Recapping the Memorial Cup - Congrats Bournival + Ellis!

Last night, the Memorial Cup Final was played to determine the 2011-12 champion of the Canadian Hockey League.  After a great week of hockey, the host Shawinigan Cataractes emerged victorious, with an Anton Zlobin overtime goal allowing them to get past the London Knights 2-1 to win the first Memorial Cup in franchise history.  The Cup was presented to Montreal's own Michael Bournival, as captain of the Cataractes, so congratulations to both him and future Hab defenseman Morgan Ellis, who was also named the game's second star.  Let's recap how our Habs fared during the tournament.

First, of the four Canadiens prospects in the tournament, the only one not appearing in the Finals last night was Nathan Beaulieu, whose favourited Saint John Sea Dogs lost in the semi-final to QMJHL rivals Shawinigan after having beaten them in the round robin two days earlier.  Though he did have 4 assists, 13 shots, and an even +/- rating in his four games, Beaulieu's overall performance in the tournament could be described as disappointing.  His silky smooth skating was on display, as he never hesitated to jump into the rush, or create chances on the transition, but he has two major areas where significant improvement is needed: his defensive zone play and his mental game.  With regards to play in his own end, he was notably a -4 with multiple turnovers in that semi-final matchup against the Cataractes. He is prone to giveaways and his positioning in his own end is sometimes questionable.  In terms of mental game, Beaulieu is prone to lazy or frustrated penalties, often for hacks and slashes, which we saw on numerous occasions during the Cup.  If we remember back to this year's World Junior Championship, one could blame Beaulieu's "giving up" on the play on a delayed penalty call that ultimately led to the winning Russian goal on gaps in his mental game as well.

Don't be discouraged by the above paragraph; I'm by no means calling Beaulieu a bust, or suggesting he has any less potential than he appeared to when the Canadiens made him a first round selection.  But I am suggesting the guy remains a project, needing time to develop before he becomes a real NHL player.  He is very naturally skilled, and the issues in his game can be worked on in Hamilton.  In fact, the issues he is facing aren't unlike the doubts many had about P.K. Subban as a prospect.  I'm not saying Beaulieu will necessarily be as good as Subban, but he's a mobile blueliner with size who can put up points, with enough balance to his game to project as a top four rearguard.

The sting of defeat is still fresh for London Knights' captain Jarred Tinordi, but he has nothing to be ashamed of in his own game, being named to the tournament's all-star team.  Tinordi and d-partner Scott Harrington played upwards of 30 minutes on a regular basis, and he was generally a beast in his own end, intercepting passes, blocking shots, and rubbing forwards out.  I maintain that offense is an underrated part of Tinordi's game (when you look at his OHL production, it's certainly underwhelming), and he showed some nice flashes with a couple of sequences yesterday where he jumped into the rush.  He'll never be a powerplay quarterback, but I don't think he's a Hal Gill either; in London, his role is very focused on its defensive aspect, but in another situation he might put up more points.  Tinordi finished the event with no points, but five shots on goal and a tied-for-team-lead (with forward Matt Rupert) +2 rating.

On to the winners.  Captain Michael Bournival started the Memorial Cup slowly, and fears rose that his poor QMJHL playoffs might carry over to this tournament.  But he silenced doubters with a strong performance, ranking fourth on the Cataractes with 7 points and tied for 3rd with three goals in 6 games.  While a natural center, he most frequently played the wing in the tournament, adding to speculation that he may have some kind of injury which will require repairs during the off-season.  Of course, playing on any sort of injury would make the intense, aggressive, speedy game he played all the more impressive, and bodes well for his professional future.  Bournival likely projects to a third liner at the NHL level, though it will be interesting to see if his goal-scorer's touch can carry over to the AHL next season.

Lastly, Morgan Ellis has opened a lot of eyes during the course of this season.  A mostly unheralded prospect, he served as the captain of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, a bottom feeder in the QMJHL.  When the contending Cataractes traded for him this season, he took his game to a new level, producing at a point-per-game clip for the remainder of the regular season and playoffs, while playing on the team's top defensive pairing with Brandon Gormley.  Ellis, a 6'2", 200 lbs right-handed buleliner, continued his responsible play into the Memorial Cup, tying for fifth on the Cataractes with five points in 6 games, firing 17 shots on goal and finishing a +3.  Of the three d-men in the tournament, Ellis appears to have the most mature and complete game, meaning he may actually be the most NHL-ready of the group.  That doesn't necessarily mean he'll be the one to have the best career of the three, but he is likely the one that will soonest be ready to fill-in for spot duty on a third pairing in case of injuries.

All in all, the Memorial Cup was a fun tournament for Habs fans to follow with four prospects in the fray, and we should be quite happy with the showing.  Yesterday's game marked the final game of the 2011-12 season for any player in the Hab organization, and also the final game of the junior careers of all of Tinordi, Bournival, and Ellis.  The three of them, along with Beaulieu, Brendan Gallagher, and Patrick Holland, will graduate from the CHL to the Hamilton Bulldogs in the Fall, as they continue their development towards becoming NHL players.  It is important to be patient with these youngsters and not expect too much from them too quickly, as for each to reach their full potential, the organization mustn't rush them.

Your Canadiens for May 21, 2012

With two tournaments to update on, this is likely the last installment of "Your Canadiens" till next year, as we may have only a single story to discuss daily moving forward.  (or, if there are multiple stories, they are likely to be of big enough quality to have independent pieces on them!)  So here's what went on over the weekend.

IIHF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WRAP


Two Habs concluded their IIHF World Championship participation with medals yesterday.  Tomas Plekanec and the Czech Republic beat host Finland in the Bronze Medal game by a 3-2 score.  Plekanec had no points yesterday, finishing the tournament with 7 points in 10 games, one behind team leader Ales Hemsky of the Edmonton Oilers.  Plekanec, the team's captain, averaged 17:58 of ice time per game, second to only Boston's David Krejci amongst Czech forwards.  For his efforts, he was named one of his team's top 3 players by the coaching staff.

Winning Gold yesterday were Alexei Emelin and his Russian teammates, topping Cinderella Slovakia 6-2 to complete an undefeated tournament.  Emelin finished the event with 2 goals and 2 assists in 9 games (he missed one with a suspension) and an impressive +12 rating, which was the best among Russian d-men, and fourth best overall in the tournament behind three forward teammates.  He averaged 18:35 per game, which was second on his team to only Ilya Nikulin.  Also winning Gold was former Hab Alexander Perezhogin who played a starring role for the squad with 4 goals and 9 points in 10 games, finishing third on the team.  Don't get too excited however; there is word that he is close to signing a 2-year extension in the KHL, and even if he were to at some point return to North America, he'd be an unrestricted free agent.

MEMORIAL CUP UPDATES


The 2012 MasterCard Memorial Cup began Friday night in Shawinigan with four Hab prospects in the mix. On opening night, the host team, featuring Montreal's Michael Bournival and Morgan Ellis, was downed by the Edmonton Oil Kings 4-3 with neither Canadien collecting a point.  Ellis played a strong game, particularly at the point in the offensive zone, while Bournival was noticeable but not particularly impactful, finishing the night a -2.

On night 2, OHL champion London Knights and their captain Jarred Tinordi beat pre-tournament favourites Nathan Beaulieu and the Saint John Sea Dogs 5-3.  Beaulieu recorded an assist in the loss, and was named the game's second star behind only London's Austin Watson.  Tinordi, meanwhile, was a game-high +3.  Good night for both first round selections.

The host Cataractes got on the board with a win on night three, besting London by an impressive 6-2 score. Captain Michael Bournival turned in a much better performance, with his goal, assist, and +2 rating earning him first star honours.  Ellis finished a tied-for-game-high +3, while in the loss, Tinordi was a -1.

Saint John faces Edmonton tonight, and if the Sea Dogs win, all four clubs will be tied with 1-1 records.

Around the League(s): Memorial Cup Preview

Beginning this Friday in Shawinigan, four Montreal Canadiens prospects get to play a little bonus hockey, competing in the country's most prestigious national tournament: The Memorial Cup.  For those new to the event, the Memorial Cup is the final CHL championship; an event pitting the winners of each of Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League, and Western Hockey League against one another, with a fourth competitor being the team selected as host for the event.

This year's teams are the WHL champion Edmonton Oil Kings, OHL winner London Knights, back-to-back QMJHL champion Saint John Sea Dogs, and host Shawinigan Cataractes, who were upset in the second round of the QMJHL playoffs, and have thus had a long break between their last game and the start of the Cup.  With four players in the event, the Canadiens have more already-drafted participants than any other NHL teams, and have Nathan Beaulieu as a returnee from last year's Memorial Cup, where he won the title with Saint John.  Here's a look at the four clubs, and what to watch for from a Habs perspective if you catch any of the games live, or on Sportsnet / TVASports.

Saint John Sea Dogs


Winning back-to-back Memorial Cups is a difficult and rare accomplishment, and yet the Windsor Spitfires did it in 2009 and 2010, and now Saint John has the opportunity to win two straight directly thereafter.  A big part of last year's winning core is back, including Montreal's Nathan Beaulieu on defense, and future Florida Panthers star Jonathan Huberdeau up front.  Other names you should know up front include Charlie Coyle, a top prospect drafted by San Jose in the first round but dealt to Minnesota in last summer's Brent Burns trade, and Zack Phillips, a Minnesota first round choice from last June.  Stanislav Galiev - a 3rd round pick of the Washington Capitals in 2010 - was limited to just 20 regular season games this year, but exploded for 16 goals and 34 points in 17 playoff games.  The Sea Dogs are a veteran team with no top prospects for the upcoming entry draft, but just finished off a dominant playoff drive to the Q championship with a 16-1 record.  Though his French is questionable at best, the team's head coach Gerard Gallant has been speculated as a possible candidate for a job in Montreal.

London Knights


The Knights are captained by towering Habs' prospect d-man Jarred Tinordi who took his game to another level this season, particularly in the playoffs where his dormant offensive instincts awoke, producing 3 goals and 8 points in 19 games en route to the OHL crown against a tough Niagara Ice Dogs squad.  Tinordi and his partner, 2011 Pittsburgh second rounder Scott Harrington, form one of the CHL's most formidable shutdown pairs, while the Knights get offense from the back end in the explosive Olli Maatta, a 2012 draft eligible 6'2" blueliner who scored 23 points in 19 playoff games.  2010 Nashville first rounder Austin Watson is a 6'3" power forward who collected OHL playoff MVP honours thanks to his 10 goals, though it was undrafted 19-year old forward Seth Griffith who led the club (tied with Maatta) with 23 points in 19 games.  Another big contributor up front is 2011 Tampa Bay Lightning first round choice Vladislav Namestnikov, while Toronto 2010 third rounder Greg McKegg had a great regular season but his production dipped come post-season.  Scouts will be keeping an eye on center Andreas Athanasiou, a 6'0", 175 lbs 17-year old likely to go in one of the first two rounds next month.  Another player who may go in June but isn't on many draft lists is goaltender Michael Houser, an undrafted 19-year old who was named the OHL's most outstanding player this season.  The Knights don't have the firepower of the Sea Dogs, but they are sound defensively with a top notch keeper.

Edmonton Oil Kings


The Oil Kings are the only one of the four clubs without a Canadiens prospect on their roster.  On paper, they lack the established star power of the other three participating teams.  17-year old 2013 draft eligible Curtis Lazar scored 31 points in 63 regular season games this year, but the 6'0" centreman led his club with 19 points in 20 playoff games.  Tied with Lazar was the team leader from the season, Michael St. Croix, a 5'11" fourth round pick of the New York Rangers one year ago, who put up 105 points this year.  Perhaps most intriguing about the Oil Kings is the presence of several top-rated prospects for the upcoming draft, a group led by defenseman Griffin Reinhart.  Reinhart has a huge 6'4", 202 lbs frame, but is more of a two-way guy than a bruiser, and most scouts see him as a top 10 candidate.  Swedish import Henrik Samuelsson started the year in the Swedish Elite League, but made it in Edmonton in time to score 23 point in 28 games.  The 6'2" right winger is also an alumni of the U.S. National Team Development Program, so he is well traveled, and seen as an intelligent player with some questions on his skating but expected to be taken in round 2. Lastly, a second  defenseman on the prospect radar is Cody Corbett, just a little smaller than Reinhart at 6'1", 210 lbs, but plays more of a tough defensive game, and is projected to likely go in rounds 2 to 4.

Shawinigan Cataractes


The host Cataractes loaded up in anticipation of this tournament, but it didn't help them get past Chicoutimi in the second round of the Q's post-season, falling in a 7-game tilt.  The team is captained by Montreal prospect Michael Bournival, who had an up-and-down season that saw him set a career high with 30 goals, while totaling 56 points in just 41 games.  His playoffs, however, were disappointing, with just 7 points in 11 matches.  Hopefully the month off the team has had allowed him to refocus and heal up any possible bruises.  Acquired prior to the trade deadline, fellow future Hab Morgan Ellis has been a revelation on the team's blueline, often paired with Phoenix Coyotes first rounder Brandon Gormley.  The 6'2" Ellis was tied for third in team scoring in the post-season with 11 points in 11 games, while also leading the Cataractes with a +14 rating.  Enigmatic New York Islanders third rounder Kirill Kabanov led the team in playoff scoring with 13 points, just ahead of Philadelphia third round choice Michael Chaput.  A wildcard for the upcoming draft, 19-year old 5'11" forward Anton Zlobin led the team in the regular season, while most expect 6'1" blueliner Justin Hache to be a top 100 choice this June.  Seventeen year old netminder Alex Dubeau has already received an invitation to Montreal's pre-draft combine, indicating the club will be watching his performance as well.


The tournament opens this Friday night with a game between Edmonton and Shawinigan.  For full schedule and all the details, check the event's official website here:
http://mastercardmemorialcup.ca/

Player Spotlight: Alex Henry

Why, you may wonder, am I devoting a spotlight piece to a defenseman who has played only 2 games in a Canadiens uniform, and those being back in 2008-09?  It's because after four seasons of reliable service for the Hamilton Bulldogs - three spent as the team's captain - Alex Henry is moving on.  It was announced yesterday that the tough 6'5", 220 lbs blueliner has signed a deal with the Dusseldorfer Eislauf Gemeinschaft (DEG) Metro Stars of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) for next season.

Henry, 32, is no stranger to Germany, having suited up for Kaufbeuren ESV of the 2nd tier league there during the 2004-05 NHL lockout.  The DEG Metro Stars were Germany's top club in the 1990s, winning championships in 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, and 1996, but none since, losing in the finals in both 2006 and 2009.  Brendan Shanahan played three games for the team during the 1994 NHL lockout, scoring 5 goals and 8 points.  The team's roster today includes former Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Jean-Sebastien Aubin, one-time New York Ranger Jeff Ulmer, short-term St. Louis Blue Andy Roach, and recent signee Michael Catenacci, who spent this season with the Kitchener Rangers.

Before joining the Canadiens' organization, Henry had played 175 NHL games, split between the Edmonton Oilers, Washington Capitals, and Minnesota Wild, the last of which he even briefly served as captain of.  Not the swiftest of foot, he had been relegated to an AHL role for two full seasons before Montreal signed him, so it was of little surprise that he would be spend most of his time with the club in Hamilton.  While he has little offensive game to speak of, Henry is a tough customer, racking up 127, 154, 96, and 94 penalty minutes in his four seasons with the Bulldogs respectively.  He brought leadership to a team that saw the likes of Yannick Weber, Ryan White, David Desharnais, Max Pacioretty, and P.K. Subban graduate to the NHL during his tenure there.  For this reason, I wish him all the best in pursuing his career overseas.  He could have been a valuable asset with Nathan Beaulieu, Jarrred Tinordi, Morgan Ellis, and Greg Pateryn all set to make their pro debuts with the Bulldogs in the Fall, but their arrival also means less available time for a guy like Henry, so the Canadiens will have to look elsewhere for a veteran presence on the AHL blueline.  He was about to become one of three 'Dogs veteran D UFAs this summer along with Joe Callahan and Garrett Stafford, and it is possible that one of the other two is retained to fill this role.

As a parting tribute to Henry, here's a look at some of his spirited bouts:

Around the League: A Look at the Phoenix Coyotes

As the Montreal Canadiens enter what we won't call a rebuild, but rather a restructuring, starting from the top management on down, it is only natural to look at teams who are having successful seasons as a model.  One of five teams remaining in contention at the time of this writing is the Phoenix Coyotes.  Certainly, much of their success is owed to their front office and coaching staff, but today the more interesting tool will be to look at their roster.  If you look up and down the Coyotes line-up on paper, you will see a who's who of players who have flopped in other markets and been exiled from other organizations.  Yet they're making it work.  Let's dig deeper into some of the guys that have gotten them this far.

The Coyotes have used a few different players and combinations during the post-season, so we'll base this breakdown on their most recent game played, being their game 5 win to eliminate the Nashville Predators.

FORWARDS

Shane Doan
Every winning team needs its star contingent, and Doan is perhaps the only "household name" superstar the 'Yotes have up front.  He was drafted by the franchise, 7th overall by Winnipeg in 1995, and at age 35, has never left.  Winning team with a veteran leadership star, nothing unusual here.  Doan had 50 points this season and has 6 points in 11 playoff games, so as captain think of him as a Brian Gionta.

Ray Whitney
The Coyotes leading scorer in the regular season had 77 points in 82 games and was a +26.  Surely the Coyotes paid a hefty price to bring in such star talent, right?  Except not so much.  Whitney has had a great career, but just turned... 40 years old.  Acquired on the UFA market 2 years ago for just $3M per season.  For argument's sake, think Erik Cole.

Antoine Vermette
A mid-season acquisition from Columbus, Vermette was made available because he had produced only 27 points in 60 games.  Thus, the cost for the 29-year old center was a back-up goaltender and 2nd and 4th round draft selections.  Nothing crazy considering he is more than a rental with two years remaining on his reasonable deal.  And now?  He leads the team in playoff scoring with 5 goals and 9 points in 11 games.  Since Vermette is a solid two-way guy, let's say Tomas Plekanec.

Martin Hanzal
Once considered a top offensive prospect but has never panned out.  A 30-35 point center with size that Phoenix took 17th overall in 2005.  Let's call him Lars Eller.

Radim Vrbata
Vrbata bolted to Tampa Bay as a UFA back in 2008, but struggled mightily.  The Lightning straight up dumped his contract to the Coyotes, in return for David Hale and Todd Fedoruk.  He could have been had for next to nothing.  He found his goal-scoring game again in Phoenix, so the team rewarded him with a new three year deal last summer at the same $3M per season he was previously making.  Amazing value for a guy who scored 35 goals and 62 points this year, for which reason we'll equate him to Max Pacioretty.

Mikkel Boedker
Boedker was an 8th overall pick by Phoenix back in 2008, but has developed slowly.  The average-sized winger had just 24 points in 82 games this year.  He has stepped it up in the playoffs with 7 points in 11 games, but who's to say a Louis Leblanc, who as a rookie with limited minutes had almost as good of a .PPG, couldn't have done the same?

Daymond Langkow
When Langkow was limited to only 4 games a year ago, there was talk his career might be over.  When it seemed he may be able to play, Calgary was happy to dump the final year of his deal to Phoenix for the struggling Lee Stempniak last summer.  Again, not a big price to pay - something anyone could have matched - and Langkow produced just 30 points in 73 games this year.  As an offensive center with some question marks, I guess we'll call him David Desharnais?

Boyd Gordon
A checking center which the Canadiens lacked for most of the season, Gordon was available to all teams last July 1st, signing with the Coyotes for $1.325M per on a 2-year deal.  Sort of like a Travis Moen.

Lauri Korpikoski
A bust after the New York Rangers drafted him 19th overall in 2004, he was dealt to the Coyotes for fellow bust Enver Listin.  Think of it as a Pouliot-for-Latendresse swap.  Korpikoski has turned into a respectable NHL'er in Phoenix, but again is the type of guy any team could have had for a similar offer.  Let's say he's a Rene Bourque for that reason.

Taylor Pyatt
The older brother of ex-Hab Tom Pyatt, Taylor was seen as up-and-coming late-bloomer when he scored 23 goals with the Vancouver Canucks in 2006-07.  But his production dropped each of the next two years, so the Canucks let him go, and the Coyotes picked him up as a UFA in 2009 for just $600,000.  Again, easily could have been had by anyone.  His play earned him another UFA deal in Phoenix averaging $1M per season, but his production went south again this season with only 19 points.  We'll thus call Pyatt an upgraded Mathieu Darche.

Gilbert Brule
The Oilers selected Brule 6th overall in 2005, one spot after Montreal took Carey Price.  Many fans wanted the Habs to take Brule there instead; ALL are now glad they didn't.  Brule has been a bust, clearing waivers this very season (meaning he could have been had for nothing), and splitting time between the AHL and NHL.  In fairness, he's still more productive than Aaron Palushaj, so since he occasionally plays forward, let's equate him to Yannick Weber.

Kyle Chipchura
If you weren't following the Coyotes playoff run this Spring, then you might not have realized this former Canadiens' first round pick still played in the NHL.  But indeed, the 18th overall selection in 2004 - taken ahead of the likes of Travis Zajac, Andrej Meszaros, Mike Green, Dave Bolland, Brandon Dubinsky, David Krejci, Alex Goligoski, and others - plays a defensive, tough, fourth line role in Phoenix.  The Habs sent Chipchura to Anaheim for a fourth round pick back in 2009, and after being re-signed for a second season, the Ducks chose not to qualify Chipchura last summer.  So he signed in Phoenix for a cap hit of just $550,000 as a UFA last summer.  Let's call him Petteri Nokelainen.




DEFENSEMEN

Keith Yandle
Yandle is the leader of the group, topping all Yotes' d-men in regular season scoring and time-on-ice per game.  Still young at only 25, drafted all the way in the 4th round in 2005, and already a stud on D.  Let's call him their P.K. Subban.  Yes, I'd take him over P.K. today, but the comparison is reasonable.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson
The Habs sorely lacked another top pairing d-man this season due to Andrei Markov's absence.  I love Josh Gorges, but he belongs in the #3/4 slot.  Ekman-Larsson is only 20 and has a phenomenal career ahead of him after Phoenix took him 6th overall in 2009.  Even though he's inexperienced, we could already equate his two-way game to a healthy Markov's.

Derek Morris
The first two were acquired with draft picks, but the rest of the D is the kind of scraps this article was meant to highlight.  Morris has had an up-and-down career, which started going sour in Phoenix in 2008-09.  He was sent to the Rangers for a trifecta of cast-offs in Petr Prucha, Nigel Dawes, and Dimitri Kalinin, all three of whom have since moved on to the KHL.  After signings as a UFA in Boston, he was deemed expendable and sent back to Phoenix for the bargain price of a 4th round draft selection when the Bruins needed cap space for other acquisitions.  Another player who any team could have added on the cheap.  He is averaging over 22 minutes a night in the post-season.  For his ability to occasionally lay out a big hit, let's call him Alexei Emelin.

Michal Rozsival
The New York Rangers didn't want to pay Rozsival anywhere near the $5M he was making annually on his deal, and it seemed like his fate might be similar to Wade Redden's if they couldn't move him.  Fortunately, Phoenix obliged, picking him up for New York to take the disgruntled winger Wojtek Wolski off their hands.  Rozsival was dealt as a salary dump.  Certainly was available league-wide.  He is now on the final year of that contract, and playing an average of 22:30 per game this playoffs.  He doesn't have much offense to his game, so let's say he's Josh Gorges.

Adrian Aucoin
We know Aucoin has a big slapshot, but aside from that, he didn't seem to have much of an NHL future a few years back.  With a -22 rating in Chicago in 2006-07, the Hawks were basically happy to give his contract away, sending him and a 7th round pick to Calgary for "nothing" in the form of Andrei Zyuzin and Steve Marr.  He rebounded enough in Calgary for the Coyotes to sign him when he became a UFA in 2009, and he then accepted a 2 year deal to stay in Phoenix in 2010 for just $2M a season.  For his pointshot, we can see he's a Raphael Diaz.

David Schlemko
Schlemko, 25, was never drafted, but signed as a UFA by the Coyotes in 2007.  He has split most seasons since between the AHL and NHL, amassing 109 games with Phoenix.  Is he better than Frederic St-Denis?  Most probably, yes.  But there's enough here to call them comparables.

Rotislav Klesla
Klesla didn't play in the last game due to an injury, but dressed for the first 10 these playoffs for Phoenix scoring 7 points, so we'll include him.  Of the players Phoenix acquired from other organizations, Klesla was the only one they had to pay a real price for, giving up rentals Scottie Upshall and Sami Lepisto for him and Dane Byers.  The only Montreal d-man remaining is Tomas Kaberle, and putting the two in the same sentence is an insult to the more complete Klesla.  So there it is, a guy the Habs lack.


GOALTENDERS

Mike Smith
Smith is the only guy that matters in this category; some might say the only one that matters on the team.  And he fits well, a cast-off that wound up with the Coyotes.  Once a centerpiece of the deal that brought Brad Richards to Dallas, Smith never panned out in Tampa Bay.  How much did he not pan out?  The Lightning placed him on waivers during the 2010-11 season... and he cleared, being sent to the AHL for a few games.  The Coyotes gave him a shot as a UFA last summer with a two-year deal for just $2M a season, and he continues to rattle off a very impressive season.  With Carey Price emerging as a dominant young goaltender, there is little doubt Montreal can rival Phoenix in this area as well.


So what's going on in Phoenix?  Is this team of rejects and cast-offs that will play in the Western Conference Finals any better than the Montreal Canadiens who finished 15th in the East?  On paper, it's very debatable. This is a testament to league-wide parity, and as a positive to Canadiens fans, maybe all it will take for the Habs to make a run is upgrading a Kaberle to a Klesla, a good coach, staying healthy, and getting a Smith-like season out of Price.

Your Canadiens for May 7, 2012

Catching up on a few stories to start the week.


RICK DUDLEY TO JOIN HABS' FRONT OFFICE

Based on many reports, the worst-kept secret of the past week looks like it'll be imminently resolved.  Even before Marc Bergevin was officially announced as the new General Manager of the Montreal Canadiens, many felt that if he were to get the job, he'd bring his good friend Rick Dudley (pictured left) - currently employed by the Toronto Maple Leafs - with him.  Well it has become public that Bergevin is in discussion with Toronto GM Brian Burke about bringing Dudley to Montreal, so it seems like only matter of time.  How much time, however, may be complicated, as it seems that Dudley has put in significant work in preparing the Leafs for the upcoming entry draft, where Toronto holds the 5th pick in each round just two after Montreal's third selection.  Thus, Burke would love for Dudley's transfer to be delayed till after June 23rd, but it also appears that Dudley has an out clause in his contract with the Leafs which may permit him to leave earlier for another opportunity.

In either case, this is phenomenal news for Canadiens fans.  Dudley is a top notch talent evaluator and brings a wealth of experience in supporting Bergevin as an Assistant General Manager.  If Montreal's front office is to include Bergevin, Dudley, and Trevor Timmins, with potentially a capologist to be added as well (unless Larry Carriere assumes those functions), the Habs' future is in good hands.


CONFIRMED COACHING CANDIDATES

At his inaugural press conference, Marc Bergevin indicated that he wanted to keep his coach search confidential, just as the GM search had been.  Well we know that in the end, GM candidate names leaked out one by one (and were subsequently eliminated one at a time), and it does seem we will get news on the coach front in the same manner.  A first report indicated that Marc Crawford was set to meet with Bergevin, and now per an Elliot Friedman report, Bergevin is talking to his former team about their intentions on head coach Joel Quenneville.  There has been talk of the team not being happy with Coach Q, as he is known, and some fans have even indicated they'd be happy to see him axed.  There is no guarantee that he'll be available, since he still has 1 year remaining on his contract, but if he were let go, he would immediately become a top candidate for the Montreal job given his wealth of experience.  Before you ask, he attended a French school growing up in Windsor, Ontario, so has a basic understanding of the language, but isn't fluent.


CHL PLAYOFF UPDATE

Two Hab prospects are currently playing in their league finals, with Nathan Beaulieu and the Saint John Sea Dogs facing Rimouski in the QMJHL, and Jarred Tinordi and the London Knights playing Niagara in the OHL.

The Sea Dogs are up 2-0 in their series, with Beaulieu scoring a goal and being named first star in the series opener.  Montreal's 2011 first rounder has 13 points in 15 games this post-season, after scoring 17 in 19 in the playoffs a year ago.

London and Niagara are even at a game apiece, with Tinordi scoring a goal and finishing a +3 in his team's game 2 5-3 win.  Tinordi's goal is already his third of the playoffs (and 8th point) in just 16 games this season.  Over two regular seasons, in 111 games, he also scored a total of 3 goals, so he has clearly elevated his game offensively.

In other news, as this year's host, though they've long been eliminated from the QMJHL playoffs, the Shawinigan Cataractes continue to wait to find out who their Memorial Cup opposition will be.  It was revealed Friday that former NHL head coach Bob Hartley will join the team's staff for the tournament.  If he is to be considered a candidate to take over in Montreal, then getting some North American experience again after a year in Switzerland, and getting to work with Hab prospects Michael Bournival and Morgan Ellis certainly won't hurt his chances.


WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS UPDATE


Max Pacioretty is among the early scoring leaders at the IIHF World Hockey Championships with a goal and 4 assists through 3 games for Team USA.  He plays on the team's top line with Paul Stastny and Bobby Ryan.

Tomas Plekanec has been productive for the Czech Republic, with 3 assists in 3 games.  That ties him for his team lead with the Oilers' Ales Hemsky, who has 3 goals.

Denmark's lack of depth has seen them struggle at the Worlds, but Lars Eller has gotten on the board with two goals and an assist through 3 games.  He is averaging over 20 minutes a night.

Also averaging 20 minutes a game is Russia's Alexei Emelin.  In 2 games, he has recorded an assist, and is tied for the team lead with a +4 rating.

Among former Canadiens in the tournament, as usual, Mark Streit has been a key cog for the Swiss, with 2 goals and an assist in his first 2 games.  Alexander Perezhogin has been an offensive spark for the Russians, with a goal and 2 assists also in 2 games.

At 2-0-1, Team Canada was happy to see Slovakia beat the United States in regulation today, after Canada had lost to the Americans in overtime.  This allows Canada to still aspire to win their division, though Finland remains in their path, having posted consecutive 1-0 shutout wins thus far.

Top 10 Habs Coaching Candidates

With the General Manager search having reached its conclusion with yesterday's hiring of Marc Bergevin, the new Canadiens frontman can now turn his attention to filling out his staff.  There has already been talk about Bergevin's friends and acquaintances, notably Rick Dudley and Martin Lapointe, being added to the staff, but he will also have to address the coaching situation in the coming weeks or months.  Yesterday, Randy Cunneyworth was reassigned to an Assistant Coaching role.  Randy Ladouceur remains employed as an Assistant Coach, Pierre Groulx as Goaltending Coach, and Clement Jodoin as coach of the Hamilton Bulldogs.  Any and/or all of these positions may change over the course of the off-season as the new GM evaluates his staff and how they fit into his short- and long-term plans for the club, while, as Bergevin put it, the final supporting bench staff will be determined by the new Head Coach.

With the departures of the likes of Guy Boucher and Kirk Muller, we are left looking outside the organization for coaching replacements.  Unfortunately, if we assume that being bilingual is a prerequisite, we are short on highly qualified candidates, but here are 10 who might fit the bill.

10) Denis Savard
While he may not be seen as a top candidate for head coach, don't be surprised if Savard joins the Canadiens organization in some capacity.  Savard is a Quebec native who spent most of his playing career with the Chicago Blackhawks, but also suited up for the Habs in three years, being a part of the 1993 Stanley Cup winning team (though he was hurt for much of the playoffs).  After his retirement following the 1996-97 season (with 1,196 regular season games and 1,338 points under his belt), he was made an Assistant Coach with the Hawks and remained in that role through the 2006-07 season, when he took over as Head Coach after 21 games.  Chicago failed to make the playoffs that season or the next, and as such 4 games into his third season in the role, Savard was fired from the organization.  Since that time, the Hall of Fame forward has served as a Scout and Ambassador for the organization.    Bergevin played with Savard for five seasons in Chicago and for two more years with the Tampa Bay Lightning.  Bergevin also served as Savard's Assistant Coach in 2008, with the two forming part of the Hawks' staff together for many years.  They are thus very familiar with one another, which is sure to earn Savard a look for the position if he is interested, and while he may find himself outclassed since he has at least temporarily left the coaching gig, it would be a logical conclusion to think he may factor into Bergevin's plans.

9) Bob Boughner
Boughner was also a teammate of Bergevin's for one season in Pittsburgh (2000-01) and, though young at age 41, he has established a pretty distinguished coaching resume.  He was named head coach of the OHL's Windsor Spitfires in 2006, and stayed in the role for four seasons, leading the team to OHL Championships in both 2009 and 2010.  He was recognized as the Ontario League's top coach in both 2008 and 2009, earning the same recognition for the CHL as a whole in both of those seasons.  Boughner made a leap to the NHL for the 2010-11 season as an Assistant Coach with the Columbus Blue Jackets, but decided it wasn't for him and resigned last summer citing family and business commitments in Windsor.  He returned as Head Coach of the Spitfires this season, but the club struggled, barely scraping into the playoffs before being swept in the opening round by Jarred Tinordi's London Knights.  Is Boughner, one year later, now ready to leave his hometown of Windsor?  Would the possibility of an NHL Head Coaching job woo him away?  Perhaps.

8) Clement Jodoin
Jodoin is the current coach of the Hamilton Bulldogs, before which he led the QMJHL's Lewiston MAINEiacs and then Rimouski Oceanic for four seasons.  If his name is more familiar to you than one season in the AHL would indicate, it's because he was an Assistant Coach with the Canadiens between 1997-98 and 2002-03.  He's also held jobs as a Head Coach of the Halifax Mooseheads and Halifax Citadels, and Assistant Coach of the Quebec Nordiques and Pittsburgh Penguins, going back to 1987-88.  Despite his lengthy career, Jodoin hasn't been able to lead a team to a championship, with two third round exits being his best finishes.  But he was twice named the QMJHL's Coach of the Year in 1997 and 2007, and of course is bilingual, plus has familiarity with some of the organization's younger players, so his name will come up in discussions.  He is an older guy, however, and if the signing of Bergevin and Geoff Molson's stated interest in bringing stability to the organization hold true, the team may want a more youthful coach to grow with the organization and be around long-term.  Jodoin once coached Bergevin some 30 years ago at a junior level.

7) Marc Crawford
Prior to his days as a TSN Analyst, Crawford was a successful Head Coach.  Starting in the OHL, and then moving to the AHL, where he took the St. John's Maple Leafs to the Calder Cup Finals and was named Coach of the year a season later, he became an NHL bench boss just five seasons after his playing career had ended.  Crawford first took over at the helm of the Quebec Nordiques, and despite a first round exit, became the youngest coach ever to win the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year.  In his second season behind the now-Colorado Avalanche's bench, Crawford won the Stanley Cup.  He remained with the Avs for two more seasons, before moving on to coach the Vancouver Canucks for 7 years without ever making it out of the second round (including in 2003-04, when Bergevin played 9 games for Crawford's Canucks).  His coaching resume concluded with two seasons in Los Angeles and two in Dallas, with neither yielding a playoff appearance.  He was fired by the Stars just over a year ago on April 12, 2011.  Crawford speaks French and has experience, which makes him a candidate with the right credentials.  However, many see his record as troubling, claiming that anyone could have won a Cup with the stacked Avs roster of the mid-to-late '90s.  His performances following that season were far from impressive.

6) Patrick Roy
Habs fans of course need no introduction to Roy as a player, but he has already completed his seventh season as Head Coach (and Owner and General Manager) of the QMJHL's Quebec Remparts.  In his first season as coach, he led the Remparts to the Q finals, where they lost, but they got the last laugh by winning the Memorial Cup that season.  He has not since returned to the finals, but has twice reached the third round.  At age 46, he fits the bill as a young coach who could remain in the post, has matured (at least to an extent) since his playing days, knows all about what it is to be in the spotlight in Montreal, and is seen as a future NHL guy by all.  So what's the problem?  Simply put, his attitude.  Roy is self-centered and likes to hog the attention.  He has an impressive CV, but is full of himself.  In a way, he might be a coach not unlike John Tortorella in New York.  He's also tended to have off-ice distractions follow him every so often.  Could that work in the NHL?  Sure, Tortorella is a candidate for the Jack Adams this year.  But would it work in Montreal with the organizational culture and media pressures?  I have my doubts.  Especially with Bergevin's stated collaborative "no one individual is greater than the team" mantra.  Doesn't strike me as a fit.

5) Bob Hartley
Hartley has been a coach since 1991-92, when he led the QMJHL's Laval Titan.  He won a Championship with them in his second season, then moved on to be Assistant and after a year Head Coach of the AHL's Cornwall Aces.  He moved to coach the Hershey Bears in 1996-97, winning an AHL Championship in his first season there, and spent one more year with the team before jumping to the NHL as Head Coach of the Colorado Avalanche.  After third round exits in his first two seasons with the Avs, he won a Stanley Cup in 2000-01, before losing in the Conference Finals for a third year the following season. With the team off to a shaky start in 2002-03, he was fired, but quickly rebounded at the helm of the Atlanta Thrashers.  Despite being a winner at every level, Hartley's reputation took a turn for the worse in Atlanta, where while missing the post-season in his first three years, he was often accused of unethical tactics, such as sending his enforcers after certain opposing players.  The 2006-07 season had Hartley take the Thrash to the post-season for the first (and only) time in franchise history, but they were swept in four games by the New York Rangers.  He was fired early on the following season when the team lost all of its first six games.  Hartley left North America for Europe just over a year ago, signing a two year deal to coach the ZSC Lions of the Swiss league.  In his first season there, he led them to the league championship, but is said to have some form of out clause from his contract for certain NHL offers.  A true winner, but how true also are the rumours about his questionable tactics?

4) Andy Murray
Murray first became an NHL Assistant Coach in 1988-89, the first of his two seasons in Philadelphia, before two seasons in the same capacity with the Minnesota North Stars, and another two with the Winnipeg Jets.  He finally got a shot at being a head coach with the Los Angeles Kings in 1999, and led the team for six seasons, qualifying for the playoffs on three occasions.  What you may not know or remember is that when he was let go by L.A. in 2006, he was hired by the Montreal Canadiens.  Not as a coach, but as a Front Office Consultant, a role he held for just a few months before leaving to coach the St. Louis Blues, but one which meant a lot to him as he had been a Habs fan growing up.  Murray was coach of the Blues for four seasons, but only had one playoff appearance, getting the axe during the 2009-10 season.  At 61, he is beyond the ideal age for a coaching candidate as it is questionable how long-term a fixture he would be, but he remains an active head coach, currently at the bar of the CCHA's Western Michigan University club in NCAA hockey.  Murray is an experienced, long-time hockey guy, with his greatest successes coming on the international stage, having won three gold medals from the IIHF World Hockey Championships as Canada's coach in 1997, 2003, and most recently 2007.  Are his NHL days in the past?  Maybe, but if he isn't to be a head coach, if the Canadiens opt to go the inexperienced route for the man in charge, Murray's wisdom might be a welcome addition in an Assistant Coaching capacity were he interested in such a role.

3) Pascal Vincent
Vincent, a Laval, Quebec native, is young - only 40 years of age.  He became Head Coach of the QMJHL's Cape Breton Screaming Eagles in 2000 and spent 8 seasons in the position, getting as far as the third round on two occasions.  In 2008-09, after being named QMJHL Coach of the Year the season prior, he became coach of the Montreal Junior, leading the club for three seasons and coaching forward Louis Leblanc in 2010-11.  Some saw him as a candidate to move on to Hamilton as Head Coach, graduating to the AHL along with Leblanc, but instead he jumped straight to the NHL this year, joining the Winnipeg Jets staff as an Assistant Coach.  Vincent is young and inexperienced, never having played professional hockey after his days in the QMJHL, but he seems to be on a fast track to head up an NHL club in the next few seasons.  If the Canadiens want stability, then now would be their only chance to tab Vincent their man, as by the time they are again searching for a Head Coach, he is likely to be employed elsewhere.  With the right mix of experienced Assistants (see: Andy Murray), Vincent might bring a fresh and refreshing perspective to what was seen as an Old Boys' Club in Montreal just one year ago.

2) Gerard Gallant (pictured at top)
Gallant, 48, played 615 NHL games, mostly with the Detroit Red Wings.  He was a teammate of Marc Bergevin's in 1993-94 with the Tampa Bay Lightning.  His playing career ended after the 1995-96 season, and debuted as a coach in 1999, in the Assistant role with the AHL's Louisville Panthers.  The P.E.I. native was appointed an Assistant Coach with the Columbus Blue Jackets prior to the 2001-02 season, and eventually took over Head Coach'ing duties in 2003-04.  The Jackets would fail to make the post-season that season and the next, and as such he was relieved 20 games into his third year in the role.  He became an Assistant Coach with the New York Islanders the following season, and remained for two years before jumping to the QMJHL to become a Head Coach again, at the helm of the Saint John Sea Dogs.  He lost in the finals in his first season, before winning the title and the Memorial Cup last season on a team that featured top Hab prospect Nathan Beaulieu.  Beaulieu and Gallant have returned to the Q finals with a stacked roster for a third straight season, with the series against Rimouski getting underway Friday.  Even though he has benefited from very talented teams in Saint John, many see it as a matter of time until Gallant returns to the NHL ranks.  He was named the Coach of the Year in both the Q and CHL each of the last two seasons, and as such was considered a top candidate for coach of the Ottawa Senators last summer.  Undoubtedly his name will come up in discussions once his team's season is over, but it may be a while if they win another championship (they are the favourites) and advance to the Memorial Cup.  However, despite a name that might make you think otherwise, his French is limited.

1) Alain Vigneault
Ten seasons of NHL Head Coach'ing experience, 4 of which were in Montreal, and came within 1 game of winning a Stanley Cup just one year ago.  A Jack Adams Award winner in 2006-07.  A French speaker from Quebec City.  Vigneault seems like a perfect candidate to take over the team in a return to the city that gave him his NHL Head Coaching debut after 8 years coaching in the QMJHL and 4 years as an Assistant with the Ottawa Senators.  The problem?  Well, he's still employed by the Vancouver Canucks.  Some eyebrows were raised when Vigneault did not attend the Canucks' end-of-season press conference, though GM Mike Gillis was quick to indicate it was merely his preference to do it alone, giving Vigneault a "vote of confidence."  Some compare that statement to a kiss of death, just being the politically correct statement even if a guy's days are numbered.  This is most often true when in the middle of a season, where a few more games in the wrong direction turn that "confidence" into "it was the right time to make a move."  With little to change Gillis's opinion between now and the opening of training camp, it is perhaps unlikely that Vigneault is fired, and more likely that he'll be on a short leash in October, but you never know.  If he becomes available before a new Coach is named in Montreal, he skyrockets to the top of the candidate list.

Canadiens Hire Marc Bergevin as GM

It has been revealed this morning that Marc Bergevin will be the next General Manager of the Montreal Canadiens.  It seems he, Pierre McGuire, and Julien Brisebois were amongst the final candidates, and McGuire spoke to Geoff Molson this morning, being given the news.  Brisebois, who had been in Montreal for a final meeting as well, also revealed that he had not been offered the job.  The Canadiens later made if official, announcing that a press conference will be held at 2PM this afternoon, available live on TSN.ca, RDS.ca, and RDSInfo.

Perhaps most satisfying in this is the knowledge that Geoff Molson and Serge Savard took their time and did their research.  They seemed to investigate every lead.  In addition to Bergevin, McGuire, and Brisebois, they looked at Jim Nill, Pat Brisson, Vincent Damphousse, Blair Mackasey, Ron Hextall, Luc Robitaille, Claude Loiselle, Patrick Roy, and undoubtedly a number of others we may not have heard about as part of the process.  And they settled on Bergevin, a guy with the experience necessary to succeed in the role.

Bergevin, 46, is a native of Montreal and  former National Hockey League defenseman who played 1,191 games split between the Chicago Blackhawks, Vancouver Canucks, Tampa Bay Lightning, Pittsburgh Penguins, St. Louis Blues, Detroit Red Wings, Hartford Whalers, and New York Islanders (but never the Canadiens).  In an interview in 1992, he actually comically stated that growing up as a Habs fan, he never felt he was "good enough" to play for the Canadiens:

He retired in 2004 and joined the Blackhawks staff, first as a Pro Scout, then an Assistant Coach, then the Director of Player Personnel, and finally Assistant General Manager last summer.  Though he has never been at a team's helm, he has experience in all relevant areas, and as such I named him as my pick for the GM job (outside of Jim Nill) from the search's get-go.

Rick Dudley, currently serving in Toronto's front office, knows Bergevin well, and stated that in his eyes, Bergevin is in the top 1% of talent evaluators around the league.  While the Habs have been blessed with a pretty good set of eyes on the prospect front in Trevor Timmins, the team's Pro Scouting has been spotty over the years, so Bergevin will be a welcome addition to the management team.  Bergevin has a strong book of contacts around the league and is well-liked and respected, important traits iin a General Manager.  Plus, on a personal level, he is known to have a good sense of humour with a joker/prankster reputation, which may be a welcome change from the dry Pierre Gauthier.

Speaking of the management team, what we don't know yet is what will happen to the rest of the front office.  I hope Trevor Timmins is given the respect he deserves and that the club keeps him in his post, but this will have to be discussed with Bergevin.  There is also Larry Carriere to consider, currently in the role of Assistant GM, but it is customary for a General Manager to bring in his people to surround him.  Thus, it isn't impossible that there may be movement on that front in the coming hours or days as well.  Stay tuned, but for now, this is a move in the right direction to restore the Canadiens as a Glorieux organization.

And as if the appointing of a new GM wasn't big enough news, SportsNet's Louis Jean announced on radio this morning that the Habs would buy out Scott Gomez's contract.  But not so fast.  First, Louis Jean claimed Dave Morissette of TVA Sports was his source, and Morissette is far from a credible or reliable news-breaker.  Further, the NHL buyout period doesn't open till June 15th, so there is no sense in making such an announcement today.  Not only that, but the current NHL CBA expires at season's end, and who knows what buyout clauses may be included in the new convention.  So don't buy this one, Habs fans.  It is possible the brass has concluded Gomez won't be back, but how they'll get rid of him remains to be seen.


UPDATE: Some early takes on Bergevin:

- Pat Brisson, a good friend of Bergevin's, and influencial NHL agent whose client list includes Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, the Sedin Brothers, Jonathan Toews, and Patrick Kane:
"One of his biggest strengths is that he knows what he knows, and also knows what he doesn't know.  When he doesn't have an answer, he'll look to find it quickly.  He has a great personality, which is something the Canadiens really needed.  He's gone through all the steps, from being a player for 20 years, to being an amateur and pro scout, to an assistant coach and assistant GM.  It's like as if the Habs hired someone out of Harvard.  I'm very happy for him and proud of him."

- Stan Bowman, Chicago Blackhawks GM, who last summer made Bergevin his assistant:
"It's never easy to lose someone of Bergevin's calibre, both professionally and personally.  It is a tremendous opportunity for him and his family.  He has played a significant role in our success over the last several years as a member of the front office and coaching staff.  I want to personally thank him for his dedication to our organization and certainly wish him all the best in Montreal."

- Darren Dreger, TSN Hockey Insider:
"Tough task of first firing coaching staff.  Can't leave Randy Cunneyworth and Randy Ladouceur hanging.  The Leafs haven't yet been asked by the Canadiens about speaking with Rick Dudley (Assistant GM since last June), but expect Dudley and Martin Lapointe (Pro Scout in Chicago since 2009) to be among Bergevin's early hires."


UPDATE: MARC BERGEVIN PRESS CONFERENCE

If his inaugural press conference was a first test, it seems Marc Bergevin passed with flying colours.  He was funny, making jokes that included:
- "I played for 8 NHL teams. I changed teams so often that my luggage was usually a team behind."
- "Thanks to Geoff Molson for his praise, even if he went a little overboard."
- (journalist says, "I sent you an e-mail a while back, not sure if you got it.") "It's probably in my Spam folder."

Signed to a five year contract, Bergevin repeated consistently that it's only his first day on the job and thus he couldn't comment much about specific players, though clearly indicated that Carey Price, as one of the game's top young goaltender, was a cornerstone to build around and would be a top priority this summer.  "When you have goaltending like that, you're a step ahead of the game."

Some other "reveals":

- Randy Cunneyworth has been relieved as Interim Head Coach and returns to the Assistant Coach role (along with Randy Ladouceur).  A new Head Coach will be hired, and it will be that person's decision as to who they want beside them on the bench.

- Bergevin likes Trevor Timmins's work, and Timmins will still be at the Habs' draft table in June.

- Bergevin calls Larry Carriere a good and respected person who knows his hockey.  Says Carriere will remain a part of his staff, but that he isn't opposed to bringing in absolutely anyone else that could help the organization in any capacity.  Wants to build a team around him, and decisions will be by committee.  First step is to analyze people who are currently in place.

- Bergevin says that yes, it is important for there to be French players on the Montreal Canadiens.  Says number one goal is to win, but there are good Francophones around the NHL.  Indicates that the QMJHL is in the team's backyard and there is presently just one scout there; that has to and WILL change.  Having more scouts in the area decreases chances of the team missing out on homegrown talent.

- Confirmation that the TVASports story about Scott Gomez this morning is pre-emptive and garbage.  No decisions have been made about Gomez yet, and Bergevin, who repeatedly reminded reporters that it's his first day and he only saw the team play twice this past season, will evaluate all cases in the coming days and weeks.  In an interview with RDS, Geoff Molson added that money isn't an object when it comes to re-structuring the team (specifically in regards to Gomez).  Says there is a Salary Cap, but will do whatever it takes to win.

- Bergevin feels there's a good nucleus in place, but talked a lot about a team mentality requiring all sorts of players, with everyone contributing.  Says he won't stand for individualist approaches; everyone needs to put the betterment of the team first.  Can't build a team with all toughness or all skill; need the right amount of everything.

- Bergevin says the Head Coach will be a group decision, but he wants someone who is well-respected and a natural leader.  Looks at Joel Quenneville as an example.  It's important for the head coach to be bilingual.

- With regards to the upcoming draft, all options are on the table.  The pick could be used, traded, or anything else, whatever Bergevin and staff feel is best for building a winning team.  He doesn't believe in rushing prospects to the NHL; if they're ready, then no problem, but doesn't like promoting a player too quickly.

Player Spotlight: Carey Price, the Cowboy

[Player Spotlight Archives]

What can we tell the diehard Montreal Canadiens fan about Carey Price that he or she doesn't already know?  Probably not too much, though there was some good news just yesterday that Price has fully recovered from his concussion and thus may now travel home to British Columbia.  It is based on this news that today we take a step back from Carey Price the goaltender and look at Carey Price the cowboy, providing some insights on the roots of the stone-cold Habs keeper.

To begin, here is a clip done by TSN on Price's favourite off-ice pass-time:

And more Carey on horseback:

Price's cowboy origins come from his growing up in Anahim Lake, British Columbia, a village which, when combined with surrounding areas, has a population of just 1,500 (just 360 of which are in the community of Anahim Lake itself).  Nearly half of that number is made up of Ulkatcho First Nations living on nearby reserves.  The local Stampede is the highlight of the region's social calendar, and thus the foundation of Price's love for the rodeo.

Anahim Lake, a small area hours north of Whistler (or a 10-12 hour drive from Vancouver), is primarily a community based on forestry, though cattle farming, sport fishing, and mushroom picking are also important economic activities.  Outdoor adventure opportunities bring some tourism to the area, with the village being surrounded by the snow-capped Coastal Mountain Range.  It is no wonder, then, that Price has such a calm and peaceful demeanour from growing up in these parts.

If you ever wanted to make a pilgrimage out there in Carey's honour, there is actually a small airport serving the region with direct service from Vancouver on Pacific Coastal Airlines.  You can spend a weekend or more camping and enjoying nature's beauty at "resorts" like this one: http://www.anahimlakeresort.com/index.htm

So how did a country boy from such a tiny community rise to NHL superstardom?  Anahim Lake has no real arena, with just an outdoor rink to serve as entertainment and recreation (photo credit for left).  In fact, the village also has no educational institutions that go beyond the 9th grade level.  Thus, for Carey to become the man he is today took serious dedication on the part of his family, with his father shuttling a young Price to and from the nearest rink - that in Williams Lake - three times a week to play minor hockey.  Many parents make big sacrifices to cater to their childrens' professional sport aspirations, but consider that the drive from Anahim Lake to Williams Lake is about five hours each way.  The solution to this?  Fortunately, Jerry, Carey's father and a former goaltender taken in the 8th round by the Philadelphia Flyers in 1978 in his own right, was a licensed pilot and was thus able to make the commute in shorter time spans when weather conditions permitted.

Carey has come an awfully long way to be where he's at today, and I couldn't be happier to hear that he's received a clean bill of health to start his off-season relaxing and training regimen.  For the Canadiens to bounce back at all next year, they will need him at the top of his game, so here's to a great and productive summer for a remarkable young man.

Player Spotlight: Josiah Didier

Out of the 2011 NHL draft, the only seemingly surefire future Habs is first round selection Nathan Beaulieu.  But during this year, you've undoubtedly heard about the hot start (and less about the subsequent cooling off) of Magnus Nygren, about the impressive play of Darren Dietz, about the disappointment of Olivier Archambault, and the World Junior appearance by Daniel Pribyl.  But the Canadiens selected another player in the draft, even before all of the above names aside from Beaulieu.

That player, who most have forgotten, is Josiah Didier, a defenseman who made his debut for the University of Denver as an 18-year old this season.  The 6'2", 200 lbs blueliner's stats far from jump off the page, scoring just 3 assists in 41 college games, but how was his overall game?  Today we look at a collection of reviews on the play of yet another prospect in Montreal's overflowing defensive pipeline.

To begin, let's learn a little about who Didier, taken in the fourth round, 97th overall, is:

If you would like to ask him how he thinks he's like Niklas Hjalmarsson, or why he would rather have super strength than the ability to fly, you can follow this possible future Hab on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/#!/JDidier4

Didier is considered a physical yet mobile defensive blueliner, completing his sophomore season with a +6 rating.  He led the club with 68 blocked shots, and recorded 115 hits - a strong total in the generally less physical NCAA.  Denver decided that, despite his young age, he was ready to make the jump this season, and assigned him a fifth year student/teammate, John Ryder (undrafted, frequently Didier's partner on a bottom pairing), as a mentor.  Ryder was immediately impressed with Didier, citing him as a quick learner who will stand up for a teammate and never back down from anybody, sentiments echoes by the team's head coach George Gwozdecky.

Didier showed some of his trademark toughness as, despite suffering a relatively serious injury late in the season, he was back in the lineup a week later, playing through the pain.  Based on all of these traits, it may sound to you like the Habs found another Josh Gorges to add to the system, and while the comparison speaks to Didier's ceiling, let's not get carried away.  Didier is still a long-term project at best and far from a sure-thing to make the NHL some day.  Most see his maximum potential as a defensive third pairing guy.  But toughness and a right-handed shot will be welcome in the Montreal system, and as such his college career over the next few years should be interesting to follow.

Habs Prospect Playoff Update

As mentioned when we unveiled the summer schedule, it will occasionally be interrupted to bring you Habs news, so - while waiting for the World Championships to kick off - today we look at the few members of the organization still playing for their respective clubs.

QMJHL


Nathan Beaulieu (pictured left) and the Saint John Sea Dogs have been on a long break after sweeping Baie-Comeau, which brought their record this post-season to 8-0.  What makes it such a lengthy wait is that all three other remaining match-up have gone to 7 games!  Beaulieu has scored 2 goals and 8 points to go with a +15 rating on the dominant Sea Dogs.  How good has his team been?  He ranks only 10th on the club in scoring at the point-per-game mark (second amongst d-men), and fourth in +/-.  Saint John will face Chicoutimi in round 3 because...

If the Sea Dogs have been coasting, Michael Bournival and Morgan Ellis's Shawinigan Cataractes had their hands full with Chicoutimi in round 2.  The Cats held a 3-2 series lead, but fell by a 2-0 score in game 6, and were bested 3-2 in the decider.  Bournival has had a pretty miserable playoff, scoring just 1 goal and 7 points in 11 games, leading many to believe he is playing injured.  His ice time didn't seem to be dipping, however, based on his face-off stats, and in an interview he said he was disappointed with his own lack of production.  Ellis on the other hand has been a force for his club, recording 11 points in the 11 games.  With the loss, Shawinigan is out of the QMJHL playoffs, but they are the host of this year's Memorial Cup, so they get to play in that tournament anyway.  As they were eliminated in the second round, they will now be off for 31 days while the other CHL teams try to fight their way in.  If Bournival is hurt, this will give him time to rest and heal up.

OHL


Captain Jarred Tinordi and his London Knights survived a bit of a second round scare, eliminating the Saginaw Spirit four games to two.  Tinordi - a notoriously tough customer in his own end - has been a huge surprise offensively in the post-season, with 2 goals and 5 points in 10 games, to go with a +6 rating.  His 2 goals match his regular season total, scored in 48 games this season.  The Knights will play Kitchener in the third round starting Thursday.

WHL


Patrick Holland and the WHL's top-ranked Tri-City Americans were unable to close out their series in game 6, despite a Gordie Howe Hat Trick from Holland himself (a goal, an assist, and a fight), losing 4-3 in overtime to the Spokane Chiefs.  Holland has 3 goals and 12 points in 9 playoff games.  The Americans host game 7 this evening.

AHL


There will be no playoffs for the Hamilton Bulldogs this season, though the situation might have been very different if there were fewer injuries throughout both the Canadiens' and Bulldogs' rosters this season.  The 'Dogs, reinforced by a number of players once the Habs' season was over, won their final game by a 3-2 score.  Robert Mayer made 29 saves and was named second star behind Andreas Engqvist who had 2 assists.  Blake Geoffrion and Aaron Palushaj each had a goal and a helper.  Here's a glance at the team's final scoring leaders this year from The AHL's website:

The 'Dogs also handed out a number of awards at year's end, with Andreas Engqvist and Brian Willsie being named team co-MVPs (as voted by their teammates).  Aaron Palushaj won the 'Dogs' Molson Cup for being named a top star most frequently, Frederic St. Denis was named top defenseman by the media, and despite spending much of the season in Montreal, Louis Leblanc was recognized as the club's top rookie.

The battle for top rookie will be an intense one next season, and we'll look at what Hamilton's vastly improved roster might look like next year in a piece this Friday.

Previewing the NHL's Draft Lottery

Tonight at 8 PM EST, live on TSN, the final draft order for the NHL's non-playoff clubs will be determined.  Previously, I've covered the rules of the Draft Lottery, as well as gone over the Canadiens' odds, but today we'll look at a couple of scenarios.

To begin, here is a table created by James Mirtle of the Globe and Mail showing where each team could draft, and the odds of each spot:

If we combine this with a look at the final Central Scouting Service prospect rankings released yesterday, we get an idea of the kind of players expected to be available to each team.

 Nail Yakupov is far and away the consensus top player in this year's draft, and thus the reason why many clubs have major fingers crossed to win tonight's lottery.  While there are many other prospects with a lot of potential, Yakupov - at least at forward - looks like the only "sure bet."  Mikhail Grigorenko is often accused of being a lazy player, Alex Galchenyuk has questions around him due to his lost season with a knee injury, and Filip Forsberg's offensive upside is also unclear.

So what of our beloved Habs?  If the 14.2% chance of the team moving up comes to pass - and the third-to-last place team has won the lottery three times since 2000 - then the team should consider no options other than drafting Yakupov.  No, he doesn't bring the size the Canadiens are ideally looking for at 5'11", 190 lbs.  Grigorenko and Galchenyuk offer more size down the middle, a weakness in the Canadiens organization, and Forsberg is a bigger presence at wing.  But Yakupov offers what the Habs truly need most - gamebreaking superstar talent.  Playing on, for example, a line with Tomas Plekanec and Brian Gionta, he could alleviate the team's lack of 2nd line scoring, and allow the club to play Rene Bourque (assuming he's back) outside of a top 6 role.  Yakupov is in fact perhaps the only forward from this year's draft who should be a sure-thing to make the jump straight to the NHL next season.  All others will be a wait-and-see process going into training camp.

But let's say Montreal doesn't win the draft lottery.  Let's say the Blue Jackets win it, the most likely of scenarios.  If we assume that the Canadiens really want to draft a forward, then arguably Mikhail Grigorenko should be their man.  This shouldn't be a problem, as with the 2nd pick, the Edmonton Oilers are very likely to take a defenseman.  However, it doesn't mean the Habs are out of the woods.  There are a number of top-notch d-men the Oilers can choose from including Ryan Murray, Morgan Rielly, Cody Ceci, Olli Maatta, Jacob Trouba, Griffin Reinhart, and Matt Dumba.  Given this, if the Oilers don't see one of these players as far and away superior to the others, it is possible they trade with a team in the 4-6 range that wants Girgorenko in order to pick up some additional assets.  Montreal, at third overall, would thus be left in the dust, having to choose from one of the other remaining players.  Thus, even if the team remains at number three, there is reason to hold your breath until Trevor Timmins descends from the podium with the pick announced.

As for the lottery itself, what should Habs fans want and not want to see?  The top 5 picks will be unveiled on TSN beggining from #5, currently held by the Toronto Maple Leafs.  When the fifth pick is revealed, Habs fans should hope to still see a Leafs logo in that spot, as the last thing the team wants is for 8.1% chance of Toronto winning the lottery to come to pass.  If the logo revealed is Winnipeg's, it would mean that they won the draft lottery, dropping Toronto to 6 and the other top 4 remaining the same.  If the logo revealed is the New York Islanders, that means someone in the 4 slots below New York won the lottery and jumped up (possibly - but not necessarily - being Toronto).

If pick #5 remains Toronto, the only way the Canadiens could draft 4th is if the New York Islanders won the lottery, so that's what Montreal in the four slot would reveal.  If pick #5 has become the Islanders, then Montreal would be locked in the #4 slot unless it is Carolina who won the lottery, so that would be the logo Habs fans should hope to see in the envelope.

If picks 5 and 4 remain Toronto and the Islanders, the third pick would become the moment of truth for the Canadiens.  At this point, the winner of the draft lottery would have to be either Columbus, Edmonton, Montreal, or a team with the 10th to 14th best odds (who could not move into the top 5).  If the Oilers logo is in the envelope, fans can celebrate - Montreal will have won the lottery.  Otherwise, the Canadiens logo will be in there.  Of course, if the Habs weren't revealed as the fourth pick, regardless of what else happened in envelopes 5 and 4, they have to be in this one or the first pick one, as those are the only spots the system enables them to pick.  Thus, the latest that Habs fans could find out their fate is with the opening of this one.

So perform your rituals and ready your lucky charms, Habs fans.  Tonight is a big night in setting the stage for the evening of June 22nd when teams will announce their first round selections in Pittsburgh.  For one last time - for now - GO HABS GO!

Recap of Final Habs Media Scrums

Today, the 2011-12 Montreal Canadiens met with the media for the final time.  Here is a recap of some of their comments:

Carey Price: Starting to feel better the past week or so.  Run into on the 20th (of March) by a teammate (David Desharnais), hit in the head, and spine compressed.  Was having headaches for a week before mentioning anything, since he had played with headaches before.  But it was getting worse, so told the trainers about it.  Diagnosed with a slight concussion, never had one before as far as he knows.  Nothing serious but enough to err on the side of safety; still having a few neck and head issues.  Hanging around Montreal until he's symptom-free and will take it easy.  Things are looking good; there should be no problems going into next season.  Has a couple of small issues that may require some minor surgeries this summer, and will talk to doctors about it.  Wants to stay in Montreal for as long as he can; looking for a long-term deal.  Will not play for Team Canada in the World Championships.

Erik Cole: Each season that he doesn't make the playoffs is the same frustration and disappointment.  It will be tough to watch games in the first round.  Carey Price is very important to this team; doesn't see a reason for there to be many hang-ups in getting a contract done.  Price and Cam Ward are a fair comparison in terms of their demeanor; both calm and holds both in a very high regard.  Feels he won't be able to appreciate his own personal accomplishments this season in light of the way the team finished.  Everything in Montreal was as expected except for a lack of winning.  Declined invitation to join Team USA for the World Championships.

Scott Gomez: Disappointing season for everyone.  Doesn't know what's going to happen in the summer.  It's part of the business and will cross the bridge when he comes to it.  As a team, there wasn't really a point this season where all played together (due to injuries).  Personally, injuries were non-stop right from training camp.

Yannick Weber: Had an MCL tear, which went from first degree to second. No surgery, nothing else damaged, will fully recover in a few weeks.Will not represent Switzerland at the World Championships due to his injury.

Max Pacioretty: Team had a lot to overcome, and it's unfortunate it had to end so soon, but it will be nice to have a bit of a break. Satisfied to have a comfortable role on the team, but needs to not get too comfortable and continue improving every day.  Knows he has a lot of room for improvement.  Best way to get ready for next year is to turn the page and worry about what he can control.  Will represent Team USA at the World Championships.

Andrei Markov: Feeling pretty good, especially the last few games.  Hasn't received a call from Russian national team yet, so probably won't play in the World Championships, but if they call, he would discuss it.  Confident he'll be 100% to start next season; will continue to rehab his knee all summer and hopes to feel much better and play much better next year.  Needs to get back his quickness on the ice and to feel more comfortable with turns and pivots since he still has a little stiffness or tightness in his knee, which is normal.

P.K. Subban: Likes Pittsburgh in the East and Chicago in the West (because he's a Patrick Kane fan) for the playoffs.  Disappointed to not be in the post-season.  Had a great meeting with coaching staff and feels he made a lot of improvements in his overall game.  Everyone needs to train hard this summer and come in next September ready to start winning hockey games.  Will represent Team Canada at the World Championships.

Tomas Plekanec: Worst season here in his memory.  Injuries and a few other issues hurt the team this year; other issues are some things that the new coach and new GM would need to work on.  Hard to find chemistry without a consistent line, but it's an advantage for a player when he can play with anybody.  Will represent the Czech Republic at the World Championships.

Tomas Kaberle: Needs to work hard on his conditioning this summer.  It was a tough start in Carolina.  Doesn't like to talk about his own individual performance, but felt better and better as the season went on.  Disappointing to not make the playoffs in a market like Montreal.  Declined an invitation from the Czech Republic for the World Championships.

Josh Gorges: It's been a long year, but team will move forward this summer.  There are a lot of personnel changes to be made.  Not concerned by lowered expectations prognosticators will have for the Canadiens next year; what matters is the guys in the room.  Sees Scott Gomez as a great guy, great teammate, who all the others will support and go to war with.  Team's priority this summer is signing Carey Price.  Has not yet received an invitation to join Team Canada for the World Championships.

Rene Bourque: Disappointing for himself personally; it was a struggle and didn't go his way when he got here.  Very happy to be here and wants to help the team moving forward with a good group of guys.  He's a better player than what he showed and is looking forward to regrouping and coming back as the player he's capable of being.  Needs to be better in all areas.  Team had trouble producing outside of the first line.  What he's shown isn't what it should be; has four years left on his contract and hopes to be here for it.  It was a tough year, but no excuses, just needs to be better.  Hopes to find better chemistry with Tomas Plekanec next year if they remain together.

Ryan White: Has a concussion (suffered in a fight vs. Florida), but is feeling better now.  Has never had a concussion before.  Wants to bring his same approach next year; it's the only way he knows how to play.

David Desharnais: Happy about what he accomplished, but knows that when a team struggles, changes have to come.  Need to make sure this type of season for the team doesn't happen again.  Feels that if there weren't injuries, he may not have received as good a chance as he got.  No matter what you do in a given year, you always have to work on improving.  Has not received an invitation from Team Canada for the World Championships, but would attend if he gets a call.

Raphael Diaz: Had groin injury since beginning of December; wanted to keep playing but at one point had to stop.  Next season is a new season, and in training camp it doesn't matter how he played this year.  Will have to train hard and come back strong to be ready to make the team.  Will stay here for a few weeks to rehab, then go back to Switzerland, before returning to Montreal to prepare for next season.  Will not represent Team Switzerland at the World Championships due to his injury.

Mathieu Darche: Has been cleared by doctors though it took a while to recoup.  Hopes to be back next year, but it'll be up to the guys in charge.  Team needs to not be satisfied to win 2 out of every 4 games.  There is nothing worse than being at home while the real season starts for 16 other teams; this mentality needs to return to the Montreal Canadiens.  No disrespect to other organizations, but 15th place is unacceptable for the Montreal Canadiens.  Will be an analyst with RDS during the playoffs.

Peter Budaj: At the beginning, thought he could play a little more, but it's not in his control.  Disappointing season for the team, even if he was able to play the last few games and the team fared better.  Declined an invitation to play in the World Championships.  Feels the talent and character on the team is a reason to be optimistic for next year.  Team beat some good clubs this year, just needs to do it on a more consistent basis.

Lars Eller: The season was difficult, facing a lot of adversity in the room and outside, but it's been a valuable learning experience.  When a team is winning, things are easy - you learn more during the tough teams of losing.  Hopes to stay in Montreal and wants to be part of the future going forward.  Waiting for new GM to sort things out with his agent, but is optimistic.  Looks at Tomas Plekanec as a role model, able to play a strong two-way game, on the powerplay, on the PK, when the game is on the line, etc.  Will play for Team Denmark in the World Championships.

Brian Gionta: The season was frustrating; nobody was happy with how things were this year.  Expectations in camp were to make the playoffs and compete for a Stanley Cup.  Current state of mind is a holding pattern, waiting to see what's going to be with the GM and coach.  Coaching staff that was thrown in there did a good job in a tough situation.  Feels team is not that far off even though points in standings don't show that.  Everybody in the organization tried things to turn it around and make it right, but team couldn't get it going.

Travis Moen: Disappointing to not reach goal, but have to focus on next year.  Once everything is sorted out with the new GM, will talk.  Wants to come back, has enjoyed his time in Montreal.  With a few additions, the Habs can be a great team.  Doesn't feel his role would change even if both he and Brad Staubitz both return.  A key to success would be to stay healthy.

Chris Campoli: It was a difficult season.  Experiences you go through make you better as a person and professional.  Playing in Montreal was special for him; hockey is a religion here.  That's something he'll take with him as a positive.  Hopes to build off the good whether it's in Montreal or elsewhere next year.  Has learned a lot on the business side of thing and is optimistic about the future, but doesn't know what could happen.  Playing 7 defensemen, with 3 of the 7 playing 12 or 13 minutes a night, made things difficult on the guys.  Things got better towards the end of the year.