The Habs will change their look
Mar 23, 2005 12:50:23 GMT -5
Post by M. Beaux-Eaux on Mar 23, 2005 12:50:23 GMT -5
23/03/2005 08:02
The Habs will change their look
Marc de Foy - Journal de Montréal
Bob Gainey doesn't hide the fact that the Canadiens will show an appreciably different face when the NHL resumes activities. And one isn't even thinking along the lines that the re-emergence would include replacement players.
Several veterans left after last season.
Joé Juneau ended his career while Andreas Dackell returned to play in Sweden.
Stéphane Quintal, who was no longer in the team's plans, signed a contract with the Los Angeles Kings.
Darren Langdon accepted an offer from the New Jersey Devils and Mathieu Garon was traded to the Kings in return for Radek Bonk and Cristobal Huet.
Two other veterans will probably not be there upon resumption of play.
One thinks of Yanic Perreault and Jim Dowd who did not receive offers from the Canadiens after the last campaign.
The Habs will not retain the services of defenseman Karl Dykhuis either - who played with the Hamilton Bulldogs last season for $1.6M and whose contract was still valid this season.
Lastly, nothing says that Alex Kovalev, also a free agent, will return to continue his career in Montréal.
Talent in abundance in the AHL
The available positions will be many and all indications are that the majority of them will be filled by prospects in the organization.
"When a young player progresses steadily in the minor leagues, he's likely to reach the NHL", says Gainey.
The candidates are numerous in his opinion.
"During a recent game between Hamilton and Chicago, I indexed between 15 and 17 names among the 40 players on the two teams who are good bets to play in the NHL", underlines Gainey.
On the Bulldogs side Chris Higgins and Tomas Plekanec are knocking on the door.
One can add the name of Alexander Perezhogin, who was forced to return to play in Russia because of a one year suspension in the AHL.
Danis in the mix
A second wave of prospects should be ready in two years, if not before.
One thinks of forwards Andrei Kostitsyn and Corey Locke, of the defenseman Jean-Philippe Côté and goalie Yann Danis, who is doing well since his signing as a free agent last year.
"Danis performance doesn't surprise us because our scout in the eastern USA Bill Berglund, himself a former goalie, was very enthusiastic about him in his evaluation", states Gainey.
"Our Director of Scouting Trevor Timmins, also highly recommended him to us."
- texte français original
The Habs will change their look
Marc de Foy - Journal de Montréal
Bob Gainey doesn't hide the fact that the Canadiens will show an appreciably different face when the NHL resumes activities. And one isn't even thinking along the lines that the re-emergence would include replacement players.
Several veterans left after last season.
Joé Juneau ended his career while Andreas Dackell returned to play in Sweden.
Stéphane Quintal, who was no longer in the team's plans, signed a contract with the Los Angeles Kings.
Darren Langdon accepted an offer from the New Jersey Devils and Mathieu Garon was traded to the Kings in return for Radek Bonk and Cristobal Huet.
Two other veterans will probably not be there upon resumption of play.
One thinks of Yanic Perreault and Jim Dowd who did not receive offers from the Canadiens after the last campaign.
The Habs will not retain the services of defenseman Karl Dykhuis either - who played with the Hamilton Bulldogs last season for $1.6M and whose contract was still valid this season.
Lastly, nothing says that Alex Kovalev, also a free agent, will return to continue his career in Montréal.
Talent in abundance in the AHL
The available positions will be many and all indications are that the majority of them will be filled by prospects in the organization.
"When a young player progresses steadily in the minor leagues, he's likely to reach the NHL", says Gainey.
The candidates are numerous in his opinion.
"During a recent game between Hamilton and Chicago, I indexed between 15 and 17 names among the 40 players on the two teams who are good bets to play in the NHL", underlines Gainey.
On the Bulldogs side Chris Higgins and Tomas Plekanec are knocking on the door.
One can add the name of Alexander Perezhogin, who was forced to return to play in Russia because of a one year suspension in the AHL.
Danis in the mix
A second wave of prospects should be ready in two years, if not before.
One thinks of forwards Andrei Kostitsyn and Corey Locke, of the defenseman Jean-Philippe Côté and goalie Yann Danis, who is doing well since his signing as a free agent last year.
"Danis performance doesn't surprise us because our scout in the eastern USA Bill Berglund, himself a former goalie, was very enthusiastic about him in his evaluation", states Gainey.
"Our Director of Scouting Trevor Timmins, also highly recommended him to us."
- texte français original
