Your Canadiens for December 4, 2011

A solid effort and big win yesterday for the Montreal Canadiens over the Los Angeles Kings means things are likely to continue to hold steady for now. Jacques Martin lives to fight another day, and with both Bobby Ryan and Jarome Iginla seemingly off the trade market, there are no rumoured imminent transactions. But lots has gone on today and yesterday in the Habs' world, so here's a recap:

- Yesterday, Pierre Gauthier provided an update on the health of Andrei Markov. As much as he tried to frame it positively, with good news of Markov's repaired tendons holding strong, the reason the rearguard had disappeared from the team's entourage was made abundantly clear. Some time in the next few days, Markov will undergo a round of arthroscopic knee surgery to remove some debris from his knee area that had been causing significant swelling and pain. This is a relatively minor surgery, but it will still mean at least another three weeks on the shelf for the Russian who had hoped to start playing as recently as the California trip. I've written plenty on the Markov debacle, so I need not remind anyone how frustrated this makes Habs fans. Why on earth was a 3-year deal necessary this summer when his health was clearly still a big question mark?! Why was there no back-up plan in place given Markov's health? Sure, some of these young defenseman would have to get a chance at some point, but they've been thrown to the wolves with a lack of veterans to soak up tough minutes when they struggle.

- This morning, the Canadiens announced that Aaron Palushaj has been sent to the Hamilton Bulldogs. The 'Dogs have struggled mightily this season, with a win last night putting them at just 7-12-2 (last place in the Western Conference), so getting back a top AHL scorer like Palushaj should be a big boost. This is also great news for Louis Leblanc, who impressed sufficiently to pass Palushaj in the depth chart (at least for now). While it is no guarantee that Leblanc will stick around with Max Pacioretty returning from his 3-game suspension, it is still a good sign for the 20-year old pro rookie. To show the logjam at forward that may mean a return to top AHL minutes for Leblanc, here's a look at the depth chart:

Cammalleri - Plekanec - Gionta

Pacioretty - Desharnais - Cole

Moen - Eller - Kostitsyn

Darche - Nokelainen - Leblanc

While Louis could see some ice time (even taking shifts in place of, say, Travis Moen on occasion), he may be better off building strength in the American League and eventually returning for a permanent third line job when there is a spot for him. In the short-term, though, having Leblanc over Palushaj improves the club's bottom 6.

- Speaking of the Bulldogs, Nathan Lawson made 23 saves as Hamilton beat the Rochester Americans 3-2. Mike Blunden and Mark Mitera scored first period goals, with Gabriel Dumont, Phil DeSimone, and Brian Willsie picking up assists. Joonas Nattinen had the winner, snapping a 2-2 tie at 9:16 of the third period unassisted. For Nattinen, it was just his second goal of the season, but both have been game winners.

- A player I expected and hoped would join the Bulldogs once the Canadiens' back end was healthy, Raphael Diaz, seems to be making a strong case to stay in Montreal. I can't say I quite understand it - I'm not sure what he has done so well to deserve such a favoured status - but he played over 24 minutes yesterday (2nd to Josh Gorges) including over 4 minutes of penalty kill time. It's not that I dislike Diaz. I think he has definitely passed Yannick Weber in the depth chart, making Weber expendable and a likely trade chip. But while Diaz is a reasonable puck-mover with a half-decent point shot, he suffers from similar defensive zone issues to Weber, being on the small and soft side. To me, with the likes of Chris Campoli, Jaroslav Spacek, and eventually Andrei Markov returning, Diaz's skillls won't be needed in Montreal this season. I'm scared, however, that it will be Alexei Emelin - the unique physical presence on the Montreal back end - that sits once two injured veterans are ready for game action. The only explanation I have is that Emelin is a riskier player, while Diaz plays a safer "unnoticeable" game that Jacques Martin loves. It is the risk factor, however, that gives Emelin so much greater potential than the young Swiss.

- At the prospect level yesterday, Nathan Beaulieu (8th) and Michael Bournival (13th) each had goals as their teams faced off. Beaulieu's marker was the overtime game winner, while Bournival's was his 13th in just his 14th game. Jarred Tinordi added another assist to his record, now at 7 in 18 games. Tinordi finished the night a +2 and also fought, taking 11 minutes in penalties as he was called for an instigator. Danny Kristo, playing the second of back-to-back games in Alaska, picked up a goal and an assist and is now at 19 points in 16 games.

Canadiens Call Up Louis Leblanc

In the wake of the Max Pacioretty suspension, the Montreal Canadiens announced that 2009 first round pick Louis Leblanc has been recalled from the Hamilton Bulldogs.

Leblanc, 20, missed the first 5 games of his debut professional season, rehabbing from off-season shoulder surgery, but has since collected 4 goals and 10 points in 14 games. Leblanc is average sized at 6'0", 180 lbs, but plays an aggressive forechecking and responsible defensive game.

Leblanc is likely to play only if Andrei Markov doesn't dress for Wednesday's game (which is the likely scenario, given that the club might not want him to return in the first half of back-to-back games). He can play either center or the wing, and is certainly a better option than playing Frederic St. Denis on the wing, but if Markov dresses, it's possible the team uses Yannick Weber up front ahead of Leblanc.

I like this move, given that it will only be for 1 to 2 games at the most. Leblanc has played well in Hamilton, and a little taste of the big league may motivate him further to work hard to earn a full-time promotion. He was quite effective in preseason games a year ago, but had to sit out this year in rehabbing his injury.

He should wear # 71, as he did in preseason a year ago, and if he does play tomorrow, he will become the milestone 800th player to play for the Canadiens in a regular season game in franchise history.

But a word of caution, Habs fans: don't expect too much from him right away. Leblanc has an NHL future, but it may be as a two-way third liner rather than a top 6 scorer. He isn't NHL ready yet, and will continue to develop in Hamilton. He's only 20, so be patient with him please. The fact that his debut comes on the road should help to lessen the heaps of pressure being lumped on his shoulders.

Now We're Cooking: Sweet Wins for Habs, Bulldogs

Where it began,

Was with the firing of Perry,

And now we hope it's growing strong...

Was in the Fall,

The whole team was strugglin'

Who'da believed they'd come on strong?!

Hold up Habs fans, don't go planning any parades just yet (I mean, after all, we're not Leafs fans), but maybe - just maybe - we have something here. That 'something' is a big fat M word called momentum, with a side dish of confidence.

At 3-5-2, they're still in a bit of a hole, but the climb back up the ladder of respectability needs to begin somewhere. And back-to-back wins over the Philadelphia Flyers and Boston Bruins is as good a place as any.

Let's step back a moment, however. I posted earlier this week my discontent with the management team of Pierre Gauthier and Jacques Martin. I'm not a fairweather fan who is suddenly placated just because the club posted consecutive victories. I still feel the pair should be replaced in the near future for the very same reasons. The defense Pierre Gauthier assembled is largely soft, small, and inexperienced. There is a need for a tough, veteran, shutdown guy, and the only player who could eventually fill this role currently on the roster - Alexei Emelin - is being sat by Martin.

On the Emelin issue, after Tweeting my displeasure with his being scratched in favour of Raphael Diaz for a game against the Big Bad Bruins, I will admit that despite an overall shaky game on his part, Diaz made an incredible defensive slide to takeaway a goal after Carey Price was caught out of position with the game tied at 1. It wasn't a play anyone could make, and Martin's choice of Diaz over Emelin may thus have contributed to the team's win.

The downside to this is a legitimate concern that Emelin will never get a chance to develop in Montreal. His contract will allow him to bolt back over to Russia if the Habs try to send him down to Hamilton, but if he's kept in Montreal and sat for most of the season, he's likely headed home at year's end anyway. With a log-jam of players the organization feels to be ahead of him, it will be tough for him to find ice time, and thus Gauthier may be forced to use him as a transaction deal sweetener to at least get something for the asset he finally convinced to cross the ocean. This would be unfortunate as - like I mentioned - Emelin's skillset is not a common one within the organization.

But let's stick with the positives for now. Also deserving of some credit is Randy Ladouceur's management of his defense corps in the 2 games since taking over from Perry Pearn. With the team playing a third game in four nights (and second in 2 cities in 2 nights), Ladouceur and Martin managed to cycle d-men such that only one (Josh Gorges, who had a great night) topped the 20 minute mark. This is a rarity in the NHL, but allowed the team to stay fresh throughout the night which is critical considering the aforementioned personnel concerns on the back end. Diaz, while showing some positives, is clearly not ready for big minutes but has been seen as a "Martin favoured child" by many, joining the ranks of Mathieu Darche and David Desharnais. With Pearn in charge of the D, he played the 4th most minutes amongst Montreal blueliners Monday night. Under Ladouceur, he has gotten the least playing time of the group of 6 in consecutive outings. The team has also gone two games without a Too Many Men on the Ice penalty!

But this isn't just about Pearn, Ladouceur, Martin, and the defense. I talked about Erik Cole's improved play as a reason for hope, and for a third straight game he was amongst the team's top forwards. Cole totaled 2 goals and 1 assist while firing 18 shots on net over the week's 3 games, despite playing an average of only just over 14 minutes a night. Between the offense and some physicality, he is looking more and more like the player the Habs were excited to sign this summer.

Carey Price is playing like Carey Price needs to and can. Tomas Plekanec and Brian Gionta are showing signs of life. The fourth line, led by strong face-off work on the part of Petteri Nokelainen, behaves like a proper fourth line, able to cycle pucks and throw hits. And though I haven't been the biggest fan of David Desharnais's play, he is getting his touches in and picking up points (now at 6 in 10 games). I mentioned that the forward group should perform far better than they had been, hence not being concerned by early season goal-scoring troubles, and it looks like they may now be starting to click.

This is good news for Habs fans, of course, but it is less good news for Scott Gomez. Once he returns from his injury (and he has resumed skating already), Martin's next big test will be where to slot him into the line-up. Plekanec and Lars Eller are playing far better than he was, and Desharnais has been far more productive. Nokelainen plays the fourth line face-off specialist role well, so it sounds like someone is going to have to move to wing. At this point, Gomez should be the odds-on favourite to be forced to make that transition, and if he does, it may actually work out for the best. It will take some defensive responsibilities off his shoulders, and he does have some experience there, having spent considerable time on left wing during his early days in New Jersey.

So Habs fans, smile and relax a little. Stay on your #FireGauthier and #FireMartin campaigns if you will, and you have my support. But in the meanwhile, the game is being played on the ice, and the strong leadership core at the heart of this team has decided that it's time to step up to the plate and play some sound hockey. No one knows how far they'll be able to take it, but reinforcements are around the corner; "The General" Andrei Markov gets back to Montreal from his rehab stint in Florida today.

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If the action in Montreal doesn't satisfy you, then be happy there is more good news on its way from Hamilton. The Canadiens' first round pick in 2009, Louis Leblanc, returned from injury to make his professional hockey debut with the Hamilton Bulldogs last night, and boy was he impressive. Many questioned his offensive upside, seeing him more as a responsible, determined, and energetic two-way third-line type. The 'Dogs eased him in for his debut, allowing him to play that very role by lining up on Andreas Engqvist's wing, opposite Andrew Conboy.

It certainly didn't take long for Leblanc to make an impact, picking up an assist on an Engqvist powerplay goal just 4:18 into the duel with the Rochester Americans. He would add another assist on a second period Conboy goal, before saving his coup de grace for overtime, scoring the game winner to finish his first game with three points and earning first star honours for his efforts. Leblanc also led all of his teammates with 5 shots in the 3-2 win and was a +2.

Let's not begin clamouring for a call-up just yet (keep in mind Engqvist also had 3 points on this night and we know how he has looked in Montreal), but it is a highly encouraging start for a highly anticipated prospect.

Check out highlights from the game here:

http://www.hamiltonbulldogs.com/video/index?id=539&autostart=true

Habs Rookie Camp - Day 2

(If you missed our exclusive Day 1 coverage yesterday, check it out HERE and on Twitter)

SCRIMMAGE UPDATES

(we were not on site today; we'll have a more detailed analysis again after Thursday's game)

- Team Red wins 4-0 on goals by Etienne Brodeur, assisted by Philip Desimone, Gabriel Dumont, Nathan Beaulieu, and Dustin Walsh (assisted by Brodeur). The two sides have now split the first two Rookie Camp games.

- Reports from multiple sources have all of Nathan Beaulieu, Jarred Tinordi, and Alexander Avtsin having poor showings in today's scrimmage.

- On the other hand, Brendan Gallagher, Etienne Brodeur, Olivier Archambault, Hunter Bishop, and Gabriel Dumont have been reported as having good days by Francois Gagnon.

- After being the best of the three goaltenders yesterday, Peter Delmas had a poor second half today, allowing the bulk of the goals to the Red side.

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DAY UPDATES:

4:30 PM - Half an hour till the scrimmage begins. Earlier this afternoon, Canadiens.com posted another update from camp. Today's quotes come from Gabriel Dumont, Aaron Palushaj, and the tatooed Olivier Dame-Malka.

2:15 PM - Andrei Markov took to the ice this afternoon, skating with Olivier Fortier and Louis Leblanc. The good news? He skated. The bad news? He skated with the injured players. Don't read too much into this yet though. I mean camp doesn't start till Friday!

1:06 PM - We will not have live Twitter coverage of today's scrimmage (though we will keep up as best we can). For all the action as it happens, please follow J-F Chaumont on Twitter HERE.

11:00 AM - The vast majority of Canadiens veterans are on the ice in Brossard. With the team's annual Golf Tournament going tomorrow, most everyone is in town. Players practicing include Carey Price, Scott Gomez, Tomas Plekanec, Brian Gionta, Erik Cole, Max Pacioretty, Andrei Kostitsyn, Mike Cammalleri, Mathieu Darche, Hal Gill, Josh Gorges, Lars Eller, Ryan White, Alexei Yemelin, and David Desharnais. Andrei Markov is not on the ice, but has been seen training around Brossard over the past week. P.K. Subban is also not on the ice today as he is in Toronto doing promo work for an equipment line.

Players first spotted by J-F Chaumont on Twitter.

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Team White stole the show on opening day of camp, so today Aaron Palushaj, Nathan Beaulieu, and their Team Red mates look to even the score.

Today's Rookie Camp schedule:

7:15 AM - 8:15 AM: Injured Players Skate

8:30 AM - 9:30 AM: Defensemen Practice

9:45 AM - 10:45 AM: Group A Forwards

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Group B Forwards

1:45 PM - 2:45 PM: Injured Players Skate

3:00 PM - 3:45 PM: Goaltender Practice

4:00 PM - 4:45 PM: All Players Practice

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Scrimmage (All Players)

Then tomorrow, the rest of the team reports for the annual Golf Tournament while the rookies continue their camp.

While waiting for reports on today's activity, here are some others' takes on yesterday:

- Pat Hickey on Phil DeSimone, a good friend of Max Pacioretty and probably the best of the tryout forwards

- Pierre Durocher focuses on Louis Leblanc's progress as he continues to rehab is injury and is determined to crack the Hamilton Bulldog's opening night roster (French)

- Marc Antoine Godin looks at the Canadiens' prospect situation, focusing in on Jarred Tinordi and Leblanc (French)

- The official Canadiens site has a small report with quotes from Leblanc, Alain Berger, and Nathan Beaulieu

- RDS has a longer piece on 2011 first rounder Beaulieu (French)

- TSN's coverage of Day 1 focuses on Aaron Palushaj

Top 10 Things to Look Forward to this Season

As if you needed reasons to find the beautiful Montreal summer long and to be counting down the days till we drop the puck once again, today we bring you 10 unfolding storylines to excite you for 2010-11 as a Habs fan.

10) The pro debut of Louis Leblanc

Of the 17 players drafted before Louis Leblanc in 2009, only 6 have yet to make their NHL debut. Five players taken after him in the first round have also played NHL games, while Habs fans have waited patiently for the man dubbed the team's next French Canadian star on draft day. This Fall will mark the fourth consecutive season in which Leblanc starts play in a new league (USHL, ECAC (NCAA), QMJHL, and now AHL) and he is further coming off summer shoulder surgery. Hab fans, then, should continue to show patience even if he has a slow start in the American League and shouldn't expect him to see any National League ice until 2012-13. Still, all will be eagerly monitoring his progress with the Hamilton Bulldogs as one of the organization's top hopes up front for the future. Other stories to follow with the 'Dogs will include the progress of Alexander Avtsin, and the first impressions of Rafael Diaz.

9) Peter Budaj's (few) performances as Carey Price's new back-up

Alex Auld performed reasonably well last season in Price's few nights off. Still, he invoked little confidence in his ability to play multiple games in a row, and so the Habs looked to upgrade their insurance policy in Peter Budaj. Accepting that the performance of the team's back-up won't ultimately decide the Canadiens' season, thus mitigating the risk of the signing to an extent, Budaj has a lot of upside as he was once seen as a quality future starter. He never really lived up to the hype in Colorado, but encouraging for Habs should be that his best NHL numbers came during the season where he was a full-time back-up to Craig Anderson, with a .917 save percentage in 15 games in 2009-10. This compares to Auld's numbers of .914 in 16 games last season in Montreal. It will be interesting to see how he does after working with a new goalie coach.

8) Competition between Lars Eller and David Desharnais

At least thus far, the Canadiens haven't moved to bring in a veteran depth centerman, much in contrast to the past few years. That means a large role for both Lars Eller and David Desharnais within the forward group, with fans hoping they don't fall into an NHL sophomore slump. Unless one is moved to the wing, the two will push each other for the third line ice time, and hopefully this competition will keep both on top of their game. Because of the glimpses of skill he shows, many expect a breakout year from 22-year old Eller, but we mustn't forget that Desharnais was also playing perhaps his best hockey at the NHL level during the playoffs, and he will still have just turned only 25 when the season starts. It gives the organization nice depth and reliability to have two young players at center behind two veterans in Tomas Plekanec and Scott Gomez.

7) A better season from Scott Gomez

Speaking of Gomez... I mean... he couldn't possibly have a WORSE season, right?? Likely to start the year with Brian Gionta and Max Pacioretty, the trio should be able to produce consistently, and an improvement from last year will be the team's depth, not forced to bump a plugger like Travis Moen into the top 6 just because of an injury or two. As such, whether it's with Andrei Kostitsyn, Erik Cole, or David Desharnais, he'll have a chance to catch fire with a number of different combinations of linemates. It isn't unthinkable for Scottie to bounce back with 50-60 points, but after last year's debacle, it will take more than just production to appease uneasy fans. The Canadiens need to get 100% effort from Mr. Gomez at both ends of the rink on a nightly basis.

6) What will Pierre Gauthier do with > $5M in cap space?

The past couple of seasons, Montreal's cap situation has been somewhat precarious come trade deadline, making a deal to rent the top available talent somewhat difficult as it would require sending salaries elsewhere. As of now anyway, this season looks to be different with the Canadiens having a full roster under contract and over $5M in cap space. By trade deadline, this room will allow them to trade for any player in the league (that is, any playable available of course). It seems as of now that the biggest hole is on defense (as we covered previously), and there is no short supply of potential rentals out there depending on how their clubs are faring in the standings. So what happens with this cash? Does it go unspent? Is it a patch on the blueline? Or... just maybe... Gauthier finds a way to land a big fish and upgrades one of Montreal's top performers to a bonafide superstar. He has certainly shown he isn't afraid to make a concerted effort to be aggressive/proactive.

5) The progression of Carey Price and P.K. Subban

Funny to think that a year ago, the term "Triple Low-Five" meant nothing to Canadiens fans, and now most can't wait to see the next one. Two of the more promising young players at their positions, both Price and Subban took major strides last season towards reaching their potential. For the Habs to have a good year, they need neither of these players to regress, but rather to continue in their development. The two may have a little extra incentive to perform, as both will be restricted free agents next summer looking for big, long-term contracts. And if Carey Price manages to perform like the top 5 goaltender he can be, and P.K. Subban continues to show he will be a top pairing blueliner for many, many years, the Canadiens will have no problem shelling out the dough to keep both around. The lengthy playoff run they can help bring the city next Spring will hopefully assist in covering the team's future tab.

4) Finally seeing Alexei Yemelin in North America

Year after year, Habs fans were teased by rumours that the promising Yemelin would finally sign a deal and come over to North America for training camp. Well this summer, that fantasy finally came true as Yemelin inked a 1-year contract. Now 25 years old, Yemelin is coming off a breakout season offensively in the KHL, rounding out his game by besting his previous high of 7 points with an amazing 26 in 52 games. Given that he brings toughness and physicality lacking on the Montreal blueline, and that he apparently has a contractual clause allowing him return to Russia rather than report to the Bulldogs, he should be given every opportunity to make an impression with the Canadiens. One thing he must do is control his temper, as he has been known to sometimes take bad penalties, something the Habs already did in abundance last year. He should battle Jaroslav Spacek and Yannick Weber for ice time on D.

3) The return of Andrei Markov

An undoubtedly risky signing, the Canadiens brass basically gave Andrei Markov a mulligan on his injury-filled past few years by extending his contract at the same salary for 3 more seasons. If a little nervous, all Habs fans will be super excited to see Markov The General back patrolling the Montreal blueline this season and so long as he can stay healthy, he could return to being a top 5 or 10 two-way defenseman in the league. Yes, Markov suffered a series of repeated ACL/MCL injuries, but the truth is that for the most part, they were relatively freak situations. Now that he has been fully repaired, they should not be seen as predictors of his future health, so Canadiens fans can only be nervous about his age by contract's end slowing him down. Jacques Martin might choose to start Markov off slowly given how little he has played the last two years, but once he hits his stride, he should be soaking up big minutes to make up for the losses of Roman Hamrlik and James Wisniewski. And his saucer passes over to P.K. Subban on the top powerplay unit will hopefully be a thing of beauty for all to behold.

2) The debut of Erik Cole

For a player that Habs fan hated to see touch the Bell Centre ice for many years, Erik Cole's perception to Montrealers has done a full 180-degree spin and now his debut as a Canadien is one of the most hotly anticipated stories of the upcoming season. The Canadiens hope his time here will be more fruitful than the last time he left the Carolina Hurricanes (for the Edmonton Oilers) so that the club doesn't regret handing him a rich 4-year deal. Cole brings the club the type of player it has lacked for oh so very long. The type of player that Andrei Kostitsyn can be when he's on his game (with a little more grit and a little less skill). A big body who can throw his weight around, go to the net, and has soft hands to bury the puck. Those who have been with our blog from the beginning know we were advocating for his signing since early June, so adding another 20+ goal scoring Stanley Cup champion to the line-up is something we all should be excited about. Playing the same style of game as Max Pacioretty, and also having recovered from a serious neck/spinal cord injury, he could serve as a great role model for Max, which brings us to...

1) The return of Max Pacioretty

When he is introduced on opening night, Pacioretty will get a long and loud round of applause from the Bell Centre faithful. After an up-and-down start to his pro career, it seemed Max had managed to put everything together last season. After ripping up the AHL with 32 points (including 17 goals) in just 27 games, Max got the call-up and didn't disappoint, registing 14 goals and 24 points in 37 games with the Canadiens. His breakout season was cut short by the infamous check into a stanchion by Zdeno Chara, and his recovery has been a long and difficult one. But before that injury, Pacioretty had been arguably the team's best attacker, looking like an emerging top power forward, and so his return to the line-up this Fall will be greatly anticipated. With Pacioretty and Cole both in the top 6, the concerns over the club's small stature will be diminished. Habs fans need to hope, however, that the hit won't have any adverse effects on Pacioretty's mental game. He is saying all the right things during his recovery (aside, perhaps, from a joking insult to Brad Marchand's nose), but only he can know (and maybe not even he right now) how he'll react when he hops back on the Bell Centre ice. A Pacioretty who is hesistant to go into the corners or to charge the net is far less effective than the one of last season, so hopefully he can put all effects of his serious injury behind him and get back on track.

Top 10 Habs Prospects Yet to Play in NHL

[Top 10s Archive]

With the draft well behind us and the summer's development camps complete, it seems like a good time to take inventory of the Habs' prospect system to see what kinds of players are in the pipeline coming up. For many drafted 2-4 years ago, it will be a pivotal season in establishing their potential future ceiling and role.

While it is debatable which players should be considered for this list, we will include only players who haven't played a game in the NHL and are 23 years of age or younger. By this classification, then, all of the following players who otherwise would have cracked the list are excluded: Aaron Palushaj, Andreas Engqvist, Brendon Nash, Rafael Diaz, and Alexei Yemelin.

10) Alain Berger, RW

2011-12: Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL) and/or Wheeling Nailers (ECHL)

We covered the undrafted signee Swiss-born Berger in a Player Spotlight not long ago, so we'll suffice it to say that we look forward to seeing what he can do at the pro level this year. His combination of frame and hands make him an intriguing potential power forward in the future if his offense can translate at a higher level.

9) Greg Pateryn, D

2011-12: University of Michigan (NCAA)

While most of the organization's young blueliners tend to be focused on developing their offensive games, Pateryn is a nice compliment in that he is a defense-first player. Still, the 6'3", 214 lbs American acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Mikhail Grabovsky trade vastly improved his offensive production last season as a 20 year old with a high of 17 points, smashing the prior season's total of 6. He seems committed to another season in Michigan alongside fellow prospect Mac Bennett, but should be signed to join the Bulldogs at year's end.

8) Michael Bournival, C

2011-12: Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL)

Bournival is a two-way forward who had a strong enough season in the QMJHL that he was the final cut from Team Canada's World Junior Championship roster. The 19 year old acquired from the Colorado Avalanche for Ryan O'Byrne should be a shoe-in to make the squad this season, his final before turning pro. It remains to be seen if the Quebec native will be able to produce at a higher level, but even if not, he seems like a safe bet as a future third line contributor who can play a checking role.

7) Brendan Gallagher, RW

2011-12: Vancouver Giants (WHL)

The biggest knock on Gallagher is definitely his size at 5'8" and 170 lbs, but he's doing all he can to follow in the footsteps of the David Desharnais and Brian Giontas of this world. Another player likely to play for Canada at this year's WJC, Gallagher had a great season interrupted with a minor injury, but still managed to return for 4 of his team's playoff games. Many thought his offensive production would go south when linemate Craig Cunningham was traded away from the Giants, but he maintained his pace and finished a full 40 points ahead of his closest teammate with 91 on the season (including 44 goals).

6) Alexander Avtsin, RW

2011-12: Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL)

(pictured above)

Many were excited to see Avtsin perform in the American Hockey League last year, but as the league's youngest player, he saw little ice time, often sitting as a healthy scratch. Avtsin remains an interesting young player with slick offensive instincts and a 6'3", 188 lbs frame. It will be a pivotal season for the young Russian as he'll need to establish himself as a top 6 forward with the Bulldogs or will likely return to the KHL at the termination of his contract.

5) Mac Bennett, D

2011-12: University of Michigan (NCAA)

When drafted in 2009, Bennett's game was compared to that of P.K. Subban, and he has drawn rave reviews for his skating and composure at every Habs development camp he has attended since. Though it is unlikely he'll develop the explosiveness of a Subban and he has unfortunately seen his growth stunt at 5'11" since the age of 18, Bennett should be a can't miss NHL blueliner with top 4 potential. He'll likely be best paired with a bigger defensive d-man, like when playing with Pateryn at the college level.

4) Jarred Tinordi, D

2011-12: London Knights (OHL)

Tinordi is a big, tough blueliner, standing a towering 6'7" and 212 lbs. In his rookie season in the OHL last year, he racked up 140 PIM in 63 games, and after a slow start was seen as one of the most improved players on his team. By year's end, he was playing close to 30 minutes on a regular basis for the Knights, and though his offensive game is likely to resemble Hal Gill's more than Zdeno Chara, he does posses a big shot which he may someday grow into as he adapts to his frame. A project player who might need time and/or handholding, Tinordi does have top pairing or at least top 4 potential.

3) Danny Kristo, RW

2011-12: University of North Dakota (NCAA)

Despite a disappointing season offensively (28 points in 34 games, down from 36 in 41), Kristo worked this year to round out his game and as such now seems like a safer prospect with a solid two-way game. He is likely to return to college given that he missed a chunk of games with frostbite last year, but should join the Bulldogs for 2012-13 to continue his development. Average-sized at just under 6'0", Kristo played a full season with Louis Leblanc in Omaha in 2008-09, and the pair should be reunited in Hamilton.

2) Louis Leblanc, C

2011-12: Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL)

Montreal's first round selection in 2009, Leblanc left Harvard after 1 season to join the Junior in the QMJHL. Now 20 years old and with a contract in his back pocket, he is ready to turn pro, and shouldn't have a tough time cracking the Bulldogs given their lack of offensive depth at the center position. Leblanc battled injury throughout the season which hampered his production and required surgery once the Junior were eliminated from the post-season. He still managed to produce at over a point-per-game clip, though his poor numbers in the face-off circle mean he may someday have to convert to the wing. Average-sized at 6'0" and 180 lbs, Leblanc likely projects as a 2nd line center, but his tenacious backchecking abilities mean that he will slot in on a third line in the worst case scenario.

1) Nathan Beaulieu, D

2011-12: Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)

Many knowledgeable hockey "experts" had Beaulieu in the top 10 or at least top 15 of the 2011 NHL draft, so when he fell to #17, the Canadiens couldn't help but snatch him up. Despite his family name, Beaulieu doesn't speak French (though he has been taking lessons over the summer), but Habs fans will be quick to overlook this fact if he continues to develop as he projects. At 6'3", 191 lbs, he will be a big body on the back end who is a firstly a mobile puck-mover. Producing 45 points each of the last 2 seasons on stacked Saint John rosters, Beaulieu should be a candidate to give Montreal a third member of Team Canada over the Christmas holidays. Perhaps the best news is that according to many reports, Beaulieu matured a lot in his game over the course of the season, making better decisions on when and how to jump into the rush, and improving his defensive play.