Hamilton - next year

[Bob]

With several younger players knocking on the door the Hamilton lineup should continue to be filled with top grade prospects next year.

I am assuming that Montreal will take the same approach as this year with several of the players continue to earn their stripes with the Bulldogs at the beginning of the year. With that in mind, here is what Hamilton could look like next year.

G - Damphousse, Michaud

LD - J-P Cote, Ryan Glenn, Matt Shasby

RD - Andrew Archer, Mark Flood, ?

C- Chris Higgins, Cory Urquhart, Corey Locke, ?

LW - Marcel Hossa, Michael Lambert, Andrei Kastsitsyn, ?

RW - Alex Perezhogin, Duncan Milroy, Jonathan Ferland, ?

Depth players

Philippe Plante, Ben Carpentier, Gord Dwyer

Candidates for Montreal

Jozef Balej, Francois Beauchemin, Ron Hainsey

Probably not in the future

Karl Dykhuis, Patrick Traverse, Sylvain Blouin, Eric Fichaud

Under this scenario, the team could use a little more experience on defence and some depth on the forward lines. But the top lines look like there is a lot of skill.

Comments??

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

Benoit Gratton will likely be back to continue helping the younger guys sharpen their game sufficiently for NHL call-up. The Gratton line has already graduated Ward and Dagenais, with Balej looking about ready to receive his certification.

[NWTHabsFan]

Plekanec should also be in that candidate for Montreal category. I would imagine that his chances are better than Beauchy's again, due to the depth in defence with the Habs and with their top tier D prospects like Komo and Hainsey.

I would also like to see management go after signing Buturlin from the RSL, as he is now 22 and really playing well on a top line in the RSL. It would be interesting to see what he can bring to the table in NA style hockey. From his reports he plays a more physical game than Perezhogin, and is a few years older, so the transition may be a bit smoother.

I agree with El Clowno that it is likely that Gratton is back as the leader of the pack down in Steeltown.

On the RD front, I know they gave that big kid from PEI a good look, but he likely lost out due to depth. Supposedly the reports were very good about his performance at the rookie camp and tourney, so he may get another look again next season.

There are also possibilities of ECHL players like Marois or Larrivee getting a look, as well as possible CHL grads like Deveaux out of Owen Sound possibly getting the contract as well.

[BadCompany]

I'd actually resign Dykhuis. Assuming he wants to be resigned to an AHL contract, of course. He seems to be a leader down there, and having a veteran or two around is never a bad idea.

It will also be very interesting to see if Kastitsyin is signed in the summer. Personally, I would be very surprised if he is. Currently the agreement with the Russian Hockey Federation has run out (or is about to run out) and given the nasty bit of business with Nikolai Zherdev this fall, and with Alexander Svitov and Stanislav Chistov before that, a new deal may be very difficult to work out. That could compound matters. Its easy enough to say "well, just bring them over" but this is Russia we are talking about, and as Svitov and Chistov found out, and as Zherdev found out, they aren't all that adverse to throwing hockey players in jail when they try to leave the country.

Also, with the CBA expiring, one of the clauses to be re-negotiated will be the rookie salary cap. Will Gainey take a chance and sign Kastitsyin to the the current rookie max, as Hainsey, Hossa, Komisarek and Higgins were all signed, or does he gamble, and see what the new CBA means for rookies? I think he'll wait, before committing himself to a contract that may or may not be a hinderance in the post-strike/lockout NHL.

In a related vein, it will be interesting to see what happens to the AHL, with an NHL strike. Will they play? Will NHL teams demote all their non-waiver eligible players to the AHL, just to make sure they get some playing time next season? Will those players report, or will they stick with their union in a work stoppage? Will their union let them play? Lots of questions...

[blaise]

No Tomas Plekanec?

[Bob]

Blaise said:

No Tomas Plekanec?

I knew I would forget someone... why did it have to be the guy I would most like to see in Montreal next year

[Rimmer]

BadCompany said:

It will also be very interesting to see if Kastitsyin is signed in the summer. Personally, I would be very surprised if he is. Currently the agreement with the Russian Hockey Federation has run out (or is about to run out) and given the nasty bit of business with Nikolai Zherdev this fall, and with Alexander Svitov and Stanislav Chistov before that, a new deal may be very difficult to work out. That could compound matters. Its easy enough to say "well, just bring them over" but this is Russia we are talking about, and as Svitov and Chistov found out, and as Zherdev found out, they aren't all that adverse to throwing hockey players in jail when they try to leave the country.

I'm not sure if you can compare the situations of those 3 to that of Kastitsyn. those three had problems because of their military obligations (same thing with Finns, I believe) which really depend on the good will of their club's owners, hockey association and government and military officials. Zherdev claimed that he's not obligated to military service because he's ukranian even though he took the russian citizenship and playe for their national team. the russians contested that and that's what the whole mess was about.

as we all know, Kastitsyn is from Belarus and I really have no idea what is the situation in his country re military service. OTOH, if he is brought over to NHL, his club is due for compensation according to the agreement between the NHL and IIHF. since that agreement expires at the end of season, we might actually see more players trying to take the advantage of the situation and come to North America without the approval of their european clubs. and, as we've already witnessed, NHL officials and owners/GMs wouldn't have a problem with that.

R.

[habruti]

I am confident that that Hainsey and Belej will make the team next year. I am also confident that one of Higgins or Plekanek would also make te team assuming that JJ's contract is not resigned unless they get traded for a right handed Dmen which is also another possibility.

IMO I would see Ucquart get a contract next year. I also see Gratton being assigned there. as far as a potential lineup....

1. Hossa, Plekanek, Perezhogin (Hossa is due to rebound)
2. Kastsitsyn, Higgins, Milroy
3. Gratton, Ucquart, Ferland

Would be a potential top three line and the likelyhood is that one of Higgins/Hossa/Plekanek/Perezhogin might also make the team.

For the others, I am very confident that we will see Balej in NTL next year with potentially the same impact that Ryder provided this year...

[Bob]

NWTHabsFan said:

Plekanec should also be in that candidate for Montreal category. I would imagine that his chances are better than Beauchy's again, due to the depth in defence with the Habs and with their top tier D prospects like Komo and Hainsey.

I would also like to see management go after signing Buturlin from the RSL, as he is now 22 and really playing well on a top line in the RSL. It would be interesting to see what he can bring to the table in NA style hockey. From his reports he plays a more physical game than Perezhogin, and is a few years older, so the transition may be a bit smoother.

I agree with El Clowno that it is likely that Gratton is back as the leader of the pack down in Steeltown.

On the RD front, I know they gave that big kid from PEI a good look, but he likely lost out due to depth. Supposedly the reports were very good about his performance at the rookie camp and tourney, so he may get another look again next season.

There are also possibilities of ECHL players like Marois or Larrivee getting a look, as well as possible CHL grads like Deveaux out of Owen Sound possibly getting the contract as well.

I apologize again for missing Plekanec.

Buturlin would be a great addition. A two way player who, judging from his penalty minutes, might also provide some grit.

As much as I would like to see Gratton get his shot in the NHL, I agree that he might be doomed to an AHL career. Buy what a great mentor he would be.

Brent MacLellan might be the extra RD that the team would be looking for and at 6'4 225 he certainly has the size. Evan Shaw of the Quebec Remparts also had a look see at camp. Although he shoots left, it looks like he plays an aggressive game.

I don't see Larivee or Marois making it out of the ECHL this year and if Gratton returns to the Dogs, Deveaux looks like he would be heading for the ECHL as well, assuming that he is even offered a contract.

If Gainey and company could add one or two key free agent signings out of the US College ranks, Hamilton would have unbelievable depth at the prospect level even with four or five key players (PLEKANEC, Balej, Hainsey, Beauchemin and ??) not returning.

And I'm not even counting on Korneev or other Europeans who could probably play in Hamilton but help the contract situation by remaining in their own leagues.

[NWTHabsFan]

Bob said:

I don't see Larivee or Marois making it out of the ECHL this year and if Gratton returns to the Dogs, Deveaux looks like he would be heading for the ECHL as well, assuming that he is even offered a contract.

I only considered these guys as AHL "filler" players at best, which brings me to my next point that we haven't really bounced here yet. Will the Habs keep their deal with Tampa up next year to supply up to 4 players? I know that Gainey signed the deal on the condition that only certain players were sent to Hamilton (basically, the cream of their crop). I wonder if this agreement extends into next season as well, as that might fill out the roster next season.

[NWTHabsFan]

habruti said:

IMO I would see Ucquart get a contract next year.

It wouldn't be a total surprise to see both Urquhart and Lambert getting signed from PEI to Hamilton. They have some real chemistry going down there this season, playing on the all Habs line. In addition, Lambert seems to be answering some of his critics by becoming a much better offensive player. What remains to be seen is how his work ethic has improved. But where better than under Jarvis' reigns to further improve that element of the game.

[Bob]

I think we have one more year to offer Urquhart a contract and that Lambert must be offered one this year or he becomes a FA.

Could someone clarify this?

[NWTHabsFan]

Bob said:

I think we have one more year to offer Urquhart a contract and that Lambert must be offered one this year or he becomes a FA.

Could someone clarify this?

Lambert and Deveaux have to be signed by June 2004 (they are the last of the CHL draftees from the class of 2002 as Ferland has already been signed). Urquhart, Lapierre, Flood, Locke, Stewart and Bonneau have to be signed by June 2005.

[HabbaDasher]

Korpikari?
Korneev?
Linhart?
Lapierre?

[montreal]

Some points I want to make.

Dykhuis is under contract for next year at 1.6M unless I am mistaken.

Blouin, Traverse, Thinel, Damphousse, Michaud, Marois, Gratton, Plante, Dwyer, Cote are al RFA's. Blouin I hope is gone, same for Traverse (but with the lack of depth at defense as of now, we'll see).

Thinel is 3rd on his team in scoring and 2nd is assists, so he may get a shot at Hamilton next year.

Damphousse has picked it up lately, so I fully expect him to be back (but he will have to be exposed in the waiver wires)

Michaud should certainly be signed, either ECHL or AHL (if he stays up, it will be AHL)

Marios has cooled off lately, 50-50 shot of him being resigned, imo. I wouldn't mind bringing him back.

Gratton will be resigned if we can keep him. He may feel he has a better shot else where (Pitt maybe?) but I hope he's back.

Plante I don't really have an opinion on. I'd rather he be on the team then Traverse though.


Dwyer I think will be brought back, Jarvis seems to like him.

Cote I hope is signed by the Habs.

Fichaud will be a UFA, not sure what they will do with him.

Carpentier is an upgrade over Blouin. I think he's a Hamilton RFA, like Cote.


As for new guys. Deveaux and Lambert must be signed by June 1st. Lambert is coming off a strong year, and I expect him to be signed, if not he reenters the '04 draft. Deveaux is more of a project, but has good size even though he doesn't use it often. Very good on face-offs and when he gets going he's hard to stop. (Owen Sound game is on this Saturday at 2 pm, sportsnet i think)

Urquhart and Locke should be signed for Hamilton. Maclellan won't be back most likely since he left the team. They wanted to send him to the ECHL, so he left and went back to PEI. This is what I heard from people that know Brett, but we'll see. He's been shaky this year as a 20 year old.

Mark Flood could be signed, I have no idea if they will or not, or let him go back to the Petes.

Glenn and Selig dont have to be signed, but I would think that Glenn gets a shot. Selig is injured and pointless this year after 2 poor seasons in a row in hockeyeast.

Shasby I hope makes the Dogs, I've heard a lot of good things about his game in Columbus. Larrivee could get a shot, but he's really struggled in his own end at times (I've listened to a few games on the radio)

Eneqvist, Korneev, Puurula, Buturlin are guys I think may be interest in bringing over (not all of them)

[seventeen]

I think Gainey and CJ are going to have that most marvellous of dilemmas by next January. Too many good young players, all ready for the NHL. I would be very surprised if Hainsey, Plekanec, Higgins, Perezhogin and Balej are not ready for prime time by next January. That means either we have to drop a number of players, or they have to be packaged into deals (my preferred method). That's 5 guys who are talented enough. If they have the courage and confidence, they'll push existing players out of the way. And I wouldn't be totally surprised if Kastsitsyn was a training camp surprise and forced his way on the team. Lots of questions with that name, but I have a good feeling about him. Decisions, decisions.