Habs Sign Nathan Beaulieu to Entry-Level Deal

The Montreal Canadiens announced today the signing of defenseman Nathan Beaulieu to a 3-year entry-level contract.  While it was a matter of time / a formality, since Beaulieu will certainly be making his pro debut in the Fall rather than returning to the QMJHL as an overager, the signing is notable as he becomes the first player given a deal by new GM Marc Bergevin.  Official release: http://canadiens.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=633263

Beaulieu, Montreal's first round selection last June, had an up-and-down year, but one full of good experiences.  His Saint John Sea Dogs won the QMJHL championship for a second year in a row, and thus returned to the Memorial Cup, where they were unable to repeat as winners, falling in the semi-final to host Shawinigan.  Beaulieu also got to represent Team Canada at this past winter's World Junior Championship, though he spent much of his time as a powerplay specialist / 7th defenseman.

Beaulieu will join the Hamilton Bulldogs in the Fall as part of a strong in-coming class of rookie pros that includes Jarred Tinordi, Morgan Ellis, Michael Bournival, Brendan Gallagher, Patrick Holland, and Greg Pateryn, all already under contract with the team.  Fans should temper their expectations in his regard, as while he has good size, amazing skating ability, slick passing, and good offensive instincts, he still has a lot to work out in his game, notably in his own end and in maturity.  But he has time.  He'll be one of the youngest players in the AHL when the season begins at age 19, eligible to play because of his December birthday.

Congrats Nathan!  Feel free to send him your best wishes via Twitter, @n8theggr8.

Restocking the Cupboard #2: Movin' on Down

[This is the second of a five-part series, going live every Wednesday on http://www.YourCanadiens.Info/, previewing possible Hab selections for the 2012 Entry Draft.  See Part 1, about who the team might pick if they hold steady at #3, HERE]

Last week, we discussed the four possible candidates for the Canadiens' first draft choice if they are to remain at 3rd overall come June 22nd.  But as I went over, none of them are without their issues, and even at that, whichever of the four that the Columbus Blue Jackets sees as the best for them won't be available by pick three, leaving the Habs to take the best of the rest.  This year's draft has more questions than answers.  So let's say that, for all the reasons specified, Trevor Timmins, Marc Bergevin, and co aren't convinced that the players who will be available at, say, pick 6-10, project with less certainty or less potential than those available at #3.  What happens then?

Yes, the team could still keep the pick, as at 3rd, they can go with "their guy" out of a greater number of available prospects.  But it's also possible that "their guy" isn't one of Mikhail Grigorenko, Filip Forsberg, Alex Galchenyuk, or Ryan Murray.  In this case, rather than just go off the board with a lower-ranked name, the team could trade down, swapping with a club that holds a pick later in the first round in order to collect other assets (like say an additional 2nd round choice).  While there are other options (trading up or trading the pick outright), today we'll look at where the team could trade down to, and who they might fancy at that slot.

The order of the first 28 picks of the draft have been locked in, and they are as follows:
1. Edmonton Oilers
2. Columbus Blue Jackets
3. Montreal Canadiens
4. New York Islanders
5. Toronto Maple Leafs
6. Anaheim Ducks
7. Minnesota Wild
8. Carolina Hurricanes
9. Winnipeg Jets
10. Tampa Bay Lightning
11. Washington Capitals (from Colorado Avalanche)
12. Buffalo Sabres
13. Dallas Stars
14. Calgary Flames
15. Ottawa Senators
16. Washington Capitals
17. San Jose Sharks
18. Chicago Blackhawks
19. Tampa Bay Lightning (from Detroit Red Wings)
20. Philadelphia Flyers
21. Buffalo Sabres (from Nashville Predators)
22. Pittsburgh Penguins
23. Florida Panthers
24. Boston Bruins
25. St. Louis Blues
26. Vancouver Canucks
27. Phoenix Coyotes
28. New York Rangers

Might the third overall choice be worth Tampa Bay's 10th and 19th?  Washington's 11th and 16th?  Buffalo's 12th and 21st?  Perhaps the Canadiens want to stay a little higher up than that, but could poach picks 6 and 36 from Anaheim or 8 and 38 from Carolina (Minnesota doesn't have its own 2nd round selection).  For this exercise, let's focus on the 6-12 range and some of the names that might interest the Habs.  The good news is, there is very likely to be a run on defensemen early on in the draft, since they make up a big part of the top rated prospect group.  So by trading down, the Canadiens should still be able to snag one of the top prospects at forward, an area where they have the far greater need.

If the team does opt for such a strategy, here's a look at five forwards and three d-men to consider with a later pick.


Radek Faksa - C - Kitchener Rangers, OHL
6'3", 202 lbs - Shoots L
Rankings: Central Scouting - 7th (North America); Future Considerations - 13th; The Hockey News - 11th

Faksa is a native of the Czech Republic who made the jump to the CHL this season after several years in Czech junior leagues.  Scoring 29 goals and 67 points in 62 games for Kitchener had him finish as runner-up to young phenom Aaron Ekblad for the Ontario League's Rookie of the Year.  In tournament play, Faksa scored 2 goals in 6 games for Team Czech Republic at this year's World Juniors (where he was the youngest player on his team) after a disappointing U18 a year ago had him pointless in 6 contests.  His production in these small-sample events dipped in the OHL playoffs as well, where he netted only 6 points in 13 games.  Those numbers may have been hurt by a head injury suffered in March, causing him to miss some playoff action, and potentially scaring a few teams that have or had interest in him who must now worry about concussions.

So what's to like?  If the Canadiens weren't drafting as high as they are, most fans would be clamouring to find a way to land Faksa.    A big and strong center, Faksa offers the kind of complete package scouts dream of: size, skill, good skating ability, and a willingness to backcheck hard.  He is built in the mold of a power forward and has success winning battles in the offensive zone, which is more his game rather than one of finesse.  His frame and reach make him difficult to contain for opposing defenders, which means as he fills out further he could become a dominating offensive presence.

Concerns about Faksa's play are relatively minor and can mostly be attributed to it being his first year in North America.  He started the season a little slow, normal for a player adjusting to a new country and league, but then picked it up, earning ice time and becoming one of Kitchener's top players.  However, later on in the year, whether it was a lack of endurance and conditioning in his own game or just struggling to deal with other teams keying on him more, he was less noticeable, which has kept him out of the top 10 in final rankings.

Definitely a top candidate for the Canadiens if they choose to move down, for the same reason the tools brought by Alex Galchenyuk and Mikhail Grigorenko make them likely picks for the team at #3.

Teuvo Teravainen - RW - Jokerit, Finland
5'11", 165 lbs - Shoots L
Rankings: Central Scouting - 2nd (Europe); Future Considerations - 8th; The Hockey News - 12th

The first thing you'll undoubtedly notice is the size issue; right away something that means Teravainen might not be an ideal choice for a team wanting to get bigger like Montreal.  But it's hard to ignore the elite level of skill and creativity Teravainen displays on ice, which makes him a dangerous threat who scored 11 goals and 18 points in 40 games in Finland's men's league this past season.  He was dominant against peers his own age, notching 12 goals and 20 points in just 11 junior league games, and adding 2 goals and 8 points in 6 games in this year's World U18.

His shiftiness with the puck is the skill that stands out the most, just as competent a scorer as he is a playmaker.  He isn't a dangler, but his vision and quick hands allow him to create room in the offensive zone.  He has quick feet, though isn't one to blow people away with his speed, which is a potential issue given that smaller players often need elite quickness to compensate for their lack of size.

This is basically what it comes down to with Teravainen: on the one hand, he has the ability to control a game, to patiently slow it down and create chances with the puck that always seems to find itself on his stick (all abilities scouts looking for in judging a player's upside), but on the other, adding strength to his frame is a real concern.  5'11" isn't "too small" for the NHL, but Teravainen is skinny, which makes battling along the boards and protecting the puck concerns for his future.  Ultimately scouts will have to determine if his huge offensive upside outweighs the concerns, and most seem to think it does, with McKeen's even ranking him in their final top five.  For these reasons, despite the team's need to get bigger, he becomes an option for the Canadiens whose biggest need is a top-flight superstar.

Brendan Gaunce - C - Belleville Bulls, OHL
6'2", 215 lbs - Shoots L
Rankings: Central Scouting - 13th (North America); Future Considerations - 18th; The Hockey News - 17th

Does Gaunce have enough upside to satisfy Hab fans in a year where the team starts off at third overall?  He did score 28 goals and 68 points in 68 games this season for Belleville, but how will that project in the long run?  These are the kind of questions scouts will have to consider if trading down for him is an option.

If Montreal were drafting 17th overall as they did a year ago, then Gaunce might be a perfect fit as a 6'2" center already possessing a thick enough frame to compete against men.  His big body lets him play a power and puck protection game, while also being an adept puck handler.  He possesses the leadership traits and intangibles that the Canadiens have historically loved to draft, and plays a good two-way game, reliable defensively, also a trademark of a Trevor Timmins pick.

While Gaunce sounds like an ideal center to build a team around, he isn't without fault.  Most notably, scouts are concerned about his skating, lacking both in top-flight speed and first-step quickness.  While he is a reasonable finisher, there are also concerns as to whether his offense will translate to the professional ranks.  Finally, while he is capable of being a physical, dominant player, there are times where the has lacked a bit of that intensity, so consistency is something he'll also need to work into his game.  This has polarized many scouts as to his future, some seeing him as a top 10 prospect from this draft class, filling out to be a top 6 power forward, while others see him as a later safe pick, projecting as a two-way third liner.  Based on this evaluation, it wouldn't be unfair to compare him to a Kyle Chipchura pre-draft, though Chipchura's development after being selected was largely derailed by injuries.  And just because Chipchura didn't pan out as Montreal had hoped, doesn't mean Gaunce will follow the same trajectory should he land with the Canadiens.

Zemgus Girgensons - C - Dubuque Fighting Saints, USHL
6'1.5", 200 lbs - Shoots L 
Rankings: Central Scouting - 18th (North America); Future Considerations - 19th; The Hockey News - 16th

There are a lot of similarities between Girgensons and Radek Faksa, also included on this list.  Future Considerations has Faksa 6 slots ahead of Girgensons, while McKeen's has Girgensons one spot ahead of Faksa.  Both are big European centers - Girgensons being Latvia - who came over to play hockey in North America prior to their draft year.  Girgensons has already been on this side of the ocean for three seasons, most recently playing the last two years with Dubuque of the USHL.  If you're hearing a lot about Dubuque lately, that is because there is a tie to recently hired Canadiens scout Bobby Kinsella, who served as Director of Scouting and Assistant Coach for the club for the past two years, meaning he has one of the better informed opinions of Girgensons of anyone out there.

Girgenson's 44 points in 43 games last season were a modest improvement from his 49 points in 51 contests the year prior, which has some scouts worried about his offensive upside.  He can play a physical power game, producing 2 goals at this year's World Juniors on a weak Latvian squad, and has the type of build that fast-tracks youngsters to the big league.  The question will be what role he can fill once he gets there.  While a natural center, many feel he lacks the skill set to project in that position long-term, with puck distribution not at the top of his list of skills, making some question his hockey sense.  His skating - while powerful and not a huge weakness - is also a bit of a concern, lacking a top gear.

Still, there is no doubting Girgensons's intensity and aggressiveness, which makes him a very safe prospect even if he ends up being limited to a third line role.  If Kinsella's recommendation comes in strong enough - and it likely will given that he served as Dubuque's captain this season - it is possible that the club works hard to nab Girgensons.  If it's not a trade down, maybe Girgensons's Latvian origin has him slip a little, and the club tries to trade up from pick 33 to select him late in the first round.

Sebastian Collberg - RW - Frolunda Jr. - Sweden
5'11", 175 lbs - Shoots R
Rankings: Central Scouting - 3rd (Europe); Future Considerations - 12th; The Hockey News - 14th

Like Teravainen, Collberg lacks the size Hab fans are dreaming of, but the winger packs a punch offensively.  Whereas Filip Forsberg was held to just a single assist in six World Junior Championship games this season, Collberg finished second on the squad with seven points, including four goals.  He was also dominant offensively in the World U18 tournament, where as one of Sweden's assistant captains, he scored 4 goals and 9 points in 6 games, but was also criticized for looking fatigued an umotivated at times after a long season.  Like Forsberg, Collberg spent much of the season playing against men in the Swedish Elite League, though he got very little ice time with Frolunda, held off the scoresheet in 41 games.  He spent 21 games with the team's junior club, registering 9 goals and 17 points in that span.

As a player, Collberg's quick and accurate release is probably his best attribute.  He's a great skater, and despite his size, doesn't shy away from traffic areas on the ice.  His defensive game is quite well-rounded with a solid work ethic making him a tough back checker, typical of many players coming out of Sweden and Finland the last several years.  Still, the lack of strength on his frame is concerning, limiting his effectiveness against bigger defenders, so it's something he'll need to work on if he is to produce at the North American professional level.  A final concern is his development if he remains in Sweden, as Frolunda can be tough on its younger players.  In addition to a lack of ice time, playing on a fourth unit, Collberg's game became one of puck retrieval, chip, and chase, limiting him from using his strengths in the attacking zone.

His style has drawn comparisons to the likes of Phil Kessel and Jeff Skinner, but if the Canadiens do decide that trading down for Collberg is what they're after, they might be wise to get him to join a CHL club for next year to continue his progression.  He may be on Trevor Timmins's radar, as when talking about top prospects for the upcoming draft, rather than single out Forsberg, Timmins alluded to, "the Swedes."

Mathew Dumba - D - Red Deer Rebels, WHL
5'11.5", 180 lbs - Shoots R
Rankings: Central Scouting - 11th (North America); Future Considerations - 10th; The Hockey News - 5th

The first of three blueliners on the list, Dumba is the smallest, which has undoubtedly hurt his pre-draft rankings.  However, he plays a lot bigger than the size he's listed at, which is both a compliment and a concern, causing some to fear for his longevity in the big league and his ability to handle his own in a men's league if his style doesn't translate against larger opponents.  His rankings are a little all over the place, with both McKeen's and The Hockey News having him as the #2 defenseman in the draft after Ryan Murray, while Future Considerations has four blueliners ahead of him.

So other than being a more physical player than he was built to be, what makes Dumba a top prospect?  He's got a well-rounded game, with vision that allows for great breakout passes, a heavy shot, and soft hands that help him make quick plays.  He possesses good leadership skills, rebounding after taking an early cut from Team Canada WJC camp very hard by captaining the country's World U18 team and producing a phenomenal 5 goals and 12 points in just 7 games to lead the club by a fair margin.  In Red Deer, he more than doubled his production from a year ago, scoring 57 points in 69 games to rank sixth among WHL rearguards.

Other than size, the only other real concern about Dumba is his consistency, as he can go through spells where he is less involved physically, and is caught watching the play, or being reactive rather than using the hockey intelligence he is blessed with.  But he is blessed with talent, and the rest (other than size) will mostly be worked out through coaching and maturity, so if Montreal wants to add a dynamic player - the kind who might have as good or better a career than anyone available at pick 3 - while picking up an additional selection, Dumba could be on their list.  He just might be my favourite d-man in the draft due to the exciting game he plays.  And as I've said before, I don't believe that the other top 10 blueliners are all that far behind Murray.

Griffin Reinhart - D - Edmonton Oil Kings, WHL
6'4", 205 lbs - Shoots L
Rankings: Central Scouting - 10th (North America); Future Considerations - 7th; The Hockey News - 8th

Reinhart is a consensus top 10 selection in the coming draft, blessed with the body that would make a guy like Dumba a contender for first overall this year.  Reinhart has hockey bloodlines - his father Paul is a former NHL d-man - which we know Trevor Timmins enjoys, and got added experience this year as his Edmonton Oil Kings won the WHL title and most recently competed in the Memorial Cup.

Reinhart may have the frame, but he doesn't play a physical, punishing game.  He is a two-way blueliner, less flashy than Dumba, having scored 12 goals and 36 points in 58 games this season, but makes up for what he lacks in toughness by playing a positionally sound coverage game in his own end.  He is strong, and even dropped the gloves on three occasions this season, but many would like to see him use his size to throw hits on a more regular basis rather than just relying on his long reach.  His skating is unique, often the case with young players who are adapting to their bodies, and while it shouldn't hold him back significantly, is an area he can strive to improve.

Perhaps the biggest positive with regards to Reinhart is that he improved significantly as the season went on. Players at this age are still developing as athletes, and it is a scout's job to project where they may be years in the future, thus to see a good learning curve is encouraging for what that future may hold.  As he gets increasingly comfortable in his role as a top pairing blueliner over time, we may see some of that toughness creep into his game with more consistency, which could make him an addition to a stacked Montreal back end some years from now.

Jacob Trouba - D - USNTDP, USHL
6'2", 195 lbs - Shoots R
Rankings: Central Scouting - 9th (North America); Future Considerations - 6th; The Hockey News - 9th

Future Considerations likes Trouba ahead of Reinhart, while both The Hockey News and McKeen's have him a little behind.  A little smaller than Reinhart, Trouba also plays an all-around two-way game.  However, where Reinhart can shy away from physical play and needs to work on his skating, both are core elements to Trouba's game.  Between his size, quickness, and toughness, he is difficult to beat in his own end, but he also possessed a hard point shot, which allowed him to score 18 points in 22 USHL games with the U18 team this season.  He was so good, in fact, that he made the American team for the World Juniors, contributing 2 assists in 6 games, and was later named an assistant captain for the World U18 squad, where he added a goal and 3 points in 6 more contests.

There is little at fault in Trouba's game, which the Canadiens might like when the players at the top of the draft all come with warning labels.  Critics sometimes worry about his puck-handling, which has many questioning whether his offensive skills can translate to the next level, but if he won't be a puck-rusher, his shot should mean it won't handicap him too badly.  He is a true competitor, but there are still some questions about consistency, though it is hard to gauge a player off such a small sample size with the US National Team Development Program.  He is expected to continue his development with either the University of Michigan or the Kitchener Rangers.

Now, if on draft day, prior to pick #3, we hear Gary Bettman utter those highly anticipated words, "We have a trade to announce," you have an idea of who it might be that the Canadiens are really looking to select.  Of this list, given the organization's needs, I'd be happy adding a Faksa or Girgensons.

However, truth be told, I'm not particularly in favour of the trade down option this year, even with a draft full of uncertainties and the need to bolster a thin prospect pool in Montreal.  It hopefully won't be often that the Canadiens get to speak so early on in an entry draft, and this gives them the opportunity to add a superstar-calibre player.  Sure, I'd be open to listening to offers for the pick, particularly if somehow Nail Yakupov and Alex Galchenyuk both go in the two spots before the Canadiens.  But in the end, I'd say draft your Galchenyuk or Mikhail Grigorenko and then hope for the best; all of the above players will make fine NHL'ers, but that's not the need.  Come June, a new star must be born to rise Hab fans out of their seats once again.

Next week, we'll look at the possibilities of trading up to nab Nail Yakupov with the first overall selection, or potentially trading the third overall pick away altogether.  The week following, we'll look at possible candidates for all of the rest of Montreal's picks in the draft.

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/

Your Canadiens for April 25, 2012

Getting caught up on a few bits and pieces as the NHL's first round of playoff action nears its conclusion.

DANNY KRISTO TO RETURN TO NORTH DAKOTA


Habs prospect Danny Kristo announced officially yesterday that he would return to the University of North Dakota for his senior year.  There could be many reasons for his doing so; a desire to win a National Championship, the want to finish his degree, or perhaps uncertainty over where the GM-less and coach-less Canadiens currently stand.

From a development standpoint, the move seems counterproductive for Kristo.  He has nothing left to prove at the NCAA level, having just set career highs in games played, goals, assists, and points, averaging more than a point per game.  But there is a big jump between college hockey and the NHL, and it would have been nice to see Kristo cutting his teeth at the American Hockey League level starting in the Fall to begin making his adjustment.  As it stands, assuming he signs once next season is over, he'll only begin his first pro season at the age of 23.  Of course, him signing at all remains a question; he could have dropped out of school to become a UFA this summer, but can still opt for unrestricted free agency if he doesn't sign with Montreal at next season's conclusion.  Thus, this isn't good news, but it's too early to say the sky is falling as well.


MAX PACIORETTY A FINALIST FOR MASTERTON


After previously being named the Canadiens nominee for the award, forward Max Pacioretty was named one of three finalists for the award, technically given to the player best exemplifying the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey, but almost always awarded to the year's best comeback story.  The other finalists are Toronto's Joffrey Lupul and Ottawa's Daniel Alfredsson.  I don't get to vote, of course, but my money would be on Max taking this one.


CHL PLAYOFF UPDATES


Patrick Holland and the Tri-City Americans find themselves in a 2 game hole after losing the first two outings by identical 5-4 overtime results.  Holland has certainly done his part, however, with 2 goals an an assist in the series opener (named second star), and a goal and a helper in game 2 (named third star).  Holland now has 6 goals and 17 points in 12 games as Tri-City looks to get back in the series tonight.

Jarred Tinordi's London Knights are up 3 games to none in their second round matchup following a 5-2 win last night.  Tinordi entered the series with a surprising 5 points in 10 games, a revelation compared to his limited regular season offense.  He has kept it going with 2 assists through the first three games this round (including one last night) as the Knights look like they will coast through to the OHL finals.

Nathan Beaulieu's dominant Saint John Sea Dogs suffered their first post-season loss last night, 5-4 in overtime, but still lead their series 2-1.  Beaulieu had a powerplay goal in the game but finished a -1.  The offensive blueliner has remained at the point-per-game pace with 3 points in three games this round, now giving him 11 in 11 post-season contests.


NILL SPEAKS ABOUT TURNING DOWN HABS POST


Detroit Red Wings' Assistant General Manager Jim Nill spoke yesterday about his talks with Geoff Molson about taking over as Montreal Canadiens GM.  Nill expressed that he had interest in the job, and based on two interviews, saw that the Habs were interested in him, but he decided that it simply wasn't the right time to make such a move.  This talk confirms not only that Detroit had in fact granted Nill permission to talk with Montreal, but both that the GM job in this city remains appealing and that the Canadiens are looking beyond the language factor to find the best man for the job.  What is the actual reason for Nill wanting to end the process?  We'll never know for sure.  He has in the past turned down opportunities for family reasons to remain in Detroit so it may just be that.  Or perhaps he doesn't feel ready to step into such a strong spotlight as that in Montreal.  Or maybe, just maybe, he isn't so keen on the idea of having to take French lessons on the side.  Who knows.

A Day as Habs GM: Rebuilding the Bulldogs

While it was a disappointing season for the Montreal Canadiens and their fans, it was equally hard for the faithful of the Hamilton Bulldogs.  The 'Dogs finished with a 34-35-7 record, leaving them 14th in the AHL's Western Conference.  The reasons for their failures are many; injuries to players both in Montreal and in Hamilton, additional call-ups following trades, and - perhaps most importantly - a lack of skilled depth caused by the Canadiens trading their second round picks (and even once first round pick) away the past few seasons, with few AHL vets signed to fill the void.  The latter reason hurts/thins out a team's prospect pool over time, and Montreal will need to draft carefully to refill the ranks with their 5 second rounder over this summer's draft and the next.

So are the 'Dogs stuck with being a mediocre team until some of those future picks mature?  Not necessarily.  In fact, 2012-13 should be quite an exciting season for those that follow this team that has become accustomed to strong finished as a feeder club to the Habs.  With the obvious exception of those about to be drafted with the Canadiens' top picks this June, nearly all of the organization's top prospects will make their pro debuts with the Bulldogs next season.

Let's start by seeing what it might look like.  I'm going to take a conservative assumption that most of the guys who finished the year in Montreal will either start next season there, or otherwise have left the organization.  For this exercise, then, I'll exclude Aaron Palushaj, Louis Leblanc, Blake Geoffrion, and Frederic St. Denis.  That would leave the Bulldogs with the following:

___ - Phil DeSimone - Danny Kristo
Ian Schultz - Michael Bournival - Brendan Gallagher
Olivier Fortier - Gabriel Dumont - Patrick Holland
Joonas Nattinen - ___ - Andrew Conboy
Philippe Lefebvre, Alain Berger

Jarred Tinordi - Morgan Ellis
Nathan Beaulieu - ___
Brendon Nash - Greg Pateryn
Joe Stejskal

___
Robert Mayer
Peter Delmas

The words young and inexperienced are some of the first that come to mind when looking at this team, but there is no denying the huge amounts of talent and potential here as well.  The lack of experience is a reason I left blanks ( ___ ) in some spots rather than filling them with players I have as reservists, as to put together a competitive team, some quality vets should be added.


At forward, Brian Willsie, a 34-year old with 381 NHL games under his belt, had a decent season in Hamilton, but will be a UFA this summer, so his return is uncertain.  Then 6 forwards will be restricted free agents this summer, meaning the Habs will need to make decisions as to whether or not they have futures in the organization.  The first is Andreas Engqvist, the two-way forward who shared co-team MVP honours with Willsie this season.  Montreal has nothing to lose re-signing Engqvist and placing him on waivers if (when?) he doesn't make the NHL club out of training camp; if he gets claimed, no real loss there.  The question will be whether Engqvist wants to stick around in North America, or if he'd rather head back over to Europe as a free agent given his inability to stick in the NHL thus far.

Next is Olivier Fortier, another two-way guy who has impressed in spurts, being used on top trios and even on the powerplay at times despite his less than impressive career offensive outputs.  Staying healthy has been a challenge for the versatile forward who can play both center and wing, limiting him to just 37 games this past season.  There were times where he might have been near the top of the call-up list, but was unfortunately unavailable.  For his usefulness, I expect the team to come to terms with him.

Third is Andrew Conboy, a player many were high on some three years ago when he made his pro debut.  He was seen as a reckless, wild and crazy goon, with good size and perhaps enough hockey sense to play a regular shift.  Conboy had  a decent season in 2010-11, scoring 13 goals and 23 points to go with his 116 PIMs in 64 games, but this past season injuries meant he could only play 10 games, in which he did little to get noticed.  As a result, this could be the end for him in the organization, as his role has been usurped by Ian Schultz, but it is possible he is retained for his 6'4" 200 lbs frame on the 'Dogs fourth line.

The last three, Dany Masse, Robert Slaney, and Hunter Bishop, are all reasonably likely to be let go to create some room under the 50-contracts-per-team NHL limit.  Masse is just 5'10" and scored 19 points in 58 games this year, while Slaney - acquired from the Nashville Predators for added AHL depth in the Hal Gill trade - has generally struggled to establish himself as more than an ECHL'er.  Bishop showed a glimpse of perhaps a little promise a year ago, but missed this past entire season with injury, derailing his development.

Danny Kristo, who I included in the line-up at the top, has not yet been signed, and has options to either return to college for a final season or to hold out and become an unrestricted free agent.  However, it would seem to be in the best interest of both himself (for development purposes) and the Canadiens (since he has nothing left to prove in college) to get him under contract and have him go pro.  He turns 22 this summer, so is more physically mature than some of the other youngsters and should be able to step right into an important role.  Along with Kristo, the trio of CHL'ers in Brendan Gallagher, Michael Bournival, and Patrick Holland have some exciting upside and will have a very interested audience in Canadiens' fans.  All have some questions around them, however.  Is two-way, goal-scoring center Bournival's current post-season slump a fluke (or injury-provoked)?  Will the diminutive yet fierce sniper Gallagher's size hold him back at the pro level (and might playing with a big body like Ian Schultz, coming off a good season with 23 points and 104 PIMs in 60 games, help)?  Can the playmaker Holland produce without the two star linemates he's had all year?  Time will tell, but there is no real need to rush any of the three at this point.

One last interesting case is Alexander Avtsin, who is still under contract for next season, but who I've left off the roster for now.  Certainly he could take up one of those fourth line slots to start the season, but the 21-year old skilled Russian's compete level and play without the puck saw his production decline from his rookie season, going from 20 points in 58 games to 14 in 63.  There's lots of potential under his 6'3", 188 lbs frame, but based on this regression, it wouldn't surprise me if the Canadiens end the experiment and assign him to Europe.  If he is happy to stay, however, it may have been the case of a pro sophomore slump and learning experience for Avtsin, and I'd be happy to keep him around and see what happens.  He's already signed, so there is nothing to lose.

Aside from that, the team will be buoyed by returnees.  The center depth lacks a little (which may encourage the signing of a UFA), banking on Phil DeSimone building on a 14-goal, 33-point rookie campaign.  Gabriel Dumont (pictured at top) finished the year in Montreal and will have a shot at sticking with the Canadiens, but as he's undersized, I expect him to remain in an injury call-up role.  Joonas Nattinen had an up-and-down first season in North America, so he'll need to work on his consistency to keep ice time with the newcomers.

On defense, a trio of CHL'ers are also ready to make their debuts.  The towering and punishing Jarred Tinordi is used to playing big minutes, since he regularly plays close to 30 minutes a night for London.  He had a great World Junior this year, and is presently having a very strong playoffs.  Offensive d-man Nathan Beaulieu isn't yet signed, but spending another season in juniors would make no sense at all for him with how dominant he has been, so it should be a matter of time, despite the fact that he's still only 19.  Morgan Ellis impressed many this year for more than just some flashy offensive numbers, but for using his solid 6'2" frame to play a good defensive game and get physical when called upon.

Greg Pateryn has completed his college career, and the 6'3", 214 lbs blueliner is well-suite to a shutdown role.  One of the bigger knocks against him is his skating, so the team will have to see if that holds him back at the next level.

The Canadiens have 3 pending UFA's on Hamilton's blueline in captain Alex Henry, and veterans Garrett Stafford and Joe Callahan.  Henry is a quality tough, shutdown guy, who at 32 has played 177 NHL games (including 2 with the Habs in 2008-09).  If he is happy to stay, then he certainly could be retained, but if he wants another shot at the NHL, he has to realize that he's about to be passed in the depth chart by a strong incoming class this Fall in this organization.  Stafford is probably the most attractive to keep, more of a two-way player who is a perennial AHL star.  The fact that he's a right-handed shot would give the 'Dogs a perfect balance of three and three based on the above depth chart which doesn't hurt either.  Callahan was signed after Jeff Woywitka was lost on waivers to provide added depth, and there isn't real reason to expect him back.

Two RFAs will also require decisions in Brendan Nash and Mark Mitera.  Nash, like Hunter Bishop, missed this entire season with injury after showing promise last year.  But whereas Bishop showed some potential as a long-term forward project, Nash seemed reasonably close to NHL-ready on the blueline, and as such remains a legitimate prospect and should be retained.  Mitera was acquired last summer in return for Mathieu Carle, but the former first round selection had a rather rough season in Hamilton and could be left unqualified and replaced.

Lastly, in goal, the pipeline remains quite empty.  Neither Robert Mayer nor Peter Delmas appear to have NHL potential, nor are either amongst the AHL's top netminders.  As such, it is likely the team again hits the UFA market in search for a veteran AHL starter.  Nathan Lawson - when healthy - wasn't bad this year, but there are many free agent options including Drew MacIntyre, Jason Bacashihua, Cedrick Desjardins, Yann Danis, and Dany Sabourin.  It shouldn't be hard to fill this spot, and the team should look to a guy who would be ready to play limited NHL minutes in case (knock on wood) of an injury.

How ever the Habs new management team decides to fill out the roster, it looks far better than what the 'Dogs played with this season, and while it isn't inconceivable that the youngsters struggle to adapt off the hop, there is enough talent there that Hamilton supporters can hope for a playoff berth a year from now.

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.

The Cases of Danny Kristo and Nathan Beaulieu

With less than one week remaining in a painful regular season for Montreal Canadiens fans, the organization has taken care of the business of signing most of its prospects for next year well ahead of their respective deadlines.    In fact, only two dossiers remain open in the post-Pierre Gauthier era, being those of Danny Kristo and Nathan Beaulieu.  Each is different, and each is slightly out of the ordinary, so here we look at what the hold-ups might be, and why it is important for them to be addressed in the near future.

Danny Kristo


As an NCAA prospect, Kristo is subject to different rules than those in the CHL or European leagues.  The Canadiens will retain Kristo's rights throughout his NCAA playing career, giving them more time to evaluate him as a prospect before having to make any decisions.

Kristo was Montreal's first selection in 2008, in the 2nd round, and spent the following season playing alongside Louis Leblanc with the USHL's Omaha Lancers.  Following a strong WJC for the American team and a good first year in College with 36 points in 41 games, he rose to be one of the Canadiens' top prospects, but the following season, rumours of off-ice issues and a scary bout of frostbite derailed his development a bit.  He rebounded in 2011-12, putting up his best offensive performance to date with 45 points in 42 games, which should put the crafty 5'11" winger back into the Habs' plans for the future.

Kristo has one year left of NCAA eligibility, meaning he doesn't have to be signed this summer.  However, as an individual player, he has little left to prove at that level, so the best thing for both him and the Canadiens would be to come to an agreement this summer and start next Fall with the Hamilton Bulldogs.  There is a little wrinkle in this plan, which is that a strange clause in NHL rules for NCAA prospects gives Kristo an out.  The native of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, has a window of until June 1st by which he is permitted to notify the Canadiens that he is dropping out of college but will not sign with them, which would make him an unrestricted free agent and thus able to sign with any NHL club.  Of course, doing so can speak volumes about a young man's character, and Kristo himself has recently stated that if he is to leave College this summer, it would be for the Canadiens (though he also said he has yet to make up his mind about going Pro), but it is still a legitimate threat and a good reason to get him signed as early as the team can.  If Kristo does not exercise this option, however, the Canadiens will retain his rights until August 2013.

The Canadiens have a few other college prospects they may consider signing, but with a lot of fresh faces already set to join the Bulldogs in September, it is likely that Steve Quailer, Dustin Walsh, and Mac Bennett remain with their respective teams for another year.

Nathan Beaulieu


For a CHL prospect, the "typical" path is to play two years in the league after being drafted before signing a pro deal and moving on to the ECHL/AHL/NHL.  This is because of an AHL rule for this category of player whereby they need to turn 20 by the end of December of their AHL rookie season to be able to start a year in the league.  As a late birthday for his draft class (December 5th), though he was only selected last June, Beaulieu meets the criteria necessary to go pro over the summer and join fellow prospects Jarred Tinordi, Morgan Ellis, and Greg Pateryn with the 'Dogs in 2012-13.

Like with Kristo, the Canadiens are in no true rush with Beaulieu, having the option of returning him to Saint John as an overager while retaining his rights for another year.  But for a defenseman who won a Memorial Cup last season, represented Canada in the World Juniors this year (and will be ineligible next year due to age), set personal bests in assists and points (nearly a point per game) this season, and is likely to compete in the Memorial Cup with one of the CHL's top teams again this year, there would seem to be little left to achieve at the Junior level.

While Beaulieu looked good in training camp last year, I'm not suggesting rushing him to the NHL.  I am suggesting beginning his first pro contract in the Fall, however, though - unlike with Kristo - there are no early deadlines that prevent the team from waiting to evaluate him at one of their summer rookie development camps.  Not signing him would be a strange move that would almost certainly delay the Ontarian's path to the big league.

With Beaulieu signed, the 'Dogs defense will undergo a complete overhaul from the current disappointing season, helped by the addition of four high potential young men, two of the offensive variety and two primarily defensive.

Prospect Playoff Update

Apologies to all this site's readers (to whom I'm personally very grateful) for a slow week lacking content. As I Tweeted a couple of times, I was off in the remote region of the Canary Islands for the past 7 days, limiting my computer access.

Soo let's get started! After mentioning today's biggest news of the firing of Pierre Gauthier earlier, the other latest bit is the strong performance of some young Canadiens prospects in their respective post-seasons.

WHL

Patrick Holland and the top-seeded Tri-City Americans swept their opening round against the Everret Silvertips. Holland ranks fourth on the Americans in scoring with a goal and 3 assists, having an incredible 22-game point streak snapped in the third game after he was ejected in the first period for a clipping incident. The match penalty meant he missed the final matchup of the series as well.

Darren Dietz's Saskatoon Blades - an underdog club - were unfortunately swept in the opening round. In 3 games, the blueliner had one assist and finished a -1, a disappointing end to a phenomenal year.

Brendan Gallagher and the Vancouver Giants are locked in quite a battle, with their series against the Spokane Chiefs knotted at 2 games a piece. Gallagher picked up right where he left off in the regular season, notching 4 goals and 9 points over the first 4 games.

OHL

Jarred Tinordi's London Knights are up 3 games to none on the Windsor Spitfires with a chance to close it out tonight. Tinordi is even, with no points and 7 penalty minutes thus far.

QMJHL

Nathan Beaulieu's first place Saint John Sea Dogs swept their opener against Cape Breton, with all four games ending in blowouts. Beaulieu scored 2 goals and added 3 assists while finishing a +9. The Sea Dogs will face surprising Baie-Comeau in the second round.

The Shawinigan Cataractes also swept their first round series. Captain Michael Bournival was somewhat quiet with "just" a goal and 4 helpers to his name, but defenseman Morgan Ellis was on fire with 2 goals and 5 assists (tied for team lead in points).

Olivier Archambault's Drummondville Voltigeurs find themselves down 3 games to none to Quebec. Archambault has 2 assists but is a -4. On the other side, Mikhail Grigorenko is tied for his team's lead with 7 points in games.

NCAA

A disappointing end to the season for Mac Bennett and Greg Pateryn with the University of Michigan, as their year ended with an upset by Union who has since qualified for the Frozen Four. Pateryn completed his NCAA eligibility and was signed to a 2-year deal by the Canadiens, while Bennett can return to school for another season (a likely scenario given the number of new young bodies already joining the pro organization this summer).

Similarly, after beating Western Michigan, Danny Kristo and Mark MacMillan's University of North Dakota was beaten by Minnesota, failing to reach the Final Four this time around. After an assist in the round of 16, Kristo scored a goal in his final game of the season as well, ending a strong season. Kristo could return to college for one more season, but I am hopeful the Canadiens get him under contract to join the Hamilton Bulldogs in the Fall. After an assist against Western Michigan extended freshman MacMillan's scoring streak to 7 games, he was held off the scoresheet in the season finale. He'll look to better his offensive numbers in a bigger role with the Fighting Sioux next season.

That's where they stand as of now, with seemingly a decent shot of having all of Tinordi, Holland, Beaulieu, Ellis, and Bournival participate in this year's Memorial Cup, which could be a great experience for them (and an exciting time for Habs fans). To keep up to date on everything, now that we're back online, keep your eyes tuned to this very site!

Your Canadiens for March 21, 2012

As usual following a couple of days where I was unable to post, here's a recap of the latest buzz from the Habs' realm.

- The Race for the Bottom Heats Up

Your Montreal Canadiens have been a little too hot as of late, collecting points in each of their last 6 games (3-0-3). Fortunately, some of the teams around them have won a few games as well, and so the Habs haven't gained much ground on the teams ahead. Montreal remains 28th overall in the league, but let's hope some losses are to follow, as you can see in the graphic below that there is quite a logjam going all the way up to 22nd position. Toronto, Tampa Bay, and Minnesota are the teams falling the quickest, so it is important to hope they pick up a few points along the way as well.

As for the prizes for the teams that fail hardest, Nail Yakupov was limited to only 42 games this season between the World Juniors and injuries, but still scored 69 points, improving his points-per-game average from 1.55 last season to 1.64. Mikhail Grigorenko finished 8th in QMJHL scoring as a CHL rookie (and 5th in goals with 40), second on his team with 85 points in 59 games. Alex Galchenyuk played only the final two games of the regular season for Sarnia, held off the scoresheet in each. Certainly there will be the eyes of many scouts on him entering the playoffs.

- Bulldogs Sample Three College Players

The Hamilton Bulldogs shuffled up their lineup for the stretch run, releasing two forwards - Joey Haddad and Eric Lampe - from tryout contracts, and signing three others to similar agreements.

Haddad, 23, had interesting size at 6'2", 200 lbs, but managed only a single goal in his 11 games with Hamilton. Lampe, 25, scored two over 13 games.

The three new bodies are Travis Novak, 23, Ryan Flanigan, 23, and Jesse Todd, 25, about whom you can read more in the Bulldogs' official release HERE. None are considered top prospects, so they shouldn't be looked at as much more than roster plugs filling in for injured players in Montreal and Hamilton, but it is still a chance for them to impress and possibly earn an AHL deal for next season if the Canadiens decide more depth is necessary. Flanigan and Novak made their debuts last night, with neither recording a point but the former leading all Dogs' players with 4 shots on goal.

- Injury Updates

When Tomas Kaberle first missed a game last week, it was blamed on the birth of his child. Thus, people became a little skeptical when he didn't quickly re-join the team in the days that followed, with the Habs eventually citing an upper body injury for his absence. Kaberle is one of 6 players to not join the team on their trip to Buffalo for this evening's game.

Raphael Diaz is not expected to return this season. The 26-year old rookie is on schedule in his rehab, but is likely to run out of games remaining before he reaches 100%. Diaz impressed beyond expectations this season, and it will be interesting to see how the Canadiens decide to shape their defense in preparing for next season and where the Swiss native will fit in. He is a capable bottom-pairing player, able to take a shift on a second powerplay unit. If he isn't to play another game this year, his 16 points in 59 games are nothing to scoff at as a starting point.

Similarly, captain Brian Gionta continues to work to get back, but isn't expected to be at 100% before May, meaning his disappointing and frustrating season is at a close. Gionta's 31 games are the fewest he has ever played in an NHL season, while his 15 points are the fewest since his rookie year (11 points in 33 games in 2001-02). He is another case where the Habs' brass will have to consider how he fits into the plan moving forward.

Mathieu Darche continues to skate, though is also not in Buffalo. Travis Moen is expected to resume skating today. A return for either is possible, perhaps even likely for Darche, and with both pending unrestricted free agents this summer, decisions will need to be taken in their cases relatively soon.

Scott Gomez is unlikely to return this season given he remains off-ice with concussion issues. It has been a terribly turbulent season for Gomez who, in addition to his lack of production, has been in and out of the lineup with various different ailments.

- Prospect Report

Joonas Nattinen paced the Hamilton Bulldogs to a 3-1 win yesterday with a goal and an assist. The 21-year old AHL rookie has had a very streaky season, but has scored 7 of his 9 goals on the season in the past 15 games, which hints at a good learning curve and some remaining potential to develop further next year.

CHL playoffs get underway this weekend, which means a wrap on some impressive regular seasons for Canadiens' prospects. With a goal in his final game, Patrick Holland enters the post-seaosn riding a 20-game point streak. He finished his WHL season with 25 goals, 84 assists, and 109 points in 72 games, ranking 6th in league scoring. His Tri-City Americans finished 1st in the Western Conference, meaning a first round matchup against the Everett Silvertips will begin in the coming days.

Brendan Gallagher's Vancouver Giants earned home ice for the first round (also in the WHL's Western Conference) and will face the Spokane Chiefs in the 4th-5th seed matchup. Gallagher finished the season with 41 goals, unable to match last year's 44, but did play 12 fewer games. He hopes for a longer playoff run this season after injury limited his participation to just 4 games last year (in which he still contributed 2 goals).

Finally in the WHL, Darren Dietz and the Saskatoon Blades finished 5th in the East, meaning they will play the Medicine Hat Tigers. Despite being known perhaps more for his rough style of play, Dietz finished 2nd in points amongst Saskatoon defensemen, with 44 points in 72 games.

Over in the OHL, Jarred Tinordi's London Knights finished as the league's top seed, drawing a first round matchup with the Windsor Spitfires. Held off the scoresheet in 6 games last year, Tinordi is still seeking his first OHL playoff point.

In the QMJHL, the two most important clubs for Habs fans are the first and second seeds, and with second seed Shawinigan already assured a Memorial Cup berth as the host, Canadiens fans can hope neither is upset on route to the finals. Nathan Beaulieu's Saint John Sea Dogs won the regular season championship, with Beaulieu finishing 5th on the team in scoring and 12 points ahead of the second most productive d-man. Saint John draws 16th seed Cape Breton in the opener in what should not be a fair fight.

Shawinigan captain Michael Bournival finished the year fourth on his team in scoring due to missed time during the WJC and with injury, but had the top points-per-game average with 56 in 41. Teammate Morgan Ellis was a point-per-game player after being acquired by the Cataractes, ending the year matching Beaulieu with 52 points, the pair tying for 5th in league scoring amongst defensemen. Shawinigan will play the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies in the first round.

In the NCAA, after being held pointless in North Dakota's opening round 2-game sweep of Bemidji State, Danny Kristo scored a goal and 2 assists over a three game set that saw the Fighting Sioux crowned WCHA Final Five Champions. As such, they earned the top seed for this weekend's NCAA West Regionals (#4 nationally) where they will open against Western Michigan. Kristo's numbers are impressive, but he was outshone by rookie teammate and fellow Hab prospect Mark MacMillan, who is currently on a 6-game point streak over which he has accumulated 3 goals and 7 assists.

Greg Pateryn and Mac Bennett's Michigan Wolverines are the top seed in the Midwest Regional meaning they will play Cornell. Michigan was kind enough to post a link to this chart to show how the final 16 schedule plays out:

http://www.ncaa.com/sites/default/files/files/icehockey-men_d1_2011.pdf

Habs Top 10 Prospects - March 2012

With the regular seasons of most Montreal Canadiens prospects either complete or nearly so, it's time to put together an updated ranking of where those in the system stand.

The Top 10 list below was created including only players who have yet to play a game in the NHL. That disqualifies some young players like Louis Leblanc, Blake Geoffrion, Aaron Palushaj, Andreas Engqvist, and Brendon Nash who may have otherwise made the list.

Something still missing from the list is bonafide starpower (at least at the forward position), which is re-emphasizes the need for a high selection this June to draft a big scorer.

To set the stage, here's the list last time I posted one back in July '11:

http://www.yourcanadiens.info/2011/07/top-10-habs-prospects-yet-to-play-in.html

Trending downwards:

There was expectation that Alexander Avtsin would take a big step forward in his second season in North America, but unfortunately the opposite occurred, not even able to replicate last year's 20 AHL points. Avtsin remains under contract, but it wouldn't entirely surprise me to see him loaned to a KHL team for next year. Alain Berger was included on July's list as a wildcard, and his footspeed has meant a difficult adaptation to the AHL level despite a strong rookie camp back in September.

And now for the good news...

Top 10 Hab Prospects Yet to Play in the NHL

HM: Mac Bennett, D - Michigan Wolverines - NCAA

Bennett was number 5 on the previous version of this lost, but to be fair, his fall is really no fault of his own. The 5'11" American defender has set career highs in goals (4), assists (16), points (20), and games played (38), so nothing more could really be asked of him, but he falls in the depth chart because of some outstanding seasons by other members of this list. Bennett has completed two seasons in Michigan, so he is likely to return there taking on an even bigger role next season given the number of players already slated to turn pro and join the Hamilton Bulldogs this summer.

10) Steve Quailer, RW - Northeastern University - NCAA

After missing all of 2009-10 due to injury, Quailer had a disappointing 2010-11, unable to match the production of his rookie year. The 6'4", 200 lbs winger has turned it up a notch this season, flirting with the point-per-game mark throughout the year (currently at 25 points in 26 games). He is a good skater for such a big body, but isn't seen as a defensive forward, meaning he should be a boom-or-bust top 6 winger. Because of the missed season, despite the fact that he'll turn 23 this summer, he still has one year of NCAA eligibility, so the Canadiens might opt to leave him at the collegiate ranks to continue developing.

9) Greg Pateryn, D - Michigan Wolverines - NCAA

Pateryn holds steady at #9 on the list with a season that has regularly earned him his coach's praise. As a college senior, he has developed his all-around game, using his 6'3", 214 lbs frame to dish out big hits and shutdown opposing forwards on a pairing with the more offensive-oriented Mac Bennett. The Canadiens need to sign him once his season is up, but it seems like a no-brainer move and he should be an interesting player to watch as a 22-year old at the AHL level next year.

8) Patrick Holland, RW - Tri-City Americans - WHL

In a vacuum, Holland's numbers this season are certainly eye-catching. He has bested his production of last season by more than 50%, recording 24-goals and 83 assists for 107 points in 70 games. He became the first WHL player since Todd Robinson in 1996-97 to top the 80-assist mark in a single season. Are things too good to be true in the 6'0", 175 lbs winger's case? Unfortunately, there may be a catch. Though Holland is presently riding a ridiculous 18-game point streak over which he has collected 4 goals and 33 assists, he remains only third on his team in scoring, behind both of his linemates, Adam Hughesman and league leader Brendan Shinnimin. In his last two outings, for example, Holland finished a team worst -4 in a 5-4 loss despite recording 2 assists, and collected only one helper in a 5-3 win despite his linemates scoring 3 and 4 points respectively. Of course Holland's production is nothing to scoff at and he deserves congratulations on a great season, but let's wait to see how he handles himself with the Bulldogs next year before proclaiming him an up-and-coming star.

7) Darren Dietz, D - Saskatoon Blades - WHL

The 6'1", 195 lbs defender is looking like an absolute steal as a 5th round selection last June. Dietz was seen as a solid two-way d-man, able to drop the gloves and dish out some nice hits, while also never afraid to jump into the rush. He took his offensive game to another level this season, setting career highs in goals (15), assists (27), and points (42, compared to 27 last year). There is no rush with Dietz who will return for another season in Saskatoon next year (followed by at least one or more in Hamilton), but a strong rookie camp last Fall followed by a good season this year are encouraging signs.

6) Morgan Ellis, D - Shawinigan Cataractes - QJMHL

Ellis has been a revelation for many this year, stepping up in a big way in his final CHL season. Ellis was the captain of the QMJHL bottom-feeding Cape-Breton Screaming Eagles, but was dealt this season to the Memorial Cup hosting Shawinigan Cataractes. Since the deal, the 6'2", 200 lbs d-man has been a point-per-game player, improving to 15 goals and 36 assists for 51 points in 59 games on the season. Ellis is a strong two-way player, with a big frame that he uses to play a physical shutdown role on a top pairing with top prospect Brandon Gormley. Ellis recently signed with the Canadiens and will be a Hamilton Bulldog in the Fall.

5) Danny Kristo, RW - University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux - NCAA
Is this the summer the Canadiens finally get the long-awaited Danny Kristo under contract? We can only hope so, as a fourth season in university is not likely the best path for his development. Talk of off-ice distraction and a seriously scary bout with frostbite derailed the 5'11", 180 lbs winger's 2010-11 season, but he has rebounded in a nice way, topping the point-per-game plateau for the first time in his NCAA career, with 17 goals, 23 assists, and 40 points (each a career high) in 37 games. If the Habs manage to get him under contract once North Dakota's season is done, he may hit the AHL as one of the more NHL-ready prospects given he'll be 22, but fans should remain patient since he'll still need time to adjust to a longer, tougher schedule against bigger and more physical competition. Definitely has top 6 upside, though.

4) Michael Bournival, C - Shawinigan Cataractes - QMJHL

Bournival struggled a bit at this year's WJC due to bad timing with recovering from injury. Though March has been his most difficult month of the season, with just 2 goals and 1 assist in 5 games, the Cataractes' captain has put together an impressive year with 29 goals and 54 points in only 40 games (improving his PPG average from 1.14 last year to 1.35). Bournival is quite average-sized at 6'0", 187 lbs and there are questions about his offensive upside, but he is a very safe prospect, sound defensively and playing a strong cycle game, meaning that even if he doesn't pan out as a top 6 guy, he should have a long career on a third or fourth line.

3) Brendan Gallagher, RW - Vancouver Giants - WHL
Habs fans who don't follow prospects too closely were quickly introduced to Gallagher at last Fall's training camp, where he very nearly earned an audition with the big club, and then reacquainted with him at the World Juniors, where he was among Team Canada's best forwards. The knock on Gallagher, as all are aware, is his size, at 5'8" and 170 lbs. Can a team whose top 6 centers are David Desharnais (5'7", 177 lbs) and Tomas Plekanec (5'11", 198 lbs) plus already has Brian Gionta (5'7", 173 lbs) as a top 6 winger support another miniature-sized scorer? It isn't inconceivable that Gionta is dealt at some point to create a better spot for the young Gallagher, who is likely to start the season with the Bulldogs, unless he severely outplays Louis Leblanc for a third line job in camp and depending on what other moves are made this summer. Like Bournival, Gallagher is also having his slumpiest month of the season, with just 2 goals and 3 assists in 7 games, but he has put together a third consecutive 40-goal WHL campaign, while improving his PPG average from 1.38 to 1.43 (76 in 53 GP). Everyone will be watching closely to see if he can adapt his game to the American League level, with questions surrounding the fact that he plays a hard-nosed, physical, crash-the-net style. Normally this would be a big positive, but at a higher level, given his small frame, if he doesn't change, the punishment he will take may take a toll on his small body quickly.

2) Nathan Beaulieu, D - Saint John Sea Dogs - QMJHL

Though he has yet to be signed, the Canadiens' first round pick last June is eligible to make the leap to the AHL next year already as a late birthday (turning 20 in December). And it would seem that he has nothing left to prove at the junior level, one of only three blueliners at or near the point-per-game level (51 points in 52 games) and tied for fourth overall in Q d-man scoring despite having played far fewer games than everyone above him. Beaulieu showed off his high-risk high-reward game at the WJC, looking impressive in the offensive zone but not earning coach Don Hay's trust defensively. With Saint John, he has shown improvement in his all-around two-way game, and if he adds some muscle to his 6'3", 191 lbs frame, should have no problem handling bigger competition at the next level.

1) Jarred Tinordi, D - London Knights - OHL

There is no guarantee as to who between Tinordi and Beaulieu will end up having the better career, but for his physical readiness and 6'7", 212 lbs frame, I'll hand Tinordi the #1 spot for now. Fortunately, the Canadiens don't have to choose, with two promising youngsters who look like they can play in the team's top 4 on D for years to come. Tinordi modestly bested last season's offensive outputs, scoring 2 goals (up from 1) and 14 assists (up from 13) in 17 fewer games, but more importantly asserted himself as a true leader on and off the ice, being named captain of the OHL's prestigious London Knights. Tinordi plays close to 30 minutes on many nights and is a physical force, taking the body and dropping the gloves with some regularity. He may not bring Zdeno Chara's booming slapshot to the table, but he also brings many elements that a softer Hal Gill never has and thus after turning pro this coming Fall, it may not be long before Hab fans get their first peek at him in a CH jersey.