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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Mar 28, 2016 11:22:32 GMT -5
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Mar 28, 2016 17:30:08 GMT -5
Pribyl played with Reway in Sparta Praha before Reway headed over to the Swiss A league. Pribyl was their top scorer this past season, and only Reway had a comparable ppg ration, albeit just for 14 games. I was always a fan of this kid. He is big, skilled, but his skating was rather lumbering. That likely kept him from getting a contract, which I was hoping he would get to see how he looked over here. He is still young, only 23 years old. |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Mar 31, 2016 9:12:43 GMT -5
A quick update on our prospects in the playoffs.
All four NCAA prospects' seasons are done. There are none in the Frozen Four.
In Europe, Lehkonen's team advanced to the SHL semis on the back of a great individual performance in the quarter finals. Reway is awaiting his chance to play in the Worlds for Slovakia. Vejdemo and Djurgardens lost to Lehkonen's squad in the SHL, and the team sent him down to play for the team's J20 team in the junior league playoffs. He had an assist in two games, centred the top line, and they defended as league champs.
In the CHL, four of five prospects face elimination in the first round as their teams are all down 3-1 in their respective series (McNiven, Addison, Bourque, Audette). Noah Juulsen and Everett swept Portland 4-0 in their first round WHL series, so they advance to round two.
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Post by seventeen on Mar 31, 2016 12:37:45 GMT -5
Few points for Juulsen, but I saw a couple of highlights where a) he outmuscled some Portland players in front of the net and cleared the puck and b) kept a Winterhawk from cutting in front of the net from the Right Wing by blasting him into the 5th dimension. Nice check.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Mar 31, 2016 20:22:53 GMT -5
Few points for Juulsen, but I saw a couple of highlights where a) he outmuscled some Portland players in front of the net and cleared the puck and b) kept a Winterhawk from cutting in front of the net from the Right Wing by blasting him into the 5th dimension. Nice check. For those looking for those highlights, check out Mitch Brown's Twitter feed. He has the short clips there. @mitchlbrown |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 7, 2016 21:59:06 GMT -5
Reway had an assist in Slovakia's 3-2 loss to Finland in Euro Hockey Challenge action. It was his first game back after missing time with a concussion.
Frolunda is up 2-1 in their SHL semi finals, and Lehkonen has one assist so far.
Juulsen and the Everett Silvertips start their second round playoff series in Seattle tomorrow night.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 8, 2016 18:46:44 GMT -5
Lehkonen scored his team's only goal today as they lost 2-1 in OT. Series is all knotted at two apiece.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 9, 2016 9:19:12 GMT -5
Juulsen had an assist as Everett took first blood 3-0 on the road in Seattle. Our last CHL prospect still playing, although a few others could make their debut for the IceCaps tonight.
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Post by seventeen on Apr 9, 2016 12:58:00 GMT -5
Juulsen had an assist as Everett took first blood 3-0 on the road in Seattle. Our last CHL prospect still playing, although a few others could make their debut for the IceCaps tonight. For a cup of coffee before their season ends as well, once again, out of the playoffs. Its really disappointing because it's important for players to go through that higher pressure part of the game and learn from it. Lefebvre is taking that away from our prospects. One realistic question to ask is if Lefebvre just hasn't had the horses to make the playoffs. You can judge that on your own. We've had a lot of prospects called up this year and how many of them would you say are definitely low end guys who'll never make the NHL? The one guy I can think of is Morgan Ellis, who had a terrible time when called up. Oh, and Matteau, who doesn't look good at all but he hasn't played for the IceCaps anyway. Hanley, Dietz, Johnston, Ghetto, Carr, McCarron, etc. Everyone of them looks at least adequate at the NHL level. That indicates to me that it isn't a talent issue in St. John's. It's a friends issue. |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 10, 2016 22:21:44 GMT -5
Lehkonen scored in the second straight game as Frolunda won 3-2 in OT and took a similar series lead.
Seattle beat Everett to tie that series at one each.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 12, 2016 15:19:30 GMT -5
Lehkonen gets an assist as Frolunda blew game six open with four goals in the third. 8-2 final today, and they win the semi finals 4-2 and advance to the SHL finals.
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Apr 16, 2016 8:14:23 GMT -5
One realistic question to ask is if Lefebvre just hasn't had the horses to make the playoffs. You can judge that on your own. We've had a lot of prospects called up this year and how many of them would you say are definitely low end guys who'll never make the NHL? Stands to reason ... some of the guys called up to Montreal won't see the NHL, or if they do, only for a short while ... Lefebvre probably had guys called up from Brampton who may/may not ever see the AHL again ... Forgot about Nikita Scherbak, but at the same time I'm kind of glad to read something positive coming out of St John's ... missing the playoffs this year might have been a foregone conclusion for Sylvain Lefebvre ... he had a revolving door of players going to Montreal and coming up from Brampton ... it's the same premise Marc Bergevin is using to retaining both him and Michel Therrien ... edit: I just added Mike Condon to the original post ... he was called upon to provide a lot more than just being a back up ... Cheers. |
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Post by The Habitual Fan on Apr 16, 2016 9:57:43 GMT -5
With several of the ice caps that were called up this years at least showing to have NHL potential can't that mean despite the poor record the team is actually developing its draft picks? I went to about a dozen ice cap games this year and there were nights there were guys in the lineup that I had never heard of and had to google. You go the next game and they were not there anymore so it was a tough year on the prospects but a handful did look very good and took more of a role as the year went on.
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Apr 16, 2016 11:23:20 GMT -5
Reway had an assist in Slovakia's 3-2 loss to Finland in Euro Hockey Challenge action. It was his first game back after missing time with a concussion. Frolunda is up 2-1 in their SHL semi finals, and Lehkonen has one assist so far. Juulsen and the Everett Silvertips start their second round playoff series in Seattle tomorrow night. |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 16, 2016 22:18:11 GMT -5
Reway with an assist on Slovakia's only goal as they lost 2-1 in OT to Russia in the Euro Hockey Challenge.
Lehkonen with an assist in Frolunda's 4-3 win to take a 1-0 lead in the SHL finals.
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Post by seventeen on Apr 16, 2016 22:45:33 GMT -5
Reway with an assist on Slovakia's only goal as they lost 2-1 in OT to Russia in the Euro Hockey Challenge. Lehkonen with an assist in Frolunda's 4-3 win to take a 1-0 lead in the SHL finals. Reway's assist was an IQ thing of beauty. He has the puck on the PP on the left boards (he's a leftie) and was pretty well facing the blue line so it looks like a pass back to the point. Instead he lays a perfect saucer backhand pass to a wide open guy in the slot who scores. Totally fooled everyone, except the guy who scored. Reway's got great vision. |
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Post by blny on Apr 17, 2016 0:04:26 GMT -5
Pribyl played with Reway in Sparta Praha before Reway headed over to the Swiss A league. Pribyl was their top scorer this past season, and only Reway had a comparable ppg ration, albeit just for 14 games. I was always a fan of this kid. He is big, skilled, but his skating was rather lumbering. That likely kept him from getting a contract, which I was hoping he would get to see how he looked over here. He is still young, only 23 years old. Friedman is reporting that Pribyl will be signing with the Flames as soon as his season is done over seas. |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 18, 2016 12:11:35 GMT -5
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 22, 2016 13:28:09 GMT -5
Lehkonen update.
On Tuesday, he scored a goal as Frolunda won 3-1. Yesterday, he registered two assists in a 3-2 Frolunda win. They are now up 3-1 in the SHL Finals.
What a run by this young man, would be great to see him cap it off with a league championship.
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Post by seventeen on Apr 22, 2016 15:03:34 GMT -5
If Berg has any interest in bringing him over next year, there's no way he should be anywhere but on the Habs top 6. He'll have to get used to the smaller rink, but his Finnish experience (rink size between International and NHL), should help there. Finns are pseudo Canadians anyway....can't see him having a problem adjusting.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 22, 2016 22:52:22 GMT -5
I know a few interviews with Lehkonen have him mentioning that he will be over this summer for development camp. It will be interesting to see if they sign him this year and keep him over this fall. His development has taken a nice course this year, especially in the post season. The SHL is a good league, and he does not shy away from the tough areas, so I expect he should be able to make the transition. He likely still needs to add some more beef to withstand the more physical style, but that can be part of his off season regimen if they keep him here.
Still no concrete news on what Reway will be doing next season. He mentioned recently that he would like to play in the NHL, but is still waiting for a concrete offer. Wonder what the Habs will do. They don't have to sign him until next summer, but you would think they would be trying to get him over if they could go at least see how he stacks up right now after decent seasons in men's play in Europe.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 24, 2016 11:05:12 GMT -5
Frolunda won 5-3 to take the SHL championship series in five games, led by a two goal performance from a young Finn Artturi Lehkonen.
We have a champion amongst the ranks of prospects!
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Post by seventeen on Apr 24, 2016 11:14:50 GMT -5
A clutch champion, who led his team. I'm looking forward to seeing him play.
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Post by blny on Apr 24, 2016 12:00:51 GMT -5
A clutch champion, who led his team. I'm looking forward to seeing him play. Yep. Sign him and get him over here. Still would like to see an established scorer signed, but he could be a fall back |
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Post by seventeen on Apr 26, 2016 14:33:45 GMT -5
Habs may be trying to sign Lehkonen and Reway. Just some initial signs, not anything concrete. The headline is being optimistic. www.habseyesontheprize.com/2016/4/26/11511616/artturi-lehkonen-contract-martin-reway-montreal-canadiens-prospects-habsReport: Canadiens have offered contracts to Martin Reway and Artturi LehkonenThanks to the work of our colleague Zeb, we've had a ton of coverage this year on the exploits of both Martin Reway and Artturi Lehkonen over in Europe. Both players have had some impressive seasons with their respective clubs, and the big question was whether the Canadiens would finally ink either draftee to a contract. That seems to now be moving forward on both fronts, as Mario Langlois is reporting that negotiations with the two players are ongoing. Not long ago, a source close to HC Slovan Bratislava of the KHL confirmed that they were trying to sign Reway, but that negotiations had stalled. Speculation was that the Habs were talking with Reway, which would explain the difficulty in getting a deal done. As for Lehkonen, we don't have a ton of details, but a source close to his current club Frölunda HC has told us that he is looking for either an NHL deal, or to stay in the SHL. Word is that he is only interested to play in one of those two leagues, and that he would return to Sweden if venturing into the NHL did not pan out. There is not a ton of concrete information about the negotiations, but we have several sources that suggest them to be ongoing. We will continue to monitor this situation very closely. |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 26, 2016 16:40:52 GMT -5
17, good find. This is good news as it clearly indicates that the Habs are being proactive and not leaving initial contract discussions with both players until next year, which is the final year in which the Habs would need to get a deal done or else risk losing their NHL rights.
Both young forwards have proven successful at providing offense in European mens' leagues (Czech Republic, Swiss A, Finnish sm-liiga, and Swedish Hockey League). It does not mean they would be instant NHL stars, but they are worth seeing how they do on a team that is chronically challenged to find depth scoring.
At this point, I would not put too much stock on the speculation surrounding any details of any deals until they actually take place (the NHL or Sweden for instance). My bigger concern is whether the players will get a fair shake and opportunity to shine in the right roles if they sign, and come to camp ready to compete. This organization does not have a strong history of rushing prospects and often young players are "sheltered" and not necessarily put in their ideal roles until they earn the trust of the coaching staff by demonstrating their are responsible players. While that is a safe way of helping young players transition into bigger roles in the best league in the world, I also want to see if young offensive players can handle themselves in a top six role not playing alongside grinders on the fourth line.
Anyway, still jumping the gun that they can get a deal done with both young men, but that would be good news indeed if that was the case.
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Apr 26, 2016 19:42:11 GMT -5
I keep reading good things about Artturi Lehkonen ... wondering how much of an adjustment the North American game would be for him ...
Cheers.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 28, 2016 9:48:36 GMT -5
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Post by seventeen on Apr 28, 2016 11:48:46 GMT -5
I think I read that they're talking but no formal offer yet. But I could be wrong.
One thing to remember with this kid is that he grew up in a very poor situation income wise. That can affect your outlook and your behaviour. He has very strong family ties and a huge desire to improve their situation financially. That can be a strength, because he had to have a lot of drive just to get to where he is. I think if the Habs go in understanding that background, they should be able to handle discussions well. If there's a chip on his shoulder, it was likely placed there from birth. Slovakia is not a rich country. Obviously he has to learn to handle himself in a different world and if he's helped along that path, it's a win-win for he and the Habs.
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Post by blny on Apr 28, 2016 17:08:57 GMT -5
Does signing one, or both, mean there's no room for Andrighetto? I wonder. 'ghetto looked decent this season when given a chance at an offensive role. He's an RFA. Perhaps you sign Artturi and Reway, and move Andrighetto as part of a deal.
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