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Post by Rimmer on Sept 30, 2004 4:17:12 GMT -5
www.hockeysfuture.com/article.php?sid=7228&mode=threaded&order=05. Montreal Canadiens (1)
Strengths: Montreal’s forward corps is the organization’s best asset. Responsible two-way forwards like Chris Higgins, Maxime Lapierre and Kyle Chipchura balance offensive players like Andrei Kostsitsyn, Tomas Plekanec and Alex Perezhogin. They have players who have yet to realize their potential, like Marcel Hossa, and some riskier players, such as Cory Urquhart and Corey Locke. Yann Danis and Jaroslav Halak give the Canadiens stability on their goaltending depth chart. Ron Hainsey also still has a good shot at being a NHL player sooner rather than later.
Weaknesses: The bulk of Montreal’s defensemen are more likely to be marginal NHLers or career minor leaguers. Ryan O’Byrne and Konstantin Korneev are the best of the bunch and both would likely max out as third pairing players. Ron Hainsey and Marcel Hossa, both drafted in the first round in 2000, have so far struggled to make a permanent home in the NHL. Perezhogin’s year-long suspension from the AHL may or may not have lasting ramifications on his development.
Top Prospects: Chris Higgins (F), Marcel Hossa (F), Andrei Kostsitsyn (F), Alex Perezhogin (F), Ron Hainsey (D).
Not Eligible: Michael Ryder and Mike Komisarek due to career NHL games played.R.
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Post by montreal on Sept 30, 2004 9:45:48 GMT -5
Putting Hossa over Plekanec shows a lack of credibility imo. I got into serious trouble with HF just for saying the lists dont mean much.
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Post by M. Beaux-Eaux on Sept 30, 2004 9:55:17 GMT -5
Putting Hossa over Plekanec shows a lack of credibility imo. I got into serious trouble with HF just for saying the lists dont mean much. IMO Pleky is at the moment the forward closest to NHL level, and with a respectable two-way game. Oh well. I think many are underestimating Archer. Last season was almost a lost cause due to injury. I think he will positively surprise a few people this season. Ditto Milroy. Ditto Ferland. |
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Post by Rimmer on Sept 30, 2004 9:55:23 GMT -5
there were a couple of organisations that I thought didn't deserve to be ranked as high but then again every ranking of that kind is highly debatable. btw Dan, did you work yourself on those rankings?
R.
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Post by blaise on Sept 30, 2004 10:52:17 GMT -5
IMO Pleky is at the moment the forward closest to NHL level, and with a respectable two-way game. Oh well. I think many are underestimating Archer. Last season was almost a lost cause due to injury. I think he will positively surprise a few people this season. Ditto Milroy. Ditto Ferland. By how much are they underestimating Archer? What's his upside potential? Even if he should progress, he won't be ready for the NHL for several years. By that time cracks will have developed in the Habs' defense corps. If we assume that Souray, Markov, Komisarek, and Hainsey (maybe) will be mainstays, how long can Brisebois and Rivet maintain their level? Will (and should) Bouillon still be around? Unless the Habs draft another blue chipper, I don't see this collection in the league's elite. |
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Post by M. Beaux-Eaux on Sept 30, 2004 12:09:33 GMT -5
By how much are they underestimating Archer? What's his upside potential? Even if he should progress, he won't be ready for the NHL for several years. By that time cracks will have developed in the Habs' defense corps. If we assume that Souray, Markov, Komisarek, and Hainsey (maybe) will be mainstays, how long can Brisebois and Rivet maintain their level? Will (and should) Bouillon still be around? Unless the Habs draft another blue chipper, I don't see this collection in the league's elite. I made no projection of elite status for any of the three. Indeed I made no projection beyond the 2004-05 season for any of them. As for upside: Who knows? Time will tell - but keep your eye on Archer, Milroy and Ferland. Hainsey was touted to be a Hab 2 years ago. Ryder was minor league roster filler and not expected to be anything more. |
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Post by montreal on Sept 30, 2004 14:09:59 GMT -5
there were a couple of organisations that I thought didn't deserve to be ranked as high but then again every ranking of that kind is highly debatable. btw Dan, did you work yourself on those rankings? R. No, I had no say in either the organizational rankings or the Top 50 which will be out soon. As for Archer, Milroy and Ferland, I too think they will have a big season, although it's still unclear if any will ever see time with the Habs. All 3 have some work to do in different areas, but I also wouldn't be surprised to see them in the NHL down the road. Archer hopefully will play more physical, Milroy hopefully will figure out that hockey starts before the Christmas break and Ferland hopefully will improve his skating/foot speed. |
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Post by blaise on Sept 30, 2004 15:05:02 GMT -5
I think many are underestimating Archer. Last season was almost a lost cause due to injury. I think he will positively surprise a few people this season. Ditto Milroy. Ditto Ferland.I made no projection of elite status for any of the three. Indeed I made no projection beyond the 2004-05 season for any of them. As for upside: Who knows? Time will tell - but keep your eye on Archer, Milroy and Ferland. Hainsey was touted to be a Hab 2 years ago. Ryder was minor league roster filler and not expected to be anything more. Fair enough, although at this point I don't see why Archer projects any higher than O'Byrne. From the sound of it, my dark horse candidate would be Korpikari. |
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Post by blaise on Sept 30, 2004 15:32:08 GMT -5
Think of it, Plekanec and Higgins will be advancing their game in an AHL souped-up with loans of some of the best young talent on NHL rosters while Ribeiro and Dagenais are farting around in a make-believe league. The next Habs training camp after the lockout may open some eyes in the front office.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Sept 30, 2004 17:54:43 GMT -5
As for the rankings, it is nice to see the Habs' prospects still highly thought of, against their peers. The teams above them are all far less advanced in the rebuilding stages, so the overall organization strength compared with those 4 organizations still favours the Habs. The Habs have been able to be competitive at the NHL level of late, with signs of even better to come with the development and addition of their well touted prospects. None of these other 4 teams are anywhere near that same boat IMO.
At #4, the Oilers continue to do well as a "small market" Canadian team, but still are unable to compete in the current free agency market and continue to have to go through periodic salary purges (Weight, Carter, Niinimaa, Comrie). They have kept hold of Ryan Smyth, their heart and soul, mainly because he appears committed for now to play in Edmonton. He likely could get considerably more money from other free-spending teams. They are still a few barrels short of the mother lode.
At #3, the Blackhawks have some good young prospects but have a real weak NHL team. Some of their blue-chip prospects are already established in their NHL lineup due to a lack of overall organizational depth. They still are years away from us establishing this generation's Makita, Hull or Esposito.
At #2, Pittsburgh has seen so much talent bid adieu to Super Mario in order to dump salary. Sure, Recchi has taken his nostalgic pills and returned, but this is a core group that would not compete well for the Calder Cup right now. Fleury is seen as a franchise goalie, but last year showed that an 18 year old franchise goalie does not an NHL team make. Malkin and crew will improve the Pens fate, but it likely is still years away. Their igloo is still melting.
At #1, Washington totally gutted their lineup to accumulate draft picks and young prospects through their garage sale. They have the top ranked prospect in Ovechkin, and some other great blue chippers, but they are adding it to a very weak NHL base. The only surprise come trade deadline time was that the Caps didn't also deal their high priced goalie away. This team is still spelt with small caps for now.
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Post by Bob on Sept 30, 2004 18:47:43 GMT -5
Think of it, Plekanec and Higgins will be advancing their game in an AHL souped-up with loans of some of the best young talent on NHL rosters while Ribeiro and Dagenais are farting around in a make-believe league. The next Habs training camp after the lockout may open some eyes in the front office. LOL.... are you trying to raise Mr. B's ire? |
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Post by legaspesien on Sept 30, 2004 19:17:20 GMT -5
IMO underestimating Archer. Ditto Milroy. Ditto Ferland. Ditto Larrivée |
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Post by Doc Holliday on Sept 30, 2004 20:34:24 GMT -5
Think of it, Plekanec and Higgins will be advancing their game in an AHL souped-up with loans of some of the best young talent on NHL rosters while Ribeiro and Dagenais are farting around in a make-believe league. The next Habs training camp after the lockout may open some eyes in the front office. ...before thinking of stealing a top 6 forward spot, Pleks will have to make the NHL. First thing first. |
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Post by montreal on Sept 30, 2004 22:14:27 GMT -5
...before thinking of stealing a top 6 forward spot, Pleks will have to make the NHL. First thing first. If recent history is any indication, Pleks will make it. Our last 3 top AHL scorers, Ryder, Ward and Eric Landry all saw time with the Habs the next season. Landry with Quebec, led the team in scoring with 75 pts, and while he did catch on for a brief stint (I believe he was told to find a place to live after a long callup) but it never worked out for him. Gratton was right up there to if not for injuries. Ward racked up the points in with Hamilton, and when he got called up, Ryder took over for him as the top scorer and was a real force in the playoffs as well. Plekanec led the team in scoring this year, although if not for the stick swinging incident, Perezhogin may have won that race in playoff scoring. |
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Post by blaise on Sept 30, 2004 22:46:56 GMT -5
...before thinking of stealing a top 6 forward spot, Pleks will have to make the NHL. First thing first. Do you seriously doubt that Plekanec is an NHL-caliber player? I think he is, and I've been saying it since I first saw him in the 2002 preseason. |
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Post by blaise on Sept 30, 2004 22:52:49 GMT -5
LOL.... are you trying to raise Mr. B's ire? Not his ire, just his attention.  But I do believe this will be a great opportunity for Plekanec and Higgins to solidify their claims on a role with the Habs. IMO Ribeiro and Dagenais are not doing themselves a favor by barnstorming instead of playing in a truly competitive league in North America or Europe. Dagenais will be 27 when play resumes and less of a factor. |
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Post by seventeen on Oct 1, 2004 0:16:51 GMT -5
I had some issues with the rankings too, Dan. Chicago, especially, may be overrated now that Ruutu has graduated. And it seems no matter which team drafted Ovechkin, they'd be ranked #1. Duh.
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Oct 5, 2004 18:18:30 GMT -5
We have lots of depth but no superstars.
Very good potential:
Higgins, Hainsey, Chipchura.
Good Potential:
Hossa, Urquhart, Milroy
Longshots;
Perezhogin, Thinel, Plekanec, Lambert
Superstar longshots;
Kostitsyn, Locke, Danis
Kostitsyn is still young, but he has never had an outstanding year anywhere. He shows talent in camps but didn't impress in Russia the way other teams Russians have.
Locke will be too small and slow or a scoring machine. He has proven himself able to dominate weaker opposition and fill the net rising to the occasion year after year. Question mark as the speed of the game picks up. He can handle the hits, but does he skate fast enough.
Danis is a one year wonder in nets (we know about them) or an heir to Dryden's college legacy. Stopping shots from college athletes is a far cry from stoning Lemieux.
Three longshots; hope one of them is great.
The most ready player we had in our system went to the Rangers for thirteen games and a bag of beans. Did we get a beanstock or were we robbed?
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But I do believe this will be a great opportunity for Plekanec and Higgins to solidify their claims on a role with the Habs. IMO Ribeiro and Dagenais are not doing themselves a favor by barnstorming instead of playing in a truly competitive league in North America or Europe. Dagenais will be 27 when play resumes and less of a factor.
