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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 3, 2009 16:17:17 GMT -5
The camp starts on Monday and will be the biggest ever, with 40 prospects checking in overnin Brossard. All eight guys from this year's draft will be here, as will a total of 24 draft picks from over the years, and some of the younger guys in the system. Forwards: Avtsin, Cichy, Conboy, Desharnais, Dumont, Fortier, Johansson, Johnson, Kristo, Leblanc, Masse, Maxwell, Nattinen, Pacioretty, Pyatt, Quailer, Russell, Trotter, Walsh, White, Wyman Defensemen: Bennett, Busto, Carle, Fischer, Kishel, Pateryn, Stejskal, Subban, Weber Tenders: Mayer, Missiaen, Simila There are seven tryouts this year: Hunter Bishop (F Ohio State) - Good skating scorer, 22 year old from Alaska Erik Boisvert (F Sacred Heart) - Small 23 year old Quebecer playing in the NCAA Philippe Lefebvre (F Drummondville) - a surprise to not get drafted last month Michael Testwuide (F Colorado College) - 22 year old, back from last year, a big body Brendon Nash (D Cornell) - 22 year old, brother of Riley (EDM first rounder), plays at OB's old school, good skating, good sized two way defender (I liked this kid during his draft year - he looked like he could be a player) Gabriel Girard (G Shawinigan) - undersized goalie from the Q, put up really good numbers this year - he should look like a midget besides those 6'8" and 6'6' twin towers Joseph Quattrochi (G Smith Falls CJHL) - A junior A goalie from the Ottawa Valley who was at the camp last year too as a 17 year old (who knows why) canadiens.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=433430 |
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Post by bladesofsteel on Jul 3, 2009 17:45:41 GMT -5
Can't wait to see how Pyatt measures up to someone like Pacioretty. I actually really like this kid, reminds me a lot of Ryder. I think he's due for a breakout year with the Bulldogs...seems to have the earmarks of a 20 goal 3rd liner.
It's a shame the Habs couldn't have attracted Goulet or Hlinka to the camp this summer. Avtsyn probably will be a no-show but it's going to be exciting to see what Subban and Weber can do at camp!
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 3, 2009 18:12:30 GMT -5
Can't wait to see how Pyatt measures up to someone like Pacioretty. I actually really like this kid, reminds me a lot of Ryder. I think he's due for a breakout year with the Bulldogs...seems to have the earmarks of a 20 goal 3rd liner. It's a shame the Habs couldn't have attracted Goulet or Hlinka to the camp this summer. Avtsyn probably will be a no-show but it's going to be exciting to see what Subban and Weber can do at camp! I think Pyatt will have a really good year in Hamilton. He is a hard working guy that should thrive under the demanding eye of Coach Boucher. It is actually refreshing to see Avtsyn showing up along with the two Finns also drafted this year. Lots of frequent flyer points for Avtsyn after being at the combine, the actual draft, and now this development camp. A little disappointed to not see Trunev on that list though. He did not come over last year either. As for tryouts, I am glad they invited Lefebvre but I thought they would also invite Lemieux who somehow was not drafted either. I hope they Nash a really good look. His coach in Cornell has some pretty high praise for his overall game. I want to see that defensive prospect depth built back up again. |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 3, 2009 18:25:11 GMT -5
Well, well, well...our big Finnish goalie prospect will be playing the CHL next season for Niagara. He was selected in the import draft earlier this week, quite to my surprise. That usually means teams are somewhat confident they will get the kid to come over. Here is the news first hand a nice little writeup on him too. Sounds like an interesting prospect. www.niagarafallsreview.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1639732 |
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Post by cigarviper on Jul 3, 2009 21:41:57 GMT -5
Well, well, well...our big Finnish goalie prospect will be playing the CHL next season for Niagara. He was selected in the import draft earlier this week, quite to my surprise. That usually means teams are somewhat confident they will get the kid to come over. Here is the news first hand a nice little writeup on him too. Sounds like an interesting prospect. www.niagarafallsreview.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1639732That's great news. Mentally tough. He'll need to be. |
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Post by habsask on Jul 4, 2009 5:52:22 GMT -5
Interesting to see Paciorety there. A message to him that he'd better not get comfortable and assume too much.
I wonder how many of the 40 have a serious chance of making an impression?
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Post by bladesofsteel on Jul 4, 2009 6:25:29 GMT -5
Interesting to see Paciorety there. A message to him that he'd better not get comfortable and assume too much. I wonder how many of the 40 have a serious chance of making an impression? It probably has more to do with seeing how the defence handles Pacioretty, and how the other forwards compare to him. But don't tell Max that. |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 4, 2009 7:50:19 GMT -5
Interesting to see Paciorety there. A message to him that he'd better not get comfortable and assume too much. I wonder how many of the 40 have a serious chance of making an impression? In the spring of 2008 he was still playing his freshman year of NCAA hockey and in the spring of 2007 he was still in juniors...so he is still young and likely can still learn. I also agree with blades, they need to have a few benchmark players too. The group includes a bunch of 18 year olds up to Johansson at 24, so still the core of youth that should all develop and grow together. It is good to see guys like Patches and Weber there who have had their first cup of coffee in the bigs to also put things into perspective for the other kids...and also not get too far ahead of themselves too. On that front, a special development camp for kids like Price and Sergei might be in order too...apparently they could still afford to learn a thing or two. |
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Post by BadCompany on Jul 4, 2009 8:32:34 GMT -5
Well, well, well...our big Finnish goalie prospect will be playing the CHL next season for Niagara. He was selected in the import draft earlier this week, quite to my surprise. That usually means teams are somewhat confident they will get the kid to come over. Here is the news first hand a nice little writeup on him too. Sounds like an interesting prospect. www.niagarafallsreview.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1639732Wasn't the, uh, big thing about this kid the fact that he was supposed to be coached by some Finnish guru? Coached Pekka Rinne and all that? |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 4, 2009 9:36:41 GMT -5
Well, well, well...our big Finnish goalie prospect will be playing the CHL next season for Niagara. He was selected in the import draft earlier this week, quite to my surprise. That usually means teams are somewhat confident they will get the kid to come over. Here is the news first hand a nice little writeup on him too. Sounds like an interesting prospect. www.niagarafallsreview.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1639732Wasn't the, uh, big thing about this kid the fact that he was supposed to be coached by some Finnish guru? Coached Pekka Rinne and all that? That was what Timmins went on about when he talked about this kid. Now I guess he will have to trade in the guru for some schmuck from the OHL. I guess the good side of this is our goalie coach (whomever that will be) will have a lot more access to him next season. |
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Post by CrocRob on Jul 4, 2009 14:40:01 GMT -5
I would be surprised to see Simila play in Niagara. Lots of OHL teams draft foreigners just because they were drafted in the NHL, and thus might come over. Trunev was drafted last year.
There's nothing to indicate that the CHL is even a better breeding ground for goaltenders, either.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 4, 2009 15:02:13 GMT -5
I would be surprised to see Simila play in Niagara. Lots of OHL teams draft foreigners just because they were drafted in the NHL, and thus might come over. Trunev was drafted last year. There's nothing to indicate that the CHL is even a better breeding ground for goaltenders, either. That article from the local paper talks about him coming back in the fall to report to the Ice Dogs camp. Seems like there were talks between his agent and the Ice Dogs before they picked him. However, as you note, it does not always happen as planned. Avtsyn was selected by the Remparts and won't be over this season. As far as Simila's development goes, I would think working in Finland with a top notch goalie coach would be better in the long term. Finland does produce some high calibre goalies. Although with Niagara's #1 goalie turning pro, they do need a starting goalie so the big Finn would get lots of starts and playing time. Six of one, half a dozen... |
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Post by Cranky on Jul 6, 2009 11:08:16 GMT -5
Interesting to see Paciorety there. A message to him that he'd better not get comfortable and assume too much. I wonder how many of the 40 have a serious chance of making an impression? It probably has more to do with seeing how the defence handles Pacioretty, and how the other forwards compare to him. But don't tell Max that. If I was the coach, I'd tell Patches to level everyone he sees. Something about trial by fire that can't be beat..... |
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Post by Doc Holliday on Jul 6, 2009 16:39:56 GMT -5
It probably has more to do with seeing how the defence handles Pacioretty, and how the other forwards compare to him. But don't tell Max that. If I was the coach, I'd tell Patches to level everyone he sees. Something about trial by fire that can't be beat..... If I was the coach, I wish I didn't have tell him that. He HAS TO be a cut everyone else offensively, dominate physically but at the sime time he sure doesn't have to go head hunting as he won't make a name for himself by bullying juinors. |
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Post by seventeen on Jul 7, 2009 0:41:31 GMT -5
I liked a lot about Pacioretty's game last year and if he was indeed playing with a sore knee, that impresses me even more. I think he's going to be our stud...our 40-50 goal power forward.
PS. Not this year, but maybe next. It suddenly occurred to me I'd get thumped for making that prediction for this year....I might even for next year. Go ahead, hit me with your best shot. Fire away.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 7, 2009 19:05:39 GMT -5
I liked a lot about Pacioretty's game last year and if he was indeed playing with a sore knee, that impresses me even more. I think he's going to be our stud...our 40-50 goal power forward. PS. Not this year, but maybe next. It suddenly occurred to me I'd get thumped for making that prediction for this year....I might even for next year. Go ahead, hit me with your best shot. Fire away. Hernia too, as he had it operating on in the off season. |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 7, 2009 19:07:09 GMT -5
A report on today's skating and shooting drills from Seb over at HF:
Today we tried to follow more players.
Fun fact about today's training is that Busto spent the entire time with the skating crew. I guess they didn't like what they saw yesterday as well hahaha!
From today's skating trainings, I'd rate the best skaters in this order :
Subban
Maxwell
Fischer
Carle
Wyman
* didn't include the younger ones, but Bennett and Avtsin would be in the list too.
Fortier and Deharnais' skating were average.
As for the shooting part, I was impressed with Boisvert's shot. good wrister.
I wasn't impressed with Kristo's wrister, neither was Jee, but Chomsky and kostitsyn1489 liked it... he sure has good hands tho!
Leblanc's slapshots were funny, they were so damn wide! Dunno what happened, but he was far from being the best.
Bennett is one that grew on me today. He's fast and has a nice slapshot. He's someone I'll be looking for in the years to come.
Trotter was missing today.
Nattinen didn't impress me. His shots were ok, always glove side. Skating was ok too.
Nash did well, I could see the habs giving him a contract for the Hamilton Bulldogs.
Pyatt did well too.
Didn't really notice Engqvist, Johnsson, Johansson, Bishop, Testwuide.
That's about it.
I won't be going tomorrow
And limelight:
Engqvist was on the ice today.
Avtsin was on the ice today as well, he was in the same group as Subban and the others.
Subban looks like he having a ball on the ice today. Wherever he is on the ice, something is going on. Whether it be Subban giving high fives to Missiaen or teasing Weber or going one on one with Kristo. He's definitely the center of attention.
Stejskal stood out in his group... or it could be because the other defensemen in his group where having problems receiving and giving out a pass....
Was really disappointed to see that Pacioretty wasn't on the ice at all today.
I was expecting a lot more people to show up.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 7, 2009 19:15:16 GMT -5
The Engqvist that is referred to in the posts is one Andreas Engqvist is a 21 year old 6'3" two way centreman currently playing in the SEL in Sweden. The Habs brought him over unannounced and he joined the development camp today. Not sure if they have offered him a contract yet or are looking at him at the camp first. www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=6626&lang=enTimmins did say he spent more time in Sweden last year than in any other year due to all the good prospects in this past draft. Lo and behold, we suddenly sign a 24 year old free agent in Johansson earlier this summer and then invite a 21 year old Engqvist over to camp. Funny things happen when you scout a country a lot heavier. Not sure if either will develop into anything, but I am always a fan of finding these free agents and taking a chance on them. They do not cost you anything more than one of your 50 contracts. No roster players, no draft picks. Hope the Habs do more of this, although it is increasingly harder to find guys as all these leagues are so heavily scouted these days. |
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Post by CrocRob on Jul 7, 2009 22:28:16 GMT -5
Seb, Jee, Chomsky and kostitsyn1489 are all regulars in the IRC channel (#hfhabs on vbirc.com) I created a couple years ago. They're all good guys and each has a pretty keen hockey eye and are all very good at not basing their opinions on previous judgements. kostitsyn1489 is a pretty avid follower of our prospects. I trust his word implicitly on prospect matters as he and the poster named thief50 (also a regular in my channel) see as many if not more prospect games as you do NWT. thief50 runs the site habsprospects.hockeyhq.net which has photos and game-by-game stats for each of our prospects usually within hours of completion. Seb and Jee run the website www.lazoneneutre.com - a French Habs website aimed at delivering even-tempered news and not being sensationalist like the Montreal media. I figure they deserve a plug if we're using their material.  I don't go to HF anymore, but I'm glad they're still good posters in the mayhem that is that community. |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 7, 2009 23:51:19 GMT -5
Seb, Jee, Chomsky and kostitsyn1489 are all regulars in the IRC channel (#hfhabs on vbirc.com) I created a couple years ago. They're all good guys and each has a pretty keen hockey eye and are all very good at not basing their opinions on previous judgements. kostitsyn1489 is a pretty avid follower of our prospects. I trust his word implicitly on prospect matters as he and the poster named thief50 (also a regular in my channel) see as many if not more prospect games as you do NWT. thief50 runs the site habsprospects.hockeyhq.net which has photos and game-by-game stats for each of our prospects usually within hours of completion. Seb and Jee run the website www.lazoneneutre.com - a French Habs website aimed at delivering even-tempered news and not being sensationalist like the Montreal media. I figure they deserve a plug if we're using their material. I don't go to HF anymore, but I'm glad they're still good posters in the mayhem that is that community. Sorting through the volumes of noise to find a few hidden gems is a lesson in patience...or a lesson to focus one's attention!! |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 9, 2009 20:45:17 GMT -5
RDS.ca video zone has three archived stories on the Development camp so far. The latest, from today is about young Russian hopeful Alexander Avstin (Avtsyn), yesterday's is about Quebecer Gabriel Dumont and the earliest story is about which of the trio of prospects could fill the 7th D spot in Montreal this fall (Subban, Weber or Carle). If you follow this link, all the camp videos can be found by clicking on the "canadien" link on the menu on the left. www.rds.ca/video/visionneuse.html?category=&video= |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 9, 2009 20:57:14 GMT -5
A sneak peek at 18 year old Russian Alexander Avtsin (Avtsyn) from the camp - posted on You Tube. There are a number of videos from the camp, but they are all of skating and shooting drills because that is the basis of the camp. They will have a scrimmage on Saturday though, so Brossard should be rocking. www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIaB5tpJAZwEDIT: For those of the keen eye society, you may notice two different players in this video. The tall right handed #92 is in fact Avtsyn and the big left handed #82 is Andrew Conboy - he is less agile, quick and good with the puck in the drills - although he looks to be rounding into a hockey player. |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 9, 2009 21:04:31 GMT -5
Andreas Engqvist is the 21 year old tall centreman from Djurgarden who was a late addition to camp. Word is he and his agent are over checking out the city and the team. He is still under contract in the SEL, but might be able to come over after next season. Here is a little compilation I found of him, he is #21 and is the tall right handed player in the various clips. Pretty good for a young kid in the Elite league. www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXyFDSshJbc |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 9, 2009 21:11:53 GMT -5
A little more information on Engqvist from Marc Antoine Godin of Lapresse (he posted this over on another board this afternoon):
Engqvist has not signed witht the team. Officially, he's here on an "exchange program" involving the Habs and some Swedish teams. He was brought here to test the waters.
The guy is still under contract with Djurgardens, but there are negociations going on with the Canadiens.
His status has put him in an uncomfortable situation. You can tell he doesn't want to elaborate about his plans...
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 9, 2009 22:53:03 GMT -5
From the Habs official website, here is their first prospects profile/article from the Development camp. It is a feature on Mac Bennett, the only Dman taken last month by TT and his crew. canadiens.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=436604The reports from the camp on this kid is that he is a great skater and has a good slapper. His game is all about skating, and that has been noticed by those lucky enough to attend the camp in person and provide some feedback and reports on what they are seeing. |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 9, 2009 23:05:28 GMT -5
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Post by seventeen on Jul 10, 2009 1:45:58 GMT -5
Thanks NWT. Lots of good info.
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Post by ValkyrieNS on Jul 10, 2009 5:58:44 GMT -5
Nice pics she got... I so live in the wrong city ;D I'm hoping PK gets a spot this year, he impressed me during the Juniors. |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 10, 2009 9:45:43 GMT -5
A piece today in La Presse from MA Godin on David Fischer. His skating and size has impressed folks watching the Development Camp. The big question (other than will he turn pro this fall) is has his shot improved, because the pace of his slapshot was one of his perennial weaknesses. Read on MacDuff and ye shall find out... www.cyberpresse.ca/sports/hockey/200907/09/01-882857-fischer-il-ny-a-plus-dexcuse.phpThe indication in the article is that on the topic of returning for his senior year versus going to Hamilton, he seems to be favouring returning to the Twin Cities because of his loyalty to his teammates and also to be close to his mom who is battling cancer. I know that TT was planning on sitting down with him at the end of camp and going over all the pros and cons with him. He is only 21 and seems to have got his head screwed on right these days. He even admits that he has been a little slack on his training and his focus in the past, and is now bearing down to take control back. I think this man has grown up a bunch since we last saw or heard from him. This kid is far from the bust that some have already tagged him. This kid has skating, hockey sense and now a much more NHL-ready size (he gained 15 pounds this last year and now tops 200 lbs). |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 10, 2009 9:47:48 GMT -5
Nice pics she got... I so live in the wrong city ;D I'm hoping PK gets a spot this year, he impressed me during the Juniors. I live in the wrong city too...the Oilers camp just finished up here yesterday...wishing it was the Habs camp instead. I am sure the hordes of Oiler fans here have quite a different opinion though!! |
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