Canadiens 2009-10 AHL prospects update

P.K. Subban has been impressive in his AHL debut thus far with 15 points in 28 games and +14

Brock Trotter leads the Bulldogs with 23 points

From Hockey's Future (Jason Menard):

The Baby Habs have been suffering pain this season -- but it's not of the growing variety. Instead, like the parent club, the Hamilton Bulldogs have seen their roster decimated by injuries throughout the season. Add to that the fact that several top players have also been called up to the parent club to replace injured players, and you have a big problem in the making.

At one point this season, the club was so depleted that they iced a line comprised entirely of players on professional try-out contracts. But while prospects have been given opportunity, none has truly grabbed the ball and run with it.

Despite the difficulties and the revolving-door season to date, coach Guy Boucher has had his club more than just being competitive -- they've been surprisingly successful. The Bulldogs are second in the North Division with a 16-7-2-3 record. They've achieved this by the grace of a defense-first philosophy -- one espoused by Boucher, but also mandated by necessity.

The key to a successful defense lies in its last line. The Bulldogs have a premier tandem between the pipes. Cedrick Desjardins is second overall in the league with a 1.45 GAA and has eight wins in 14 games, with a superlative .944 save percentage. In fact, earlier this month, the 24-year-old Desjardins posted a shutout streak of 212 minutes and 37 seconds. That streak challenged a decades-old streak of 249 minutes and 51 seconds set by the legendary Johnny Bower in 1956-67.

Curtis Sanford has been almost as impressive. He's appeared in three more games than his younger partner, and finds himself eighth in the AHL with a 2.19 GAA and a .917 save percentage, en route to a 8-5-2 record.

Desjardins and Sanford have benefited from a premier defensive corps led by the highly-touted P.K. Subban. The 20-year-old has appeared in every game so far in his first professional campaign, and Subban has already shown that he can be an impact defenseman. He is fourth on the team in scoring with five goals and 10 assists in 28 games, but what's been more impressive has been his commitment to the defensive end -- an aspect of his game which has long been called into question. So far, so good for the Bulldogs as Subban leads the team with a plus-14 rating. He's also shown an affinity for putting the puck on the net, firing 67 shots at the opposition and playing a key role on the power play.

Subban's been supported on the blueline by a pair of young prospects: Mathieu Carle and Yannick Weber. Carle and Weber have played in 23 and 24 games respectively for the Bulldogs and both have shown a solid sense of defensive responsibility despite their predilection towards the offensive game. Both find themselves at plus-four and the 21-year-old Weber has played with a bit of an edge earning 24 PIMs.

Both players have made their way down the 401 this season as injury call-ups to the Habs. In fact, Weber was the first call-up of the season, and went for a three-day stint in Montreal. Neither player has enjoyed phenomenal success in Montreal, but both have been key to both the club's limited offensive production and the defensive play that's allowed the sometimes-meager scoring to stand up in victories.

Up front, the club has led in scoring this season by a pair of second-year pros who have remained with the Bulldogs all season. Brock Trotter and Ben Maxwell are one-two on the scoring list, with 23 and 17 points respectively. Trotter's totals of eight goals and 15 assists is good for just 20th overall in the AHL, but his plus-10 rating is good for second on the team (behind only Subban).

Fan favorite David Desharnais has made the most of his opportunity this season. The diminutive forward actually leads the team in goal scoring with nine in 14 games. Were it not for a foot injury that sidelined Desharnais for the team's first 13 games, he would easily be the team's leader in scoring. During the time he's been on the ice, he's proven to be an impact player at the AHL level -- averaging more than a point per game with 16 points in 14 games. The 5'6 forward earned a brief call-up to the Habs, but was unable to find the score sheet in his one game. While his size remains a knock against him, Desharnais has proved his has the offensive flair to succeed in the professional ranks. Whether he can continue to enjoy that success in the bigger, faster NHL remains to be seen, but he's proven so far to be a dynamic addition to the Bulldogs roster and has shown that he will be key to any future success the club may have.

Trotter and Maxwell have been solid this season, but the true revelation has been Ryan White. The former third-round selection, now a second-year pro, helped to make Kyle Chipchura redundant. White has played in just 15 games for the Bulldogs, scoring three goals and adding five assists. He's also showed his skill at rugged play, with 33 PIMs under his belt. The former Hitman did not out of place during his 13-game tenure with Montreal this year, but scored just two assists.

Pyatt -- originally thought to be a throw-in to the trade that saw standout defensive prospect Ryan McDonagh (and young forward Chris Higgins) head to New York -- has proven to be much more than an afterthought. Much maligned at the time, Pyatt's shown the work ethic, grit -- and a surprisingly deft touch around the net -- that has led to him becoming a regular at the NHL level. in 11 games with Hamilton, Pyatt's accounted for six goals and nine points.

The Baby Habs have benefited from the play of other less-likely contributors: J.T. Wyman's physical play earned him a call-up to the NHL. The former collegian is fifth on the team with four goals and 10 assists, and despite his size and physicality, he's shown a great deal of on-ice intelligence, staying away from the penalty box. Ryan Russell has 13 points in 28 games, eight of them goals. The Bulldogs also recently welcomed back Swedish import Mikael Johansson who scored his first goal of the season after spending over a month on the shelf with an injury.
For the club to enjoy success the remainder of the season, both clubs -- the Bulldogs and their parent club -- have to put the injury bug behind them. They've been able to overcome a phenomenal number of injuries to date, but eventually the thinned-out roster will catch up with them unless the sick bay clears.

The team commitment to defense has been a huge boon for all the club's prospects. A more rounded game has proven to be a strong addition to one's professional resume and eases the transition to the NHL level. The Bulldogs lead the AHL with only 59 goals against and a solid defense and brick-wall goaltending has allowed the team to flourish.

Assuming the Canadiens get healthy, the Bulldogs will benefit from some top players returning to the club and a championship run isn't out of the question.

Steady, hard-working Pyatt finding the scoresheet for Dogs

Tom Pyatt battle with Brock Trotter during rookie camp scrimmage

An excerpt from the Hamilton Spectator article:

"His (Pyatt) work ethic is exemplary and he's everything that we ask our forwards to be," says Dogs assistant coach Martin Raymond. "He's relentless on pucks, goes hard to the net and he's not afraid to go to those hack and whack zones, the places where you're going to get a whack or get hit hard. To do that every night is really hard and he's got good conditioning. Our strength and conditioning coach (Darren McConaghy) tells us that he has the best individual warm-up, and how he prepares his body before games and he's obviously been doing that for many years."

Subban making a seamless transition to AHL

Article from NHL.com (Lindsay Kramer):

There will come a time when defenseman P.K. Subban is one of the players who leads the Montreal Canadiens.

That day is a ways off, though, so in training camp Subban was fodder for one of the oldest rookie pranks in the book. His Montreal teammates told him to go first and lead the group onto the ice for a practice in front of a packed crowd. He went out and, of course, everyone else stayed behind. It took Subban a lap around the rink to discover the ruse.

He laughed, naturally, because he appreciates good humor and what else was he going to do? But here's the real punch line: Subban gritted his teeth, came to Hamilton and became part of the backbone of a team that began the AHL season with points in each of its first 10 games.

No joke.

"I think I've been pretty consistent," he said. "It's not like I'm showing up for one game and then waiting to have a good game three games later. It's competing every night, doing your job. It's up to you how long you want to keep your job for."

Put Subban down for a load of minutes, and not necessarily all that many more with the Bulldogs.

Blessed with one of the most appropriate abbreviations imaginable for a defenseman, Pernell Karl Subban is embracing his heavy advance billing. The second-round pick by Montreal in 2007 has transitioned into a Hamilton defensive corps that again looks like one of the AHL's best.

Furthermore, Subban comes pre-packaged with a maturity that matches his cool. He has thoughts on almost everything, yet comes across as measured instead of pushy.

"I'm only 20-years-old. That's me. If you ask for my opinion, I'm going to give it," he said. "As a young guy, I try to be energetic, positive. I've always been a guy who has been loose, but very focused."

That's an understatement. Last summer, Subban, a native of Rexdale, Ont., took a course in introductory French because he realizes the importance of that language to his new surroundings.

Video games? Yeah, he has a PlayStation 3, but it's gathering dust. He's more likely to kill free time by hammering it with a book, most recently one about U.S. President Barack Obama.

"Now that it (hockey) is a job, I read as much as I can. School doesn't come along with hockey unless you want to do it," he said. "This will be the first year I won't be involved in a course. I've made it one of my main hobbies to keep reading as much as I can, to keep my brain strong."

And why shouldn't that organ match the rest of Subban's 6-foot, 202-pound frame? He originally gravitated to the position of defense because of the way he could put a stranglehold on a game from back there, and he hasn't loosened his grip since.

"It's a great position for me. I like the fact you can control the play," he said. "The offense starts with you. And you are the last line of defense, also. It's a lot of fun for me."

Subban marched into the Canadiens' system coming off a 2008-09 season in which he went 14-62 for Belleville of the OHL. The points total tied him for second among league defensemen, and he also was runner-up for the OHL's most outstanding defenseman award. He also won gold skating for Canada in the World Juniors, tying for the lead among all defensemen at the tournament in points with nine (3-6) and leading the tournament with a plus-12 rating. It was the second year in a row in which Subban helped push his country to the top spot in that showcase.

"I knew a lot of people were watching, but I didn't know a lot of people who don't play hockey were watching," Subban marveled of the event's magnitude. "It was pretty significant."

The sustained production now has Subban wrestling with a problem, albeit one he created himself. He appreciates the praise as an offensive defenseman, but bristles at the notion that the label could obscure the rest of his game.

"That's easy for people to put me in that category. My offensive game is something people notice," said Subban, who has 3 assists in his first 10 games with Hamilton. "I think what people don't notice enough is I can make that good first pass out of my zone, and I can play defense. Sometimes I don't think I get enough credit for the other parts of my game. Guys who are just offensive, they don't get very far."

Subban clearly has never had use for such constraints. He's been a player going places for several years now, and he'll reach his final destination with a bull-rush. It will be, no doubt, the kind of brazen charge that everyone in a similar jersey will want to follow.

"How you play is going to be the result of (confidence). If you don't, you will get eaten alive," he said. "There is never a time I feel I can't do something on the ice. I work extremely hard to get better every day. When you do that, your confidence comes out."

Leblanc Shines in NCAA Debut

From HabProspects.com:

When the Habs selected the Pointe-Claire, Québec native at 18th overall in this summers past draft in front of a home crowd, they gave local fans hope of seeing one of their own lace em up for Le bleu blanc et rouge.

Louis Leblanc did not disappoint in his first game in the NCAA, picking up his first career goal and assist as he helped his team turn things around on the road against their ivy league rivals the Dartmouth Big Green. The freshman centered the 2nd line for Havard with friends Alex Killorn and Michael Biega, while also getting time on the top PP unit.

It didn't take long to notice Leblanc on the ice, as his speed, quick hands and aggressive forechecking played a big factor in the game. After Dartmouth took a 1-0 lead in the 1st, Leblanc was able to put his team ahead 3-1 by blasting a shot over the goalies shoulder just a couple minutes after his team broke the 1-1 tie.

In the third period Leblanc while on the PP was able to get the puck to teammate Marshall Everson with a quick one touch pass as he quickly shoved the puck over while in tight with the goalie. This made it 4-1 and would end up being the game winning goal. All in all a good start for the Habs 1st rounder and a statement game by Havard to win a conference game on the road.

For Dartmouth it was a good night for Joe Stejskal as the 5th round pick from 2007 was once again playing on the top pairing, top PP and top PK units. The Minnesota native appears to have bulked up some, filling out his frame more and the upperclassman wasted no time letting Havard players know he was in the game as he threw some big hits throughout game as he easily had at least 4 big hits that left opposing players on the ice.

In addition he was positionally sound and had one good shot on net off a blast from the point and a few more chances while on the PP. The Dartmouth media tab Stejskal as likely the most physical in the conference, although for this game he was not as physical as he's been in the past, he was picking his spots better and was never caught out of position. He was also his teams best PKer, blocking shots and getting the puck out quickly.

Things didn't go as well for Dustin Walsh who was picked in the 6th round this past summer, as it did for Leblanc, but the good news is that he saw a lot of ice time while centering the second line and also got time on the PP as well. The two Hab prospects did find themselves matching up in the face-off circle as each was able to win a few draws. The lanky center was not able to record any points, but can take some positives away from the game as he moved the puck well and worked hard at both ends of the ice.

Habs drop from #2 to #13 in Hockey's Future NHL organizational rankings

From Hockey's Future:

#13- Montreal Canadiens

Strengths: Having traded away several top prospects, the Canadiens prospect pool looks very different than it did last spring. Montreal continues to have good depth in forwards and defensemen, but lacks high-end talent. Max Pacioretty, Ben Maxwell, Matt D'Agostini, and Kyle Chipchura are all players who have tasted the NHL and made a positive impression. Yannick Weber and Mathieu Carle are two players with professional experience who could be moving up to full-time work soon.

Weaknesses: Goaltending is the biggest problem, with the organization a few injuries away from empty. Most of the team's centers are more in the checking mold, and Montreal could do with more physicality here.

Top five prospects: 1. Max Pacioretty, LW, 2. Ben Maxwell, C, 3. P.K. Subban, D, 4. Yannick Weber, D, 5. Louis Leblanc, C.

Scout evaluation: Alexander Avtsin

Alexander Avtsin after being selected 109th overall (4th round) by the Canadiens in the 2009 draft

Below is the entire article written by Alessandro Seren Rosso for RussianProspects.com. Mr. Rosso seems to think that Habs prospect, Alexander Avtsin will develop into a very good player down the road:

After Sergei Ketov has been fired from Dynamo Moscow's head coach position, former Soviet star Andrei Khomutov took his place and he surprisingly gave Alexander Avtsin (Montreal Canadiens) a stable spot in the lineup. Even if in the fourth line, Avtsin gets now regular ice time with Dynamo Moscow and his role grows match after match.

In this particular game, which Dynamo won 4-3 against SKA St. Petersburg, Alexander Avtsin (Montreal Canadiens) played as fourth line left winger, with center Anton Krysanov (Phoenix Coyotes) and right wing Denis Tolpeko. Since the start the crowd could admire his flawless skating, joined to an excellent top speed and acceleration that makes him one of the fastest players of the team, despite he doesn't have too much time to display that. His line – at least in the first period – often faced opponents' first unit, made up of Alexei Yashin, Petr Cajanek and Maxim Sushinsky, certainly not a good test. They didn't look out of place and even if they hurt the impact of such a great troika, they didn't allow goals nor particular big chances. An area that Avtsin showed the need to work on is his passing game. For the whole game he simply delivered the puck to the nearest line mate trying to go to the net or to search space forward. On the other hand, he looked comfortable both with and without the puck. At the seventh minute he used twice his excellent speed to get in dangerous position. First Denis Tolpeko dumped the puck in the zone towards him, finding him beyond the goal line on the other side, even if the rush has been wasted because of an error of the same Tolpedo. Not much later he burned a defenseman with his speed, calling a pass from Krysanov, but the invite has been intercepted by a blue liner. It could have been Avtsin's first goal in the KHL, which doesn't look to be a far result considering how well he is doing lately. Another surprise for this game was his defensive play. Certainly, he's not a defensive specialist and will never be one, but he tried really hard in any shift, often trying to play physically and to bother the opponents touching them not dirtily. His speed is also useful in defensive situations too as it permits Avtsin to get back quickly. He also keeps on getting his feet moving and that's helpful too, especially if his team gains a puck after a turnover and needs to get in the other zone quickly. Unfortunately Avtsin hasn't been played much in the second period, when Anton Krysanov (Phoenix Coyotes) was moved up to the third line to join veteran Vadim Epanchintsev and Dmitri Shitikov, demoting Ivan Nepriaev in the fourth unit. Down by two goals, Khomutov preferred playing the top lines more and he was right at the end as they managed to grab three points against a fierce opponent.

To sum it up, Alexander Avtsin (Montreal Canadiens) played a good match, especially considering that he didn't play a lot. He made no errors and gave the hundred percent in all the shifts, even back in the own zone, were doesn't excel. He also needs to bulk up and working on his passing play, but his combination of a smooth skating and above average technique makes him a valuable, reliable player even for a team of Dynamo Moscow's caliber. He needs to play a little bit more, but all will arrive with the time.

To Play For Harvard Requires Brains On Ice

A small excerpt from the Boston Globe article which talks about the hockey program at Harvard and one of its newest freshman recruits, Habs prospect Louis Leblanc:

Leblanc, the freshman from Montreal, says that when he was interviewed by NHL teams before the draft this spring, he encountered a lot of resistance to his Harvard plans. “Most teams didn’t really understand my thought process,” he says. “Obviously it was a concern for me, but I trust coach Donato, and I kind of bought what he told me. He went here. He played in the NHL. He had a 13-year career. It worked out fine for him.”

Happy, Go Lucky P.K

An excerpt from the Hamilton Spectator article by Scott Radley:

More than two hours after the players had first hit the ice for an uptempo practice -- and long after many had already bolted for the restful sanctity of the dressing room -- he's still out there. Not just standing around idly shooting.

Catching the eye of a couple teammates on the bench, he grabs a puck and with an inexplicable burst of energy starts dipsy doodling through his legs and around an imaginary opponent for 15 or 20 seconds before finally depositing a shot just under the crossbar. Then, as if he'd just scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal in overtime of Game 7, he starts an over-the-top celebration punctuated by a smile so big you wonder if his entire head might disappear into his mouth.

Welcome to the life of P.K. Subban. Hockey player. Character. Happiest man on the planet.
"Even if you beat him into the ground and he's dying, he'd always have a smile," says Hamilton Bulldogs head coach Guy Boucher about his rookie defenceman.

Habs NCAA Prospect Season Preview

Danny Kristo at the US development camp last year

Excerpt from HabProspects.com article:

The North Dakota Fighting Sioux are coming off a WCHA championship and Head Coach Dave Hakstol was named Coach of the Year in the WCHA, they will look to repeat last season's success as they are one of the very best programs in all of college hockey. For Freshman Danny Kristo and Mike Cichy they couldn't wait to join the Sio/ux as they verbally committed to the school over two years ago as the former teammates from the USNDTP U-17 are now roomates at North Dakota.

It didn't take long for Kristo to earn praise from the local media as they quickly took note of his impresssive speed and quick hands. He is playing on the clubs's top line and top PP unit and in a show of confidence from his coach, he is spending much of the PP on the point and in his regular season debut this weekend he picked up two points and saw a large amount of ice time.

Mike Cichy has found himself on the 4th line often on a line with the younger brother of Jonathan Toews, it didn't take long for him to get hsi name on the scoresheet as he picked up three points this weekend in his regular season debut. Unlike Kristo who is a shooter first and foremost, Cichy appears to distribute the puck, but on his goal he showed some quick hands by firing off a shot the second it hit his stick. Next weekend will mark the first real test of the new season as the Sioux will welcome rivals the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

Hamilton Bulldogs 2009-10 preview

With younger prospects like P.K.Subban and Yannick Weber playing at the pro level, will Mathieu Carle be the forgotten man along the blueline?

An excerpt from the Hockey's Future article by Jason Menard who previews the upcoming season for the Hamilton Bulldogs:

Defense The club will be led by a trio of offensively gifted blueliners: returning veterans Mathieu Carle and Yannick Weber, and highly-touted (and highly-anticipated) professional rookie P.K. Subban.

Joining the young trio are players like returning vet Andre Benoit, who returns to the Steel City after a sojourn in Europe, and returning players like J.T. Wyman, Chad Anderson, Shawn Belle, and Frederic St. Denis. Alex Henry is on the roster, but is still recovering from a broken arm.

With the big three in place, the Bulldogs should be dominant on the power play and will be effective in transition. However, even that stability comes into question depending upon how the Habs fare in light of losing stalwart blueliner Andrei Markov for four months. Weber, who saw some action in the playoffs last season with the Canadiens, could be called up to fill the void. Weber, likely, will need a full season in Hamilton, but Carle could find his way to the NHL as an injury replacement.

Canadiens Top 20 Prospects 2009-2010

Steve Quailer after scoring a goal with his former USHL team, Sioux City Musketeers

An excerpt from HabProspects.com:


Steve Quailer had a solid freshman year for Northeastern, after maing the jump from the USHL where he was his club's rookie of the year. The 20 year old winger was named to the Hockey East All Rookie Team but this year it's been reported that he will be moved to the center position in a move that the Habs likely won't mind as he's got a big frame and moves well plus he has shown that he has good hands, as the Habs certainly could benefit from another quaility center prospect if things work out for him there. His team will be hard pressed to repeat last seasons success as one of the top ranked teams in the NCAA, but if Quailer does well he could see an increased amount of ice time which will be good for his development.

Game Report: Mac Bennett

Habster:

Here is an excerpt from the HabProspect.com article regarding Habs prospect, Mac Bennett who appears to be a real steal for Trevor Timmins and his scouting staff.....among many steals in a solid 2009 draft.

In the first period he displayed his smooth skating and speed by rushing the puck up ice but could not get past the defense. Later on he had a shot on net that was deflected wide, but was hitting teammated with tape to tape passes making it look easy. Towards the end of the first he got a good wrist shot on net from the high slot, forcing the goalie to make a good save. He also showed a willingness to take a hit to make the play in his own end and had one hit in the offensive zone after he couldn't keep the puck in. Cedar Rapids ended the first with a 2 to 1 lead.

In the 2nd period Bennett made a nice play while on the PK, as he broke up a 2 on 1 when he dropped to the ice to block the pass as he timed it perfectly. Continued to show good poise with the puck, never seemed to panic in any situation or at any area of the ice. While on the PP he took the puck from behind the net, turned the jets on as he rushed up ice, broke in the offensive zone and got the puck deep before getting it a teammate which led to Cedar Rapids only PP goal. The club had a 4-1 at the end of the second period.

Canadiens Top 20 prospects, Fall 2009

Below is a small exerpt from the Hockey's Future article which rates the Habs top 20 prospects:

11. (NR) Joonas Nattinen, C, 18 Acquired 3rd round, 65th overall, 2009

Big, skilled, and fast -- the 6'2 Nattinen may eventually develop into the large center for whom the club has been searching.

With excellent hockey sense and a strong ability on faceoffs, Nattinen is highly regarded and has been touted as a can't-miss talent. He'll remain in Finland this season and the club will look to bring him to North America the following season.

Nattinen, who remains with Espoo Blues in Finland, will play a larger role on that squad. The young forward also played on the top power-play unit at last year's World Junior Championship and will be looked to fill a similar role long term with the Habs.

Habprospects.com 2009 Annual Prospect Awards

Below is an excerpt from the HabProspect.com article:

Fastest Skater- To the overall quickest prospect

Danny Kristo

Runner Up- Ryan Russell, Maxim Trunev

When you watch Danny Kristo play, it's clear his game is based on speed, speed and more speed as he looks to have jets tied to his skates when he's flying up and down the ice.

Ryan Russell has some major wheels and he put them on display this past season as he lead the team with 4 shorthanded goals. The Russell-Chipchura duo would often be on the ice to kill penalties or help protect a one goal lead late in the game.

Trunev started the season in the KHL at age 17 but that didn't stop him from showing off his impressive foot speed and acceleration where he spent most of the season with Severstal but only saw limited ice time for the most part.

IceDogs sign Habs goaltending prospect Petteri Simila

Habster:

It's finally official. Niagara IceDogs Media Relations Officer, Brianne Whitty has released the worst kept secret in the CHL.

There were reports that the IceDogs were pushing hard to bring Simila over to North America as they had his rights.

Here's hoping that Petteri Simila will develop more steadily than another Canadiens goaltending giant by the name of Jason Missiaen who hasn't exactly flourished playing for the Peterborough Petes last season (3.81 GAA and Save % of .904 in 38 games).

Granted, the Petes were the fifth worst defensive team in the OHL with a very young defensive corp so maybe Missiaen's poor stats are a bit deceiving at first glance.

Here's the new release:

The Niagara IceDogs are pleased to announce that they have signed goaltender Petteri Simila to an OHL standard contract.

Simila was selected by the Dogs in the first round, 21st overall, in the CHL Import Draft conducted earlier this summer. The 6'6", 189 lb native of Oulu, Finland was a member of the Karpat Jr. team of the Finnish Elite League during the 2008-09 season.

Simila was also selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the 7th round, 211th overall, in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

"We are excited to have Petteri join our team. After meeting him in Montreal I knew that his skill level and ability would be a great addition to our club", says IceDogs GM Dave Brown.

It is expected that Petteri will get to St.Catharines sometime mid-August. This way he will be able to get acclimatized to the new environment before training camp and the season begin. He will train together with local players such as Alex Friesen, Johnson Andrews, Marco Insam and the Hamilton brothers at White Oaks to get ready for Training Camp that begins on August 25th.

Solid 3rd line potential for Bulldogs

An excerpt from the HabProspect.com article which takes a look at a potentially solid third line for new Bulldogs head coach Guy Boucher:

When the 2009-2010 season gets underway in Hamilton, the Dogs will have a new look not only on the ice but behind the bench as well. With Guy Boucher taking over as the new Head Coach for the Bulldogs, and the roster turnover that has taken place, it's anyones guess as to who will be paired up with who and if returning players will be reunited with linemates from last season, but you can expect that it will be a hard working team and that could pay dividends for a possible 3rd line of Russell-Pyatt-White.

Q & A with Habs prospect Alexander Avtsin

Below is an excerpt from the RussianProspects.com article:

And what else did they teach?

We had a very interesting meeting about ties with journalists. They teach us how to work with the camera. And also that journalists usually ask the same questions (pause, sly mow)…

Really interesting…

That it’s better to anticipate questions, never be ashamed, always smile and reply calmly. (smiles) We also had meetings with focus on skating, stick handling, different kinds of shoot. Their methods of training were really interesting. While training our skating we had drills made up for figure skating. I never worked like that. Americans were used to train like that while I looked like a dunderhead (smiles). But I tried hard and the coach praised me because I skate well, even if the he gave me the puck and showed my errors.

You had many?

Well yes. I will have to train at least 15 minutes on ice working separately on them. I didn't know the drills they showed me, either the ones for the agility or for the flexibility. It was truly useful to me.

Never felt like it would be hard to adapt to the NA style of hockey?

I've got double feelings, I played quite well. I didn't score, but I had two assists.

Rinks are smaller...

You simply have to think faster. Shoot, never limit yourself and that's all. In America the game is simpler, just dump the puck in the zone and go. In Russia you get into the zone, there is plenty of room, you can do a pause. There it's simpler, but you have to shoot or you'll get lost.

In an interview with Soviet Sports magazine in America you said that in Canada there is such an organization that in the locker room there is bubble bath and hairspray.

Yes and friends now tease me for that. (smiles) There were also shaving cream and razors.

Development camp: Mac Bennett

Below are two excerpts from the Canadiens.com article by Shauna Denis

“I feel really good. Being here helps me realize the importance and the extent of everything that’s happening right now and I’m learning a lot, on and off the ice,” explained the young blue-liner, directly following a battery of physical tests. “It’s a really useful and complete experience. On the ice, we’re learning how to improve our skating and how to make sure we’re shooting properly. At the same time, we’re also learning training techniques as well as how to handle pressure and the media.”

Later in the article, the 17 year old Bennett was taken aback by the Habs' crazed fans:

“I still can’t believe how into it the fans are here,” added Bennett, referring to the hundreds of Canadiens fans who have flocked to the Bell Sports Complex to check out the stars-in-training this week. “There’s nowhere else where you’d get this many fans to come and see a bunch of young guys getting skating lessons. I couldn’t have asked to be drafted to a better team.”

Canadiens 2009 draft review

Louis Leblanc taking shot during yesterday's development camp drills (Photo credit: Phil Carpenter, The Gazette)

Excerpt from the Hockey's Future article by Jason Menard:

Louis Leblanc, C, Omaha (USHL)1st round, 18th overall

Ht: 6', Wt: 178, DOB: Jan. 26, 1991

Rarely does a pick match a team's need and fan desire -- but such was the case with the Habs' first-round selection of the Point-Claire, QC native. When the hometown club announced the selection of the hometown player in the hometown draft, the Bell Centre's rafters shook. Between the fan reaction and the media horde who quickly surrounded him, Leblanc had a crash course in Habs 101.

"Any young player from Quebec being a first-round pick of the Canadiens is going to face lots of pressure," Timmins said. "He's pretty mature, though, he'll be able to handle it."

Growing up in Montreal, becoming a Hab has been a life-long dream -- and after hearing his name called he was at a loss for words.

"It's impressive. I had goosebumps. There's not really any words to describe this feeling," Leblanc said. "My favorite team growing up and to wear this jersey tonight is unreal. Looking forward to this moment my whole life, and I'm just living it right now."

Leblanc was named USHL rookie of the year this year, after leading his Omaha squad in points. He caught the Canadiens' brass' eye much earlier than that.

"I saw him at the Canadian under-18 camp in Calgary and he really impressed me. He plays all facets of the game and he plays them with intensity and passion," Timmins explained. "He's a natural goal-scorer and he's a really smart kid."

This smart kid is heading to Harvard after forsaking the Canadian junior route for the USHL. Leblanc said he's going to make the most out of his opportunity at the prestigious university, however he wouldn't rule out leaving early -- adding that he could always return to complete his studies.

"I need to get bigger and stronger and I think a few years at Harvard won't hurt," Leblanc said. "When I'm ready, I'm going to leave and try to make this team."

Time is something the Habs are happy they have on their side. Timmins explained that the young forward still has some maturing to do, physically. "

Physically he's not there yet; he's got a way to go. But I have no doubt he'll catch up," he said. "Of course, he'll put on more weight and he's 6'0 -- that's not small. "

We don't put any timeline on any of our guys. We'll see where he's at and take it one year at a time. We'll watch him at the World Junior tryouts and see how he's doing."

Petteri Simila OHL Bound

Excerpts from the HabProspects.com article:

The CHL Import Draft saw two Hab prospects get selected, Petteri Simila 21st overall by Niagara Ice Dogs and Alexander Avtsin was picked 43rd overall from the Quebec Remparts, it appears as though Simila will report to the OHL but Avtsin will not report to the QMJHL.

With the Niagara Ice Dogs losing their starting goaltender to Nashville, Simila should get every chance to be a starter although he will likely only spend one season in the OHL since he is a '90 born, he would have to play as an overager the following season and that's rare for a Euro Import.