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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jun 3, 2011 9:28:10 GMT -5
This will be the second straight year where the Habs split their summer development camp into two sessions. The first is for guys under contract, drafted, or try outs. The second, likely in early July, will incorporate the kids that are drafted in late June at the entry draft with a few others sprinkled in for good measure. Of note are the 9 try outs. Four tryouts are on defense and a whopping five are goalies. Quite happy to see 21 year old goalie Aaron Dell at camp. There were rumours at the end of the season that the Habs had offered him a contract, but he then decided to return to his NCAA team. He had a superb year at North Dakota and is a graduate of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL), my resident Junior A league. I did see him play two years ago, but cannot remember a thing about him. canadiens.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=564595&navid=DL|MTL|homecanadiens.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=564594 |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jun 10, 2011 11:12:22 GMT -5
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jun 10, 2011 11:15:35 GMT -5
A report from WTFpineapple from HF:
Avtsin: Easily the best player at camp. Strong on his feet, uses his frame to protect the puck. Possesses a good wrist shot along with a quick release, didn't use his slap shot though. Did not seem to be your typical Russian. Skated hard, went into the corners, played hard along the boards.
Berger: Big player. Didn't see him much, but I liked what I saw. Good shot. Fluid skater for a 6'4 player
Bournival: Disappointed to be honest. Looked invisible. Literally. Nothing worthwhile to note.
Dame-Malka: Looked small out there, the 5'10 given on the development camp roster might have been generous. Showed solid offensive abilities along with a good shot. He's one player I'd like to see more of, perhaps at the next camp in July.
Gallagher: Probably has been said many times but Gallagher is one tough cookie. Never one to back down, drives to the net often and hard. In comparison to others who may have appeared nonchalant, Gallagher is always active, always looking for open space. Possesses a precise shot along with a quick release which he puts to good use by putting the puck in the net.
Kristo: In comparison to previous years, looked much stronger on his skates. Really looks like he put in some solid work at the gym. Even with the extra weight/muscle, did not seem to lose those quick feet of his. I like what he brings offensively. Displays strong offensive awareness. Yesterday, made the little plays right. Hope to see him dominate the NCAA this upcoming season.
Schultz: I really hope I'm wrong, but I don't see him making the big club. Still not much of a strong skater. Was found on his butt quite a few times but do not know if it's for a lack of balance or just his luck yesterday. Shot was terribly inconsistent: capable of a laser beam top corner once in a while but most of the time terribly weak and off the mark. I know he wasn't brought in for his finesse, but you'd at least want to see him bring something else to the table other than his physical play.
Tinordi: One of the solid defensemen at the camp. His huge frame (6'6) literally makes him a man among boys. Not afraid to be physical along the boards and easily scoops the puck away from opposing forwards, who end up butts on the ice. Showed defensive awareness. Offensively, however, again, don't expect him to have the same impact. It's just not him. I don't know if it was only for yesterday, but Tinordi lacked good decision making with the puck, overthinking the play and then ending fumbling the puck or forcing a pass, when he had simpler options available.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jun 10, 2011 11:21:45 GMT -5
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Post by Boston_Habs on Jun 10, 2011 12:29:26 GMT -5
Great stuff, NWT. Thanks.
Always fun to follow the development of the prospects. I'm looking for a healthy and dominant year from Danny Kristo at North Dakota. He came on in the second half of the season, but then had that bizarre frostbite incident that ended his year early. This will be his 3rd year in the NCAA, so he needs to assert his game.
Really interesting to read about Avtsin. He looked like an interesting prospect when he came over but had a quiet year in Hamilton. The first season in NA is always a big adjustment.
Tinordi still looks like a project.
Leblanc needs to get healthy, but I think he should be a solid player in Hamilton right away. He's quick enough and isn't afraid of a physical game.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jun 10, 2011 14:11:01 GMT -5
Great stuff, NWT. Thanks. Always fun to follow the development of the prospects. I'm looking for a healthy and dominant year from Danny Kristo at North Dakota. He came on in the second half of the season, but then had that bizarre frostbite incident that ended his year early. This will be his 3rd year in the NCAA, so he needs to assert his game. Really interesting to read about Avtsin. He looked like an interesting prospect when he came over but had a quiet year in Hamilton. The first season in NA is always a big adjustment. Tinordi still looks like a project. Leblanc needs to get healthy, but I think he should be a solid player in Hamilton right away. He's quick enough and isn't afraid of a physical game. Yeah, I am really intrigued by Avtsin. He has the size, speed and skillset to be one of our top potential prospects, but he definitely was not over-worked in Hamilton in his first year as a 19 year old. Then again, neither was AK at the same age and in the same situation. I saw a few reports that he seemed a lot more at ease at camp this year. Last year, with obvious language and culture shock challenges, he tended to be by himself for the most part. This year he was joking around with his Bulldog teammates and a lot more at ease. If the Two Randies can continue to work on his game without the puck and in his own end, then I think his development will stay on a decent track. He should get more ice time next season with the departure of a big part of the team's top six forwards. Tinordi to me is still growing into his body and is just adjusting to the rigours of a longer season. I saw a few games on TV last season and saw all the raw materials for him to be a big, tough, and mobile defender. The kind that teams hope to get to make their team tougher to play against. Not all of them turn out, but he seems to have the desire, leadership and good pedigree to help him along. He was just named this week to the US WJC summer development camp as well. That would be a major goal for him, as he was the team captain of the U-18 team before. Not sure how his "so-so" season in London will affect his credentials with USA Hockey, but he seems to have had a good camp in Brossard this past week. A longer term project for sure, but just wait until he puts on some more adult beef on that frame. Kristo had an interview with MA Godin of LaPresse at the camp and said his intent was to return to North Dakota and be dominant at the NCAA level before he signs a contract and turns pro. He also liked the fact that the team will head into next season as one of the early favourites to return to the Frozen Four. He had a roller coaster season, and was really struggling to put up points early on in the season, but managed to get things on track in the second half before the Frozen Toes episode. He did return and was decent enough in his playoff run that ended a bit short at the Frozen Four. He has been working out and also working on his game in his own end, two things that were lacking a bit earlier on. As for Leblanc, too bad about the current injury but here is hoping that his recovery is good enough that he does come in next season healthy and ready to go not too long into the season. With Dawes and Boyd gone, LL has the chance to step in and be a key contributor to Hamilton right away. He too needs to strengthen up to face the rigours of pro hockey, and I am sure he will get time during his long rehabilitation. The kid is not short of competitive juices, and has decent two way talent to back it up. He definitely will be one of the key young Dogs to watch next fall once he is healthy and ready to go. |
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Post by seventeen on Jun 10, 2011 19:08:19 GMT -5
Great stuff, NWT. Thanks. Always fun to follow the development of the prospects. I'm looking for a healthy and dominant year from Danny Kristo at North Dakota. He came on in the second half of the season, but then had that bizarre frostbite incident that ended his year early. This will be his 3rd year in the NCAA, so he needs to assert his game. I would not be surprised in the least if Kristo starts the year in Hamilton. I believe he was asked by someone about his upcoming year and he was a bit vague about returning to college. At least, he didn't come out and say he was looking forward to being a leader for ND, blah, blah blah and all the things you would expect from someone who had definitely decided to play in college next season. But that sounds quite different from what NWT posted above.  |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jun 11, 2011 1:10:13 GMT -5
Great stuff, NWT. Thanks. Always fun to follow the development of the prospects. I'm looking for a healthy and dominant year from Danny Kristo at North Dakota. He came on in the second half of the season, but then had that bizarre frostbite incident that ended his year early. This will be his 3rd year in the NCAA, so he needs to assert his game. I would not be surprised in the least if Kristo starts the year in Hamilton. I believe he was asked by someone about his upcoming year and he was a bit vague about returning to college. At least, he didn't come out and say he was looking forward to being a leader for ND, blah, blah blah and all the things you would expect from someone who had definitely decided to play in college next season. But that sounds quite different from what NWT posted above. They always say that going into the summer camp season. I really don't put too much stock in it. This would be a brilliant season for him to join the Dogs actually, with the recent defections over the old Iron Curtain. With all the contracts coming up next summer with a lot of prospects who have to be signed or let go, you would expect the Habs to try to make the pitch for this summer. I just expect that his current thoughts gong into camp are to return to the NCAA. I personally would disagree, but I am a mere poster with even less than no influence!! |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 4, 2011 17:24:33 GMT -5
Part two of the development camp starts Wednesday, with a grand total of 12 players skating around Brossard and all the other fun off-ice training and learning sessions the Habs put their prospects through each camp. Interesting to see there are no goalies, so it will definitely be a drills only session. All seven guys drafted last month are coming, including Nygren from Sweden and Pribyl from the Czech Republic. In addition, the Habs two defensement from U of Michigan (Bennett and Pateryn) are participating as they were not able to attend the first camp due to school commitments. John Westin, a 19 year old Swedish forward the Habs drafted last year is coming across the pond too. He only played 11 games with Modo's U20 and one with the big club last season due to a serious injury to start the season. The few reports I have on this kid is that he plays a very north american style of game, so it will be interesting to see how he does against other prospects this week. Two try-outs get a call, and both are 20 year olds and now likely looking for work. Etienne Brodeur is the undersized (5'8" 183) goal scoring leader (with 53) from the Q this past season and Josh McFadden is an offensive defender with decent size from the Sudbury Wolves. He scored at over a point per game pace but apparently does make some defensive miscues and likely needs to sort that out if ever to be successful even in the minor pros. canadiens.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=568189 |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 7, 2011 9:22:35 GMT -5
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 7, 2011 15:17:50 GMT -5
A first hand report from Harry K over on HF who was at Brossard today. Just skating drills, so not really much to talk about.
Went to the camp this morning - it was all skating drills so only so much one can say, but I will go through what I saw:
Beaulieu - he's bigger than I remembered him in the Q and he did well in most skating drills. He looks like a really solid prospect.
Didier - also quite big and sturdy. His skating was good now and it seemed like he has room to get better. He definitely looks like a nice pickup in the 4th round.
Archambault - has good skating and skills but always seemed to be cutting corners and not really wanting to work.
Nygren - looked pretty choppy and had trouble with several of the drills, but had a good attitude. He was playing a lot on the ice, running into guys and clowning a bit. The nice thing is if he can do well already in the SEL, maybe after working on the skating etc. there is room for him to improve even higher. That's looking at the bright side of course.
Dietz - did not look very big, but he was pretty agile and did well in all of the skating drills. Certainly didn't seem like his skating would be what would hold him back.
Pribyl - as opposed to what I just wrote about Dietz, Pribyl definitely needs to work a lot on his skating. He struggled quite a bit on several of the drills, especially skating backwards. He's a big center, and his frame is certainly enticing, but it will take him some time and a lot of work. Intriguing.
Sullivan - very good skater with a solid frame. Nothing wrong with this guy - seems like a really solid citizen. Let's see what happens going forward, but this seems like a really solid pickup in round 7.
Westin - Had some trouble with certain of the drills and certainly never seemed to excel.
Bennett - definitely a really good solid skater. Really fluid and confident. He is quite a bit smaller than most of the other fellows, so that will be a big challenge for him. He looked like he has some pro potential.
Pateryn - his skating wasn't always terrific, but he got the job done and seems to have a good presence out there. Went first on a lot of the drills.
McFadden - I liked the look of him, but he was a little awkward in some of the drills. Leggy, if that makes any sense. His skating needs some work, but he didn't seem out of place.
Brodeur - he's a guy I knew nothing about. He's really small. His skating was all right, but maybe not as strong as the other little guys (Bennett and Archambault).
So that is what I came away with - skating technique is not my forte so it is just an amateur opinion. Cheers!
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 7, 2011 15:36:01 GMT -5
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Post by blny on Jul 8, 2011 6:02:17 GMT -5
TSN has a similar story about Nathan up. Same media scrum. It's easy to forget they're 18 when they're that composed.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 8, 2011 12:38:16 GMT -5
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 8, 2011 12:44:06 GMT -5
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 8, 2011 14:10:41 GMT -5
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 9, 2011 11:05:06 GMT -5
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 10, 2011 0:37:42 GMT -5
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jul 10, 2011 7:52:41 GMT -5
Really appreciate all of the research and reports, NWTHF. It's come in handy for me for sure. Well done!
Cheers.
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Post by clear observer on Jul 11, 2011 11:20:23 GMT -5
Really appreciate all of the research and reports, NWTHF. It's come in handy for me for sure. Well done! ^ ^ ^ T h i s  |
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