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[This is the third of a five-part series, going live every Wednesday on http://www.YourCanadiens.Info/, previewing possible Hab selections for the 2012 Entry Draft. See Part 1, about who the team might pick if they hold steady at #3, HERE, and Part 2, about the possibility of trading down, HERE]
Welcome to the final piece devoted specifically to Montreal's third overall selection at this year's NHL Entry Draft, now just over two weeks away. We talked about who to take at pick #3, we looked at the possibility of trading down if the Habs don't like who is on the board there, so what's left?
From fans on Twitter and forums, to radio talk show hosts, to television personalities, much has been made about the possibility of Montreal trading up to the first overall selection to draft Nail Yakupov. There are questions about Mikhail Grigorenko's compete level, Alex Galchenyuk's repaired knee, and Filip Forsberg's offensive output, so Yakupov by default may be the closest the draft has to a "sure thing" offensively. If Montreal doesn't walk away from a draft where they hold a third overall selection with an impact player, fans will be quick to turn on the new front office regime, so perhaps the safest route for Marc Bergevin, Trevor Timmins, and company would be to pony up another asset or two to be able to take the consensus best player available.
What would it cost to get Edmonton to swap down to third overall, where they will still be able to take the guy widely believed to be their man in defenseman Ryan Murray? The most commonly discussed scenario would see Montreal giving up picks 3 and 33 for the first overall pick, which is considerable when you look at who may still be on the board at 33 for the Canadiens (coincidentally, we will look at that right here in Restocking the Cupboard #4 next week). Personally, I'd be ok with making that sacrifice to add the kind of superstar we haven't seen in Montreal in ages. But before we dig a little deeper into this, let's look at Yakupov's game.
Tantalizing skill and plays with an edge, what's not to like? Well, at 5'11" and 190 lbs, though not Brendan Gallagher-sized, he doesn't bring the kind of frame that many would like to see Montreal adding. He's a winger, and likely ready to step into the big league right away, so he could fill an immediate need beside Tomas Plekanec, but doesn't address the problem this team has had for years in the need for a big offensive center, something far more difficult to address via free agency or trade than a scoring wing.
Yakupov is a strong, agile skater, able to burn defenders with shifty moves. He has a quick release which makes him a threat on every rush and shows the ability to create time and space for himself despite his small stature. He's basically the complete, electrifying package offensively. Some have concerns about his play in his own end, but those that doubt Yakupov point to incongruities between his size and style, wondering if his physical play will be successful against bigger and older opposition at the pro rank, and concern that it may lead to an injury-plagued career. Still, no one doubts he is the most talented player available on draft day.
Some have suggested that picks 3 and 33 are too much to give up for Yakupov. That the Canadiens should offer picks 3 and 51, or 3 and a defenseman like Yannick Weber, Raphael Diaz, or even a Brendon Nash. I just don't see that as being enough for Edmonton because, while they would still get their man at 3, the Columbus Blue Jackets won't sit idly by and let another club snatch Yakupov from under their noses (ignore what those who suggest they won't take him because he's Russian say). That means that even if swapping picks with Montreal is no skin off Edmonton's back, Columbus will bid the price of landing Yakupov up, so frankly, I don't even know if picks 3 and 33 will be sufficient to get it done.
Now where do I stand on the possibilities? If Montreal is planning on taking Alex Galchenyuk (my preference, who by the way, led all prospects in last week's NHL Combine Anaerobic Test, a gauge for the most explosive skating) third overall, then I'd probably rather hold on to picks 3 and 33. If Yakupov can be had for pick 3 and a toss-in like one of the defensemen I mention above - a highly unlikely scenario - then I'd be in favour of the move, as the team will still add two other solid prospects in the second round. Even despite his size, though, at this point, I would far and away rather the team give up what it costs to nab Yakupov than use the top pick on either Forsberg or Grigorenko.
There is another topic worth mentioning, which is the idea of using the third overall selection as a trade chip to land an established or previously-drafted player. As opposed to trading up or down, the Canadiens would altogether forego a first round selection to bring in someone they like better than the prospects available. The most commonly mentioned name when this is discussed is that of Jonathan Huberdeau, the Saint John Sea Dogs star who was taken one year ago, also third overall, by the Florida Panthers. Huberdeau, who could also fill the "need" for more French-speaking, home-grown talent with the Canadiens, was limited to just 37 games this season, but had a near 2.0 points-per-game average, with 72 on the year. He brings decent size at 6'1", 171 lbs, has a good friendship with Canadiens' prospect Nathan Beaulieu, and unlike the players to be drafted in a few weeks, can play in the AHL if he isn't deemed NHL-ready in the Fall, though most believe he will be.
The problem here? There is no reason to suggest that the Panthers would consider moving Huberdeau, who they inked to an entry-level deal last Fall, and even if they would, it is doubtful that any of the players available third overall this year would be sufficient bait to have them bite. After making the playoffs this season, Florida will be looking to add to its roster, which a guy like Huberdeau can do, rather than delaying by taking on a less-ready youngster. If you want Huberdeau, you're talking a name like P.K. Subban going back the other way. Maybe Florida would consider an offer like the third overall pick AND a Lars Eller. In my books, it just doesn't add up.
Other players talked about as potential returns for the third selection include Rick Nash, Ryan Getzlaf, and Jarome Iginla. In the first two cases, it would take considerably more than the pick alone, which would be a huge gamble for Getzlaf who can become an unrestricted free agent just one year from now. I'm not ready to sacrifice that much for a guy like Nash either, who while he could make a great addition, has production just a notch below the "superstar" type I'm hoping for. I think any talk of Iginla is a non-starter for all, given his age and declining production. A team very close to a championship might make such a move, but certainly not a team in Montreal's position. In sum, I just don't see the Canadiens dealing this pick away as realistic. They will select a top prospect in the first round.
We've now covered pretty much all possibilities for the third overall pick. My preference remains either selecting Alex Galchenyuk, or trading up for Nail Yakupov, either of which would make me happy at night's end. Next week, we turn our attention towards the other Montreal selections, offering suggestions and predictions for each, before our final installment - the week of the draft - will be a full 30-team Mock Draft of the first two rounds.
Before we get to the names I did include on the list below, I have to preface it with three big names I left out. First there's Teemu Selanne, for whom it is abundantly clear the choice is just between Anaheim and retirement. Next there's Shane Doan who may be unlikely to leave Phoenix, but even if he does, it won't be for Montreal. I'm quite confident that his alleged linguistic slur run-in with Denis Coderre who accused him of uttering anti-Francophone sentiments towards referees will keep him out of La Belle Province. Finally, and perhaps most debate-ably, I didn't include Alexander Semin as a candidate. Sure, he has the frame the Habs are looking for at 6'2" and 208 lbs, and yes, even in an off-year last season, he scored 54 points in 77 games. But his attitude off the ice just doesn't strike me as the kind of player Marc Bergevin - a guy who fully endorses a team-first strategy - would be interested in signing. He seems like a typical Pierre Gauthier / Bob Gainey acquisition. A Sergei Samsonov UFA signing. I don't see Bergevin biting.
Also note that you may consider some of my proposed contract offers to be on the low end. This is because the list as a whole doesn't really impress me, so I'd rather see Montreal strikeout in this category than overpay for a guy they'll be stuck with when other names may be available in a future off-season or via trade.
With that said, let's get on to 10 players I think Bergevin might consider in a "wish list" of sorts.
10) Brad Boyes, C - Buffalo Sabres
6'1", 195 lbs - 2011-12: 65 GP, 8 G, 15 A, 23 PTS
Age 30
Boyes had phenomenal seasons in 2007-08 and 2008-09, with 43 and 33 goals respectively, but then his game mysteriously went south. The Sabres thought a change of scenery might do him good when they dealt for him last season, but his first full year in Buffalo produced only 23 points - the lowest total of his career. Is now the time to take a chance on a possible reclamation project? He isn't a particularly top notch skater, nor does he always use his frame as well as he should, but he's adapted his game to be a hard-working two-way forward, and perhaps if the NHL goes back to a post-lockout obstruction and interference standard, he'll find the kind of success he once knew.
Contract offer: 1 year, $2M cap hit
9) Kristian Huselius, LW - Columbus Blue Jackets
6'1", 185 lbs - 2011-12: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PTS
Age 33
After being limited to 39 games in 2010-11, Huselius managed only 2 games last season, so any possible suitor will have his health as a primary concern. In those 39 games, the large and speedy winger impressively potted 14 goals, while in his last near-full season in 2009-10, he totaled 63 points to rank third on the Blue Jackets. If - and it's a big if - he's given a clean bill of health, he could be one of the better fits on the market, likely seeking a short-term contract to prove himself which would be rather low-risk from a Habs' perspective.
Contract offer: 1 Year, $2.5M cap hit
8) Jiri Hudler, C - Detroit Red Wings
5'10", 186 lbs - 2011-12: 81 GP, 25 G, 25 A, 50 PTS
Age 28
The Red Wings have plenty of cap space available to keep any of their players they'd like, so for Hudler to leave it would likely be the player himself seeking a new challenge. Hudler is the smallest guy on this list, but with such a limited talent pool, it would be impossible to leave a 28-year old 25-goal scorer off of it. He lacks in strength and consistency, but has slick hands and is a countrymate of Tomas Plekanec, with the two having played on the same World Junior Championship club in 2001-02. Like Boyes, in addition to center, Hudler is comfortable at either wing position, so perhaps a line of he, Plekanec, and Erik Cole might have potential to balance Montreal's offense aside from the Max Pacioretty - David Desharnais duo.
Contract offer: 3 years, $4M cap hit
7) David Jones, RW - Colorado Avalanche
6'2", 220 lbs - 2011-12: 72 GP, 20 G, 17 A, 37 PTS
Age 27
Jones was unable to replicate his 27 goals and 45 points of a year ago, but did manage a second consecutive 20-goal season, proving that he can score in the right situation. He's a bit more of an off-the-radar candidate than the other names on this list, but has one of the more imposing physiques and at 27 likely still has better days ahead of him. He can bring a physical element to the game, moves well enough for a big man, and has a quick release. Not a textbook top 6 forward, but might not look out of place beside David Desharnais so that the Canadiens could experiment pairing Erik Cole with Tomas Plekanec.
Contract offer: 3 years, $3M cap hit
6) Ryan Smyth, LW - Edmonton Oilers
6'1", 192 lbs - 2011-12: 82 GP, 19 G, 27 A, 46 PTS
Age 36
After requesting a trade from the Kings so he could return to Edmonton (based on on-ice reasons, this certainly looks a little silly right now), one would think it was a foregone conclusion that Smyth would re-sign with the Oilers. And yet, there is talk that even though the team could use a veteran presence around its group of promising youngsters, that they may opt to part ways from Smyth and look in a different direction. Smyth isn't an Erik Cole; he's nearing the end of his career and after a red hot start to last season, went out with a whimper. But he is a big body capable of putting up some points, and if he's willing to leave Alberta, like Jones, could give the Canadiens some flexibility in perhaps freeing Max Pacioretty or Erik Cole from David Desharnais's hips by providing another big option and thus giving Tomas Plekanec some better linemates.
Contract offer: 1 year, $4M cap hit
5) Olli Jokinen, C - Calgary Flames
6'3", 210 lbs - 2011-12: 82 GP, 23 G, 38 A, 61 PTS
Age 33
At 33, Jokinen's heydays with the Florida Panthers are a thing of the past. But the Finnish forward has had a bit of a resurgence in Calgary the last two seasons, recording 54 and 61 points respectively. He's not the #1 center the team needs and isn't particularly gritty, but he brings a 6'3", 210 lbs frame, and is capable of filling a second line role. If the team is interested in him - and I do think they should be at the right price - it would likely mean Lars Eller shifting to the wing on a second or third line. Eller most recently played and starred there for Team Denmark at the World Hockey Championship.
Contract offer: 2 years, $4M cap hit
4) Andrei Kostitsyn, RW - Nashville Predators
6'0", 205 lbs - 2011-12: 72 GP, 16 G, 20 A, 36 PTS
Age 27
That Kostitsyn ranks so highly on this list is a testament to the lack of talent in the free agent pool this summer, but in truth, it is his departure which - in part - creates this need in Montreal's line-up. If people will stop holding where he was drafted against him, they would see a thick forward with one heck of a release. He can play physical when the mood strikes him, but certainly he adds to the club's goal-scoring potential. Does he want to come back to Montreal? That may be a moot point, as his post-season team suspension for violating curfew may stand in too much of a contrast with Bergevin's team ahead of anyone player philosophy. But on the ice, he would undoubtedly improve the roster, and he's still well in his prime.
Contract offer: 4 years, $3.8M cap hit
3) Jaromir Jagr, RW - Philadelphia Flyers
6'3", 240 lbs - 2011-12: 73 GP, 19 G, 35 A, 54 PTS
Age 40
One year ago, at this time, Jaromir Jagr was the #1 name on my free agent wish list, just ahead of one Erik Cole. Jagr performed pretty well as I had expected him to, but falls two spots as another year of strain on his body doesn't help the situation, and the Habs look a little further from contention today than they did last June. Still, if the Canadiens lack scoring and want to add a powerplay threat, then Jagr is a fit, especially considering they won't have to commit big dollars over long-term to bring him in. His role would have to be monitored carefully, playing with Tomas Plekanec at 5-on-5, but not taking every shift on that line, swapping for a defensive forward when Pleks is out there in a more shutdown capacity. This would keep Jagr fresher for the PP and other offensive situations, while limiting his minutes to prevent late-season fatigue that we saw notably in this year's playoffs.
Contract offer: 1 year, $4M cap hit
2) Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau, RW - New York Islanders
6'0", 193 lbs - 2011-12: 80 GP, 18 G, 49 A, 67 PTS
Age 29
Parenteau gets instant consideration as a French-speaking native of Hull, Quebec, with Bergevin indicating that he sees it important to try to increase the local content on the Canadiens over time. But he's earned being among the more interesting names in a shallow pool this summer with his late-blooming production. He began his first complete NHL season at the late age of 27 after a successful AHL career and immediately put up 53 points when gifted with talented linemates in Long Island. He improved to 67 points last year, and would be another flexible option who could move up and down the Montreal line-up depending on the play of Rene Bourque and Brian Gionta.
Contract offer: 3 years, $3.75M cap hit
1) Zach Parise, LW - New Jersey Devils
5'11", 185 lbs - 2011-12: 82 GP, 31 G, 38 A, 69 PTS
Age 27
Parise will undoubtedly be the most-coveted forwards this summer if he makes it to July 1st without re-signing. The New Jersey Devils's captain currently playing in the Stanley Cup Final doesn't have the size Montreal is looking for - one of only two names on this list under six feet - but is a big-time scorer with four 30-goal seasons and one 40-goal season over the past six years. At 27, Parise is likely looking for a long-term contract, which would mean he'd be around long enough to play with the big center Montreal hopefully picks up in the first round of this year's draft. Until then, he can play with Tomas Plekanec and a bigger winger, allowing Brian Gionta to line up next to Lars Eller in creating three solid scoring lines.
As much as I've tried not to believe the rumours, it is at this point hard to believe that Montreal isn't down to at most two candidates in their head coaching search in Michel Therrien and Marc Crawford. Many fans have been hoping there would be some third off-the-radar candidate who would come in and steal the job away, but all three major hockey networks - TSN, RDS, and SportsNet - have been reporting the same facts for a few days now. And the problem is that even if these weren't the only two names in the pot, with Bob Hartley in Calgary and Patrick Roy's demands allegedly being far too great, given the team's self-imposed "must speak French" rule, there aren't many other qualified candidates out there. I've said before and maintain that I have faith in Marc Bergevin right now and will be happy to give a chance to whoever he deems the best man to execute his vision for the Montreal Canadiens, but on the day he opts for one of Therrien or Crawford, I will not be a happy sheep applauding his selection. Here's a look at the two candidates to give you an idea of why:
Michel Therrien
Many Habs fans are quick to spit out, "been there, done that," when Therrien's name comes up. I find that a bit of a naive approach to his candidacy; just because a guy held the job a decade ago, doesn't mean he wouldn't have learned from mistakes or be a better fit today. The qualifications of candidates should be based on what Bergevin thinks they can do today.
At age 48, Therrien still has plenty of years in the sport left ahead of him, which is a positive for a team seeking stability. In his playing career, he never made it beyond the AHL, though he did spend a couple of seasons in the Habs' system with the Nova Scotia Voyageurs and Sherbrooke Canadiens. His full-time head coaching career began in 1993-94 with the QMJHL's Laval Titan, and he led the Granby Predateurs to a league championship after taking over the club in 1995-96. Returning to the Canadiens' organization, he spent four seasons as the Head Coach of the team's AHL affiliate (two in Fredericton and two in Quebec) before replacing Alain Vigneault as Coach of the Habs some 20 games into the 2000-01 campaign. That team would fail to qualify for the post-season, but he would lead Montreal back to the playoffs the following year, and upset the top seed Boston Bruins in the first round in six games (which included a fine to Therrien for making a throat-slitting gesture at Kyle McLaren after he nearly took Richard Zednik's head off with a dirty below, though Hab fans will forgive him for that one).
What likely sealed his fate were clear coaching errors in the second round. Montreal looked poised to complete a second straight upset, up 2-1 in the series against the Carolina Hurricanes and leading game 4 by a 3-0 score in the third period. Perhaps Therrien momentarily forgot where he was, but he was a bit too vocal with referee Kerry Fraser in arguing a cross-checking call and earned himself an additional 2 minute bench minor for unsportsmanlike conduct. The 'Canes took advantage to get back in the game, and found themselves down just 1 goal entering the final minute of regulation. Current Hab Erik Cole scored to tie things up, and Therrien committed another gaff in OT with a face-off in the Montreal end. Known as an Xs and Os coach who goes with gut feelings on who is hot on a given night, the coach sent out Bill Lindsay - a winger playing out of position in the middle - to take a defensive end faceoff in the extra frame. Lindsay had the best FO win percentage in the game, but it was still far from a strength of his, not to mention that the team featured face-off whiz Yanic Perreault and shutdown center Joe Juneau, along with responsible veterans Doug Gilmour and Saku Koivu. Lindsay lost the draw cleanly, and the puck came back to the point where Nic Wallin fired one home. The Canadiens showed no life following that crushing defeat, losing in two straight blowouts.
Therrien was fired halfway through the following year with his team playing at an under .500 clip, but would rebound the following season with the AHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins. He led the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to the Calder Cup Final in his first season with the team, and in his third year with the team got it off to a 21-1-3 start, leading to his replacing Ed Olcyzk as bench boss with the big club. He would take Pittsburgh to the Stanley Cup Final in 2007-08, but after losing to the Detroit Red Wings, would be canned 57 games into the following season with his team just above the .500 mark despite a stacked roster. The team's disappointing start is largely blamed on Therrien since Dan Bylsma took over the club and led them to a Stanley Cup win that very same season.
Therrien also gained a reputation throughout his career as being a coach that his own players hate, given his tactic of trying to get under their skin to motivate them to deliver their best. A prime example was on display in this now infamous press conference:
I fully understand that people can learn from their mistakes, and coaches can evolve over time. However, Therrien hasn't been in coaching since that 2008-09 season, instead currently serving as a scout for the Minnesota Wild, so we have no way to know what kind of attitudes or demeanour he would bring to the job. Still, he's a candidate in part largely due to a good off-ice relationship with Bergevin, who has shown a strong propensity for hiring those he knows well or are within his inner circle thus far. It is important that Bergevin hires someone who is on the same page as him, and a guy he feels he can work with on a daily basis, as a team's GM and Head Coach need to be able to agree on how the players brought in should be used. From the front office to the coaching staff, a team will only play to its highest potential if all have a unified vision.
Marc Crawford
51-year old Marc Crawford is hoping his stint as a television analyst will last only one season by getting back into the realm of coaching. While his playing career was only moderately more successful than Therrien's - he played 176 NHL games, all with the Vancouver Canucks - Crawford brings with him 15 years experience as an NHL head coach. His transition from playing to coaching began in the OHL where he led the Cornwall Royals for two seasons with little success, but enough to earn him a chance as Coach of the AHL's St. John Maple Leafs. He brought the team to the Calder Cup Final in his first season there, and after second round exits the following two seasons, was named Head Coach of the Quebec Nordiques for the lockout-shortened 1994-95 campaign.
Crawford stayed with the organization when they moved to Colorado, winning the Stanley Cup in 1996, and taking the team led by Patrick Roy, Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, and others back to the Conference Finals a year later. When his star-studded Avs were knocked out in round 1 in 1998, he was relieved of his duties, re-emerging with the Vancouver Canucks midway through the following season.
Crawford coached the Canucks for 7 seasons but never made it past the second round of the playoffs, missing them altogether three times. The 2003-04 season - his second to last - is the one that most will criticize him for. In an incident that few should need to be reminded of, in a February 16, 2004 game, Colorado's Steve Moore concussed Vancouver captain Markus Naslund with a hit that was missed by officials, and deemed unsuspendable by the league. Rather than calm and re-focus his club, Crawford stoked some fires, criticizing officials and suggesting the league should offer protection for its superstars. While the next Avs-Nucks matchup was relatively uneventful, a subsequent game got ugly. With Vancouver trailing by a big score, Todd Bertuzzi looked to make a statement by battling Moore, who wanted no part of the larger man, already having answered the bell to a bout with tough guy Matt Cooke in the first period. When Moore ignored the invitation to drop the gloves, Bertuzzi grabbed Moore from behind, pulled him by the jersey, and punched him to the back of the head, falling on top of him which drove his face into the ice.
When words like "pre-meditated" get thrown around, you have to look at the Coach as not having proper control of his players, particularly given the act occurred at a time when the game's outcome was out of reach. Some accounts of that game had Crawford chuckling while watching Bertuzzi's actions, though this is nothing but rumour (others saw Bertuzzi acted in stark contrast to Crawford's instructions). The other problem is that this issue has not been laid to rest, with an ongoing lawsuit on Moore's part (his career was ended by the "attack") having Crawford as one of the defendants, and Bertuzzi himself even indicating that Crawford should share in the blame due to his inciting the team to, "make Moore pay the price." This off-ice sideshow could serve as a distraction for a team, particularly in a media-frenzied city like Montreal.
But it isn't just about "the incident." Crawford missed the playoffs the following season, and would also miss them in his next two years with Los Angeles. Crawford drew fire from many by encouraging his General Manager with the Kings to acquire his starting netminder from Vancouver in Dan Cloutier, a goaltender that many held in rather low regard. Dismal .415 and .433 winning percentages cost him his job with the Kings, and after a year off, he was named Coach of the Dallas Stars, where he also failed to reach the playoffs in consecutive years. Crawford was fired in 2011 and joined the TSN panel having missed the post-season for each of his final five seasons.
Crawford is known as a tactician, being one of the pioneers of the 1-3-1 trap system. He has a relationship with Bergevin, having served as his Coach for the final 9 games of Bergevin's career (in Vancouver) in 2003-04. To his credit, he has watched more Montreal Canadiens and other Canadian team games this past season than most who would be considered candidates for the job, having to analyze them and breakdown many aspects for the television audience. But is he a good fit in Montreal? As Crawford himself said in a recent interview, "The most important thing in any job is that the general manager and coach are on the same page." If Bergevin thinks Crow is that guy for him, then he will get the job.
Of the two, I'm not a particular fan of either. My only hope is that whichever is named brings along some experienced Assistants who may compensate for some of his areas of weakness (e.g. a Larry Robinson or Andy Murray).
If you're a Habs fan, you love him. If you're a fan of any other team, you think he's overrated and love to boo him every time he touches the puck in your building. But an objective hockey fan will tell you that Montreal's P.K. Subban is one of the league's more promising young blueliners. But you know about him on the ice. So today, we're going to focus on a few off-ice Subban stories you may be less familiar with.
It is no surprise to anyone that P.K. can be described as a character off the ice. It being NHL draft season, with the Central Scouting Combine taking place this whole week, a lot of attention has been placed on Subban's relationship with is brothers, given that Malcolm Subban is the top-rated North American netminder out of this year's crop. The next Subban in line is another blueliner, Jordan, who made his debut for the Belleville Bulls (meaning that, yes, all three Subbans have played for the OHL's Bulls) last season as a spry 16-year old. He impressively scored 20 points in 53 games a rookie, and is one many are following closely for the 2013 draft, deemed to perhaps be just as skilled as big brother P.K. What he doesn't have is P.K.'s size, measuring in at only 5'9" and 170 lbs as of now.
P.K. and his brothers were a big part of the George Stromboulopoulos show after last night's game 1 win by the Los Angeles Kings in the Stanley Cup Finals. Here's a clip of most of the Subbans segment if you missed it:
For those not on Twitter, P.K.'s personality also shone through a little teasing he did for his followers last week. He first posted the following:
Naturally, this had many Hab fans dreaming the announcement would be that the Restricted Free Agent has agreed to a new long-term deal with the Canadiens. The Twitter world was abuzz, and P.K. made them wait it out for nearly 24 hours before this announcement, done in a style only fitting of Mr. Subban himself:
So yes it was Subban who officially unveiled the new Twitter account of Carey Price - or apparently C-Prizzle / Carey Cash Prizzy to his friends - to the world. Still waiting on that contract announcement, P.K.!
For his antics, a lot of people around the web have referred to Subban as a "troll." This led to HFBoards user Seb creating a meme, creatively warped a photo of Subban by integrating the infamous troll face drawing to create this masterpiece, side by side with the troll face for comparison:
Pretty well done! But P.K. isn't ALL jokes and gags, so we leave you with one of his Nike AlwaysOn pieces that show the more intense side of the training-obsessed Subban that has gotten him to where he is today:
[This is the second of a five-part series, going live every Wednesday on http://www.YourCanadiens.Info/, previewing possible Hab selections for the 2012 Entry Draft. See Part 1, about who the team might pick if they hold steady at #3, HERE]
Last week, we discussed the four possible candidates for the Canadiens' first draft choice if they are to remain at 3rd overall come June 22nd. But as I went over, none of them are without their issues, and even at that, whichever of the four that the Columbus Blue Jackets sees as the best for them won't be available by pick three, leaving the Habs to take the best of the rest. This year's draft has more questions than answers. So let's say that, for all the reasons specified, Trevor Timmins, Marc Bergevin, and co aren't convinced that the players who will be available at, say, pick 6-10, project with less certainty or less potential than those available at #3. What happens then?
Yes, the team could still keep the pick, as at 3rd, they can go with "their guy" out of a greater number of available prospects. But it's also possible that "their guy" isn't one of Mikhail Grigorenko, Filip Forsberg, Alex Galchenyuk, or Ryan Murray. In this case, rather than just go off the board with a lower-ranked name, the team could trade down, swapping with a club that holds a pick later in the first round in order to collect other assets (like say an additional 2nd round choice). While there are other options (trading up or trading the pick outright), today we'll look at where the team could trade down to, and who they might fancy at that slot.
The order of the first 28 picks of the draft have been locked in, and they are as follows:
1. Edmonton Oilers
2. Columbus Blue Jackets
3. Montreal Canadiens
4. New York Islanders
5. Toronto Maple Leafs
6. Anaheim Ducks
7. Minnesota Wild
8. Carolina Hurricanes
9. Winnipeg Jets
10. Tampa Bay Lightning
11. Washington Capitals (from Colorado Avalanche)
12. Buffalo Sabres
13. Dallas Stars
14. Calgary Flames
15. Ottawa Senators
16. Washington Capitals
17. San Jose Sharks
18. Chicago Blackhawks
19. Tampa Bay Lightning (from Detroit Red Wings)
20. Philadelphia Flyers
21. Buffalo Sabres (from Nashville Predators)
22. Pittsburgh Penguins
23. Florida Panthers
24. Boston Bruins
25. St. Louis Blues
26. Vancouver Canucks
27. Phoenix Coyotes
28. New York Rangers
Might the third overall choice be worth Tampa Bay's 10th and 19th? Washington's 11th and 16th? Buffalo's 12th and 21st? Perhaps the Canadiens want to stay a little higher up than that, but could poach picks 6 and 36 from Anaheim or 8 and 38 from Carolina (Minnesota doesn't have its own 2nd round selection). For this exercise, let's focus on the 6-12 range and some of the names that might interest the Habs. The good news is, there is very likely to be a run on defensemen early on in the draft, since they make up a big part of the top rated prospect group. So by trading down, the Canadiens should still be able to snag one of the top prospects at forward, an area where they have the far greater need.
If the team does opt for such a strategy, here's a look at five forwards and three d-men to consider with a later pick.
Radek Faksa - C - Kitchener Rangers, OHL 6'3", 202 lbs - Shoots L Rankings: Central Scouting - 7th (North America); Future Considerations - 13th; The Hockey News - 11th
Faksa is a native of the Czech Republic who made the jump to the CHL this season after several years in Czech junior leagues. Scoring 29 goals and 67 points in 62 games for Kitchener had him finish as runner-up to young phenom Aaron Ekblad for the Ontario League's Rookie of the Year. In tournament play, Faksa scored 2 goals in 6 games for Team Czech Republic at this year's World Juniors (where he was the youngest player on his team) after a disappointing U18 a year ago had him pointless in 6 contests. His production in these small-sample events dipped in the OHL playoffs as well, where he netted only 6 points in 13 games. Those numbers may have been hurt by a head injury suffered in March, causing him to miss some playoff action, and potentially scaring a few teams that have or had interest in him who must now worry about concussions.
So what's to like? If the Canadiens weren't drafting as high as they are, most fans would be clamouring to find a way to land Faksa. A big and strong center, Faksa offers the kind of complete package scouts dream of: size, skill, good skating ability, and a willingness to backcheck hard. He is built in the mold of a power forward and has success winning battles in the offensive zone, which is more his game rather than one of finesse. His frame and reach make him difficult to contain for opposing defenders, which means as he fills out further he could become a dominating offensive presence.
Concerns about Faksa's play are relatively minor and can mostly be attributed to it being his first year in North America. He started the season a little slow, normal for a player adjusting to a new country and league, but then picked it up, earning ice time and becoming one of Kitchener's top players. However, later on in the year, whether it was a lack of endurance and conditioning in his own game or just struggling to deal with other teams keying on him more, he was less noticeable, which has kept him out of the top 10 in final rankings.
Definitely a top candidate for the Canadiens if they choose to move down, for the same reason the tools brought by Alex Galchenyuk and Mikhail Grigorenko make them likely picks for the team at #3.
Teuvo Teravainen - RW - Jokerit, Finland 5'11", 165 lbs - Shoots L Rankings: Central Scouting - 2nd (Europe); Future Considerations - 8th; The Hockey News - 12th
The first thing you'll undoubtedly notice is the size issue; right away something that means Teravainen might not be an ideal choice for a team wanting to get bigger like Montreal. But it's hard to ignore the elite level of skill and creativity Teravainen displays on ice, which makes him a dangerous threat who scored 11 goals and 18 points in 40 games in Finland's men's league this past season. He was dominant against peers his own age, notching 12 goals and 20 points in just 11 junior league games, and adding 2 goals and 8 points in 6 games in this year's World U18.
His shiftiness with the puck is the skill that stands out the most, just as competent a scorer as he is a playmaker. He isn't a dangler, but his vision and quick hands allow him to create room in the offensive zone. He has quick feet, though isn't one to blow people away with his speed, which is a potential issue given that smaller players often need elite quickness to compensate for their lack of size.
This is basically what it comes down to with Teravainen: on the one hand, he has the ability to control a game, to patiently slow it down and create chances with the puck that always seems to find itself on his stick (all abilities scouts looking for in judging a player's upside), but on the other, adding strength to his frame is a real concern. 5'11" isn't "too small" for the NHL, but Teravainen is skinny, which makes battling along the boards and protecting the puck concerns for his future. Ultimately scouts will have to determine if his huge offensive upside outweighs the concerns, and most seem to think it does, with McKeen's even ranking him in their final top five. For these reasons, despite the team's need to get bigger, he becomes an option for the Canadiens whose biggest need is a top-flight superstar.
Brendan Gaunce - C - Belleville Bulls, OHL 6'2", 215 lbs - Shoots L Rankings: Central Scouting - 13th (North America); Future Considerations - 18th; The Hockey News - 17th
Does Gaunce have enough upside to satisfy Hab fans in a year where the team starts off at third overall? He did score 28 goals and 68 points in 68 games this season for Belleville, but how will that project in the long run? These are the kind of questions scouts will have to consider if trading down for him is an option.
If Montreal were drafting 17th overall as they did a year ago, then Gaunce might be a perfect fit as a 6'2" center already possessing a thick enough frame to compete against men. His big body lets him play a power and puck protection game, while also being an adept puck handler. He possesses the leadership traits and intangibles that the Canadiens have historically loved to draft, and plays a good two-way game, reliable defensively, also a trademark of a Trevor Timmins pick.
While Gaunce sounds like an ideal center to build a team around, he isn't without fault. Most notably, scouts are concerned about his skating, lacking both in top-flight speed and first-step quickness. While he is a reasonable finisher, there are also concerns as to whether his offense will translate to the professional ranks. Finally, while he is capable of being a physical, dominant player, there are times where the has lacked a bit of that intensity, so consistency is something he'll also need to work into his game. This has polarized many scouts as to his future, some seeing him as a top 10 prospect from this draft class, filling out to be a top 6 power forward, while others see him as a later safe pick, projecting as a two-way third liner. Based on this evaluation, it wouldn't be unfair to compare him to a Kyle Chipchura pre-draft, though Chipchura's development after being selected was largely derailed by injuries. And just because Chipchura didn't pan out as Montreal had hoped, doesn't mean Gaunce will follow the same trajectory should he land with the Canadiens.
Zemgus Girgensons - C - Dubuque Fighting Saints, USHL 6'1.5", 200 lbs - Shoots L Rankings: Central Scouting - 18th (North America); Future Considerations - 19th; The Hockey News - 16th
There are a lot of similarities between Girgensons and Radek Faksa, also included on this list. Future Considerations has Faksa 6 slots ahead of Girgensons, while McKeen's has Girgensons one spot ahead of Faksa. Both are big European centers - Girgensons being Latvia - who came over to play hockey in North America prior to their draft year. Girgensons has already been on this side of the ocean for three seasons, most recently playing the last two years with Dubuque of the USHL. If you're hearing a lot about Dubuque lately, that is because there is a tie to recently hired Canadiens scout Bobby Kinsella, who served as Director of Scouting and Assistant Coach for the club for the past two years, meaning he has one of the better informed opinions of Girgensons of anyone out there.
Girgenson's 44 points in 43 games last season were a modest improvement from his 49 points in 51 contests the year prior, which has some scouts worried about his offensive upside. He can play a physical power game, producing 2 goals at this year's World Juniors on a weak Latvian squad, and has the type of build that fast-tracks youngsters to the big league. The question will be what role he can fill once he gets there. While a natural center, many feel he lacks the skill set to project in that position long-term, with puck distribution not at the top of his list of skills, making some question his hockey sense. His skating - while powerful and not a huge weakness - is also a bit of a concern, lacking a top gear.
Still, there is no doubting Girgensons's intensity and aggressiveness, which makes him a very safe prospect even if he ends up being limited to a third line role. If Kinsella's recommendation comes in strong enough - and it likely will given that he served as Dubuque's captain this season - it is possible that the club works hard to nab Girgensons. If it's not a trade down, maybe Girgensons's Latvian origin has him slip a little, and the club tries to trade up from pick 33 to select him late in the first round.
Sebastian Collberg - RW - Frolunda Jr. - Sweden 5'11", 175 lbs - Shoots R Rankings: Central Scouting - 3rd (Europe); Future Considerations - 12th; The Hockey News - 14th
Like Teravainen, Collberg lacks the size Hab fans are dreaming of, but the winger packs a punch offensively. Whereas Filip Forsberg was held to just a single assist in six World Junior Championship games this season, Collberg finished second on the squad with seven points, including four goals. He was also dominant offensively in the World U18 tournament, where as one of Sweden's assistant captains, he scored 4 goals and 9 points in 6 games, but was also criticized for looking fatigued an umotivated at times after a long season. Like Forsberg, Collberg spent much of the season playing against men in the Swedish Elite League, though he got very little ice time with Frolunda, held off the scoresheet in 41 games. He spent 21 games with the team's junior club, registering 9 goals and 17 points in that span.
As a player, Collberg's quick and accurate release is probably his best attribute. He's a great skater, and despite his size, doesn't shy away from traffic areas on the ice. His defensive game is quite well-rounded with a solid work ethic making him a tough back checker, typical of many players coming out of Sweden and Finland the last several years. Still, the lack of strength on his frame is concerning, limiting his effectiveness against bigger defenders, so it's something he'll need to work on if he is to produce at the North American professional level. A final concern is his development if he remains in Sweden, as Frolunda can be tough on its younger players. In addition to a lack of ice time, playing on a fourth unit, Collberg's game became one of puck retrieval, chip, and chase, limiting him from using his strengths in the attacking zone.
His style has drawn comparisons to the likes of Phil Kessel and Jeff Skinner, but if the Canadiens do decide that trading down for Collberg is what they're after, they might be wise to get him to join a CHL club for next year to continue his progression. He may be on Trevor Timmins's radar, as when talking about top prospects for the upcoming draft, rather than single out Forsberg, Timmins alluded to, "the Swedes."
Mathew Dumba - D - Red Deer Rebels, WHL 5'11.5", 180 lbs - Shoots R Rankings: Central Scouting - 11th (North America); Future Considerations - 10th; The Hockey News - 5th
The first of three blueliners on the list, Dumba is the smallest, which has undoubtedly hurt his pre-draft rankings. However, he plays a lot bigger than the size he's listed at, which is both a compliment and a concern, causing some to fear for his longevity in the big league and his ability to handle his own in a men's league if his style doesn't translate against larger opponents. His rankings are a little all over the place, with both McKeen's and The Hockey News having him as the #2 defenseman in the draft after Ryan Murray, while Future Considerations has four blueliners ahead of him.
So other than being a more physical player than he was built to be, what makes Dumba a top prospect? He's got a well-rounded game, with vision that allows for great breakout passes, a heavy shot, and soft hands that help him make quick plays. He possesses good leadership skills, rebounding after taking an early cut from Team Canada WJC camp very hard by captaining the country's World U18 team and producing a phenomenal 5 goals and 12 points in just 7 games to lead the club by a fair margin. In Red Deer, he more than doubled his production from a year ago, scoring 57 points in 69 games to rank sixth among WHL rearguards.
Other than size, the only other real concern about Dumba is his consistency, as he can go through spells where he is less involved physically, and is caught watching the play, or being reactive rather than using the hockey intelligence he is blessed with. But he is blessed with talent, and the rest (other than size) will mostly be worked out through coaching and maturity, so if Montreal wants to add a dynamic player - the kind who might have as good or better a career than anyone available at pick 3 - while picking up an additional selection, Dumba could be on their list. He just might be my favourite d-man in the draft due to the exciting game he plays. And as I've said before, I don't believe that the other top 10 blueliners are all that far behind Murray.
Griffin Reinhart - D - Edmonton Oil Kings, WHL 6'4", 205 lbs - Shoots L Rankings: Central Scouting - 10th (North America); Future Considerations - 7th; The Hockey News - 8th
Reinhart is a consensus top 10 selection in the coming draft, blessed with the body that would make a guy like Dumba a contender for first overall this year. Reinhart has hockey bloodlines - his father Paul is a former NHL d-man - which we know Trevor Timmins enjoys, and got added experience this year as his Edmonton Oil Kings won the WHL title and most recently competed in the Memorial Cup.
Reinhart may have the frame, but he doesn't play a physical, punishing game. He is a two-way blueliner, less flashy than Dumba, having scored 12 goals and 36 points in 58 games this season, but makes up for what he lacks in toughness by playing a positionally sound coverage game in his own end. He is strong, and even dropped the gloves on three occasions this season, but many would like to see him use his size to throw hits on a more regular basis rather than just relying on his long reach. His skating is unique, often the case with young players who are adapting to their bodies, and while it shouldn't hold him back significantly, is an area he can strive to improve.
Perhaps the biggest positive with regards to Reinhart is that he improved significantly as the season went on. Players at this age are still developing as athletes, and it is a scout's job to project where they may be years in the future, thus to see a good learning curve is encouraging for what that future may hold. As he gets increasingly comfortable in his role as a top pairing blueliner over time, we may see some of that toughness creep into his game with more consistency, which could make him an addition to a stacked Montreal back end some years from now.
Jacob Trouba - D - USNTDP, USHL 6'2", 195 lbs - Shoots R Rankings: Central Scouting - 9th (North America); Future Considerations - 6th; The Hockey News - 9th
Future Considerations likes Trouba ahead of Reinhart, while both The Hockey News and McKeen's have him a little behind. A little smaller than Reinhart, Trouba also plays an all-around two-way game. However, where Reinhart can shy away from physical play and needs to work on his skating, both are core elements to Trouba's game. Between his size, quickness, and toughness, he is difficult to beat in his own end, but he also possessed a hard point shot, which allowed him to score 18 points in 22 USHL games with the U18 team this season. He was so good, in fact, that he made the American team for the World Juniors, contributing 2 assists in 6 games, and was later named an assistant captain for the World U18 squad, where he added a goal and 3 points in 6 more contests.
There is little at fault in Trouba's game, which the Canadiens might like when the players at the top of the draft all come with warning labels. Critics sometimes worry about his puck-handling, which has many questioning whether his offensive skills can translate to the next level, but if he won't be a puck-rusher, his shot should mean it won't handicap him too badly. He is a true competitor, but there are still some questions about consistency, though it is hard to gauge a player off such a small sample size with the US National Team Development Program. He is expected to continue his development with either the University of Michigan or the Kitchener Rangers.
Now, if on draft day, prior to pick #3, we hear Gary Bettman utter those highly anticipated words, "We have a trade to announce," you have an idea of who it might be that the Canadiens are really looking to select. Of this list, given the organization's needs, I'd be happy adding a Faksa or Girgensons.
However, truth be told, I'm not particularly in favour of the trade down option this year, even with a draft full of uncertainties and the need to bolster a thin prospect pool in Montreal. It hopefully won't be often that the Canadiens get to speak so early on in an entry draft, and this gives them the opportunity to add a superstar-calibre player. Sure, I'd be open to listening to offers for the pick, particularly if somehow Nail Yakupov and Alex Galchenyuk both go in the two spots before the Canadiens. But in the end, I'd say draft your Galchenyuk or Mikhail Grigorenko and then hope for the best; all of the above players will make fine NHL'ers, but that's not the need. Come June, a new star must be born to rise Hab fans out of their seats once again.
Next week, we'll look at the possibilities of trading up to nab Nail Yakupov with the first overall selection, or potentially trading the third overall pick away altogether. The week following, we'll look at possible candidates for all of the rest of Montreal's picks in the draft.
Welcome to the first installment of Restocking the Cupboard, a five week mini-series going live every Wednesday leading up to the NHL Entry Draft taking place June 22-23. With the graduations of the likes of Carey Price, Max Pacioretty, and P.K. Subban over the past couple of years, combined with the trading of multiple 2nd round selections, Montreal's prospect system has thinned out considerably. Yes, there are some interesting names turning pro in the Fall, but the organization needs some padding, particularly at forward and between the pipes.
Fortunately, Montreal is in a good position to do a lot of restocking at this very draft, with the third overall pick and a bonus second rounder obtained from Nashville in the Hal Gill trade. For the first 3 installments, we'll look specifically at that third overall first round selection and Montreal's options with it. Today we'll go in-depth about the only four players the team should or could be realistically considering in that spot, while next week we'll discuss the possibility of trading down, and in 2 weeks we'll look at what it might take to move up and whether or not it would be worth it.
With that said, today we will take an in-depth look at the four players who could become Canadiens on the draft's Friday evening if the team holds steady at #3. Here's my take on each of the players and the pros and cons of selecting them.
Mikhail Grigorenko - Center - Quebec Remparts, QMJHL 6'2", 200 lbs - Shoots L Rankings: Central Scouting - 3rd (North America); Future Considerations - 4th; The Hockey News - 3rd;
A lot has been said about Grigorenko this season. Entering the season, there was excitement that Grigorenko had chosen to spend the year in North America, debuting as a rookie for Patrick Roy's Quebec Remparts in the QMJHL. Some had him as a possible contender for the top pick, looking to dislodge Nail Yakupov. It's hard to call a season of 40 goals and 85 points in 59 games, and another 10 points in 11 playoff games, all the while earning awards as the league's Top Rookie and Top Professional Prospect, disappointing. But rather than see his stock rise, the questions about him have multiplied.
Let's start with the good. Grigorenko came to the Q as a winger, but under Roy's tutelage, made a successful transition to center early on this season, even improving his face-off skills over the course of the year. His big frame will provide size down the middle to whoever drafts him, and that is something the Canadiens could certainly use. But despite his body, he doesn't play a power game. Nor is he a speedster (not that his skating is a problem). His game is high-end skill, with quick hands and good hockey sense, both as a playmaker and sniper. Think the way Joe Thornton is a productive NHL'er, but more of a balanced offensive toolkit rather than an elite passer. Though Roy himself indicated another year in the Q might be beneficial for the young Russian, if he can impress whoever drafts him in training camp, he already has the physical maturity to make the jump to the big league, which is something that can't necessarily be said about the other three below.
So what scares those who watch Grigorenko play about his NHL future? First, he struggles with consistency, looking disengaged or unmotivated at times. He has been accused of scoring the majority of his points against weaker opposition, and coasting/floating with important games on the line. Some feel the lack of necessary intangibles (e.g. desire, work ethic...) will keep him from reaching his star upside, though scouts are divided on that; there are some who want nothing to do with him on draft day, and others who blame his disinterest on his being a man among boys in the QMJHL. It was announced at the end of his team's season that Grigorenko had been battling mononucleosis, and some were quick to attribute this to a weaker-than-expected playoff performance on his part, so perhaps there are enough viable reasons to dismiss some of the fears about his future.
That would be all fine if those were the only concerns. However, though Grigorenko played this season in Quebec, there have been murmurs coming out of Russia throughout the season that his former club CSKA still feels they have a legitimate claim to have him under contract. Whether or not that is the case, further stories indicate that they will push hard to have him return home to play in the KHL as soon as next season. The "Russian fear," if you will, has caused many clubs to pass on high potential prospects early in drafts before, and combined with the other concerns, this makes Grigorenko a risky selection.
In summary, Grigorenko is undoubtedly a potential future star. But there are a lot of question marks to be resolved before he gets to that point. Can the Canadiens risk gambling their highest pick in quite some time on such a player? Or are they better off with a safer option? Feel free to weigh in down below.
Alex Galchenyuk - Center - Sarnia Sting, OHL 6'1", 198 lbs - Shoots L Rankings: Central Scouting - 4th (North America); Future Considerations - 2nd; The Hockey News - 7th;
There were both doubts and intrigue surrounding Galchenyuk at the start of the year, another player in the discussion as a top 2 or 3 selection. While he is of Russian ethnicity, Galchenyuk was born in Milwaukee and holds dual citizenship, having opted to represent the United States in international play. After a season with the Chicago Young Americans, Galchenyuk joined the OHL's Sarnia Sting in 2010-11, where he played (at least some of the time) with consensus 2012 top pick Nail Yakupov. This had some wondering if Galchenyuk's impressive rookie season of 31 goals and 83 points in 68 games wasn't partially attributable to the work of his skilled teammate, and all were looking forward to seeing his development this season.
Enter the problem in his case: in a September 16th, 2011 preseason game, Galchenyuk injured his knee and required surgery on his ACL. The recovery kept him out until the final 2 games of the 2011-12 season, and clearly it is hard for an athlete at any level to jump in and have an impact so late in the year. He was held off the scoresheet in those 2 games, but did manage 2 goals and 4 points in the 6 playoff games Sarnia had before being eliminated, showing that he had fully recovered.
Will the injury scare some clubs off? Perhaps, as a lost season of development at such a young age could potentially damage a player's career. ACL injuries are also tough to judge, with lingering effects sometimes a concern. But Galchenyuk brings a number of assets to the table that have most scouts dreaming about him falling into their reaches. He is seen as a full package; a good skater who plays an intense game in all three zones, just as reliable on the back check as he is dangerous in the offensive zone. If work ethic is a concern in Grigorenko's case, it is one of Galchenyuk's strengths, as his an ability to make good use of his solid frame. All of these attributes have some comparing his game to that of Marian Hossa, who Hab fans will remember their team selecting Jason Ward one pick earlier in 1997.
As a responsible two-way forward, Galchenyuk seems like a Trevor Timmins-type pick. But that isn't to say he's "more of the same" for Montreal. At third overall, you're getting a player with a lot more offensive talent than a Kyle Chipchura. You're adding size down the middle, which addresses an organizational need, and you're adding a center to build around in the team's young core. What you aren't getting is an immediate replacement for David Desharnais or Tomas Plekanec. Barring an unbelievable training camp, after not playing this year, it is almost certain Galchenyuk will be returned to Sarnia for another season by whichever club takes him.
Filip Forsberg - Right Wing - Leksands IF, Swedish Elite League 6'2", 181 lbs - Shoots R Rankings: Central Scouting - 1st (Europe); Future Considerations - 5th; The Hockey News - 2nd;
The advantage Forsberg has over the other three names on this list is that he has proven he can compete with older men. After getting a 10-game look with the Swedish Elite League's Leksand last season, Forsberg played a full 43 games for them this year as a 17-year old (he only turns 18 in August) and managed 17 points. Of course, this also presents a challenge to scouts, as comparing potential between guys playing in very different leagues is one of the great difficulties the scouting fraternity faces every year. While impressive for a player of his age, 17 points in 43 games is far from a dominant offensive output, and Forsberg didn't help himself with just 1 assist in 6 games at this year's World Junior Championship.
Indeed, if you hadn't seen the guy play, you might wonder from his stat page why he's being talked about as a top 5 prospect for this draft class. While the upside is there, there are legitimate questions as to whether or not Forsberg will be enough of a scorer at the pro level to be a true first liner. Certainly he does have the potential to be; against peers his own age, he has been a point-per-game player, and capped his season with a highly impressive World U18 in which, as the Swedish team's captain, he scored 5 goals and 7 points in 6 games.
So what makes Forsberg (no relation to the legendary Peter) a top prospect? Not unlike Galchenyuk, he combines a strong frame with great determination and two-way play. If Bergevin is content with a small centre line provided he can surround the Plekanecs and Desharnais with more Max Pacioretty and Erik Cole types, then Forsberg becomes a real option, as he doesn't hesitate to dish out hits and play a power game. Like Pacioretty and Cole, Forsberg's nose for the net means he's a shoot-first type, but there are concerns about his skill level as a high end prospect. You won't confuse his ability to set up teammates with a Pavel Datsyuk, and that may limit his role at the NHL level to a good 2nd liner or ideal two-way third line winger that can still chip in 20+ goals. Good at everything, master of little, which is often a red flag for scouts when looking at a prospect.
Still, if Grigorenko is a risk for factors mentioned, and Galchenyuk's knee causes concern, Forsberg is a very safe prospect, sure to be a contributor on an NHL club within a couple of seasons. And, given that no one can be certain how he will respond to playing in North America, the team that acquires his services may end up pleasantly surprised, not unlike the Philadelphia Flyers with Sean Couturier.
Ryan Murray - Defenseman - Everett Silvertips, WHL 6'1", 201 lbs - Shoots LRankings: Central Scouting - 2nd (North America); Future Considerations - 3rd; The Hockey News - 4th;
Almost everyone has Murray as the top defenseman in this year's draft, and yet whenever I've watched him, I'm left wanting more. Don't get me wrong, Murray is a stud prospect, sure to be an NHL defenseman in the very near future (particularly given his age, almost a full year older than Filip Forsberg). But if we were to compare this year's draft with its plethora of talented d-men available to the phenomenal crop from 2008, Murray reminds me more of a Luke Schenn than a Drew Doughty or Alex Pietrangelo.
If there is a skill which sets Murray apart, it's his skating. He has the look of a Scott Niedermayer on the ice, while slotting into a similar two-way role. However, aside from his speed, he ranks as "good" in all other areas; shot-blocking, coverage, physicality, offensive awareness... and all these "good"s combine to make him an extremely safe prospect to be an NHL player for many years. But is a good and safe player what a team looks for at the top of a draft? Generally not, as most want a home run in these slots, unless there is a real organizational need for something different (Hi, Edmonton). Perhaps a team will think highly enough of him for his intangibles, as he does captain the Everett Silvertips
My problem with Murray isn't necessarily the player himself, but rather that I don't see him as leaps and bounds beyond the other blueliners available. While Murray - to his benefit - is a picture of consistency, a player like Matt Dumba has shown a lot more flash during the course of the season. Despite missing games with injury, Morgan Rielly's transition game and play in the offensive zone outclass Murray's. Griffin Reinhart's 6'4", 207 lbs frame is something that Murray physically can't compete with. Will Murray be better than these guys plus Jacob Trouba and Cody Ceci? Perhaps, but I don't think he'll be that much better that it makes sense for a team who has taken d-men in the first round each of the last two seasons to select him at #3, with potentially comparable quality blueliners still to be on the board further down the top 10.
If Trevor Timmins and his staff disagree with my assessment and feel that Murray is too good to pass up on, it will at least shore up Montreal's left-handed shooting d-men for the foreseeable future, marking the third year in a row the team selected such a player with their first pick. Certainly no one would complain about a young defense that includes Murray, Jarred Tinordi, Nathan Beaulieu, P.K. Subban, Alexei Emelin, and Josh Gorges in 3 years time.
And there you have it, the four names that logically make up Montreal's short list for the third overall selection. If the tone in my evaluations wasn't clear enough, as of today, if I were making the selection, I'd go with Alex Galchenyuk. Elite superstar potential, size at center, reliable two-way guy meaning he may be as little as one year away from an NHL debut, and without the risk factors of a Mikhail Grigorenko.
But whoever the Canadiens end up taking with this pick, do know two things:
1) The team will be adding a huge piece of the future contender puzzle
2) Do not expect the player to spend more than a 10-game trial (IF that) in Montreal next season
The soft-spoken young-looking Lars Eller has a heap of pressure on him when he made his Montreal Canadiens debut in 2010. Eller had just been acquired for the hero that had carried the Habs to the Conference Finals, Jaroslav Halak, as the club decided that Carey Price would be its goaltender of the future instead. Arriving in Montreal as a 21-year old in just your second season playing in North America with the expectation that you were good enough to give up a national her for; no easy shoes to fill. But Eller isn't one to fold in the face of pressure - in fact, he's one to battle through it with the trademark ear-to-ear grin on his face, the kind of bright disposition that almost says, "I'm just happy to be here." And be here he has, improving from a 7-goal first campaign to 16 this past season while winning the hearts of many a Hab fan along the way.
Eller, who celebrated his 23rd birthday just 9 days ago, has had lots more to celebrate of late. First, for his spinorama penalty shot goal in his memorable four goal-evening, Eller was rewarded with the "Play of the Year" title by Canadiens fans on the team's official website, defeating Carey Price in the finals after the goaltender had won the award three seasons in a row. You can relive the native of Rodovre, Denmark's crazy evening below:
While disappointed to not get to play any playoff hockey this Spring, the Canadiens' elimination allowed Eller to attend the IIHF World Championship, where he helped Denmark to narrowly avoid relegation from the top group. The Danes won only one game, 2-0 over Latvia, but combined with taking Italy to overtime, it was enough to remain ahead of the Italian squad to return to fight again in next year's tournament. The Danes loaded up their top line, with Eller most frequently skating on the New York Islanders' Frans Nielsen's wing, and having Jannik Hansen of the Vancouver Canucks on the other side. Eller led his club both in goals (3) and points (5) in their 7 games, and perhaps most impressively, led all forwards in the entire tournament in time on ice per game for the preliminary round, with his 20:56 coming in just one second ahead of Nielsen's (but both far ahead of anyone else).
Eller is still young and brings size to Montreal's offense with his 6'2", 198 lbs frame (which many hope he can still fill out a little more), but where he fits over the longer-term remains a question. He has displayed incredible hands - perhaps the best stickhandling on the team - at times, but has also struggled to finish around the net. After scoring 16 in 79 games this past season, it isn't unreasonable to think him capable of 20 next year, but it will depend on the role the team slots him into. Will he spend time on the wing in a top 6 position with Tomas Plekanec or David Desharnais? Will he return to his familiar third line center role? If so, will his primary task be as a two-way, shutdown center, or will the team role three primarily offensive trios? Perhaps the best case scenario would be for him to begin in the middle on the third unit, but show enough offense to be deserving of a promotion. Having both of its top 6 offensive centers under 6 feet (one way under 6 feet) is a weakness of the Canadiens, so if Eller could show capable of playing such a role, no one would complain about a club able to ice 3 "top 2" trios.
Since I was unable to post yesterday as mentioned on Twitter, we'll start today playing catch-up before getting into more new features!
COACHING UPDATES
It's been quiet on the Habs' front the past few day, which is to be expected as new General Manager Marc Bergevin settles into his role and assessed what he has in place in terms of staff and players. A Tweet from TSN's Bob McKenzie yesterday indicated the Canadiens were still in the early stages of their coaching search, in the process of contacting candidates on the list they've assembled. Some of the names he mentioned included Bob Hartley (who is also linked to the vacancy in Calgary), Marc Crawford, Michel Therrien, and Guy Carbonneau. As I've mentioned previously, there is no rush to find the right man for this job, though it would be preferable to have a coaching staff in place prior to July 1st, since a UFA is more likely to sign if they have an understanding of the environment they'll be walking into.
Also on the coaching front, New Jersey Devils' Assistant Coach Larry Robinson refuted a report of last week (coming directly from his agent) that said he had interested in joining the Canadiens. It could be speculated, however, that he is denying his interest only to avoid distraction since his current squad is playing in the Conference Finals at the moment.
THE DUDLEY SITUATION
A week ago, it seemed like Rick Dudley joining Montreal's front office was imminent, but the situation grew increasingly complex and we are still waiting on action. The biggest issue of contention is that, though Dudley has an out clause in his contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs, he has put in significant work preparing the team for the upcoming Entry Draft, where they select 5th overall in each round to Montreal's 3rd. As such, he has been privy to a lot of sensitive information, and it has been stipulated that if/when he does join the Habs, he will be unable to work this year's Draft on their behalf. That said, his escape clause has been confirmed by Leafs' GM Brian Burke, meaning that the only other remaining detail is for his contract with the Canadiens to be worked out.
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP UPDATES
It's been a tough World Championship for Denmark who finally got their first win by beating Lativa 2-0 yesterday, but were then thumped by surprising Norway 6-2 this morning. Montreal's Lars Eller finished the preliminary round leading his team with 3 goals and 5 points, and the club's 1 win and 1 overtime loss were enough to keep them ahead of Italy (despite losing to them in that overtime game) and avoid relegation. Eller led all Danish forwards (and ranked third overall on the team) in ice time per game, averaging 20:56 a night.
Habs' Max Pacioretty has figured amongst the tournament's leading scorers throughout the preliminary round, with an impressive 2 goals and 10 points in just 6 games, some 3 points ahead of the second leading scorer on his club, defenseman Justin Faulk. The Americans close out their preliminary round later this afternoon against Switzerland, though their spot in the quarter finals has already been confirmed.
The Russian squad rattled off an impressive 7-0-0 record in the preliminary round to win their group, and their squad will be bolstered by the additions of Alex Ovechkin and Alexander Semin for the quarter-finals. After missing part of a game due to injury, and being held out for another cause of a suspension for a spear on Sweden/Detroit's Johan Franzen, Alexei Emelin has slotted back in as an important defender for the squad. He plays on the team's top pairing and has produced 1 goal and 1 assist in 6 games, while tying for a team-high amongst d-men with a +7 rating. Sticking with this team, former Canadiens forward Alexander Perezhogin has been impressive in the tournament, racking up 3 goals and 8 points in 7 matches. The Habs' lost the rights to Perezhogin, 28, last summer, meaning that if he were to ever consider returning to North America from the KHL, he would be an unrestricted free agent.
The Czech Republic has also locked in a quarterfinal berth, though their final game against Germany this afternoon impacts where they'll finish. Montreal's Tomas Plekanec leads all Czech players with 5 points in 6 games thus far, and his average ice time of 17:47 per game ranks second among forwards on the squad to only David Krejci of the Boston Bruins.
In other Worlds news, Canada finished the preliminary round with a 6-0-1 record to win their group. Despite a moral victory of taking Team U.S.A. to overtime, Kazakhstan finished last in the division, meaning like the Italians, they will be relegated next year. The impressive/surprising story on this side has been Team France, led by former Habs' netminder Cristobal Huet, which currently sits at 3-3-0. They are playing against Slovakia at the time of writing, tied 2-2 in the second, and if they can win in regulation, they will qualify for the tournament's quarterfinals by having beaten the Slovaks, thus ending the tournament for Zdeno Chara and his countrymen.
HABS INTERESTED IN DAMIEN BRUNNER
It has been reported that at least three NHL clubs have made offers to Swiss forward Damien Brunner, including the Minnesota Wild, Detroit Red Wings, and your Montreal Canadiens. Brunner, 26, isn't the biggest player at 5'11", 176 lbs, but is highly skilled, becoming the first Swiss-born and trained player to lead the Swiss A league in scoring in over 30 years this past season, with 24 goals and 60 points (a full 21 points ahead of his nearest teammate) in just 45 games as a teammate and regular linemate of ex-Hab Glen Metropolit. Though Switzerland failed to qualify for the quarterfinals at the IIHF WHC, Brunner was a big part of their offense, leading the team with 3 goals and 6 points through 6 games. No, another undersized forward is not exactly what the Habs are looking for right now, but we're talking about a player with a lot of potential who could be had without sacrificing any assets. There is very little risk, and significant potential reward in getting Brunner under contract, so we can only hope that Metropolit and Swiss countrymen Raphael Diaz and Yannick Weber talk the city up to him.
UPCOMING CONTENT SCHEDULE
Quick announcement that tomorrow in our Around the League(s) segment, we'll be previewing the Memorial Cup which gets underway Friday. Next week, as we approach the one-month mark till the NHL Entry Draft, we'll begin to discuss in greater detail the options and players the Canadiens have available to them.
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About Me
The blog's author, Dan Kramer, is a Montreal business professional. While a fan of the sport of hockey at large, born and raised in Montreal, he has been a lifelong diehard Habs follower, and enjoys keeping up on all aspects of the Canadiens - from prospects playing overseas right up to marketing decisions made by the big club. Thus, Posts and Tweets will cover a wide array of subjects within the greater Habs family. He also apparently enjoys writing about himself in the third person.
Favourite Hab of my lifetime: Saku Koivu
Favourite Current Habs: Erik Cole, Alexei Emelin, Lars Eller, and Max Pacioretty
Bit I'll cheer for anyone wearing Blue-Blanc-Rouge!
Note that all blog posts reflect solely the opinions of their author. Dan's Daily Dose - Your Canadiens does not take claim for any photos or videos posted on this page. All are sole property of their creator(s). This site is not affiliated with the Montreal Canadiens or National Hockey League in any way.
The blog's author, 