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Post by Lord Bebop on Jul 22, 2012 13:56:24 GMT -5
Perhaps alittle early to start the Hamilton thread but i can't wait lol I expect a pretty good team...... i was reading the following artilce and going threw the lines they layed out........ they could surprise Blake Geoffrion – Louis Leblanc – Aaron Palushaj Patrick Holland – Joonas Nattinen – Brendan Gallagher Alexander Avtsin – Michael Bournival – Steve Quailer Ian Schultz – Gabriel Dumont – Mike Blunden Jarred Tinordi - Frederic St. Denis Brendon Nash - Morgan Ellis Greg Pateryn – Nathan Beaulieu Cedric Desjardins Robert Mayer Lots of depth, skill and youth. Getting Desjardins back is huge and with the incoming rookie class, it's going to be a treat to follow them ;D www.allhabs.net/canadiens-prospects/2013-cup-contenders/ |
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Post by franko on Jul 22, 2012 15:19:42 GMT -5
hey, I like, that, and the possibilities for the future
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Post by seventeen on Jul 22, 2012 17:45:45 GMT -5
The weakness to that line-up is that it is extremely young, even for a development club. There are few veterans. St. Denis could be classed as one and maybe Desjardins, but when your veterans are 26 and 27 years of age, yikes.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 23, 2012 12:06:46 GMT -5
The weakness to that line-up is that it is extremely young, even for a development club. There are few veterans. St. Denis could be classed as one and maybe Desjardins, but when your veterans are 26 and 27 years of age, yikes. Hagel, the one guy who was signed on an AHL contract is the only 27 year old, and he probably won't see action every night. Your oldest guy(s) on an NHL contract is 26 year old. I am still surprised they have not signed a veteran scorer or defender yet. There is still lots of time and they may be able to add some depth from a guy or two on AHL contracts as well. Bottom line is this is one really young team. With a legitimate goalie like Desjardins they should be very competitive, and it will be fun to see all those kids battling all at once. I know the AHL has a few franchises that seem to stack their team with too many veterans as they try to field competitive teams every season. Often, this may come at the expense of the development of some of the bubble prospects in an organization. I don't think we will face that criticism this season in Hamilton. All of the kids should get a good chance to play either in the AHL or, at worst, get good ice time in the ECHL to start off with. Just wish the AHL got a little better TV coverage. |
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Post by 24in93 on Jul 23, 2012 15:00:46 GMT -5
I know I'll be taking in more Bulldog games this year. It's going to be great watching some exciting prospects again. Last year didn't impress all that much in that department.
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Post by seventeen on Jul 23, 2012 17:35:40 GMT -5
Last year was horrible. Enqvist and Palushaj as our top prospects? Ouch.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Sept 20, 2012 9:54:45 GMT -5
An article from the Hamilton Spectator on the upcoming season and Hamilton's youthful, but talented team. www.thespec.com/sports/bulldogs/article/801970--lots-to-look-forward-to-as-bulldogs-have-plenty-of-talent-for-upcoming-seasonI too am a bit surprised they did not sign a veteran defender this offseason, but I guess they want the kids to get lots of ice time. It will be an interesting test for the rookies, as there are a few more talented young forwards who will be darn tough to play against due to them being assigned to the AHL as a result of the lockout. There is going to be some darn fine hockey in the AHL to start the season!! And another article about one of the Bulldogs recent, young free agent signings - 22 year old former first rounder Daltan Leveille from nearby St. Catherines. www.forterietimes.ca/2012/09/19/former-falcon-back-in-the-gameIt will be interesting to see how Leveille fares. His surgery and lack of production in his last NCAA season likely hurt his chances of getting a contract out of Winnipeg. He has blazing speed and hands that never seem to be able to keep up to the pace of his feet, so that has held him back a bit as the production never lived up to his pre-draft hype. It is always a bit of a gamble when you draft a kid out of lower tier hockey - and he was a rare kid drafted out of Junior B hockey. I do like that he was working with Gary Roberts in the offseason, and he is a training guru. Anyway, some more depth for the AHL/ECHL is never a bad thing. Like the others signed to AHL contracts, they also don't take up a precious NHL contract so the Habs can give them a good looksie to see if there is anything there. |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Sept 20, 2012 10:59:56 GMT -5
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Post by Skilly on Sept 20, 2012 12:44:09 GMT -5
I wouldn't call it rushing ... Just increasing the window of opportunity. Every year in the AHL counts towards those precious seven years until free agency. |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Sept 21, 2012 9:27:55 GMT -5
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Sept 21, 2012 13:21:46 GMT -5
Bulldogs just added ex-Dog Zach Stortini by way of a one year AHL contract. The Dogs are the youngest team in the league, so getting a player over 25 will add incredible leadership for the kids. Good addition and he will also play with some decent jam against AHL calibre opponents. www.hamiltonbulldogs.com/pressbox/news/?article_id=52 |
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Post by blny on Sept 21, 2012 13:46:19 GMT -5
A possible audition for the big club too. I like it. He'll bring some grit, experience, and was with the Dogs in 2007.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Oct 3, 2012 16:50:31 GMT -5
Some RDS highlights (en francais) of the Dogs Red-White scrimmage last night. They have another one tonight and will make some cuts after the scrimmage, as they will want to trim the roster before the exhibition games start. www.rds.ca/zone-video/#cat=en_vedette&videoID=114331 |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Oct 4, 2012 23:31:56 GMT -5
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Oct 4, 2012 23:45:14 GMT -5
The Bulldogs trimmed their roster to 29 players last night. One of the surprises for some was Ian Schultz who was assigned to Wheeling in the ECHL. Saw a training camp pic and he looked quite overweight. Guess conditioning has been an issue before, so let's see if he gets the message. www.habsworld.net/article.php?id=2913 |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Oct 9, 2012 14:07:12 GMT -5
The Bulldogs made two more roster moves, sending Lefebvre to the ECHL and releasing Farnham. With the addition of Darryl Boyce, that now leaves 28 players in camp including four guys still on a try-out.
Forwards (16): Blunden, Leblanc, Boyce, Geoffrion, Holland, Palushaj, Quailer, Bournival, Gallagher, Nattinen, MacAulay (TO), Stortini, Avtsin, Berger, Hagel, Dumont
Defense (9): Tinordi, Beaulieu, Nash, St. Denis, Pateryn, Ellis, Corbin (TO), Gagne (TO), Boutet (TO)
Goalies (3): Desjardins, Delmas, Mayer
Once Ellis gets healthy, it looks like the top six on D are set, but his training camp injury does leave an opening for one of the try-outs to likely get signed to an AHL/ECHL contract as there is currently only one other defender assigned to the ECHL (Stejkal). The Dogs can also play veteran Hagel on D as he can play both LW and D. It actually does not leave the team with much defensive depth to start a season, so it will be interesting to see what they do if one of their regulars gets injured during the season.
Up front, the try-out MacAulay from the Sea Dogs has quietly stuck around, but I think the numbers game could eventually do him in. I would expect he gets cut and Berger gets sent to the AHL. It has been another quiet training camp for Avtsin, who just has not been able to get it going since coming over to the Bulldogs. They could actually keep MacAulay if they move Hagel back to D, but he has been playing LW during the pre-season.
In net, the battle for the bubble is clearly between Delmas and Mayer. I think Delmas would be the better backup in Hamilton, but we shall see. Getting Desjardins as the started really was a great move this summer. The Dogs are instantly a better team than last year.
The Dogs ended up losing both pre-season games against the Marlies (3-1 and 2-0). Not a lot of offense in pre-season, so let's hope that changes when they field a full lineup. Next up is their opening match on Saturday the 13th.
'Tis almost time to drop the puck!!
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Oct 10, 2012 10:52:10 GMT -5
Dogs trim their roster to 24, as all the try-outs (MacAulay, Corbin, Gagne and Boutet) are all returned to their junior teams as over-agers. Not entirely surprising considering how many players the Dogs had already on NHL/AHL contracts in camp. They already have some pretty decent depth callups in the ECHL already (Chaput, Fortier, Schultz, Stejskal, Leveille and Lefebvre), with all but Leveille having AHL experience already.
That leaves 14 forwards (assuming Hagel moves back onto D), 7 defenders (including Hagel - which makes sense anyway and moreso with Ellis nursing a minor injury), and 3 goalies.
They are quite thin on D, and I expect a goalie to be sent down to the ECHL at some point (my bet would be Mayer).
One step closer to puck drop on Saturday night.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Oct 13, 2012 20:53:42 GMT -5
Dogs win 4-3 in a shoot out against Grand Rapids. Desjardins not 100% so somehow Mayer is in net. Dogs outshot the Griffs 2-1 in the game. Goals from Geoffrion, Palushaj and Dumont. Gallagher, Quailer and Bournival all had assists for their first pro/AHL points. Bournival was also the only one to score in the shoot out.
Good start for the young guns, they are very young and should have some growing pains this year.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Oct 17, 2012 10:28:47 GMT -5
A little heads up for folks wanting a glance at all the new, young players who are in Hamilton this season...they are on TV this weekend!
Sportsnet is showing Saturday night AHL games and this Saturday's first game in their doubleheader involves a battle between the Dogs and Marlies. Game time is 7:00 pm ET and it is on Sportsnet One (I am guessing they will move to the normal Sportsnet channels once the baseball playoffs are done).
Baby Habs Hockey on TV on a Saturday night!!
EDIT: Corrected game time...it is 7:00 pm ET.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Oct 19, 2012 17:01:26 GMT -5
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Oct 19, 2012 20:44:55 GMT -5
So far so good for the Dogs. 3-0 after about 6 mins in the third. Goals by Leblanc, Holland and Palushaj. Holland with 1+1. Palushaj's goal was first PP goal of the season, in their second game. Mayer with over 30 saves tonight. Keep it up lads!
Edit: dogs win 4-1. Whoo hoo. Leblanc with an empty netter to seal the deal. Leblanc with 2+0, Holland with 1+1, Palushaj with 1+1, and Mayer doing his best Price imitation.
Edit2: three stars were Mayer, Leblanc and Holland. Holland and Tinordi with first pro points tonight! The second youngest AHL team is now 2-0. Go figure.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Oct 20, 2012 15:05:40 GMT -5
Dogs vs Marlies
Sportsnet One
7:00 ET tonight
Be there!!
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Post by CentreHice on Oct 20, 2012 18:12:49 GMT -5
Why why why does it have to be the Maple Leafs broadcast crew....  Bowen, Millen, Hendrick. I bet the regular AHL crew is thrilled that the NHL boys come in and take work away from them. EDIT: That was a short night of hockey for me. 3-0 Marlies in the first period...with Mayer getting little to no help, and not looking hot at all. Add the Toronto cheerleading crew....I'm out. |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Oct 20, 2012 18:39:14 GMT -5
3-0 Marlies. Mayer back to earth. The Dogs showing their youth. I expect a few of these types of games against a good veteran team like the Marlies. They are likely the conference fave right now.
Holy crap, what a save by Delmas.
CH, it is too bad we have the Leafs broadcast team. Really?
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Oct 20, 2012 18:44:08 GMT -5
Kenny Ryan turtles on a check from Geoffrion and the cross checks him in the face. What a wuss.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Oct 20, 2012 19:35:33 GMT -5
LL with some rough stuff and seems to mess up his leg. Helped off the ice with a leg/ankle issue. Not smart Louis. Not in a 5-0 game.
Sigh.
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Post by seventeen on Oct 20, 2012 22:17:17 GMT -5
I haven't seen Mayer play one minute of hockey, but my gut tells me the sooner we dump this guy, the better. I have never liked his save percentage. I hope Desjardins gets healthy soon. This young team could use an experienced goalie.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Oct 21, 2012 9:10:22 GMT -5
I haven't seen Mayer play one minute of hockey, but my gut tells me the sooner we dump this guy, the better. I have never liked his save percentage. I hope Desjardins gets healthy soon. This young team could use an experienced goalie. What I have read suggests Desjardins should not be out too long. I hope so as he is one of the best in the AHL. With such a young and inexperienced D, great goaltending will be key to keep these kids in a lot of their games. I have never been a Mayer fan, but he does pull off these good games or stretches that seem to keep him around. I chalk it up to lack of goalie depth for a while. Delmas looked good in relief last night in a lost cause game. I hope he is able to lock up the backup job once Ceddy is back. That D is young and will make mistakes. 5 of 7 are rookies and even Nash missed all last season due to injury. There will be growing pains, but hopefully there will also be a lot of growing...and together. It is funny how the only free agent defence man they signed was 20 year old Antoine Corbin, who played his final few junior years out west with PA. Management is clearly comfortable going with the kids knowing full well that a lot of nights they will be playing against some supercharged lineups. |
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Post by CentreHice on Oct 21, 2012 9:50:38 GMT -5
In the pre-game, Greg Millen called Beaulieu "Boullion"...and during the game, Joe Bowen called him "Boo-lee-oh" (as if the Habs have a new rap artist on the farm.) "Bowl-yeuh" is not that difficult. |
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Post by seventeen on Oct 21, 2012 10:35:20 GMT -5
I haven't seen Mayer play one minute of hockey, but my gut tells me the sooner we dump this guy, the better. I have never liked his save percentage. I hope Desjardins gets healthy soon. This young team could use an experienced goalie. What I have read suggests Desjardins should not be out too long. I hope so as he is one of the best in the AHL. With such a young and inexperienced D, great goaltending will be key to keep these kids in a lot of their games. I have never been a Mayer fan, but he does pull off these good games or stretches that seem to keep him around. I chalk it up to lack of goalie depth for a while. Delmas looked good in relief last night in a lost cause game. I hope he is able to lock up the backup job once Ceddy is back. That D is young and will make mistakes. 5 of 7 are rookies and even Nash missed all last season due to injury. There will be growing pains, but hopefully there will also be a lot of growing...and together. It is funny how the only free agent defence man they signed was 20 year old Antoine Corbin, who played his final few junior years out west with PA. Management is clearly comfortable going with the kids knowing full well that a lot of nights they will be playing against some supercharged lineups. I saw highlights of the Chicago/Abbotsford game yesterday and Chicago had Kassian, and Tanev in the lineup. The only equivalent guy I can think of on the Dogs is Leblanc and he doesn't have the number of NHL games those other 2 do. We are much more of a 'regular' NHL team, so the longer we can hang in there, the better. |
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