tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32660032855911518842024-02-20T19:01:06.373-08:00Hockey BeatHabs Hockey BlogEditorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10289791032894058252noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266003285591151884.post-59304708280396071402012-07-11T10:24:00.002-07:002012-07-11T11:29:30.661-07:00Buying In Bulk<br />
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<span lang="EN-CA">It's been almost two weeks since the free
agent market opened its gates and our beloved Habs made the biggest splash only
after Minnesota's cannonball that landed them both Ryan Suter and Zach Parise.
Marc Bergevin had obviously recognized this team's lack of size and grit and
did not hesitate to remedy the situation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Late last season "The Ghost"
claimed Brad Staubitz off waivers from Minnesota who made an immediate impact.
It had become blatantly clear that this kind of player was necessary to have on
the roster in order to be successful in this division and conference. Ryan
White, who plays two inches and fifteen pounds bigger than his actual frame,
had been injured for almost the entire season with a sports hernia. His return
confirmed the size matters theory but unfortunately this all came far too late
in the season to save it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Staubitz signed on almost immediately with
Anaheim which raises the question if Bergevin already had his sights set on
someone else to fill that role all along. <a href="http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=3242">Brandon Prust</a>, like
White, plays the game larger than his 6'00" 192lbs and tied for the
league's lead last year in fighting majors with Shawn Thornton. He's gone toe
to toe with the likes of Carrillo, Lucic and Gaustad and will defend his
teammates without a moment’s hesitation. At $2.5 million dollars a year for the
next four years he's a bargain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Bergevin also added <a href="http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=2526">Colby Armstrong</a> who
had just been bought out by the Toronto Maple Leafs. He is another winger who
plays a tough game but has some impressive offensive skills as well. He's also
a Habs fan who's his favorite player growing up was Kirk Muller. He signed a
one year $1 million dollar deal but the Leafs will be paying him an additional
million to fulfill the buyout agreement. Thanks Burkie!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">The final piece of Bergevin's free agent
frenzy brings back <a href="http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=1139">Francis
Bouillon</a>, or Frankie the Bull if you prefer, a small but strong Dman who
also moves the puck well and brings some much needed depth to the blue line.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">The Canadiens currently have a little over
eight million dollars left in cap space but there is still one major RFA
contract to be signed with PK Subban. It is uncertain how long or how much he
is willing to sign for but it is safe to say that an agreement will be reached
in the very near future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Even after all of this it would seem that
Bergevin isn't close to being finished for the summer yet. There is word that
Yannick Weber will be a member of the Detroit Red Wings in return for a draft
pick but not until Bergevin pulls the trigger on a different deal that will
bring in another Dman. It is being said that Montreal has put two offers on the
table for Jay Bouwmeester but are in competition with St. Louis. Bouwmeester
has been the subject of trade rumors in Calgary since they acquired Denis
Wideman from Washington just before July 1st and signed him to a five year
contract worth $5.25 annually. Bouwmeester has two years remaining on his
contract with a capital hit of $6.6 million per year.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span><br />
<span lang="EN-CA">Contributing Editor - Robert Alan Ford <a href="https://twitter.com/RAFord77" target="_blank">@RAFord77</a></span><br />
<br /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10289791032894058252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266003285591151884.post-60796028778288564462012-06-27T11:50:00.002-07:002012-07-11T11:16:56.116-07:00In Timmins We Trust<br />
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<b><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;">In Timmins
we trust<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;">So
the man of 2012 in Habs land is Mr. </span><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="http://ontariohockeyleague.com/roster/show/id/6534"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Alex Galchenyuk</span></a></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"> Jr., eh? Well I am
honestly convinced that this young gun could have given his Sarnia teammate </span><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="http://ontariohockeyleague.com/roster/show/id/6539"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Nail Yakupov</span></a></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"> a run for first overall
at the entry draft had he not been injured for the entire OHL season, save two
games and a playoff round. In
comparison, Alex has two inches and ten pounds on Nail despite being almost a
year younger. The on ice stats are tipped slightly in Nail’s favour during the
regular season but almost identical in the 2012 playoffs. That being said, a
season missed <i>is</i> a season missed and
the Canadiens’ new top prospect will only benefit by returning to the Sarnia
Sting for another season and help fuel the debate. Not that he showed any signs
of missing a step when he returned in time for the playoffs and but there is
still room for his development at that level. Another year in the O would help
him learn to dominate and to win at his own level and more importantly pick up
some leadership qualities along the way as he will undoubtedly be looked up to
by his teammates next year. Also, as far as the current CBA states, if he does
not make the NHL after training camp this spring then he can only return to his
CHL team. So realistically speaking, Habs fans will have to wait at least
another year before they get to see Alex Jr. playing for the Canadiens. And that’s
only the bad news……</span></div>
<a name='more'></a><o:p></o:p><br />
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;">The
good news is, as impatient as die hard Habs fans can be for the next young
superstar to bear the CH (myself included), the upcoming AHL season looks quite
promising with a new coaching staff and a huge influx of young talent, especially
on the blue line. The prospects are as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><a href="http://www.vancouvergiants.com/roster/show/id/808"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Brendan Gallagher</span></b></a></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"> (RW) captain and all-time
leading scorer of the Vancouver Giants in the WHL. The second all-time for said
club is Milan Lucic. Reminds some people of a young Brian Gionta due to his
skill set and size but he also has a knack for crashing the net.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><a href="http://www.londonknights.com/roster/show/id/6711"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Jarred Tinordi</span></a></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"> (D) captain of the London Knights in
the OHL. Was a questionable for being picked so high after scoring only one
goal in the 2010-2011 season and finishing minus 9. He quickly silenced any
criticism last season by finishing with a plus 39 and leading his Knights on to
win the OHL playoffs and on to the Memorial cup finals where they lost to
Shawinigan. If that doesn’t spark your interest then how does 19 years old,
6’07” and 218 lbs. sound?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><a href="http://www.cataractes.qc.ca/roster/show/id/7005"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Michael Bournival</span></b></a></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"> (C) captain of the
Shawinigan Cataractes who he led to a Memorial Cup win this year. He has become
a superstar in Shawinigan and is on billboards with a young Guy Lafleur
photoshopped in, leading down the hallway to the ice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><a href="http://www.cataractes.qc.ca/roster/show/id/7152"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Morgan Ellis</span></b></a></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"> (D) also played for
Shawinigan last year. Was picked 117<sup>th</sup> overall by Montreal in the
2010 NHL entry draft. Ellis never caught too much attention until he was traded
from Cape Breton, where he had 25 points in 34 games and was minus 3, to
Shawinigan where he had 27 points in 26 games and was plus 21.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><a href="http://www.saintjohnseadogs.com/roster/show/id/7482"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Nathan Beaulieu</span></b></a></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"> (D) assistant captain for
the Saint John Sea Dogs in the QMJHL who went on to win the league’s
championship. Also won the Memorial cup with the Sea Dogs the previous year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><a href="http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=107533"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Steve Qualier</span></b></a></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"> (RW)</span><span lang="EN-CA"> </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;">drafted 86<sup>th</sup> overall in
the 2008 entry draft and just recently signed to a two way contract out of the USHL.
He played for the Sioux City Musketeers which coincidentally is the same team
Max Pacioretty played for. Pacioretty had 63 points in 60 games and was plus
20. Qualier had 49 points in as many games and plus 16. Oh, and did I mention
He’s 6’04” and 200lbs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;">All
of these youngsters are eligible for the AHL in the coming season so is anyone
excited yet?!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;">It’s
quite the roster makeover from last years’ unsuccessful AHL campaign, however
one that I feel should still have </span><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="http://forecaster.thehockeynews.com/hockeynews/hockey/player.cgi?7442"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Louis Leblanc</span></a></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"> amongst its ranks. He is
arguably one of Montreal’s best prospects and has proven he can score in the
NHL given adequate ice time. However my arguments are as follows; there is
still a year left on his two way contract, he can move up and down as much as
management needs. Mr. Bergevin has already expressed his preference in
developing players properly and not taking risking ruining their careers by
throwing them in too young. Next, some have said that he has learned everything
he can in the A but I’ll disagree and my reasons are similar to the points I
made of Galchenyuk returning to Sarnia. Leblanc needs to learn to dominate and
win at his own level in order to take it to the next one. Ice time with
Gallagher will help build chemistry down the road and develop some leadership
qualities and we can most likely expect three years down the road that they
will be line mates.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;">In
the end, we can thank Trevor Timmins for all this budding talent. He has given
us some already proven talent, most recently in Price, Subban, Pacioretty and McDonagh
and now a new generation is stepping in. Yes he has made some mistakes in the
past but his overall success rate is only rivaled by perhaps Conte and Nill. Hands
down he is one of the best people you could ever have at your table during a
draft whilst trying to rebuild the most storied franchise in the NHL.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;">Contributing Editor - Robert Ford</span></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10289791032894058252noreply@blogger.com2