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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jan 4, 2017 19:55:50 GMT -5
Bet Team Canada should have picked McNiven over Connor Ingram. Wow he has looked bad again. Pulled already after two goals on three shots.
Juulsen with some nice hits already.
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Post by blny on Jan 4, 2017 20:48:14 GMT -5
Bet Team Canada should have picked McNiven over Connor Ingram. Wow he has looked bad again. Pulled already after two goals on three shots. Juulsen with some nice hits already. Second one was tough. First one was a definite whiff. I just don't get why Juulsen doesn't get more minutes. Chabot doesn't blow me away in his own end. Juulsen skates as well as anyone on the team, hits like a truck, and makes smart plays. I'm not predicting much offense at the pro level, but I think he'll be that top 4 guy that eats minutes, plays smart and fast. He won't get pushed around either. |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jan 4, 2017 21:00:14 GMT -5
Yeah, Juulsen made a bit of a mistake on that last pinch, but recovered nicely. He is so quietly solid.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jan 4, 2017 21:05:42 GMT -5
Bean is a turnover machine, so Juulsen needs to be solid!
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jan 4, 2017 21:43:58 GMT -5
Juulsen finds Strome, who finally does something tonight. Noah having a very good game.
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Post by blny on Jan 4, 2017 22:11:49 GMT -5
Noah was great. Was a play inside of 2 minutes. He's got the puck on the near side, recognizes he has time and makes a smooth backhand lob out of the zone to kill time. Just simple, but effective. He makes the right play so often. Clagge doesn't really do much for me either. Ducharme is running Barzal on the point on the PP, so there's little chance for Noah to get on the PP. With Myers gone, I wouldn't have any issue giving Juulsen a shot on the first pair, but Ducharme is sticking to his pairs. Fabbro had a strong game, saving a goal against, from the third pair as well.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jan 4, 2017 22:31:57 GMT -5
Figured Canada's player of the game had to be one of the two Silvertips. They both had great games.
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Post by BadCompany on Jan 5, 2017 9:12:23 GMT -5
Very nice game from Juulsen, who has underwhelmed me so far this tournament. Reminded me a bit of Ryan McDonagh style-wise, or perhaps Dion Phaneuf during his WJC days. Not quite as dominant as Phaneuf was then, but still had that big-hit-ability. Good to see.
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Post by blny on Jan 5, 2017 9:38:21 GMT -5
Very nice game from Juulsen, who has underwhelmed me so far this tournament. Reminded me a bit of Ryan McDonagh style-wise, or perhaps Dion Phaneuf during his WJC days. Not quite as dominant as Phaneuf was then, but still had that big-hit-ability. Good to see. I don't think he's been given much of a chance to showcase himself. He's been pegged into the second pair with Bean. I've been watching for the little things every time I see him on ice. Skating, passing, decision-making, etc. He's as good as anyone on the team in those regards imo. I think he plays a high percentage game that will translate very well to how coaches want their defense to play. He doesn't shoot the puck particularly well. He's a good passer, and could be a good set up man for a partner that can shoot from the point. His upside is a Bouwmeester style of player with more of a propensity to hit. He should be playing in Laval next year, and with his apparent smarts I don't expect him to be on the farm too long. |
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Post by Tankdriver on Jan 5, 2017 12:51:23 GMT -5
I see him being the perfect trade chip for a guy like Duchesne or Landeskog, if the Habs could send Plekanec back in that trade.
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jan 5, 2017 13:31:45 GMT -5
I see him being the perfect trade chip for a guy like Duchesne or Landeskog, if the Habs could send Plekanec back in that trade. I read on Elliot Freedman's " 30 Thoughts" that Colorado will be looking for defensive help, so a guy like Noah Juulsen might be attractive to them ... he also mentioned that the price would be expensive for Matt Duchene, so it's possible they'd ask for Mikhail Sergachev right off the bat ... Sergachev, Scherbak and a 1st might be a starting point ... massage the deal from there, I guess ... (I'm only speculating because I really don't know what it will take to get a deal done) ... but we need centres and they need, well, everything ... maybe see if there's interest in Spengler Cup goaltender, Zach Fucale ... dunno what Bergevin can pull off ... Cheers. |
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Post by Willie Dog on Jan 5, 2017 13:41:47 GMT -5
Scherbak got blindsided in the Ice Caps game last night, he was laying on the ice for a minute or 2 but was back on the ice for the last minute of the 3rd.... Hope this is not an Andrew Shaw type of thing though... would love to see him up with the big club... playing with Radu.
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Post by blny on Jan 5, 2017 14:13:11 GMT -5
Man, Scherbak is spending lots of time in the hospital ward.
I don't think there's any doubt that Sergachev would top the list. As a left side defender in a system not stacked with them, and with a lot more offensive upside, I couldn't give him up over Juulsen. If it came down to those two, I'd give up more for the other team to take Noah instead.
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Post by BadCompany on Jan 5, 2017 14:47:23 GMT -5
I see him being the perfect trade chip for a guy like Duchesne or Landeskog, if the Habs could send Plekanec back in that trade. I read on Elliot Freedman's " 30 Thoughts" that Colorado will be looking for defensive help, so a guy like Noah Juulsen might be attractive to them ... he also mentioned that the price would be expensive for Matt Duchene, so it's possible they'd ask for Mikhail Sergachev right off the bat ... Sergachev, Scherbak and a 1st might be a starting point ... massage the deal from there, I guess ... (I'm only speculating because I really don't know what it will take to get a deal done) ... but we need centres and they need, well, everything ... maybe see if there's interest in Spengler Cup goaltender, Zach Fucale ... dunno what Bergevin can pull off ... Cheers. As much as I would love to see a Duchene or Tavares making waves during our playoff run this spring, I highly doubt either one of those guys will be dealt before the draft. Don’t get me wrong, if I’m Bergevin I’m kicking those tires really hard, and if either of those guys is dealt elsewhere before the draft I will be mighty ticked… but upon further reflection I just don’t see either of the Islanders or the Avalanche having any real incentive to make such a deal before the draft. Making a deal at the deadline kind of limits there options, and adds levels of uncertainty that they don’t have to have. Teams that are capped out (and Montreal might well end up being one of those teams because of injuries) won’t be in the bidding this spring… but there will be nothing to stop them from being in the bidding in June, when there are no (immediate) cap problems, AND they have a better idea of what their teams will look like. San Jose, for example, could walk away from UFA-to-be Patrick Marleau, which would free up the cap space to be used in a hypothetical offer for Tavares. Something they may not be able to do in February when Marleau still counts against the cap. Or Montreal could "incentivize" Las Vegas to take Plekanec, thus making our cap life easier. Things like that. Additionally, waiting until the draft gives the Islanders and Avalanche more certainty in the draft itself. Say the Islanders are picking 1st overall, after having won the lottery. Well, they know they are going to get a franchise center in Nolan Patrick (probably), so any package that they will want in return will probably have to include a blue-chip defenseman. On the other hand, if they are picking SECOND overall, they can kiss Patrick goodbye (probably), which means they then have a choice; do they pick up the second best center in the draft, even if he’s only the third or fourth best player? Or do they take the next best player, which might be a defenseman? If they take a defenseman, then they will want a blue-chip center in return for Tavares. None of that is set in stone of course – they may like TWO blue-chip centers – but it does give them more clarity if they wait. Their draft board will be set up, they’ll know where they are drafting, who is most likely to be available to them, and how that will affect their depth chart in return. They’ll also have more teams bidding, more options, and perhaps more desperation from teams running out of time, like the aforementioned San Jose. So unless they're REALLY blown away by an offer I don't see them being in all that much of a hurry to do anything this season. |
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jan 5, 2017 16:40:38 GMT -5
I read on Elliot Freedman's " 30 Thoughts" that Colorado will be looking for defensive help, so a guy like Noah Juulsen might be attractive to them ... he also mentioned that the price would be expensive for Matt Duchene, so it's possible they'd ask for Mikhail Sergachev right off the bat ... Sergachev, Scherbak and a 1st might be a starting point ... massage the deal from there, I guess ... (I'm only speculating because I really don't know what it will take to get a deal done) ... but we need centres and they need, well, everything ... maybe see if there's interest in Spengler Cup goaltender, Zach Fucale ... dunno what Bergevin can pull off ... Cheers. As much as I would love to see a Duchene or Tavares making waves during our playoff run this spring, I highly doubt either one of those guys will be dealt before the draft. Don’t get me wrong, if I’m Bergevin I’m kicking those tires really hard, and if either of those guys is dealt elsewhere before the draft I will be mighty ticked… but upon further reflection I just don’t see either of the Islanders or the Avalanche having any real incentive to make such a deal before the draft. I never really gave John Tavares much thought to be honest, BC ... don't know why, I think of him as one of these guys who will never end up in Montreal ... moving onto draft day, it wouldn't surprise me to see the organization make a strong pitch for Matt Duchene ... Duchene would be a draw in Montreal and I suspect that may come up in negotiations ... deadline/draft day deals for another time ... Arizona is selling "incentivizing" as another concept of rebuilding ... I mentioned a while back that this might be the only way Bergevin would have been able to move Desharnais or Plekanec, but that was around the beginning of the season ... No, I think you have a good point here ... Cheers. |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jan 7, 2017 22:38:45 GMT -5
Will Bitten is heating it up a bit now. He scored two goals last night, and had a goal and two helpers tonight.
McNiven came up big head to head against Sergachev and Addison tonight, leading his lads to a 5-1 win over tough Windsor.
Edit: McNiven is on a 5 game win streak since being cut by Team Canada. He has given up just three goals in those five games. Overall, he is riding a 6 game win streak with just 4 goals in that span. Crazy good. Fucale's return to NA after his big Sprengler Cup win was a 5-2 ECHL loss last night. I am sure he will bounce back, as he has been playing well of late. I was hoping to catch Providence goalie Hayden Hawkey on TSN2 yesterday as I don't believe I have seen him play before. The game was postponed until today due to a snowstorm in the NE US. Next time I guess.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jan 13, 2017 12:29:25 GMT -5
Will Bitten has been producing nicely of late, so it is a great time for his team's only appearance on Sportsnet this weekend. Ottawa vs Hamilton is on across the whole Sportsnet network starting at 3:30 pm ET tomorrow (Saturday, Jan 14th).
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jan 13, 2017 12:39:13 GMT -5
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Post by seventeen on Jan 13, 2017 14:19:31 GMT -5
For a guy who's been inconsistent, he does seem to win a lot. Sure hope he isn't another Dustin Tokarski.
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Post by blny on Jan 13, 2017 19:21:30 GMT -5
Regarding Tavares and Duchene ...
I don't see Johnny T going before the summer. That's just too big a trade. I don't see the Isles initiating a bidding war for him, because I don't believe they want to. But, he may force their hand. Something to consider is that he has a NTC/NMC this and next season. He can submit a list of 8 teams he won't accept a trade too. He's got another year after this at a very favorable cap hit of $5.5 million. He's the face of a franchise that can never seem to find stability. They have a boat anchor contract with Ladd. No one would take Grabovski. The biggest glimmers of hope are Beauvilier and Barzal. Ho-Sang and Dal Colle aren't locks to be impact players. To trade Tavares is to strip it to the studs. Combine that with the Barclay's debacle, and it could be a death nell for the franchise. They can demand a Galchenyuk-focused type of return all they want, but my prediction would be that they likely get a salary back along with a boat load of picks and prospects. I'm not sure we could compete in that sort of arena.
When it comes to Duchene, while he's a big piece, he's not a franchise player. I think he's far easier to move in-season. Colorado wants really good defensive prospect(s), a first, etc. We could do that. I think we'd have to send a salary back. Maybe it's Emelin, Sergachev, and our first. That gives them a competent defender, an elite defensive prospect, and a first. Would I? I don't know. Duchene is a lw/c. He's not big, and hasn't put up big numbers. He's not a big goal scorer. I don't know if he's more comfortable at center or wing. Is he acquired to center a line behind Galchenyuk? Or, where he's something of a playmaker, do we put him with Galchenyuk? Then have a line with Pacioretty, Radulov, and someone else.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jan 14, 2017 0:03:36 GMT -5
Some prospect news from tonight. Fucale notched a win tonight. On another goalie front, the oft forgotten Hayden Hawkey lost tonight in the NCAA. What is remarkable is it was the first game in ten games where he gave up more than two goals in a game. Hayden who?
Will Bitten is on tv tomorrow...see my recent post. He warmed up nicely with a pair of goals and an assist in a 5-1 win tonight.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jan 21, 2017 20:05:33 GMT -5
Bitten heating up of late. A big three point night last night. He is on a six game point streak heading into tonight with an impressive 13 points in those 6 games.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jan 26, 2017 15:05:32 GMT -5
Habs Prospects on TV alert!!
Tune into the various Sportsnet channels this Saturday and get a chance to see up to two prospects in one game. London vs Owen Sound at 1:30 ET. Michael McNiven who should get the start for Owen Sound and has had a very good year. He is already under contract and will be joining the pro ranks next season, so he will want to finish off his junior career with a bang (and he is doing just fine in that regard this season already). He has won 11 straight starts and 17 of his last 19.  Victor Mete was injured recently but we all hope he can show off his smooth skating capabilities on the blue line this weekend for one and all.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jan 30, 2017 13:56:29 GMT -5
Although we don't know if any of the participants in tonight's CHL Top Prospects game will be Habs' draft picks, there is a pretty good chance at least one will be based on past drafts. Check out the kids on TV tonight across the Sportsnet channels starting at 7:00 pm ET.
If nothing else, it is a great showcase of young talent in an exhibition format that sometimes looks a lot like a real hockey game with hitting and even the odd scrap has been known to break out in the past.
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Post by GNick99 on Jan 31, 2017 15:35:24 GMT -5
Habs Prospects on TV alert!!
Tune into the various Sportsnet channels this Saturday and get a chance to see up to two prospects in one game. London vs Owen Sound at 1:30 ET. Michael McNiven who should get the start for Owen Sound and has had a very good year. He is already under contract and will be joining the pro ranks next season, so he will want to finish off his junior career with a bang (and he is doing just fine in that regard this season already). He has won 11 straight starts and 17 of his last 19. Victor Mete was injured recently but we all hope he can show off his smooth skating capabilities on the blue line this weekend for one and all. McNiven certainly been hot as of late |
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Post by GNick99 on Jan 31, 2017 15:38:55 GMT -5
Regarding Tavares and Duchene ... I don't see Johnny T going before the summer. That's just too big a trade. I don't see the Isles initiating a bidding war for him, because I don't believe they want to. But, he may force their hand. Something to consider is that he has a NTC/NMC this and next season. He can submit a list of 8 teams he won't accept a trade too. He's got another year after this at a very favorable cap hit of $5.5 million. He's the face of a franchise that can never seem to find stability. They have a boat anchor contract with Ladd. No one would take Grabovski. The biggest glimmers of hope are Beauvilier and Barzal. Ho-Sang and Dal Colle aren't locks to be impact players. To trade Tavares is to strip it to the studs. Combine that with the Barclay's debacle, and it could be a death nell for the franchise. They can demand a Galchenyuk-focused type of return all they want, but my prediction would be that they likely get a salary back along with a boat load of picks and prospects. I'm not sure we could compete in that sort of arena. When it comes to Duchene, while he's a big piece, he's not a franchise player. I think he's far easier to move in-season. Colorado wants really good defensive prospect(s), a first, etc. We could do that. I think we'd have to send a salary back. Maybe it's Emelin, Sergachev, and our first. That gives them a competent defender, an elite defensive prospect, and a first. Would I? I don't know. Duchene is a lw/c. He's not big, and hasn't put up big numbers. He's not a big goal scorer. I don't know if he's more comfortable at center or wing. Is he acquired to center a line behind Galchenyuk? Or, where he's something of a playmaker, do we put him with Galchenyuk? Then have a line with Pacioretty, Radulov, and someone else. I gamble more than most, but its been 24 years since we've been a cup contender. It is time....I would move Sergechev for Duchene in a minute. Then offer our first and prospect like Schebak and McCarron for a good lh d-man. |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Feb 1, 2017 14:25:38 GMT -5
Time to give some props to some of our top junior/college prospects, a number of whom are likely below most radars. My top three for the last month or so:
First star: Matt Bradley, C/LW, Medicine Hat (WHL) - the recently turned 20 year old 5th round (2015) forward is playing for a contract and is making a decent case for himself. He is currently on a 10 game point streak and in 50gp has 21g 35a and 56pts. He has already set career highs for assists and points and needs two more goals to match his career high there too.
Second star: Michael McNiven, G, Owen Sound (OHL) - okay, this 19 year old netminder is no longer an under the radar prospect but he sure is showing why it was a mistake for teams not to draft him for free. A great free agent signing by the Habs in the summer right after his draft year. He is sporting an incredible 18-2-1 record in his last 21 games, and has a 2.27gaa (2nd in OHL), 916 save% (5th in OHL for all goalies with at least 10 games), 3 shut outs (tied for 3rd in the league) and 26 wins (2nd overall). He is under contract already and will turn pro next season and burn off the first year of his entry level deal. Yeah, he could easily be considered the first star, but wanted to profile someone else for a change.
Third star: Jake Evans, C/RW, Notre Dame (NCAA) - the 20 year old Ontario native is having another consistently good year in his third year of college hockey with Notre Dame. For a 7th rounder (2014), he has been remarkably effective in putting up points at the NCAA level after being quietly drafted out of Junior A hockey in Ontario. in 26gp, he has 8g, 18a, and 26pts for a nice point a game pace in the NCAA. He now has points in 11 of his last 12 games, speaking to his consistency. Jake is on pace to set some career highs this year. He needs to be signed by 2018, but is making a pretty decent case not to be ignored.
Honourable Mention: Hayden Hawkey, G, Providence College (NCAA) - the 21 year old former USHL goalie of the year has not seen a lot of playing time in the NCAA up until this year, so we finally get a chance to see what the Habs have in this goalie prospect. He has 5 wins in a row and spots a 14-8-4 overall record (they do play for ties in the NCAA). He has a crisp 2.18gaa and 911 save %. This 6th rounder (2014) needs to be signed by 2019, so definitely no rush as the Habs have taken a few other steps to firm up their overall goaltending depth.
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Post by blny on Feb 1, 2017 14:32:26 GMT -5
Re Bradley, I like that not only is he posting career numbers for points, but he's tied for third on the team in +/- at +21. He was -16 last year. That's a huge turnaround.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Feb 1, 2017 14:32:57 GMT -5
Habs prospect on TV alert
TSN2 will be showing NCAA hockey this Friday night. Their first game of their double header starts at 6:00 pm ET and features Maine vs Providence (Hayden Hawkey - see last post).
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Feb 1, 2017 14:34:53 GMT -5
Re Bradley, I like that not only is he posting career numbers for points, but he's tied for third on the team in +/- at +21. He was -16 last year. That's a huge turnaround. I have watched him live a few times and he plays with a bit of an edge at times too, and not in a bad way. Not the biggest guy but one of the team's go-to players for sure. He comes back here in March and I have plans of attending, and not just to watch a family member signing the national anthem with their school choir! |
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