
    drafted by PHO 1(13) in 2010
    Brandon Gormley has the patience and calmness with the puck to make the smart decisions on whether to pass, hang on for the opening or carry it himself. The talented two-way defenseman has sound defensive instincts and plays with a maturity far beyond his age. He's a solid puck mover with good mobility who can add offense with his precision passing skills and hard, accurate point shot.

    Gormley finally received the chance to represent Canada at the 2012 WJC tournament where he was named the best defenseman of the tournament for his excellent play in the shutdown role and on both specialty team units. The all-round defenseman will need to get physically stronger and add more toughness to his game in order to maximize his NHL potential. Gormley will have a chance to crack the Coyotes' NHL roster when he starts his professional career next season.
    NHL Comparison: Shea Weber
    Anyways guys, thats it! Hope you enjoyed and don't forget to comment and vote!
  20. habsguy26
    Hey guys and welcome back to my Future Watch. Today we'll be examining the Atlantic division. Please don't forget to leave a vote and comment, it really gives me the idea of how many people are actually reading these things through and whether I should even continue to do these because doing all the research and writing these puppies takes quite a bit of time (last one took me about 4-5 hours) so if you like the series show some support please! Also if you're on twitter don't forget to leave a follow @allanrayer!
    10) Derrick Pouliot - Pittsburgh Penguins
    drafted by PITT 1(8) in 2012
    The only representee of the 2012 draft in part 2, Pouliot narrowly edged out Griffin Rienhart to crack the top 10. Pouliot possesses the raw talents, particularly in the offensive zone, to be a top-pairing, puck-carrying defenseman capable of taking over games. He hails from the same team as the Penguins 2011 first round pick Joe Morrow and was a frequent linemate of Morrow on the powerplay. In 72 regular season games with the Winterhawks, Pouliot managed 11 goals, 48 assists, and 79 penalty minutes.
    The type of player Pouliot projects to be at the NHL level will be decided by how the Penguins develop him over the coming years. Given his size, skating, and keen ability to carry the puck, he could develop anywhere from an all-situation offensive defenseman like Kris Letang, to a puck-moving number four like Kris Russell, to a powerplay specialist who spends most of his time moving between the AHL and NHL. A lot of it will be up to the 18-year-old Pouliot as well. Defensemen such as Letang combine a fearless mindset in their style of play with an interminable commitment to conditioning and improving, two qualities which must come from within and are only proven over time.
    9) Jon Merrill - New Jersey Devils
    drafted by NJD 2(38) in 2010
    Jon Merrill’s season didn’t exactly start the way he or the Devils wanted to as he was suspended by the University of Michigan indefinitely for an off-ice incident. He joined Team USA for the World Juniors in what was his first live game action of the season, and it wasn’t until after the tournament was over that his suspension was lifted. When he returned, he picked up right where he left off from his freshman season, displaying a calm, cool demeanor on the ice while showing off his elite two-way skills and power-play quarterbacking ability. While he’s likely to return to Michigan for his junior year, it won’t be long before he’s patrolling the Devils' blueline. The Devils are sorely lacking in players of his ilk so, as long as he keeps his head on straight, the sky is the limit for Merrill, who will be returning to the NCAA this upcoming season.
    8) Joe Morrow - Pittsburgh Penguins
    drafted by PITT 1(23) in 2011
    The Portland Winterhawks finished the regular season with the third best record in the WHL and were far and away the most powerful offensive club in the league. So, on a team that includes many top prospects and highly ranked 2012 draft-eligible players, defenseman Joe Morrow still manages to stand out. Not only was he the top offensive defenseman for that club, he finished second among WHL defensemen with 64 points despite playing in only 62 games. Morrow currently leads the WHL in playoff scoring by a defenseman with another 12 points through 13 games. Morrow plays every game situation, and can do whatever is asked of him, whether leading a breakout from his own zone, or shutting down the opposing team's top scorers. Morrow really can do it all; if he was a part of a different organization without the kind of defensive depth that the Pittsburgh Penguins enjoy, he could already be playing in the NHL.
    7) Eric Wellwood - Philadelphia Flyers
    drafted by PHI 6(172) in 2009
    I don't know much about the younger brother of Jets' forward Kyle, but I do know based off of his online scouting reports that he plays a similar game to Kyle in that the two have similar size and agility, and neither is overly physical. Though Eric’s offensive instincts are less than Kyle’s, his performance in the defensive end of the rink is superior. He has the ability to be a dynamic penalty killer. Wellwood was drafted for his defense and was even worked out on the blueline in the summer of 2009 during camps with the Flyers. He has the potential to be a very solid two-way forward even at the NHL level.
    6) Calvin de Haan - New York Islanders
    drafted by NYI 1(12) in 2009
    Just a little spoiler here: In the top 6, you're going to see 5 New York Islander prospects. That's what being so bad for so long will get you. Anyways, de Haan is a solid offensive defenseman who makes an excellent first pass and runs the power play. de Haan's greatest attribute is his outstanding skating. His fluid stride and quick feet allow him to play sound positional defense -- and make up for any mistakes he may make. Physicality isn't his strong suit right now with his slight frame, but he makes excellent decisions with the puck and interviewed well at the NHL Combine. de Haan will be in the Islander's line up next season no doubt and might see a role in their top 4 and will run the power play along with Mark Streit.
    5) Kirill Kabanov - New York Islanders
    drafted by NYI 3(65) in 2010
    Kabanov had the talent to be a top 5 pick in the 2010 draft and everyone knew it. But, the knock on him was his commitment to North America. After being drafted in the 3rd round, Kabanov committed to the QMJHL, putting Russia behind him. He may turn out the be the steal of the draft. Kabanov is a speedy winger who plays the game with boatloads of energy and has the hands to make the puck dance, Kabanov's game still needs plenty of work, especially in adding strength to match his enthusiasm on the ice as well as improving his play without the puck. After what is essentially a lost year developmentally, the upcoming season will be essential for any future success he might have. Kabanov likely will make the move from the QMJHL to the AHL next season. He is still a project and needs a few more years to develop before he makes an impact at the professional level. He projects as a top 3 winger with tons of offensive upside.
    4) Matt Donovan - New York Islanders
    drafted by NYI 4(96) in 2008
    Donovan is a big puck-moving defenseman. He makes a great first pass and has great vision. He has the ability to anchor the power play as well. In his first pro season he has shown a lot of improvement in his foot speed and will continue to improve all aspects of his game. Donovan also recently received the honour of being the Islander's top defensive prospect at their development camp, which i a big deal considering they have a ton of talent in the back end now. I couldn't find much info on Donovan but he projects to be a top pairing defender in the next few years and will be a permanent NHL'r next year.
    3) Nino Niederreiter - New York Islanders
    drafted by NYI 1(5) in 2010
    Nino Niederreiter had the kind of rookie season that he probably would prefer to forget. After starting the year on the injured list and missing the first month of action, Niederreiter played three games before hitting the press box as a healthy scratch. After scoring a goal in his second game back on the ice, Niederreiter suffered a concussion and missed another two weeks of games.Niederreiter is a hard-working player at both ends of the ice, moves well on his skates, and can be incredibly strong with the puck. However, the big questions going forward will be how quickly can he recover from his struggles this season and whether he can rebuild the confidence he will need to become a top-six winger for the Islanders.
    2) Chris Krieder - New York Rangers
    drafted by NYR 1(19) in 2009
    Finally! Someone not in the Islander`s organization! We take a little break here with Chris Krieder from the Rangers. Winning the National Championship with Boston College would make for a fairly complete season for any prospect. Not for Kreider. Skipping the AHL and the NHL regular season, he has made the jump straight to the NHL playoffs and has not missed a beat. After almost cashing in on numerous chances in his first three playoff games, he managed to score the game-winning goal in Game 6 against the Ottawa Senators. Kreider is a complete package of size, quickness, smarts, scoring and passing ability that is coupled with a respectable defensive game. His offensive skills may not be elite, but he will contribute in different ways on the ice.
    1) Ryan Strome - New York Islanders
    drafted by NYI 1(5) in 2011
    Ryan Strome is a dynamic offensive talent who makes his presence known every time he steps on the ice. A dazzling player with the puck on his stick, he displays the vision, explosive skating ability, and quick hands of a premier play-making center. He has also shown the ability to put the puck in the net himself this season for Niagara, where he ranked third with 30 goals in only 45 games and led the team with 1.48 points-per-game.

    Not overly strong, Strome instead relies on his speed and hockey sense to make plays at both ends of the rink. The 19-year-old forward has produced on big stages this season, pacing Team Canada's offense for much of the WJC and leading the pack during the IceDogs' OHL playoff run. Strome did not play in a game after sticking with the Islanders out of training camp, but his NHL debut is not far off.
    Honourable Mentions:
    Griffin Rienhart - New York Islanders
    drafted by NYI 1(4) in 2012
    It was sooo close between Rienhart and Pouliot for the 10 spot, but Rienhart comes in at number 11. Being drafted at the fourth spot, Reinhart seems to be a pretty safe selection considering defensemen are such a gamble being picked this high. He has the pedigree of a solid NHL'r because his father, Paul Reinhart, played over 600 NHL games during his career. Reinhart is a hulking defensemen that possesses above average skating ability for his size. He has a booming shot from the point, which helped him register 12 goals for the Oil Kings in 2011-12. He also makes a very good first pass out of the defensive zone. Given his ideal size, he really does not throw it around enough and punish opposing forwards, but he has a great stick to go along with superb defensive positioning.
    Reinhart will definitely benefit from another year in Edmonton, defending their WHL championship and Memorial Cup berth. He will also fight for a spot on Team Canada's U20 WJC blue line. If he can improve his skating and develop a mean streak, the comparisons to Chris Pronger he has garnered would not be farfetched one bit. Though he is a few years away from making the jump to the NHL, Reinhart projects as a top-pairing shutdown defensemen with offensive upside
    Nick Cosuins - Philadelphia Flyers
    drafted by PHI 3(68) in 2011
    Cousins plays with a combination of toughness and scoring ability that is similar to current Flyer Scott Hartnell, though he does not possess Hartnell's size. The strength of his game is his two-way play and competitiveness all over the ice; at the same time he did lead his junior team with 29 goals. The best parts of his offensive game are his passing and playmaking skills and a willingness to go to high traffic areas to create opportunities.
    He will likely play in the AHL this season or make a return to The Soo to hone his skills. He is one of the forwards being looked to in the future to play the two-way, compete-all-over-the-ice style that the organization has always preferred to play. While it will take him two or three years to add the strength and bulk to compete at the NHL level on a nightly basis, Cousins should fit in well as a second or third line center with Philadelphia.
    Scott Wedgewood - New Jersey Devils
    drafted by NJD 3(84) in 2010
    A technically sound, hybrid style goaltender with great down-low net coverage and reflexes, Wedgewood often plays like he has ice in his veins. He was often faced with the unenviable task of getting barraged with shots on a nightly basis more times than not in his first season as a full-time starter in Plymouth and actually seemed to thrive under the heavy pressure. While fatigue appeared to be an issue on occasion in his first season as a starter, expect that to be less of a problem as he continues to develop. Wedgewood has the makings of a big-game goaltender and has shown the ability to be a dominant workhorse, often carrying the team on his back for large stretches of time.
    While he is far from a finished product, Wedgewood’s second full season as a starter in the CHL was a resounding success and it looks as though he has the ability and traits needed to eventually develop into a number one NHL calibre goaltender down the road. Though it will tough to fill Marty's shoes, Wedgewood will make a suitable replacement.
    Anyways guys, there you have it. Sorry about the repetitiveness of the Islanders' but they just have so much talent in the wings, it was hard not to include all of those guys. Have a wonder rest of the week and see you soon with part 3, where I will move west and highlight the central division. Thank you for reading and please don't forget to vote and comment.
    Habsguy26.
  21. habsguy26
    Hey guys, sorry for the long hiatus of Future Watch... here we go again with the central. Please don't forget to leave a vote and comment, it really gives me the idea of how many people are actually reading these things through and whether I should even continue to do these because doing all the research and writing these puppies takes quite a bit of time (last one took me about 4-5 hours) so if you like the series show some support please! Also if you're on twitter don't forget to leave a follow @allanrayer!
    10) Petr Mrazek - Detroit Red Wings
    drafted by DET 5(141) in 2010
    Not the largest goaltender, standing 6’0 and weighing 184lbs. He possesses a great deal of athleticism and does not give up on shots. Mrazek has been touted as a great competitor, who also has great vision, which makes up for his lack of size. Couldn't dig up much about Mrazek but based off of my own knowledge I know he's going to be a great goalie one day in the NHL and will someday tend the goal for the Red Wings for 60 games a year. He is an incredible athlete who never gives up on a shot. He has Dominick Hasek written all over him. He may not lead such a brilliant career (who knows, he might) but he plays almost identically to the Dominator. Look for him in the Soo next year and look for him to be the starting goalie for the Czech's this world junior.
    9) Oscar Dansk - Columbus Blue Jackets
    drafted by CBJ 2(32) in 2012
    Even with the addition of Bobrovsky, the Blue Jackets needed to stock up on goaltending, particularly after choosing not to sign Mathieu Corbeil. Dansk was considered the third best goaltender in the draft, and while it would have been a steal to land Malcolm Subban or Andrei Vasilevski at 32, the Jackets picked up a very talented netminder in Dansk. At 6’2 and growing he already possesses quite a large frame, and is agile and quick enough to stop shots when he finds himself out of position.
    Perhaps helping his stock rise were the rumours that he is looking to play in the CHL next year, rumours that have proven to be true with his selection by the OHL's Erie Otters. The Blue Jackets would have to be thrilled about the prospect of Dansk playing in North America, getting the opportunity to see him play live a lot more frequently than would otherwise be the case. He plays a similar style to Canadiens superstar Carey Price, using his big frame and quick glove hand to keep pucks out of the net.
    8) Teemu Pulkkinen - Detroit Red Wings
    drafted by DET 4(111) in 2010
    Has first-class, high end talent. Pulkkinen possesses a very dangerous shot, as it is both heavy and accurate. He also has a very quick release. He also has some playmaking skills. Not the best skater in the world, but makes up for it with his ability to hang onto the puck. He looks a lot like Dany Heatley combined with Steve Downie on the ice, using his 5'11'' frame to stir up some trouble. He is projected to be a second line scorer on an NHL team some day, but for now he will suit up for the Red Wings' AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids for 12-13.
    7) Tim Erixon - Columbus Blue Jackets
    drafted by CGY 1(23) in 2009
    Acquired by Columbus from New York in the Rick Nash trade, but the expectations for Tim Erixon were quite high in New York after he essentially forced a trade from the Calgary Flames organization last summer. He started the season in the NHL with the Rangers, but, aside from a few re-calls, Erixon wasn’t quite ready for the jump to the NHL as he ended up spending the majority of the season in the AHL where he scored 33 points in 52 games. A jack-of-all-trades but master of none, Erixon possesses great hockey sense and plays a sound two-way game. He has the potential to be an elite, second-pairing defenseman in the not too distant future.
    6) Ty Rattie - St. Louis Blues
    drafted by STL 2(32) in 2011
    Ty Rattie took a big step forward in his development after slipping to the top of the second round at last year's NHL draft, where the Blues gladly scooped him up. He lit up the WHL in the 2011 season to the tune of 57 goals and an eye-popping 121 points, with Rattie continuing to score at that clip in the playoffs for the Portland Winterhawks. Though he’s not the best skater, he uses his on-ice smarts to find soft spots in the offensive zone and uses his silky smooth hands to either set up a teammate or bury the puck in the back of the net. It’s still early, but it looks like the Blues have a legitimate top-six scorer in the making.
    5) Teuvu Teravainen - Chicago Blackhawks
    drafted by CHI 1(18) in 2012
    Teravainen eluded many radars at the start of the season in Finland's junior level. Injuries with Jokerit's top club opened a spot for the 17-year-old forward and by the end of the season he had worked his way up the depth chart into a top six and power play role, finishing his rookie season with 11 goals and 18 points in 40 games and winning the Jarmo Wasama Trophy as the top rookie in the SM-liiga. He averaged over 15 minutes of ice time in the playoffs and scored two goals, six points in nine playoff games on Jokerit's bronze medal run. He was a key producer for Finland in international play as well with both the U18 and U20 teams. He was ranked 8th overall by ISS and 2nd overall European, but slipped to 18th because of the number of defensemen taken.
    The comparisons to Patrick Kane, who Teravainen lists among his favorite players, are quickly apparent. Between his slim build, blazing speed, and preternatural creativity, the Finn plays a similar style of explosive offensive game. He has proven to be a hard worker after the major strides he took in his draft year as well as a strong team player – Jokerit's second-half improvements largely coincided with his increased role. The rookie made an especially big splash on the power play, where he could not only distribute from the half-boards but also unleash a wicked one-timer. Still just 17 years old, Teravainen will continue developing overseas with Jokerit in Finland's top pro league for the 2012-13 season. Expected to play center for the team next season, the 'Hawks will give him some time before nailing him down a specific position. He has the potential to develop into a productive, top-six forward in the NHL and should get his first taste of the North American style at this year's training camp in Chicago.
    4) Brendan Smith - Detroit Red Wings
    drafted by DET 1(27) in 2007
    Smith, who is regarded as a high-end offensive defenseman, is a silky smooth skater who moves effortlessly. He also has very good vision and soft hands, which complement his overall mobility very well. He compares well to James Wisniewski except a bit taller and a bit more talented offensively. Smith projects as a top pairing, offensive defenseman. He will look to crack the Wings' line up this season after the departure of Stuart and the retirement of Lidstrom, but the young defender will have a long way to go if he wants to fill Lidstrom's shoes. Look for him to be a great rookie this season and I'd definitely take him late in your FHL draft as one of your rookie options.
    3) Jaden Schwartz - St. Louis Blues
    drafted by STL 1(14) in 2010
    Schwartz is a very smooth passer who can thread the needle to just about any one of his team mates, wherever their position on the ice. He often goes behind the net and passes to the front, or enters the zone with the puck, pulls up and then passes to an open man. He is a talented, blazing skater that can fly amongst the league's fastest skaters. He could improve a lot on his shooting and could be more willing to get punished in the corners. As of now, Schwartz plans to finish out his 4th year of NCAA hockey at Colorado College where he will serve as the team's captain. Schwartz looks like he could be a top line, play making centre similar to Derek Roy.
    2) Ryan Murray - Columbus Blue Jackets
    drafted by CBJ 1(2) in 2012
    Murray will likely never lead the league in scoring by a defenseman, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he rounds into one of the most complete defenders to come out of the past few drafts. The Saskatchewan native has the ability to slow the game down, controlling it at his own pace. He plays tremendous man-to-man coverage for an 18-year-old, and his skating is already above average by NHL standards. And while his offensive abilities aren’t world-class, he did post 104 points in 168 games as a member of the Everett Silvertips.
    He was brought overseas in May to represent Canada at the World Championships, and it was there that he really proved he belonged, playing against a higher level of competition. Murray is also a natural-born leader. He’s captained almost every team he’s played for, most recently being named captain of the Silvertips as an 18-year-old. It would not be a surprise if he dons the ‘C’ for the Blue Jackets before his career is finished.
    1) Vladimir Tarasenko - St. Louis Blues
    drafted by STL 1(16) in 2010
    Considered the top Russian-born talent in the 2010 draft, Tarasenko slipped into the mid-first round due to concerns about his contract status in the KHL with Sibir Novosibirsk, the team coached by his father.

    Tarasenko has frequently expressed his wish to play in the NHL and the Blues are confident they added a future first line winger to their organization. Tarasenko's strongest asset is his goal scoring ability with his quick hands and sudden release. His explosive acceleration allows him to create space, where he can score or use his strong playmaking ability. A fiery competitor, he plays with grit and tenacity. He is solidly built at 5'11 202 pounds, and has been playing against men in the KHL since the age of 16, making him one of the more pro ready prospects of the 2010 class.
    Okay guys so there you have it... sorry the analysis' were kinda short, I've been real busy at work and haven't really had a lot of time for research and blogging lately. Don't forget to comment and leave a vote! Thanks!
    Habsguy26
  22. habsguy26
    Hey guys, how are you doing this fine Sunday afternoon?
    Just a little series here to make the summer pass by for you guys. I'll be going through every division and naming each of its Top 10 prospects in the entire division.
    And today we start with the North East!
    Let's get started! (By the way, not being a Habs' fanboy here, just basically based off who I think will have the best careers)
    10) Sebastian Collberg - Montreal Canadiens
    drafted by MTL 2(33) 2012
    The Canadiens were pleasantly surprised to be lucky enough to select such a high-end talent like Sebastien Collberg early in the second round as the 18-year-old was projected as a possible first-rounder. The young right winger may have fallen in the draft after not obtaining any points in 41 games in the SEL while playing against men. Montreal's management believes that Collberg has a lot of potential and felt that his performances against the best players of his age at the U-18 and the WJC were more indicative of his real game.
    Collberg is a very skilled forward with excellent skating skills and speed while possessing excellent one-on-one moves. The Swedish sniper doesn't shy away from the dirty areas, knows how to find the soft spots to score goals, and has an elite wrist shot which he can release in a hurry with great accuracy and velocity. The 18-year-old must add more strength to play along the boards at the more physical men's level and will need improvement on the defensive side of the puck.
    Collberg is under contract for another year with Frölunda in the SEL and will most likely have the opportunity to help Team Sweden defend the Gold Medal at the 2013 World Junior Championship. It is very possible that the young sniper could be playing at the professional level in North America as early as the 2013-14 season.
    9) Ryan Spooner - Boston Bruins
    drafted by BOS 2(44) 2010
    Slick, fast and creative, Ryan Spooner is an offensive-minded, puck-possession player. Masterful at carrying the puck, making defenders miss with paralyzing one-on-one moves and then finding the open man. He’s the kind of player who makes his linemates better. Praised profusely by Boston’s head coach Claude Julien for his intelligence. But in junior has shown a tendency to hot dog and lose focus on his defensive assignments.
    Spooner was the surprise of Boston’s training camp last fall, making it all the way to the final cut. He’s a year older, stronger and more developed now. But the competition will also be tougher. If he doesn’t make it he has a good chance to represent Canada at the World Junior Championships this winter. His playing style is reminiscent of Claude Giroux though he may not have quite that high an upside.
    8) Morgan Rielly - Toronto Maple Leafs
    drafted by TOR 1(5) 2012
    The Maple Leafs opted to select one of the many highly regarded defensemen in the draft with the fifth overall selection. Morgan Rielly missed most of last season recovering from a torn ACL injury that he sustained at the beginning of November. He was limited to only 18 regular season games where he scored at a point per-game rate with three goals and 15 assists.
    Rielly possesses high hockey IQ, top-end skating ability, and a lethal arsenal of offensive tools from the back-end including a high-end puck-moving game. Missing most of the season with injury, it's likely that Rielly will return to junior where he'll have the opportunity to represent Canada at the upcoming World Juniors. He's already made a mark on Maple Leafs brass, standing out at the Maple Leafs Development Camp in early July.
    7) Mikhail Grigorenko - Buffalo Sabres
    drafted by BUF 1(12) 2012
    Flying in the face of the recent practice of staying away from Russian players, Darcy Regier and company opted to make the high risk/reward selection of Mikhail Grigorenko at 12th overall. The Sabres had not picked a Russian in the first round since the forgettable selection of Artem Kryukov in the 2000 draft.
    According to Sabres director of pro scouting, Kevin Devine, "He was the number one guy that we wanted. We thought he was the closest one to possibly a number one center so he was a guy that was right at the top of our list."
    Grigorenko brings a lot to the table for a Sabres franchise that hasn't had a legitimate number one center prospect since they selected Pierre Turgeon first overall 25 years ago. He has tremendous size at 6'3 and he uses his body well to control the puck when entering the offensive zone. He put up outstanding numbers in Quebec last season, with 40 goals and 85 points in 59 games. His skill level is as good as anyone in this draft and if it weren't for his poor play during the QMJHL playoffs (which later was revealed to be due to Mononucleosis), he likely would have gone in the top five picks of the draft.
    Though he has great size already, Grigorenko will need to add some weight to his lanky frame. This could be a major factor in determining whether he makes the team as an 18-year-old, which is another feat last accomplished by Turgeon. Grigorenko will get every opportunity to secure a roster spot in Buffalo but one more year in Quebec wouldn't hurt his development either.
    6) Joel Armia - Buffalo Sabres
    drafted by BUF 1(16) 2011
    Armia is the best goal scoring talent that the Sabres have drafted since Thomas Vanek. The Finnish product is still growing into his 6’3” frame but when he does he could be a combination of size and skill that is rarely seen. He has very good hands and is a remarkable stick handler. He still needs to work on his defensive game and he is not overly physical for his size but he doesn’t shy away from contact either.
    The Sabres will be patient with Armia and allow him to develop in Finland where he is most comfortable for the foreseeable future. Playing in the top league in Finland, he will gain valuable experience against professionals, which should give him the upper-hand over other players in his draft year. Armia will stay in Finland until 2013 when his contract his up and then make the jump to Western New York for the 2013-14 season. He could step right in for the Sabres at that time or head to Rochester for a season of maturation in the AHL.
    5) Nathan Beaulieu - Montreal Canadiens
    drafted by MTL 1(17) 2011
    As well as quarterback the play from the blue line, Beaulieu is a highly mobile defenseman, who carries the puck well and can make things happen on the rush. He is smart about limiting the amount of chances he takes. He is still developing physically. Beaulieu is equally adept shooting and distributing the puck.
    Beaulieu will play his first seaon of pro with the Hamilton Bulldogs after 3 seasons in the QJMHL for the 2011 Memorial Cup Champions, the St John Sea Dogs. He will work on improving his defensive positioning and physical play in his own zone. The offensively talented blueliner projects into a top-three defenseman in the NHL within the next few years if his development continues on its present pace.
    4) Robin Lehner - Ottawa Senators
    drafted by OTT 2(46) 2009
    A hybrid butterfly goalie with excellent size and good overall skills, he uses his big frame to his advantage and challenges the shooters, although not always with the desired consistency. His rebound control needs work as does his concentration and positioning. He moves pretty well side to side and is tough to beat down low which are testaments to his conditioning and mobility.
    Expect to see him play the lion’s share of games this year in Binghamton as the unquestioned starter after winning the Calder Cup, and get in a few NHL starts again to get a feel for the next level.
    3) Mika Zibanejad - Ottawa Senators
    drafted by OTT 1(6) 2011
    There is a lot to like about Zibanejad’s game: offensive skills, intensity, skating and an impressive attitude. His two-way play is mature for a player his age and he just has an innate feel for many of the more subtle aspects of the game such as face-offs and reading the play along with the physical components required to win puck battles and playing tough but within the rules. The offensive skills are there and it’s a matter of more polish and experience at this point. Ottawa will look for him to keep his poise as he develops into a complete NHL power forward.
    Zibanejad made the opening roster of the Ottawa Senators based on a great camp and pre-season last year. We can expect him to suit up for up to 9 games as an audition before the club likely makes their decision on whether to keep him and use the first year of his NHL contract or return him to Djurgården IF for one more year of seasoning in the SEL after this years training camp.
    2) Dougie Hamilton - Boston Bruins
    drafted by BOS 1(9) 2011
    Immense, mobile defenseman who excels in all three zones. Born of Olympic bloodlines, Dougie Hamilton’s athleticism shows in his skating, where he has the speed to recover and catch players if he gets beat on a pinch, the mobility to turn and retrieve dump-ins before opposing forecheckers, and the shiftiness to carry the puck and beat defenders one-on-one. As of this writing Hamilton is 6’5” but he’s grown an inch and a half over the course of the season so he may in fact top out in the 6’6” range. In terms of game play, Hamiton is a strong defender, he has an active stick that he uses to break up players trying to beat him one-on-one and to disrupt passing plays. Reads the play well. Jumps up and joins the rush whenever the opportunity presents and, as a converted winger, is also comfortable carrying the puck and leading the rush. His ability to break up offensive forays combined with his ability to join the attack make him a potent transition threat. He sees the ice well, particularly on the breakout and can recognize both short and long-distance passing options, though he could use some work on his touch when going for distance. In the offensive zone he walks the line well, rotates with forwards, and looks comfortable pursuing the play down low. Has a big point shot and a heavy one-timer that he’s eager to use at the top of the umbrella on the power play. Is highly intelligent both on and off the ice. Also has a burgeoning physical game and shows a penchant for big open ice hits.
    The sky’s the limit for Hamilton. He has all the tools to become a number one defenseman in the NHL. Comparisons have ranged from Brent Burns to Rob Blake, the former being the comp Peter Chiarelli has used. But patience is needed in terms of his immediate future. He’s grown so much, so fast that he’s rail thin, and needs at least another year to fill out his massive frame.
    1) Alex Galchenyuk - Montreal Canadiens
    drafted by MTL 1(3) 2012
    Bergevin and Timmins were absolutely beaming after selecting Alex Galchenyuk with their third overall pick of the NHL draft and the 18-year-old was very excited to be a part of the historic franchise. The American-born player is the big, impact playmaking centerman that the organization has needed so desperately for many years. Bergevin indicated that Galchenyuk was chosen for his excellent offensive skills, vision, hockey sense, character along with a deep desire and commitment to be the NHL's best player.

    After undergoing ACL surgery to start his second year in the OHL, the talented centerman was considered a high risk pick, having only played the last two regular season and six playoffs games in 2011-12. Galchenyuk showed his work ethic by coming back earlier than expected while showing no ill-effects from the knee injury, and impressed people at the NHL combine with his solid results. After the past problems concerning NHL defenseman Andrei Markov's knee, the Canadiens management did their due diligence multiple times before selecting the big centerman as the third overall pick.
    Galchenyuk put up excellent numbers as a 16-year-old rookie, scoring 31 goals along with 52 assists and a minus-eight rating in 68 OHL games. The Canadiens believe that the highly skilled forward would have only improved on those numbers. He needs to improve his first step acceleration, physicality, and defensive zone positioning to be successful at the NHL level. The knee injury has lagged his development for this year and it might be better for 18-year-old to play the upcoming season in the OHL. However, if he continues his hard work and gains more strength over the summer, nobody should bet against Galchenyuk making the Canadiens starting roster for the 2012-13 season.
    Honourable Mentions:
    Nazem Kadri - Toronto Maple Leafs
    drafted by TOR 1(7) 2009
    Boy, his stock has fallen ALOT, hasn't it?
    Jakob Silfverberg - Ottawa Senators
    drafted by OTT 2(39) 2009
    Silfverberg is a strong skating two-way forward with good hockey sense. He is a very smart and mature player and is solid both offensively and defensively.
    Brendan Gallagher - Montreal Canadiens
    drafted by MTL 5(147)2010
    A dangerous scorer in the WHL, Gallagher has terrific quickness, as well as a hard and accurate shot. He is always active and never passive on a shift, able to find open space, while entering high-traffic areas as well. Gallagher is an intense, cerebral player with good overall skills. He utilizes his smaller size to his advantage.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Anyways guys, have an awesome week and I'll see you when I post part 2. Leave a vote and a comment!
    Habsguy26
  23. habsguy26
    Hey guys, this is a new series from me. I'll be going through all of the 2014 olympic hockey teams and projecting their rosters... remember, this is permitting on whether the NHL decides to go there or not... but if Bettman wants to grow the game like he says he does, he will send Sid and Ovie to Sochi. But anyways, Part 2 is on The Czechs. Enjoy, and please leave a vote and a comment telling me how you like the series! At the end of the series, I'm going to put in my brackets and reveal who I think will win the gold, silver and bronze medals. Thanks for your time!
    Head Coach - Alois Hadamczik


    First Line: LW: Milan Michalek C: David Krecji RW: Martin Havlat



    Second Line: LW: Ales Hemsky C: Tomas Plekanec RW: Patrik Elias



    Third Line: LW: Martin Erat C: Tomas Fleischmann RW: Jiri Hudler



    Fourth Line: LW: Tomas RolinekC: Martin Hanzal RW: Roman Cervenka



    Extra Forwards: Micheal Frolik, Vaclav Prospal



    First Defence pairing: LD: Pavel Kubina RD: Tomas Kaberle



    Second Defence pairing: LD: Zbynek Michalek RD: Marek Zidlicky

    Third Defence pairing: LD: Rostislav Klesla RD: Jaroslav Spachek


    Extra Defenceman: Roman Polak




    Starting Goalie: Ondrej Pavelec



    Back-up Goalie: Tomas Vokoun

    Third string Goalie: Jakub Stepanak
    Obviously the Czechs will be missing a main stay in Jaromir Jagr, as he will be long retired by the time Sochi rolls around. Havlat, Hemsky and Michalek will be looked at to fill the role. It will be a tough to to fill, as Jagr is arguably the best Czech to ever lace up a pair of skates. Pretty standard team and no real surprises. I wouldn't expect the Czechs to go to far though, so sorry! But you can expect to see Pavelec on his game.
    The next part of this series will be on the Swedes. See you then.
  24. habsguy26
    First and foremost, let me explain something.
    I decided to come back here to talk hockey. Not fight battles about my past. I'm not going to respond to negativity. No if, and's or but's. If you feel the need to be an internet warrior and attack me about my mistakes, you can go ahead. I am not going to retaliate. If you don't like me, do not read my blogs, do not comment on my blogs, do not message me, do not talk to me in the shoutbox. For this reason, I am refraining myself from participating in shout box conversation. It's as simple as that guys. I'm doing quite fine on my own as it is, whether you believe me about my job title or not, it really does not matter to me in the slightest bit. Because, at the end of the day, when it matters, I come home from my dream job to my dream girl, and I come here to talk hockey. Why? Because it's my passion. Hockey is what I live for, and I'm not going to let certain people on this website rain on my parade.
    Anyways, now that that is off my chest, let's talk some Habs!
    We need Alex Semin. Why? Take a look
    LW - Rene Bourque C - Tomas Plekanec RW - Brian Gionta
    LW - Max Pacioretty C - David Desharnais RW- Erik Cole
    The above is the Habs' top 6. And, one of these things is not like the others. Rene Bourque was acquired from Calgary from the now infamous January 5th "Cammalleri Trade" along with Patrick Holland and a pick. Bourque was acquired to hit, fight, and score, all while playing top line minutes with Plekanec. He did none of that. His 1 fighting major with Montreal came in a game against The Washington Capitals, when Washington players were looking for retribution on Bourque for the hit that concussed their team mate Nick Backstrom earlier in the season. He scored 4 goals and added an assist, along with 9 hits.
    Alex Semin is a player with elite talent that Montreal hasn't had since the man known as Cammy was traded half way through a game with the Boston Bruins. He'd fit nicely on Montreal's first line along with Plekanec and Gionta.

    Listen, I'm not saying Montreal needs to offer him a 14 year 110 million dollar deal, but try to sign the guy at 1-2 years at a cap hit of say, 6 million. He busts, don't resign him. He succeeds with a new team, sign him long term. It's really as simple as that. Though I'm not sure Montreal has been in contact with Semin, I am sure that Montreal has at least had a serious conversation about the idea of bringing him in. You may say he has off ice problems that would only magnify in Montreal. But, you're forgetting who our new coach is. Michel Therrien is a no excuse, no B.S coach that fixed Evgeni Malkin and helped shaped him into the player he is today. Why couldn't he do the same with Semin in Montreal?
    Just some food for the mind.
    Glad to be back,
    Habsguy.
    P.S Just wondering if you guys would like to see another Trade Wars If so, let me know and I'll ask HF101 about it.
  25. habsguy26
    Players acquired by hf101 and the Western Conference
    Blues: Milan Jurcina
    Red Wings: Johnny Oduya and Chris Mason
    Blue Jackets: Clarke MacArthur, Tyler Bozak and a 2012 1st round pick
    Predators: Paul Martin and Tyler Kennedy
    Blackhawks: Paul Gaustad, Patrick Kaleta, Andrej Sekera and a 2012 2nd round pick
    Stars: Dainius Zubrus
    Ducks: Filip Kuba
    Kings: James Van Riemsdyke, Jody Shelley, Marc-Andre Bourdon and a 2012 2nd round draft pick
    Coyotes: Thomas Plekanec
    Sharks: 3rd round pick in the 2012 draft
    Oilers: Jeff Schultz, Mike Knuble, Braden Holtby, and a 2012 1st round pick (Colorado)
    Avalanche: Tuomo Ruutu and Bryan Allen
    Wild: Teddy Purcell and Carter Aston
    Canucks: Scott Clemmenson, Rasmus Bengtsson, Nick Bjugstad and Florida's 1st round pick in 2012
    Flames: Wojtek Wolski, Artem Anisimov, Dan Girardi and a conditional 2012 1st round pick
    (if the Rangers make it to the Eastern Conference Finals)
    The trades I made that were most significant to the Western Conference include the acquisition of Dan Girardi and Artem Anisimov to the Flames, Johnny Oduya and Chris Mason to Detroit, and the young Jeff Schultz and Braden Holtby to the Oilers. The Stars, Blues, Blackhawks and Coyotes strengthened their teams with veteran players as they prepare for the playoffs. A total of 4 first round picks were obtained which will help the teams such as the Blue Jackets, Flames, and Oilers as they continue to rebuild for the future.
    This has been a fun and challenging attempt at impersonating the trials of a GM in their quest to build the best team possible for the needs of now and in the future. We are definitely planning to next years Trade Wars II however we plan to start much sooner so we can finish before the real trade deadline. Thank you for reading and please don't forget to comment and VOTE. Now Habsguy will try to convince you why his team is better.
    ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
    Players acquired by habsguy26 and the Eastern Conference
    Bruins: Brad Winchester
    Sabres: Brandon Pirri, Kyle Beach, Nick Leddy and Andrew Shaw
    Canadiens: Brandon Gormley and a 2012 1st round pick (Phoenix)
    Senators: Jason Blake
    Maple Leafs: Jeff Carter

    Capitals: Ales Hemsky, Magnus Paargarvi-Svensson and Cam Barker
    Hurricanes: Joey Hishon, Cameron Gaunce and Tyson Barrie
    Jets: Petr Mrazek, Landon Ferraro and a 2012 3rd round pick
    Lightning: Josh Harding
    Panthers: Robert Luongo
    Penguins: Ryan Suter and Chet Pickard
    Flyers: Jack Johnson, Trent Hunter and Thomas Hickey
    Devils: Radek Dvorak and Brett Richie
    Rangers: Jarome Iginla
    Islanders: Kris Russel and Jori Lehtera
    Hey you guys, it's Habsguy. What a great series. It was really fun and I look forward to doing it next year. Let me start with the impact players I acquired for my Eastern conference teams. Starting with the North East, the only big impact player acquired was Jeff Cater by the Maple Leafs. He would bring a fast, scoring center to a team that desperately needs it. Carter would drastically increase Toronto's chances at making the play offs.
    Big moves were made in the South East, too. Ales Hemsky gives Ovechkin and Backstrom a world class line mate and Hemsky would excel. If Hemsky played for Washington he'd easily score 80 points. No doubt. Paargarvi is having a bad year, but I think a ticket out of Edmonton is just what he needs. Cam Barker has been a bust since being drafted 3rd overall by Chicago. This would be his 4th team in 4 years, but maybe he could find a permanent home in Washington.... or Hershey. Moving on to Tampa, they acquire a goalie who could push them over the top in Josh Harding. He is one of the best back ups in the NHL and can be a starter. If Tampa had traded for Harding this off season they would be winning the division right now. Then we get to Florida, who re-acquired goalie Roberto Luongo. Florida has been a surprise team this year and is perhaps a goalie away from making a big push, and with Luongo fresh off a Game 7 loss in the Cup finals, he would be the goaltender to trade for. Luongo gives Florida some star power and would improve their play off push immediately.
    Moves for defencemen were big in the Atlantic division. The Penguins traded to get Ryan Suter, one of the biggest names on the Free Agent market this year. He would make them a Stanley Cup favourite, in my opinion. Trading Martin and Kennedy also give them the cap space to resign him this June, too. Chet Pickard is a strong goalie prospect that could eventually push M.A Fluery for his job one day, similar to the situation in Vancouver. This was probably the best move this entire series. For all you Flyers' fans, I went out and traded JVR (and Shelley) in order to acquire a defenceman that would not replace Chris Pronger, but would definitely make things a lot easier then they are without him in Jack Johnson. He is a big, mobile defender who can hit. They also got Trent Hunter who is a solid 3rd line guy, and the 4th overall pick in the 2007 draft, Thomas Hickey. Finally, the last deal of significance made in the Atlantic was Jarome Iginla to the Rangers. This gives the Rangers a LETHAL offence. Although we lost Girardi, we still have King Henrik tending the crease and with Staal, Del Zotto and McDonagh patrolling the blue line, I'm not too worried. Imagine a line of Iginla - Richards - Gaborik coming up against you. You couldn't look me in the eye and tell me that wouldn't be scary. This trade would make the Rangers Cup contenders.
    I also think I got a quality amount of prospects and role players, too. Starting again with the North East, Brad Winchester gives the Bruins a quality bottom 6. Perfect guy for that team. The Buffalo Sabres got 4 of Chicago's best prospects. Brandon Pirri is going to be a solid second line center in the NHL some day. Kyle Beach is a former 11th overall pick and he plays a similar style of Boston's Milan Lucic. Andrew Shaw is a brilliant grinder and he can score too, filling the hole the Kassian-Hodgson trade left. And Nick Leddy, who is already a great NHL player, is a powerplay guy who will be able to put up points from the blue line and is a 1st pairing defenceman. My Habs did well too, acquiring a 1st rounder and THN's 10th ranked prospect in the entire NHL, Brandon Gormley. He lacks flash and flare, but is a reliable defender. He will have an NHL roster spot next season. He was named the top defenceman at this year's World Juniors, too. He is big and very strong with a big shot from the point. Going to Ottawa will be the vet Jason Blake, who will give Ottawa good depth scoring which they will need in this year's play offs.
    The Carolina Hurricanes, who appeared to be sellers, got 3 very good prospects from Colorado. Joey Hishon is ranked 65th overall by THN in their Future Watch, and for good reason. The young center had 255 points in 215 games with Owen Sound in the OHL. Tyson Barrie has been compared to J.M Liles because of his small frame and offensive talents. But the 20 year old defender is a very strong skater, has a wicked wrist shot, has great vision of the ice and can throw his fists too. He is a quality defender who can QB a 1st PP unit. Cameron Gaunce is comparable to Edmonton Oilers' denfeceman Ladislav Smid. He is 6-1, and blocks ALOT of shots. Moving on to the Winnipeg Jets, the acquired Petr Mrazek, an unorthodox goalie who plays similar to Dominik Hasek. Though I doubt he will obtain legendary status like the Dominator, Mrazek will have a good NHL career. He showed he could play with elite talent and excel at this past World Juniors. Landon Ferraro, as said in previous blogs, is slated to become a second line center who can score.
    And FINALLY, we move on to the Atlantic. Radek Dvorak gives the Devils some depth on the wing and a quality presence in the locker room. Also, New Jersey acquires Brett Richie from Dallas. Richie big at 6-3, 200 pounds and very fast. He is supposed to be one of the fastest skating prospects out there. He also has a wicked, NHL ready shot. Good of the Devils to get him in this deal. And the last trade to talk about, is Kris Russel and Jori Lehtera to the Islanders. Though I do not know much of Russel's game, I do know he is a mobile defenceman who can skate. He is a 5-6 defenceman at his best. Jori Lehtera though is different. This big Fin is big and fast, who also has an NHL ready shot. He could be a 2nd line center by the time he's fully developed.
    Okay guys so there it is. Sorry for such a long analysis, I just really want to win this thing. Please don't forget to vote on who won. Thank you for reading the series and see you next year.

  • Who's Online   0 Members, 0 Anonymous, 41 Guests (See full list)

    • There are no registered users currently online
×
×
  • Create New...