Halak gets the message
Jan 17, 2005 17:13:03 GMT -5
Post by M. Beaux-Eaux on Jan 17, 2005 17:13:03 GMT -5
Habs' prospect. 'Understands what we're trying to do'
PAT HICKEY
The Gazette
Monday, January 17, 2005
When you're comparing goaltenders to common household items, it's better to be a sponge than a sieve.
Canadiens goaltender coach Rollie Melanson says Canadiens' prospect Jaroslav Halak is a sponge.
"He absorbs everything you say to him," said Melanson, who will take advantage of the NHL lockout to spend the next week tutoring Halak, who plays for the Lewiston MAINEiacs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
"He's very coachable and he's worked hard to play the system we use with the Canadiens," said Melanson, who expects Halak to be ready to move up to the American Hockey League next season.
"Positioning is the key to what we're looking for in a goaltender," said Melanson. "I put a lot of emphasis on leg recovery and Halak understands what we're trying to do." Halak, a 19-year-old from Slovakia, said he has made adjustments to his style since moving to North America last summer with the encouragement of the Canadiens and agent David Schatia.
"I came here because I knew I would get more shots and I would improve," Halak said yesterday after watching his backup, Jonathan Bernier, make 44 saves in Lewiston's 3-1 win over the Drummondville Voltigeurs. Halak missed the start because he was suffering from the stomach flu, but he has been the catalyst in the MAINEiacs' six-game winning streak.
"I don't know how to describe my style; I just want to stop the puck. There is a difference between Europe and here because of the size of the rink and the number of shots. I'm playing more North American-style now."
"They're a little banged up on defence, which means Halak has been seeing a lot of shots," said Melanson, who watched the Slovak stop 43 shots in a victory last week in Quebec City. "This is a team which could be dangerous in the playoffs."
Halak is on a personal five-game winning streak and Lewiston in 9-1-1 in its last 11 games.
While the Canadiens have a Vezina and Hart Trophy winner in Jose Theodore, Melanson is aware of the need for depth and feels the Canadiens have top prospects in Halak and Yann Danis, who is the No. 1 goalie with the AHL Hamilton Bulldogs.
Melanson said Halak received a boost of confidence when he represented Slovakia in the world junior championships in North Dakota.
"Any time you play against top competition like that and do well, you have to feel good about yourself," Melanson said.
Halak posted a 4-2 record and two shutouts.
"He gave his team a chance to win every game he played," said Trevor Timmins, the Canadiens' director of player personnel.
"We finished seventh because we played one bad game against Sweden and missed the medal round," Halak said.
Melanson said Halak was another example of the fine job the Canadiens' scouts have done in identifying talent in the later rounds of the NHL entry draft. Halak was a ninth-round draft choice, while Danis was signed as a free agent after a sparkling career at Brown University, where he won the Ken Dryden Award as the top goaltender in the ECAC.
"You have to give Trevor a lot of credit for finding Danis," Melanson said. "We gave up a second-round draft choice in the deal to get (Alex) Kovalev and that means you have to find a way to replace that body. Signing Danis allowed us to do that."
Danis has been one of the few bright spots this season for the Hamilton Bulldogs, the Canadiens' top farm team in the AHL.
The change in styles means Halak is more of a project.
But Melanson notes the youngster has attended a summer development, a rookie camp and has had added tutoring from Marc Champagne, who serves as the Maineiacs' goaltending coach.
Halak has had a lot of information to soak up, but it is easier when you're a sponge.
PAT HICKEY
The Gazette
Monday, January 17, 2005
When you're comparing goaltenders to common household items, it's better to be a sponge than a sieve.
Canadiens goaltender coach Rollie Melanson says Canadiens' prospect Jaroslav Halak is a sponge.
"He absorbs everything you say to him," said Melanson, who will take advantage of the NHL lockout to spend the next week tutoring Halak, who plays for the Lewiston MAINEiacs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
"He's very coachable and he's worked hard to play the system we use with the Canadiens," said Melanson, who expects Halak to be ready to move up to the American Hockey League next season.
"Positioning is the key to what we're looking for in a goaltender," said Melanson. "I put a lot of emphasis on leg recovery and Halak understands what we're trying to do." Halak, a 19-year-old from Slovakia, said he has made adjustments to his style since moving to North America last summer with the encouragement of the Canadiens and agent David Schatia.
"I came here because I knew I would get more shots and I would improve," Halak said yesterday after watching his backup, Jonathan Bernier, make 44 saves in Lewiston's 3-1 win over the Drummondville Voltigeurs. Halak missed the start because he was suffering from the stomach flu, but he has been the catalyst in the MAINEiacs' six-game winning streak.
"I don't know how to describe my style; I just want to stop the puck. There is a difference between Europe and here because of the size of the rink and the number of shots. I'm playing more North American-style now."
"They're a little banged up on defence, which means Halak has been seeing a lot of shots," said Melanson, who watched the Slovak stop 43 shots in a victory last week in Quebec City. "This is a team which could be dangerous in the playoffs."
Halak is on a personal five-game winning streak and Lewiston in 9-1-1 in its last 11 games.
While the Canadiens have a Vezina and Hart Trophy winner in Jose Theodore, Melanson is aware of the need for depth and feels the Canadiens have top prospects in Halak and Yann Danis, who is the No. 1 goalie with the AHL Hamilton Bulldogs.
Melanson said Halak received a boost of confidence when he represented Slovakia in the world junior championships in North Dakota.
"Any time you play against top competition like that and do well, you have to feel good about yourself," Melanson said.
Halak posted a 4-2 record and two shutouts.
"He gave his team a chance to win every game he played," said Trevor Timmins, the Canadiens' director of player personnel.
"We finished seventh because we played one bad game against Sweden and missed the medal round," Halak said.
Melanson said Halak was another example of the fine job the Canadiens' scouts have done in identifying talent in the later rounds of the NHL entry draft. Halak was a ninth-round draft choice, while Danis was signed as a free agent after a sparkling career at Brown University, where he won the Ken Dryden Award as the top goaltender in the ECAC.
"You have to give Trevor a lot of credit for finding Danis," Melanson said. "We gave up a second-round draft choice in the deal to get (Alex) Kovalev and that means you have to find a way to replace that body. Signing Danis allowed us to do that."
Danis has been one of the few bright spots this season for the Hamilton Bulldogs, the Canadiens' top farm team in the AHL.
The change in styles means Halak is more of a project.
But Melanson notes the youngster has attended a summer development, a rookie camp and has had added tutoring from Marc Champagne, who serves as the Maineiacs' goaltending coach.
Halak has had a lot of information to soak up, but it is easier when you're a sponge.
