Habs For Breakfast - 2008-03-06

Starting off today with a must read from NHL.com.

Carbonneau Has Habs On A Roll - NHL.com

"Carbonneau has that insouciant, "Who else would you have back here?" look, much as Blake did. Sure, here and there you can see the wheels turning with Carbonneau, but more often, there's the "everything's fine" aura that Blake had, the looking at the scoreboard while he scolds a player – which player, we wonder?" - John McGourty

Carbo Places Faith In Rookie Price - Gazette

"The decision to start Price is a bit of a surprise because he's coming off what might have been his worst performance in a Canadiens uniform. He gave up six goals on 39 shots in a 6-4 loss to the San Jose Sharks Monday." - Pat Hickey

Death By PK - The H Does Not Stand For Habs

"If Guy Carbonneau and his staff are making a list of things to improve before the playoffs start, I hope it begins and ends with the penalty kill. Because, honestly, the PK is killing the Habs." - J.T.

Are The Canadiens Hindering Latendresse's Development? - All Habs

"From the onset, the Latendresse dossier was a difficult decision and gave Bob Gainey a lot to think about before the 2006-07 season. Let's face it, Latendresse was this big, talented 19 year old junior player who scored 43 goals with his QMJHL team."

De la compétition à prévoir à la defense chez le Canadiens - Le Journal

"Après avoir vu Chris Higgins, Tomas Plekanec, Guillaume Latendresse, Andrei Kostitsyn, Maxim Lapierre et Sergei Kostitsyn se greffer à l'attaque du Canadien depuis trois ans, attendez-vous à l'arrivée d'une vague de jeunes à la défense au cours des prochaines années." - Marc De Foy

Komisarek a des choses à se faire pardonner - Le Journal

"Maintenant, c'est à nous de rebondir après la mauvaise performance offerte lundi à San Jose, a-t-il raconté. La journée de congé de mardi nous a permis de recharger les piles et de faire le vide mentalement." - Komisarek

Cinq papas bien fiers de leurs fils - Le Journal

"Ça faisait longtemps que je ne m'étais pas retrouvé sur la route avec mon fils. Ça me rappelle de bons souvenirs" - Bob Higgins

A la recherche de l'adversaire idéal - Le Journal

"Si le passé est garant de l’avenir, on peut penser que plusieurs fans du Canadien aimeraient que l’équipe se mesure aux Bruins de Boston en première ronde des séries. En effet, le Tricolore a vaincu la troupe de Claude Julien six fois en autant de matchs depuis le début de la saison. Les deux formations ont à nouveau rendez-vous les 20 et 22 mars dans une série aller-retour." - Benoit Rioux

La chance de surprendre - RDS

"Pendant que le Canadien se prélasse depuis quelques jours à Phoenix, les Coyotes jouaient hier à Dallas, où ils ont signé un gain de 2-1. La formation de l’Arizona n’a pas mérité deux victoires consécutives depuis les 16 et 18 février dernier."

L'atmosphere demeure positive - RDS

"On sait ce qui a mal fonctionné contre les Sharks. Les routines qu'on a répétées à l'entraînement nous ont permis de faire des correctifs. On s'est entraîné avec entrain dans la bonne humeur. C'était agréable." - Chris Higgins

Une surprise nomeé Alex - La Presse

"Celui que l'on surnomme Kovy n'avait pas l'air d'un grand rassembleur il y a un an. Que non. Il avait plutôt l'air d'une diva qui refuse de couler avec le bateau, d'un gars qui cherchait à se sortir de Montréal au plus vite, et pas seulement parce que ça ne le tentait plus de pelleter son entrée de garage." - Richard Labbé

Could Jokinen Be The Answer For Habs?

Occasionally I like to make a foray into the realm of something speculative such as trade talks and free agent signings in regards to where the Canadiens are going and what they need to get there. The opportunity arose this week when a poster at Habs Inside Out suggested the Canadiens make an impact trade to improve their Stanley Cup chances this season.

At first, I completely repelled the idea of this particular trade as lacking foresight and being of an impatient nature. At first, my thought was that if the Habs want to aquired a player for the playoffs, I wanted someone with proven post season experience before I'd consider it. The player being speculated here has not appeared in the playoffs since joining the NHL in 1997. I grinded my teeth, but as I thought it over, I started to sit on the fence and ponder the "what if's" and it occurred to me that looking at something like this, Bob Gainey might be tempted to consider it.

The blogger's name was T - Roy West, and suggested that the Canadiens send Guillaume Latendresse, Michael Ryder, one of Pavel Valentenko, Ryan O'Bryne, or Mathieu Carle, and a first or second rounder to the Florida Panthers for Ollie Jokinen.

T - Roy's logic was that Jokinen, who makes around $5.3 M for two more seasons, would enable the Canadiens to have two dominant lines, and hence go for the Cup big time. He goes on to say that "this wouldn't hurt our future because we don't need Ryder, Latendresse can be replaced, and none of the defenceman are playing for the team anyways. I would almost give up more".

Jokinen is the piece to the puzzle that were missing. People are always saying we need a power center, well there he is. Everyone else (teams) above us will try (to aquire Jokinen), why not us?

It makes for an interesting argument, and it is worthy of a deeper analysis. I thought I'd give it my best, unbiased pro and con treatment and see whether in Gainey's shoes I'd pull the trigger on this.

Before I get to that, I must add that I believe the deal as is, may be doubtful given Jokinen's salary fitting into the team scheme beyond this season and Florida GM Jacques Martin's penchant for wanting the moon in return of a player in demand. Jokinen is the Panthers markee player, if there is such a thing in Florida, and Martin would perhaps ask for a center of NHL calibre in return. The Canadiens will not part with Tomas Plekanec, and I've a feeling that is where the trade talk would die.

Now for the rose coloured glasses view, you have to admit that Jokinen would fit in nicely between say, Chris Higgins and Sergei Kostitsyn. Saku Koivu, a fellow Finn, might even be tempted to take up the wing slot alongside his countryman. It would indeed give the Habs two killer lines, and possibly a third if Koivu stayed at centre, found a certain fusion with two other wingers, and maintained his annual pace. Alex Kovalev could maybe play alongside Ollie too, and then we'd have the two Kostitsyn's with Plekanec full time.

The depth loss created by having moved both Latendresse and Ryder would be made up by reinserting Mathieu Dandeneault back on a fourth line role temporarely, and would be filled down the line with other prospects.

On the further upside of things, Jokinen would surely continue to produce at above a point per game ratio he is accustomed to with the quality of wingmen Montreal could offer. The Canadiens would surely achieve the post season and go deeper than they might this year wth such a lineup.
The deal might be a good one if we were to go all the way to the finals.

I'd be dreaming if I suggested this move is what it would take to win it all this season, but as a Habs fan that remembers 1971, 1986, and 1993 clearly, I'll admit that sometimes anything is possible when a team gels at the right time of year.



















Now I'm going to remove the rose coloured glasses without any pessimism, and tackle the issues that would make me, or other fans of the team uncomfortable with this scenario.

Say we don't win the Cup this year or next, is the deal as salivating?

I don't see Montreal upsetting Detroit or Anaheim if they even manage to win their own conference this season. Not this year, and unfortunately, not the next. I see this edition of the Canadiens becoming the true powerhouse they need to be, happening in a little over two years time, when they will be as dominant as the Red Wings are now.

There are certain elements I'll want Montreal to retain from this trade for that time, and it starts with Latendresse, who I feel it is way to early to give up on. The upside on this player is 40 goal scorer. Since arriving in Montreal, as a local products of sorts, the kid's every flaw has been scrutinized beyond logical sense. In a season and a half, as a 19 and 20 year old, he's given the team 30 goals. When his game rounds out and certain flaws get smoothed over, his responsabilities and icetime will improve. He'll then be the type of power forward sought by 29 others teams, and we will malign the fact then that we don't own a net crasher with his ability.
Not that I like him any less, but it would be smarter to part with Maxim Lapierre, as Kyle Chipchura is ready to assume a very similar role with the team.

I like Michael Ryder as well, but I've come to terms with the notion that he is a one trick pony. Ryder has a wicked shot that has served the team well for over three seasons, but he has been surpassed on the Habs depth chart by as many as three youngsters - the Kostitsyn brothers and yes, Latendresse. Unfortunately for our favorite Newfie, he has to find his game in less than favorable second and third line conditions. He's had a touch more success lately due to the fact that the line he plays on is no longer the line keyed on by opposing coaches game plans as a priority.

I would be willing to sacrifice Ryder in a trade, over losing him for nothing to free agency. I'm not sure there is much market for Ryder to fetch the Habs anything of consequence in a one on one deal, so packaged is the best way to assure a valuable return for him.

Given a choice between O'Byrne, Valentenko, and Carle to be thrown in the deal is akin to blind dart throwing. There is a certain sense of O'Byrne's worth when it comes to known quantities, and much less so in the cases of Valentenko and Carle. O'Byrne has value to other teams because he is a physical monster. If teams want to pattern themselves after the last Cup winner and build a team of fearful size, then Rhino is your man. His upside is that of a steady stay at home defender who will bruise the opposition when prompted. He has an allure to his game that I feel the Habs must wait on for its upside to show and a full NHL season might accomplish that. I'm not sure the Canadiens would feel comfortable giving up on him before that upside is answered a bit more conclusively.

With Valentenko and Carle, it's harder to how soon they can become NHL regulars. The Hamilton Bulldogs have had a tough go of it so far this season, and it is mainly due to a thin defense and injuries at that position. Unless Florida has scouts who have followed these two players closely, it is doubtful that they would be Panther priorities in a trade with Montreal. It is said that Valentenko's play is more axed in the rugged defensive subtleties of the position, while Carle has good first pass instincts to go with a quarterback's reading of the game in front of him.

My thinking is that if an NHL GM is discussing the Habs defenseman prospects in trade talks, first rounder David Fischer is more likely on their radar. Seeing as how last season's top pick, defenseman Ryan McDonagh, is spoken of more highly than Fischer, then I would rather part with him over both 2006 draft counterparts Carle and Valentenko. Granted, it's just a hunch on my part. Defenseman take longer to mature into full time NHL'ers, so my thinking is to offer up the player who may be the furthest away.

















The last componant of the deal suggested by T - Roy involves a first or second rounder.

My take is that a team should never trade a first rounder in what appears to be a strong draft.

Offer anything such as a flip of choices one or two years later, a pick conditional on a Cup win as Anaheim did in the Pronger trade, or future considerations on predetermined players that could be worked on at a later date.

Now in all fairness, in a devils advocate mode, let's slip into Jacques Martin's collar and Bob Gainey's shoes and try to sense and feel their way throught the deal that T - Roy has proposed.
Martin will say that he likes the upside on Latendresse, of course, but he dwells on his lack of footspeed.

He adds that without the top line centerman that he is parting with in Jokinen, the aquisition of Latendresse or Ryder doesn't presently improve his team down the middle.

Martin asks for Maxim Lapierre and Latendresse, but Bob Gainey balks at the idea of dealing two Quebec born players in the same deal. Gainey lightens his hold on first round picks offering the Panthers the option to flip picks on demand in any draft over the next three seasons.
Martin says that is barely a starter for him in this deal, but says that he will turn to the option later if needed.

The Florida coach discusses the trio of defenseman that Montreal are offering (O'Byrne, Carle, and Valentenko) and suggests that being they are unknown quanities, he would like his choice of any two.
























Gainey steps back, and says that if Martin wants to reap the Habs farm, he'd better bring another player into discussion with Jokinen.

Talks turn to Ryan McDonagh, and Gainey bluffs of hanging up the phone. David Fischer is put on the table by Gainey, and Martin doesn't get flustered.

Martin goes back to Gainey's reluctance to part with both Latendresse and Lapierre and brings yet another name into the scenario. He suggest that if Gainey cannot part with the pair together, he wants Kyle Chipchura and Lapierre to rebuild his depth down the middle.

Martin also inputs that since he is backing off on the best prospect the Habs have tabled in Latendresse, he wants a shot at a Habs UFA in Mark Streit. He suggests that if Gainey were able to sign him to a three year contract extension at the right price, they could really move forward with this deal.

Gainey suggests that he has the cap room to offer Panthers restricted free agent defenseman Jay Bowmeester one alluring long term deal come July 1, 2008, and Martin gets a little less cocky.

Martin decides to play his cards, and offers Jokinen for Lapierre, Chipchura, Ryder, Streit, and Fisher for Jokinen, and offers to throw in the option of a Panthers second rounder or Richard Zednik to seal the deal.

Gainey hums and haws.

Martin goes back to the first round pick, Latendresse, Ryder, O'Byrne, and Fischer, and suggests that Gainey choose between either Lapierre or Chipchura to replace Ryder in the talks, and they have a deal. Martin reiterates that Gainey can choose between Zednik or the second rounder as add ins.

Gainey replies that he has more interesting and less costly options, but promises to get back to Martin in 48 hours.

Well, there you have it - a combined medling of four possible opinions: T - Roy West's suggestion for a trade, filtered through my take seen from the specualtive eyes of the GM's involved.
You, the reader, will surely have your own opinions on it.

I would relish hearing them all and reading about how you would tinker with the proposed deal.
Do you have other ideas?

I welcome your comments on this one.

Wecome Back Habs, Kovalev!

Yesterday started out as a good one for me. I finished a 12 hour shift at 7 in the morning and walked outside to relative sunshine and warmth. Not only had the day been anticipated and calendar circled for some time for hockey reasons, but it's anticipation gathered extra steam about two weeks ago with the announcement that my rock 'n' roll buddah was about to tour again, with tickets going on sale September 17.

So after bagging a pair of tickets to see Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band in Ottawa on October 14, what could possibly make this day better? My daughter making travel team after potting 5 goals in an exhibition scrimmage?

A Canadiens win in their first preseason game would cap it off nicely!

In town for the occasion, are the Penguins, Sidney Crosby show, and Angelo Esposito sideshow in tow!

The starting lineup for the good guys was announced by late Sunday night and includes Mikhail Grabovski, Alex Kovalev, Andrei Kostitsyn, Tomas Plekanec, Sergei Kostitsyn, Jonathan Ferland, Kyle Chipchura, Tom Kostopoulos, Janne Lathi, Duncan Milroy, Corey Locke, Garth Murray, Andrei Markov, Mike Komisarek, Mark Streit, Andrew Archer, Josh Gorges, Mathieu Carle, Cristobal Huet and Yann Danis.

We'll have to wait for Lapierre and Latendresse in tomorrow's game.

With my eyes dimly open from three two hour plus sleep shifts, I set a hazy gaze for RDS, primed to watch the likes of the Kostitsyn brothers, Chipchura, Carle and Lahti in particular. I also looked for a spark from Milroy, Archer, and Locke, who have been given one more attempt at latching onto to the big leagues before Gainey begins to make call assessing their worth.
For a first game, this was one impassioned and thrilling debut.

The players played as though it were more than just a few roster spots on the line. It was as though much more were at stake or there was something to prove.

Like Alex Kovalev, for instance, playing for keeps.

One game hardly constitutes a ressurrection, but the look in his eyes was encouraging.

Two other standouts, were Markov and Komisarek, whose play this season will go a long way in determining the Habs faith.

Montreal dressed 10 rookies while the Penguins were missing only the likes of Roberts, Whitney, and Malkin. The fact that Montreal were even able to match up despite the edge in experience is a great and telling sign.

Several of the players looking to make the team had very good showings, but none better than Kyle Chipchura. As previously reported, I think the Canadiens have a special player here. While he did commit a boob or two, he played a strong game. It's easy to see why the organization is so high on him. There's a spot for him in Montreal and it looks after last night that it is his to lose.

Chipchura is not blessed with blinding speed, but does have the intsincts and smarts of a defensive specialist in the Gainey and Carbo mold. He knows his positioning to a fault, places the puck intelligently when clearing, and pursues the puck with zeal. He killed off penalties all game and came close to notching a goal. He received an appreciation hand from the crowd on his way back to the bench.

It took awhile for the game to gather some juice and after both Carle and Archer went down to injury, the game gathered pace.

In that, there was the silver lining of seeing just how well, not only Mark Streit, but Josh Gorges played under pressure. Gorges was a discovery last night, thriving when overworked. Being used in every sense, he showed an uncanny ability to win the board battles and clear the net.

Streit was a pillar on this night as well. Against the speedy Penguins, Streit surely wanted to show coach Carbonneau where his preference for playing was. At this point, Streit is a more flexible option on the backline that either Bouillon or Dandeneault.

The Habs backline looks to have more depth than initially given. The pressure will be on Bouillon, Dandeneault and Brisebois to match these performances.

Up front, both Corey Locke and Mikhail Grabovski demonstrated skill and had decent moments. locke let fire a pair of blasts, one good for the second goal. He looks intent on seizing his final shot a the team. Grabovski reminds me of none other than Russ Courtnall - a gazelle often too fast for his own puck.

Grabovski oozes talent and skill, but lacks some finish and size to make his anything more than a one dimension player for now. He produces sparks with no result and needs to look around himself more to assess option and open ice. You hate to tell a guy of his stripe to slow down so others on his line can play with him, make better use of him. But that is where I feel he is at and this is the teaching he needs to adapt. If he manages to learn this, he will be a treat.

Other rookies were a little less consistant, and the performances varied from player. Janne Lathi had seconds of great coherence with Kovalev, but not much else to make anyone rave and shout.



Duncan Milroy has the tools to be an NHL'er right now, if not in Montreal. Despite his fringe nature, he does have a good portion of the tools required to be a regular. Milroy's effort never wanes, the hits are there, and the grinding nose to the glass effort never wanes. Unfortunately for Milroy in Montreal, he might just be another number ready to be outnumbered.

Oddly, I see him as a prototypical Bruin coming back to haunt the Habs. I'm not sure why I sense the deja vu!

Jonathan Ferland took a nonsense penalty in the first period that propably bought him a one-way back to Hamilton. He does have that needed rugged edge, some speed, but it will be hard for him to outshine anyone on his fourth strike.

Sergei Kostitsyn dittoed Lahti's night. He showed flashes of a bigger game countered with moments of being absolutely looking lost. One one PP, he was set up in the corner, stood there mostly and watched. Despite the lost look, it is undeniable the talent he has. He will crack the shell at some point. What he's going through is often what occurs to go-to guys when moving up to a higher level. He's dealing with less puck time, and movement and adjusting his position are his next lessons. The Habs know exactly where he can gather this information.

As for the Habs regulars, it was the Andrei Kostitsyn and Kovalev show for the most part. Makes me wonder what would occur should the elder K ever be made into a centerman, he seemed such a suitable foil for Kovalev. Finding such compatibility for Kovalev is about as rare as stepping in Pope shit. Hopefully the duo lasts.

The newly aquired Tom Kostopoulos made a good pair with Chipchura on the penalty kill. He'll be a handy player to have around against grittier team. I just worry he's a Mike Johnson clone with no bite behind the bite.

Both Cristobal Huet and Yann Danis played well. Huet was faultless but neither was tested to extremes. Huet did show that he is still the Habs numero uno in nets, so I'm almost ready to call off the goalie battle for now.

Tomas Plekanec was true to his reputation on the penalty kill, but otherwise out of sync in a game with unrolling lines. No worries, he'll get his groove.

The surprising intentisity of this game had much to do with the fact that the Habs and Penguins are rapidly carving up a deep and rabid hate for each other. What with Crosby's whiner and faker tactics on high to get everybody going, sparks didn't take long to start flying. Add in Ruutu's behind the back acts and Armstrong's gutless tactics and you have a rivalry ready to escalate into war proportions should these teams ever set foot on the same Conference Final ice.
That day might not be so far away, folks.

I took great pleasure in watching Komisarek give it good to Crosby over and over. It's a great game when he and Markov are holding up the Habs end against the best player in the game.
All that was missing tonight was Max Lapierre's gunpowder!

Tonight's rematch should be a fitting sequel.

On a Penguins related sidenote, many Habs fans were fearing that Angelo Esposito would re-enact the Denis Savard homecoming of 1980 and make Bob Gainey look like a patsy of a GM.
Didn't happen. Wasn't even close!

No arguments will be ignited in his name anytime soon. I had to squint to believe my eyes that Esposito was so nothing - not even worthy of an adjective yet!

The stage is well set for tonight. Can the game live up to billing in pre-season.

"I can handle more of this", said the starved man to the soup!

Expect Turnover In Big Numbers For Habs

Listening to, reading about, and watching the Canadiens training camp progress, I was struck with an odd notion upon realizing the potential that this stockpile of youth has to offer the Habs in terms of future options.

Like, what to heck are we going to do with all these players?

How on Earth does Bob Gainey plan to juggle all this talent without letting any of it slip away?

What would be the masterplan that is most beneficial to team prosperity?

I've no doubt that the Canadiens are laying the groundwork foundation for a Stanley Cup win within a reasonable number of years. In fact I'm almost at the point of thinking such is inevitable.

What is also inevitable is that large chunks of veteran players will be pawned and sacrificed in order to make room for all the rising stars the team has on the way.



I count at least 10 future bona fide NHL'ers that will make their way to Hamilton, or other destinations, for now, that should all be part of the team within 2 to 3 years. Four years max.

Names, you ask? Here goes!

Carey Price, Kyle Chipchura, Sergei Kostitsyn, Ryan O'Byrne, Matt D'Agnostini, Ryan White, Mathieu Carle, Pavel Valentenko, Mikhail Grabovski, and Ben Maxwell.

Presently AWOL but hardly forgotten, is Russian defenseman Alexei Emelin.

I did not mention Max Lapierre or Andrei Kostitsyn, as I consider them to be full time Habs until proven otherwise. I also did not check Janna Lahti in with the youth as he is an older FA signing who is an odds on bet to latch onto his NHL chance this season.




Add to those ten names, the likes of David Fischer, Ryan McDonagh, Max Pacioretty, and P.K. Subban within another year, and you can see that Gainey will need to be quite the manager of talent to see them all through to fruition.

All totalled, we are speaking of 15 fresh talents that will push out players who are currently veterans on the Canadiens, by the time the 2010-11 season gets underway.

The group consists of one goalie, seven defensemen, and seven forwards that could represent more than half of the team's lineup come that fateful season.

That is an incredible amount of influx and turnover on what would still be considered a young Canadiens teams come that season.

Current roster players that should survive this movement are the current young core of Higgins, Plekanec, Latendresse, Komisarek, Lapierre, Andrei Kostitsyn, and perhaps goalie Jaroslav Halak.



They would make up a core of experiencd vets by then.

Other current veteran players from the Habs roster that may last until the 2010-11 season are Andrei Markov and Roman Hamrlik, as impending free agents by that point, Saku Koivu should he resign beyond his current contract, and possibly Michael Ryder and Mark Streit as longshot wildcards to still be around.

Of course, during the interim, names we've yet to crystal ball into the Habs future will also make their way onto the team, one signing or trade at a time.

Now if you add it all up for the 2010-11 season, there are the 15 fresh faces that I've named first, the 7 current young guns that should stick around until then, and a possibility of 5 veterans that could hang onto their Habs jerseys for another four years should their individual stocks dictate they are worth keeping.

That is a total of 27 players the Canadiens will have an interest in hanging onto for another 4 years, and I wouldn't bet the house on Ryder, Hamrlik, Streit, and saddest of all, Koivu.

In order to clear space for these talents, players will be shed from the team on by one over the coming seasons. It's not difficult to imagine to order of their departure, starting with players who are merely passing the current season, soon to be dealt to the highest bidder or Mike Johnsonsed into the hockey ozone.



So in order, start saying goodbye to:

Garth Murray
Patrice Brisebois
Mathieu Dandeneault
Steve Begin
Bryan Smolinski
Alex Kovalev
Josh Georges
Tom Kostopoulos
Francis Bouillon
Cristobal Huet

Not weeping?

Neither am I!

What these players fetch in terms of returns for Gainey will go a long way towards determining how quickly the Canadiens contend for Lord Stanley's mug. He will be tasked with turning over experienced players for much of the same, given the Habs young lineup.

The best news is that Gainey will have the talent and numbers to load a deal sufficiently, making it alluring enough to get exactly what he is going after.



While many fans are clammoring for Cup contention in the Canadiens 100th anniversary year, the goal Gainey may be aiming at is just beyond that season. It should be obvious by now that Gainey is not trying to win but one Cup. He is actually working to build a team that will not only win it, but contend for it for several seasons.

Gainey's greatest virtue as Habs GM up until now has been patience. His next tasks in management will be judgement and timing.

Going over the Canadiens lineup and prospect evaluations will be a kind of W5 proposition for Gainey.



What - The Stanley Cup as a goal.

When - At what point does the team shed current roster players.

Where - Judging the upcoming talent and deciding its readiness.

Who - Players that the team brings in, in the interim.

Why - Upside of potential of players, the decline of current player values, and what is available to help the team via free agency.

It is unfortunate that players we have grown to appreciate will sadly not be among us come Cup hoisting time. Speaking only for myself, it will break my heart if I don't see Saku Koivu win one in his Canadiens lifetime.

But I'll get over it!

According To Timmins, Canadiens Future Filled With Promise

During the course of the past week, Canadiens fans heard the raves of GM Bob Gainey, coach Guy Carbonneau, and team president Pierre Boivin regarding the Habs crop of youngters set to battle for positions on the team in the coming seasons. The most prominant of these names, Carey Price, has just begun his pro career in Hamilton and will surely be garnering much attention.

Canadiens director of player personel, Trevor Timmins, who is presently scouting at the world Under-18 tournament in Finland, recently sat down with Martin Leclerc of Le Journal De Montreal to discuss the progress being made by a dozen Habs hopefuls. The picture he paints in his assessments of the players points to some interesting decisions come training camp next September. It is almost assured some of these players will be in Carbonneau's starting lineup come October.

Here's Timmin's evaluations on the best of the prospects, by position.

Goaltenders:

Jaroslav Halak: Slovakia, 21 years old, 9th round pick 2003

"Jaroslav will be a serious candidate for the backup goalie position at the next camp. He's calm and excels in pressure situations. In his draft year, at the under 18's in Russia, he stopped Alexander Ovechkin in shootouts. Fans in Montreal have already caught a glimpse of what he is capable of when he starred for the team down the stretch. It will be interesting to watch his perform at the World Championships."

Note: Halak had a .932 save percentage in 28 games with the Hamilton Bulldogs before being called up to Montreal. He was chosen to play in the AHL all-star game and was named to the leagues all-rookie team.

Carey Price: Canada, 19 years old, 1st round pick 2005





















"The whole world over watching him be named MVP and best goaltender at the recent World Junior Championships. Friday night, he played and won his first professional game and was named the first star", Timmins said giddily.

"Carey is a goalie with an imposing stature and he uses the butterfly style selectively. He's always square to a shooter", added Timmins.

"His junior team this past season, the Tri-City Americans, were not a strong club. They made the playoffs due largely to Carey's contribution. They were knocked out of the playoff early because of a lack of scoring. The upside is it gave him a chance to head to the pro ranks sooner."
Note: It is almost assured that Price will be the starting goalie for the Bulldogs next fall. With the Americans this season, Price had a .917 save percentage.

Yann Danis: Canada, 25 years old, signed as a free agent 2004


















"We'll be watching Yann closely as he finishes out the year with Hamilton. His situation will be re-evaluated once the season is over."

Note: Danis had a .905 save percentage and had a good season in Hamilton. He is currently winding out the final year of a two year contract.

Defensemen:

Jean-Philippe Cote: Canada, 26 years old, 9th round choice in 2000













Everyone was predicting that Cote would battle for a spot on the Canadiens last fall, but a knee injury set back those plans.

"J.P. made a few steps back at the start of last season, which can be attributed to the injury he suffered. He's not the best skater to start with, and troubles with the knee relagated him behind some others in his progress. Towards the final two months of the season, he became himself again and was a serious candidate to be called up to the Canadiens."

Note: Cote, a defensive defenseman, scored 3 goals and 9 assists with the Bulldogs this season. He added 115 penalty minutes to his totals.

Mathieu Carle: Canada, 19 years old, 2nd round choice in 2006









It was thought that Carle would be in Hamilton at this point, but his junior team, the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies are still in the QMJHL playoff picture.

"Mathieu's season was split into two halves. When he started out with Acadie-Bathurst, his game was more offense based. Since the trade, he's been practicing a tighter style of play. Regardless of the changes, he is having an excellent playoff. He's a defenseman that helps circulate the puck very well and he excels at the transition game. Both those assets will suit him well at the NHL level."

Note: Carle had 16 goals and 54 assists in 63 games this season.

Ryan O'Byrne: Canada, 22 years old, 3rd round pick in 2003













O'Byrne's was the first name brought by Timmins when it came to the teams defensive hopefuls.

"His play has made significant progress since the new year. His case is particular in that he needed to adjust a longer schedule than he'd been used to. At Cornell University, the season begin in November, so he's had to adjust as far as fatigue goes. His progress reminds me of how Chris Higgins adapted."

Note: O'Byrne is 6' 5" tall and weighs 235 lbs. A stay at home type, he registered 125 penalty minutes. He'll be one of the more closely watched prospect at camp, as he is the odds on favorite to make the jump.

David Fischer: United States, 19 years old, 1st round pick in 2006













"David had a good season with University of Minnesota Gophers and the won the NCAA Championship. He went through adjusted periods during the year, having graduated from high school games just this past season. The calibre of play is much stronger, against much larger players. David honed his defensive skills greatly, practicing a tigher style of play. We are very satisfied with how he is coming along."

Note: Fischer, who's been described as an offensive defenseman, accounted for only 5 assists in 40 games during his first season. That can be explained by the fact that he was a rookie and recieved no powerplay time, as the team has great depth in that area.

Forwards:

Sergei Kostitsyn: Russia, 19 years old, 7th round choice in 2005













Sergei is the younger brother of Andrei Kostitsyn, would split the season between Hamilton and Montreal.

"This player is a true winner. At the rate he is progressing, he is turning out to be one heck of a seventh round pick!"

"Many experts, who've witnessed alot of OHL action this season have suggested that he was the league's premier player. Sergei excels both offensively and defensively, and has very good work habits. He may even be a better skater than his brother. His skills are very sharp. He's scored goals this season while his team was shorthanded playing five on three! Not only that, he can play a rugged style as well."

Note: Kostitsyn finished third in OHL scoring with 40 goals and 91 assists with the London Knights.

Kyle Chipchura: Canada, 21 years old, 1st round pick in 2004













"He had a very good season in Hamilton. He demonstrated his worth by quickly becoming a leader on and off the ice. He has lots of character and intensity. Despite being a rookie, he never hesitated to drop the gloves when necessary. He has killed penalties as well as performing on the power play. He is the type of player who helps a team win games like the Canadiens last game in Toronto."

Note: In the Canadiens circles, Chipchura's effectiveness is said to compare admirably against Radek Bonk's talents, who he will likely be called on to replace soon enough. His totals in his rookie seasom were 12 goals and 27 assists.

Mikhail Grabovski: Russia, 23 years old, 5th round pick in 2003













"His skating prowess is dominant and his potential will allow for him to battle for a spot on the Canadiens in September."

Note: Grabovsky is a speedster than reminds one of Maxim Afinogenov. He tallied 17 goals and 37 assists in 66 games with Hamilton and made an all too brief 3 game stint with the Habs.

Matt D'Agnotini: Canada, 20 years old, 6th round pick in 2005













"He had a big year in Hamilton. Generally, he goes unnoticed on the ice until something happens. The game he played at the Bell Centre was a real eye opener for him. He's alot like Mike Johnson in that he goes about his business quietly, and you'll only notice him once he's scored a goal or two. He's the kind of player that gets the winning goal in 2-1 games."

Note: D'Agnostini is a right winger who notched 21 goals and 28 assists with Hamilton in his rookie campaign.

Duncan Milroy: Canada, 24 years old, 3rd round pick in 2001













"Milroy had a breakout season this year. He played a few games with the Canadiens this season and is expected to battle for a spot come training camp. Milroy's game isn't crash and bang - he's a shooter and has many good qualities. He's typival of certain late bloomers who continuously develop step by step."

Note: Milroy was Hamilton's leading scorer with 25 goals and 33 assists.

Ben Maxwell: Canada, 19 years old, 2nd round pick in 2006













"He was the leading goal scorer in the WHL at the time of his elbow injury last season. Maxwell has tons of potential. We believe he has what it takes to become a number one or number two center in the NHL.

Note: Maxwell had 19 goals and 34 assists in 39 games with Kootenay Ice last season.

Unfortunately Timmins didn't speak about other prospects such as Ryan White, Pavel Valentenko, or Alexei Yemelin. Clicking on their names will bring up their stats at Hockey Database.