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Post by montreal on Aug 8, 2005 21:29:18 GMT -5
Someone I know at HF said she heard that the Habs will be signing defensemen Andre Benoit. I can understand if you want to delete it, I just thought I would pass it along, since the poster is usually a good source for OHL info. Plus with Plante signing in Germany, and the Oilers trading Woywitka and Lynch (2 of the guys rumored to be loaned to Hamilton) the defense in Hamilton right now stands at Archer and Cote. Sanford I thought the team had an option on him but I'm not sure. I would think he will be back.
Also Mark Flood is at the rangers camp. Last year they picked up Habs draftee Ryan Glenn (who had a solid year in the ECHL) and before that they picked up Habs draftee Dusty Jamieson (who was very good in the ECHL this year, but has now moved on to the Euro league) With Ward over there as well, the rangers seem to like our cast offs.
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Post by Forum Ghost on Aug 9, 2005 1:05:45 GMT -5
Any info on this Benoit guy? I've never heard of him.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2005 10:29:35 GMT -5
Nor have I.
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Post by Bob on Aug 9, 2005 11:24:12 GMT -5
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Post by TheCaper on Aug 9, 2005 12:52:12 GMT -5
That’s some serious PP talent:
Benoit – Syvret – Locke - Kostitsyn - Pouliot
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Post by montreal on Aug 9, 2005 15:32:27 GMT -5
Any info on this Benoit guy? I've never heard of him. Not very big or strong but a gifted offensive defensemen. From what I've seen from him he is solid in his own end but it remains to be seen how he will be able to handle the big stronger AHLers. If it's true and I've heard it's going to be a 2 year deal (but still just a rumor at this point) it would be a very solid pickup especially since Hamilton is very thin on defense. |
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Post by BadCompany on Aug 9, 2005 15:39:21 GMT -5
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Post by M. Beaux-Eaux on Aug 9, 2005 15:43:00 GMT -5
Was second in scoring on Kitchener the last two seasons, tied for third the season before that.
Good luck to him.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Aug 9, 2005 23:20:00 GMT -5
A bigger (weight wise) offensive Dman with what seems like more offensive upside than Flood, who was the OHL Overager of the Year this past year. Seems like a decent move considering Flood did not sign and Shasby has been left to do his own thing. We are really lacking any offense out of our D in Hamilton as Archer and Cote are mainly good stay at homers.
If this signing is for real (and someone else over on the other place is also confirming that he has signed...for what that is worth!!), then it starts to fill a void on D in Hamilton until we can start to see some of the D prospects like Gleed, Korneev, Korpikari, O'Byrne, & Emelin get signed.
With fewer players getting drafted (2 fewer rounds in the draft this year) and more Europeans who end up undrafted and possible future free agents, there will be players out there who can be scouted and signed down the road. I am glad that the Habs, unlike other teams, maintained their full scouting staff. They will have a bit of a leg up on some of the others.
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Post by Ryan on Aug 10, 2005 13:08:25 GMT -5
I would be thrilled if the Habs could sign Benoit. I've been a Rangers season ticket holder for 4 years, so I've seen Andre play for a long time. First thing is his character, which should never be underestimated. He is an absolutely incredible young man with his head firmly screwed onto his shoulders (It better be, they'll likely check that during the physical). Correct me if I'm wrong, but Andre lost his brother during his second season with the Rangers and has learned a lot through facing that adversity. Andre is a good skater, but not great. He's slightly undersized by NHL standards, but those standards are ever changing with the new rules for this year. He's got incredible instincts for the game and sees the ice very well from the back-end. Although he's tidy in his own end, he joins the rush better than anyother defenceman in the OHL and was the leading scorer amongst defencemen 2 of the last 3 years. 2 years ago I believe was second by 1 point. Andre's signature move was a wrist shot from the point that seemingly has eyes. I can't tell you how many times he scored like that, especially on the PP. Two years ago I had a long conversation with Jamie McDonald (former Kitchener GM who drafted Benoit, and at that time was an amateur scout for the NY Rangers) and he started to glow when talking about Andre. NJ and Toronto have both had him at prospect camps, and McDonald was pushing very hard for NY to sign him when neither of those teams offered him a contract. He said he'll be a future captain in the AHL and would be a perfect player to call up whenever you needed help. He didn't necessarily believe Andre's future is that of a steady NHLer, and I tend to agree. But you just never know, with his smarts and attitude he could be the next Rafalski. McDonald said even though Derek Roy and Michael Richards have worn the C during Benoit's time in Kitchener, everyone in the room knew that Andre was the leader of the team. And that's no stab at Roy or Richards, two amazing captains in their own right. One of Andre's best games was 2 years ago the game after the Leafs cut him from their prospect camp. Luckily it was held in Kitchener, so he suited up for our home opener and went on to score 8 points (4g 4a) in the most dominating single game I've ever seen from an OHLer. Sorry for the length of the post, but I really can't say enough about Andre Benoit. But if you don't believe me, just go here www.rangersrush.com/Forum.html to the RangersRush message board and ask for an opinion on him. |
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Post by Doc Holliday on Aug 11, 2005 20:45:58 GMT -5
I would be thrilled if the Habs could sign Benoit. I've been a Rangers season ticket holder for 4 years, so I've seen Andre play for a long time. First thing is his character, which should never be underestimated. He is an absolutely incredible young man with his head firmly screwed onto his shoulders (It better be, they'll likely check that during the physical). Correct me if I'm wrong, but Andre lost his brother during his second season with the Rangers and has learned a lot through facing that adversity. Andre is a good skater, but not great. He's slightly undersized by NHL standards, but those standards are ever changing with the new rules for this year. He's got incredible instincts for the game and sees the ice very well from the back-end. Although he's tidy in his own end, he joins the rush better than anyother defenceman in the OHL and was the leading scorer amongst defencemen 2 of the last 3 years. 2 years ago I believe was second by 1 point. Andre's signature move was a wrist shot from the point that seemingly has eyes. I can't tell you how many times he scored like that, especially on the PP. Two years ago I had a long conversation with Jamie McDonald (former Kitchener GM who drafted Benoit, and at that time was an amateur scout for the NY Rangers) and he started to glow when talking about Andre. NJ and Toronto have both had him at prospect camps, and McDonald was pushing very hard for NY to sign him when neither of those teams offered him a contract. He said he'll be a future captain in the AHL and would be a perfect player to call up whenever you needed help. He didn't necessarily believe Andre's future is that of a steady NHLer, and I tend to agree. But you just never know, with his smarts and attitude he could be the next Rafalski. McDonald said even though Derek Roy and Michael Richards have worn the C during Benoit's time in Kitchener, everyone in the room knew that Andre was the leader of the team. And that's no stab at Roy or Richards, two amazing captains in their own right. One of Andre's best games was 2 years ago the game after the Leafs cut him from their prospect camp. Luckily it was held in Kitchener, so he suited up for our home opener and went on to score 8 points (4g 4a) in the most dominating single game I've ever seen from an OHLer. Sorry for the length of the post, but I really can't say enough about Andre Benoit. But if you don't believe me, just go here www.rangersrush.com/Forum.html to the RangersRush message board and ask for an opinion on him. ...wow... thanks. Talk about giving an educated opinion... |
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Post by seventeen on Aug 12, 2005 0:59:13 GMT -5
Good thing Character begins with a C. Perfect for les Canadiens
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Aug 14, 2005 19:17:30 GMT -5
Character counts.
I'll take a team full of Chipchuras, Benoits, Begins and Koivus characters over Theodore, Rucinsky, Czerkawski and Kovalev mersonaries.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Aug 15, 2005 22:16:28 GMT -5
A bit more information on Mr Benoit: - runner up for OHL defenseman of the year this year (Danny Syvret won it and could be with Hamilton as a result of the Oiler deal) - Most Sportsmanlike award winner in the OHL last year (is this the kind of defenseman we want  ) - captain of Team Canada's U18 team in 2002 (they didn't do well but also included Michael Lambert and James Sanford, two guys who played part of the season in Hamilton and in the ECHL last season) |
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Aug 17, 2005 3:40:48 GMT -5
Overage for Jr hockey, but just right for development in Hamilton. If he improves he will help the team. If not, he helps Hamilton. His stats are impressive. Possible upside and no downside.
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