According to a report posted on the RDS site just shortly after noon today, none of the 9 Hamilton Bulldog bound Canadiens prospects were claimed on waivers.
For Yann Danis, Andrew Archer, Mathieu Biron, Jean-Philippe Cote, Jamie Rivers, Jonathan Ferland, Corey Locke, Duncan Milroy and Cory Urquhart it can be both interpreted as good or bad news.
Of course for the Canadiens, this can only be interpreted as a good thing.
The news means neither that the players are unwanted, or that Bob Gainey has assessed these talents for what they are. As all 29 other teams are in the process of trimming their rosters, it goes against the grain that they would add players at this stage.
One poster at Habs Inside Out predicted the likely critcism aimed at Gainey either way.
"If these guys got picked up on waivers, then Gainey gets crucified. If they don't get picked up, well it just proves that our prospects suck!"
What is encouraging about these players making it into Bulldogs jerseys is that it raises the level of inner competition within the Hamilton ranks. Players on the bubble now deem they could still have a slight shot, while the younger players learning alongside them benefit from the experience.
The good news all around is that the core of the championship Bulldogs sqaud remains intact for another run at the Calder Cup.
Adding to the positive take is that there is a solid and strong lineup in place that should show every player in their best light. Should Gainey field inquiries about these players, their values are raised a notch.
When teams do come calling for the likes of Danis, Milroy, Cote, or Locke, they will be more desperate than they would have been today.
A GM has an easier smile when trading from a position of strength, and that is the chair Gainey will find himself sitting in when the cell rings.
5 comments:
Why does everyone think there is an easy answer to everything?
Why weren't any of our players picked? Maybe because most of the teams don't have holes that can be filled by these players (none of them proved to be NHL ready yet).
Maybe most teams already are close to the 50 players maximum a team can have under contract.
Maybe some teams could be interested in Danis but are hoping to grab Halak instead.
Maybe most teams think they have an already complete roster and like their own farm teams.
"If these guys got picked up on waivers, then Gainey gets crucified. If they don't get picked up, well it just proves that our prospects suck!"
That is predictably a line that will be used by a Montreal Journalist in tomorrow's edition (probably Mathias Brunet) and it's really sad that we can laugh at that concept here in a blog but professional sport journalist can't seem to understand that part.
Good blog, I enjoyed.
I think Gainey got lucky this time around, and it seems that many teams don't do their home work. Next time around when they call these guys up it won't be that easy again. At least, it gives management a chance to move these players at a later time.
I'm kind of curious about this, because I thought the waivers time frame was 48 hrs, not 24???
I was just wondering if anyone had a comment or opinion on Corey Locke. I always though that this guy was going to be a diamond in the rough for Montreal. He reminds me of Derek Roy on Buffalo, and I was hoping he was going to be given a chance this year to see what he can, considering we lack offence and all. I know we have too many small centres, but as long as they produce I don't think anyone would complain. I guess the managment doesn't think he produce in the NHL? Any one care to weigh in on this?
Likely these players will get a call up at somepoint before Christmas. Milroy had a stellar showing last season for Hamilton, and showed great promise in his callup last year. My prediction is that he will get picked up if he has to clear waivers again during the season.
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