|
|
Post by habmeister on Dec 14, 2005 11:30:24 GMT -5
Well i was one of 200 or so people that went to the first Team Canada Jr. scrimmage, with an eye on watching our hab picks. It was fast and good hockey, with one hit sending a guy crashing through the glass, but that happenned so fast that nobody seemed to know who laid that hit. Was it shown on tsn? Anyway, they played 3 x 15 minute periods with only 1 goalie playing for each team. Carey Price wasn't one of them, he was dressed with team white and will play the full 45 minutes tonight i'm sure. Guillaume Latendresse A man amoung boys is the first thing that came to mind. The power that he showed on the puck was incredible. By far the strongest player on either team, he looked like an NHL power forward playing with juniors. Made a lot of nice moves around the net, mostly power moves where a player could not stop him from where he wanted to go. He scored a goal, setup another one on a 2nd assist, and was a treat to watch. The second half of his game wasn't as good as the first as team red got a 3-0 lead and didn't create as much offense in the third period. One thing that we noticed is that he made 3-4 bad passes, not defensively bad, just not tape to tape like you would like to see at this level. Having said that he was the strongest player on the ice, and one of the most dangerous offensively. It was hard to believe that he was a 2nd round pick, when you see no less than 7 forwards who were first round picks on the ice and he's right in the thick of things, probably closer in talent to Setoguchi (8th overall), and Pouliot (4th overall) than to some of the mid round-late 1st round picks. Kyle Chipchura I was expecting to be dissapointed in his skating and overall game the way some posters on this board have been talking about him. What you see is what you get with chips. He looked very calm out there, his skating while wasn't the calibre of brassard of bertam or setoguchi, he always seemed to be in the right place at the right time. His intelligence was above most of the forwards on the ice, it would be difficult to notice him if you didn't put the spotlight on him. I can already see gainey turning him into a carbo type. His skating is good enough, he is a leader, in his own end he was down low digging for the puck and moving it out of the zone. He also created offensively, but team white was shutout. With 5 seconds left in the game he laid a guy out with a crushing check that had people going "whoa!" and as the player got back to his feet the buzzer went. Just in case nobody noticed him until then, they did at the end. Carey Price: DNP Players i really liked: Rogers, Staal, Bertram, Chipchura, Setoguchi (one of the best), Funk, Brassard, Chucko, Comeau, Downey (flyers pick, this years tootoo), Latendresse, and the best player on the ice with two goals Benoit Pouliot. Official red vs white rosters www.hockeycanada.ca/index.cfm/ci_id/17570/la_id/1.htm I'll be there again tonight, will be interesting to watch now that i've seen all of the players, who steps up to try to win a spot. One last note, young Angelo Esposito didn't look out of place out there. He has amazing wheels and makes plays at high speed, but he wasn't one of the better players last night. If he wants to make this team he has to play a two way game as well, he was only noticeable occasionally because of his speed. |
|
|
|
Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Dec 14, 2005 11:50:12 GMT -5
Great post and very appreciated.
Much better read than Gainey sucks or Julien sucks, oh yeah, yeah, oh yeah, yeah.
|
|
|
|
Post by habmeister on Dec 14, 2005 12:36:20 GMT -5
Great post and very appreciated. Much better read than Gainey sucks or Julien sucks, oh yeah, yeah, oh yeah, yeah. no kidding, i've stopped reading or responding to those threads. sounds a bit too much like a bunch of high school kids arguing just for the sake of it and expecting too much out of a team that is missing it's two best players. It was really fun to sit center ice and watch these kids up close. You will all get to see chipchura, price and latendresse very soon wearing canada's colors. For now i'm putting them under the microscope. Tonight should be better as last night the first period had very little big hits, and then the 2nd and 3rd really picked up where you could actually see that the coaches told them that there were spots on this team to win or lose and a lot of guys stepped up. Latendresse was a standout, not just because i'm a habs fan, i've watched junior hockey my whole life, and know a good player when i've seen it. Although one 45 minute game doesn't tell me the whole story. Tonight they have another intersquad game, and then tomorrow they'll probably make some cuts before they play the UBC thunderbirds (local university team) at which point i'll get a 3rd look at the hab picks in 3 nights. Looking forward to keeping you informed. |
|
|
|
Post by IamCanadiens on Dec 14, 2005 18:00:14 GMT -5
one hit sending a guy crashing through the glass, but that happenned so fast that nobody seemed to know who laid that hit. Was it shown on tsn? Yup, it was on the tube. Comeau hit Rogers. |
|
|
|
Post by seventeen on Dec 14, 2005 20:35:00 GMT -5
Thanks KD. I love reading the assessments from our posters about our guys. Sometimes we're even right.  |
|
|
|
Post by Toronthab on Dec 14, 2005 23:06:25 GMT -5
Great post and very appreciated. Much better read than Gainey sucks or Julien sucks, oh yeah, yeah, oh yeah, yeah. no kidding, i've stopped reading or responding to those threads. sounds a bit too much like a bunch of high school kids arguing just for the sake of it and expecting too much out of a team that is missing it's two best players. It was really fun to sit center ice and watch these kids up close. You will all get to see chipchura, price and latendresse very soon wearing canada's colors. For now i'm putting them under the microscope. Tonight should be better as last night the first period had very little big hits, and then the 2nd and 3rd really picked up where you could actually see that the coaches told them that there were spots on this team to win or lose and a lot of guys stepped up. Latendresse was a standout, not just because i'm a habs fan, i've watched junior hockey my whole life, and know a good player when i've seen it. Although one 45 minute game doesn't tell me the whole story. Tonight they have another intersquad game, and then tomorrow they'll probably make some cuts before they play the UBC thunderbirds (local university team) at which point i'll get a 3rd look at the hab picks in 3 nights. Looking forward to keeping you informed. Thanks mucho for the great update. |
|
|
|
Post by NWTHabsFan on Dec 15, 2005 0:50:22 GMT -5
Well, my travels take me to Vancouver and Edmonton this week, so caught the inter-squad WJC game tonight and will be at Rexall to see les Boys tomorrow night.
As for the Hab prospects at the game tonight, all three saw lots of ice time.
Price - Was in net and was on the good end of an 8-1 win for team white. He was really solid, although he over-slid a few times as was caught out of position leaving most of the net open. He got away with it twice. He is very solid positionally and is quite quick. His puck handling skills are as good as ever, and compared to Ellis who was dreadful in the other net, he looked great. His one goal against was a weird one, as he had it between his arm and body, but as he fell, it slipped out and someone shoved it in.
Chipchura - This guy never takes a shift off. He laid the most body checks on either team, he had some really nice outlet passes, and had a few chances to score. He should have had two assists tonight as he did touch the puck on Cogliano's goal. That line of Chip, Cogliano and Bolland looked really good out there, with smart two-way Kyle, the shooter in Bolland, and the speedy skill merchant in Cogliano. I watched Kyle play so smart in his own end, and he really does have decent hockey sense and incredible work ethic out there. A good, safe smart guy who seems to also be developing into one of the Team Canada leaders from all accounts.
Latendresse - I read that he really dominated last night, so this was not quite that dominant a performance. His team was pretty awful tonight, as they really lacked jump. He likes to throw the body around and he really does cycle down low really well, where he can use his size. He also can control the puck in traffic and around defensemen because of his size and strength. He seems like the go-to Power Forward for this team. Gui did get a helper on his team's only goal tonight. As for his skating, his did skate by a defender tonight and he seemed to be decent enough, but by no means blistering fast. A mid-range skater, but it doesn't hurt him as he is tough to knock off the puck. I am not worried about his skating, it should not hold him back.
Some of the others that I liked and would put on the team: Cogliano (small and skilled, the Oilers have a good one), Toews (the 17 year old is going to be a good one and you can see why he is one of the top picks for next year's draft), and Pokulok (O'Byrne and Gleed's teammate in Cornell looked really solid with the puck, and I thought he carried the puck better than Staal and Letang...and he is 6'5" so is a really big boy out there).
|
|
|
|
Post by HabbaDasher on Dec 15, 2005 17:00:19 GMT -5
Thanks NWT.
A good read and a nice change from the "Gainey is a Fool" and "Julien is Incompetent" threads.
|
|
|
|
Post by habmeister on Dec 15, 2005 17:05:57 GMT -5
Well, my travels take me to Vancouver and Edmonton this week, so caught the inter-squad WJC game tonight and will be at Rexall to see les Boys tomorrow night. As for the Hab prospects at the game tonight, all three saw lots of ice time. Price - Was in net and was on the good end of an 8-1 win for team white. He was really solid, although he over-slid a few times as was caught out of position leaving most of the net open. He got away with it twice. He is very solid positionally and is quite quick. His puck handling skills are as good as ever, and compared to Ellis who was dreadful in the other net, he looked great. His one goal against was a weird one, as he had it between his arm and body, but as he fell, it slipped out and someone shoved it in. Chipchura - This guy never takes a shift off. He laid the most body checks on either team, he had some really nice outlet passes, and had a few chances to score. He should have had two assists tonight as he did touch the puck on Cogliano's goal. That line of Chip, Cogliano and Bolland looked really good out there, with smart two-way Kyle, the shooter in Bolland, and the speedy skill merchant in Cogliano. I watched Kyle play so smart in his own end, and he really does have decent hockey sense and incredible work ethic out there. A good, safe smart guy who seems to also be developing into one of the Team Canada leaders from all accounts. Latendresse - I read that he really dominated last night, so this was not quite that dominant a performance. His team was pretty awful tonight, as they really lacked jump. He likes to throw the body around and he really does cycle down low really well, where he can use his size. He also can control the puck in traffic and around defensemen because of his size and strength. He seems like the go-to Power Forward for this team. Gui did get a helper on his team's only goal tonight. As for his skating, his did skate by a defender tonight and he seemed to be decent enough, but by no means blistering fast. A mid-range skater, but it doesn't hurt him as he is tough to knock off the puck. I am not worried about his skating, it should not hold him back. Some of the others that I liked and would put on the team: Cogliano (small and skilled, the Oilers have a good one), Toews (the 17 year old is going to be a good one and you can see why he is one of the top picks for next year's draft), and Pokulok (O'Byrne and Gleed's teammate in Cornell looked really solid with the puck, and I thought he carried the puck better than Staal and Letang...and he is 6'5" so is a really big boy out there). oops i lost my job already! good assesment, i was late so missed the first. wondered why latendresse didn't play in the 3rd period though. i was worried he was hurt, i think it was more that he's a lock for the team so they wanted to give other guys more of a chance. I think its kinda strange that they can pick a goalie because of one game, i guess it is a lot of pressure, but goalies can't be evaluated in one game. Tonight should be great as from what i've heard the ubc team could take some runs at the junior team. Wondering who won't dress, or if they'll put some canada players on ubc. chipchura is a leader, price was good, wasn't tested much, lats was good as usual. he's no slower of foot than chipchura. |
|
|
|
Post by drkcloud on Dec 15, 2005 22:27:05 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by seventeen on Dec 15, 2005 23:30:34 GMT -5
My B-I-L gave me an early Christmas present....a ticket to the Canada-Czech exhibition game this Tuesday in Kelowna. So hopefully I'll get to see all 3 of our guys. I'm fairly certain Gui and Chips will make the team, with Price as the only question mark right now. It doesn't look like the Czech team has any Habs prospects, but that's ok as the three on Team Canada (have to be an optimist) will keep me plenty busy. I'll try and report as soon as I can, but it probably won't be till Wednesday since I'll be late enough getting back from Kelowna (1 1/2 hour drive). Cheers.
|
|
|
|
Post by roke on Dec 15, 2005 23:33:27 GMT -5
From what I've heard Pogge's been the best goaltender in camp and thus deserves the starting spot. As for the #2, all 3 goalies have knocks against them from camp (Price's being allowing 3 goals on his first 3 shots playing in goal for UBC tonight against the Canadians). I hope Price makes the team as the backup and plays one game at the WJC but as long as Pogge is the best goaltender I can't see why I'd want Price playing for Canada over him. |
|
|
|
Post by habmeister on Dec 15, 2005 23:47:47 GMT -5
From what I've heard Pogge's been the best goaltender in camp and thus deserves the starting spot. As for the #2, all 3 goalies have knocks against them from camp (Price's being allowing 3 goals on his first 3 shots playing in goal for UBC tonight against the Canadians). I hope Price makes the team as the backup and plays one game at the WJC but as long as Pogge is the best goaltender I can't see why I'd want Price playing for Canada over him. Pogge wasn't tested tonight at all. Price did let in the first two shots, but came in halfway through the 2nd period cold. You could see him cursing himself after the 2nd goal, on the 3rd he had absolutely no chance, a cross the crease pass on the PP into the empty net. After that he made a bunch of great saves, and was the only goalie that actually had the arena clapping because of the way he was trying to keep it respectable for UBC. If you took away the first two goals, which i'm sure he wouldn't have let in if he was warm, he was the best goalie tonight. Having said that the shots were about 40-12, so UBC was no challenge and the two goalies pogge and ellis who played for UBC showed me nothing as the 12 shots were about 10 weak ones, two good ones. Dubnyk has no chance at a spot if they're going on the evaluation camp, i've seen him play 5 times this season and he has looked terrible every time. Chipchura is on the team already, he didn't play tonight though, but my inside source said he wasn't playing because he is on the team and will likely have a letter. Our defence looks very slow and immobile, having said that they're big. I'm going to pick who i think the 13 forwards, 7 defencemen and 2 goalies are for fun. I think they're making the cuts tomorrow, or at least a few cuts. |
|
|
|
Post by habernac on Dec 16, 2005 11:29:30 GMT -5
TSN says Carey Price and Bryan Little have been cut. On the home page, with a "more to follow".....
|
|
|
|
Post by Ryan on Dec 16, 2005 11:39:14 GMT -5
I'm not surprised to see Price cut. As the only 18 year old goalie in camp he would have to really stand above the others to be considered.
At this point you'd have to say he'll be the favourite to start next year as a 19 year old.
|
|
|
|
Post by habmeister on Dec 16, 2005 12:14:13 GMT -5
2006 Roster - Goaltenders
Player S/C HT WT Birthdate Hometown Team NHL Draft
Devan Dubnyk L 6'5 182 5/4/86 Calgary, AB Kamloops (WHL) EDM 2004
Justin Pogge L 6'3 185 4/22/86 Penticton, BC Calgary (WHL) TOR 2004
2006 Roster - Defence
Player S/C HT WT Birthdate Hometown Team NHL Draft
Cam Barker L 6'3 220 4/4/86 Winnipeg, MB Medicine Hat (WHL) CHI 2004
Luc Bourdon L 6'2 199 2/16/87 Shippagan, NB Val d'Or (QMJHL) VAN 2005
Kristopher Letang R 5'11 190 4/24/87 Montreal, QC Val d'Or (QMJHL) PIT 2005
Ryan Parent L 6'2 183 3/17/87 Sioux Lookout, ON Guelph (OHL) NSH 2005
Sasha Pokulok R 6'5 230 5/25/86 Vaudreuil-Dorion, QC Cornell (NCAA) WAS 2005
Kris Russell L 5'10 166 5/2/87 Caroline, AB Medicine Hat (WHL) CBJ 2005
Marc Staal L 6'3 196 1/13/87 Thunder Bay, ON Sudbury (OHL) NYR 2005
2006 Roster - Forwards
Player S/C HT WT Birthdate Hometown Team NHL Draft
Daniel Bertram R 5'11 175 1/14/87 Calgary, AB Boston College (HC) CHI 2005
Michael Blunden R 6'3 213 12/15/86 Gloucester, ON Erie (OHL) CHI 2005
David Bolland R 5'11 176 5/6/86 Mimico, ON London (OHL) CHI 2004
Dustin Boyd L 6'0 185 7/16/86 Winnipeg, MB Moose Jaw (WHL) CGY 2004
Kyle Chipchura L 6'1 209 2/19/86 Vimy, AB Prince Albert (WHL) MTL 2004
Andrew Cogliano L 5'9 178 6/14/87 Woodbridge, ON Michigan (NCAA) EDM 2005
Blake Comeau R 6'1 207 2/18/86 Meadow Lake, SK Kelowna (WHL) NYI 2004
Steve Downie R 5'10 189 4/3/87 Queensville, ON Peterborough (OHL) PHI 2005
Guillaume Latendresse L 6'2 222 5/24/87 Ste-Catherine, QC Drummondville (QMJHL) MTL 2005
Ryan O'Marra R 6'1 194 6/9/87 Mississauga, ON Erie (OHL) NYI 2005
Benoit Pouliot L 6'3 179 9/29/86 Ottawa, ON Sudbury (OHL) MIN 2005
Tom Pyatt L 5'11 180 3/14/87 Thunder Bay, ON Saginaw (OHL) NYR 2005
Jonathan Toews L 6'2 185 4/28/88 Winnipeg, MB North Dakota (NCAA) 2006
|
|
|
|
Post by drkcloud on Dec 16, 2005 12:26:55 GMT -5
I'm not surprised to see Price cut. As the only 18 year old goalie in camp he would have to really stand above the others to be considered. At this point you'd have to say he'll be the favourite to start next year as a 19 year old. Whew I didn't realize he had another year of eligibility and was only 18. Was wondering about the use of the #5 pick and was afraid of another bust. |
|
|
|
Post by habmeister on Dec 16, 2005 12:58:16 GMT -5
Just got off the phone with my buddy the player agent, he spoke to nicholson and a few other hockey canada guys. Price they weren't happy with, unfortunately he let in those two soft goals last night while he was still cold. You could see him scold himself and play great the rest of the game. But it was up to price to shutout the canadian shooters to steal the job from dubnyk. Not sure why they like dubnyk, he looked terrible in both outings. While price looked good in one outing and ok in the other. Pogge will play every game. Price will get the job next year if he continues to progress.
For me the biggest dissapointments were Brassard and Setoguchi not making the team. These guys are both in the top 6 offensively at the camp, but for some reason were left off the team. Setoguchi especially has grit to go with it, although he didn't stand out last night as much as he did the first two days. Pouliot is annoying, he was actually cruising at the red line for a pass when they were short-handed!! I couldn't believe it. Having said that he is their best offensive talent. Latendresse knew he was on the team already and was coasting through last nights game. I hope they can find linemates that will give him the puck down low, because he is the best along the boards, unstoppable!
After seeing this team for 3 days and talking extensively with my buddy, i don't think canada will even get a medal this year. The only way they can is if pogge is outstanding and basically steals victories for them.
|
|
|
|
Post by habmeister on Dec 16, 2005 13:00:03 GMT -5
Chipchurra will likely be named captian, i forgot to throw that in, my buddy told me last night.
that's it for my evaluations!
|
|
|
|
Post by insomnius on Dec 16, 2005 14:44:22 GMT -5
Chipchura was named captain of the team with alternates to rotate between Barker, Bolland, Bourdon and Comeau. It's confirmed - also on another thread  |
|
|
|
Post by IamCanadiens on Dec 16, 2005 17:58:35 GMT -5
Price they weren't happy with, unfortunately he let in those two soft goals last night while he was still cold. You could see him scold himself and play great the rest of the game. But it was up to price to shutout the canadian shooters to steal the job from dubnyk. Seeing how it's a backup's duty to come in cold I can see why he wasn't chosen |
|
|
|
Post by seventeen on Dec 16, 2005 20:49:34 GMT -5
I haven't been terribly impressed in other ways, and they have nothing to do with his camp performance. He was the juniour under 18 goalie at the last U-18 championships and didn't look strong at all. Even if he has great character, it helps to have great talent too. I sure hope it's just a matter of maturing and learning. How a guy deals with pressure is so important in Montreal and I don't see Price excelling in that category. Theodore, yes, for his occasional faults, can point to a WJC gold medal, as can someone like Manny Legace. Sutter must have been going off Dubnyk's and Price's play to date in teh WHL, cause it sure sounds like Dubnyk was mediocre through camp. Being weak in goal is a real trouble spot. Last time that happened, (cough) Olivier Michaud was the WJC backup. That was not a good team. I too, was suprised Setoguchi didn't make it. Tough to leave the top WHL scorer, who can fly, off the team.
|
|
|
|
Post by NWTHabsFan on Dec 16, 2005 21:45:06 GMT -5
Price has next year to shine, and most of these guys will be back and young guns like Espo will be making their case even more. I think I would prefer being in net next year as the top guy than this year with an average team, and in front of the homers. This could vault Pogge's value way up, or cost him drastically. Either way, he was the guy that has been the strongest by far all season, so we are going with the hot hand, and it was hot all through camp as he just did not give up any goals. Good for him. Price now can focus on salvaging a decent season and coming out strong next year as a 19 year old.
|
|
|
|
Post by M. Beaux-Eaux on Dec 16, 2005 23:59:16 GMT -5
Have there been any great NHL goalies who weren't members of Team Canada's young tykes division?
|
|
|
|
Post by seventeen on Dec 17, 2005 1:48:51 GMT -5
Obviously a few. Nice to have that gold medal in your resume, though. There have been several WJC goalies who didn't do well in the tournament and then didn't live up to top billing in the NHL either. Luongo is a example, even though he's very good, he doesn't give anyone the feeling he can win important games, which he failed to do as a WJC goalie too. Fleury gives me the same impression, after giving up a heart breaking goal against the US 2 years ago. Same story with Jamie Storr. There have also been a few who were great in the WJC and never did much in the NHL, though, Mike Moffat, Craig Billington, Jimmy Waite. Of course, you can make statistics say anything.
|
|
|
|
Post by M. Beaux-Eaux on Dec 17, 2005 2:00:47 GMT -5
Obviously a few. Nice to have that gold medal in your resume, though. There have been several WJC goalies who didn't do well in the tournament and then didn't live up to top billing in the NHL either. I would think that the number of top flight North American NHL goalies who played little or no international hockey is considerable. The crème de la crème of European NHL goalies have by and large played more international hockey, and many have come over here at an early age to test their mettle in the junior and minor pro ranks. But I digress... How's he done for Team Canada? They refuse to talk to me. |
|
|
|
Post by Bob on Dec 17, 2005 13:46:49 GMT -5
Canada's goaltending worries me. Pogge earned the number one position in camp. But keep in mind this guy is used to facing an average of only 20 shots per game playing with the Calgary Hitmen. It remains to be seen how he will stack up against the Russians and the Americans.
Dubnyk was brutal in the game that I watched and in another he let in 8 goals. I know he is only the backup but if Pogge falters I don't have much faith in him.
I think the decision to pick Dubnyk as the backup over Price was made because of age. I hope it isn't one that comes back to bite us.
|
|
|
|
Post by TheCaper on Dec 17, 2005 14:39:34 GMT -5
Obviously a few. Nice to have that gold medal in your resume, though. There have been several WJC goalies who didn't do well in the tournament and then didn't live up to top billing in the NHL either. Those would be the ones selected after #5. I heard he failed to show for practice on Thursday, but I don’t know if there’s any truth in that. |
|
|
|
Post by Bob on Dec 17, 2005 17:57:21 GMT -5
Those would be the ones selected after #5. I heard he failed to show for practice on Thursday, but I don’t know if there’s any truth in that. I heard that he never skates on the morning of a game. It's part of his routine. Maybe Sutter didn't like that and maybe he didn't care. |
|
|
|
Post by seventeen on Dec 18, 2005 2:44:26 GMT -5
Went out for our staff Christmas party tonight. We went to the Quaaout Lodge near Chase, BC and as we passed the lobby door, there was a banner above the door welcoming Canada's World Juniour team. They're practising in Chase and were staying at this 'hotel'. I didn't see any of the lads before going to the fete. There goes my chance to get my hand crushed by Gui. Oh well. As mentioned I'll report back on their exhibition game against the Czechs.
|
|
