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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 3, 2018 9:51:57 GMT -5
As of now, the depth chart for the Laval Rocket looks something like this:
Forwards
Addison
Agostino
Alain
Audette
Chaput
Evans
Froese
Pezzetta
Vejdemo
Verbeek
Waked
Adams-Moisan (AHL deal)
Belzile (AHL deal)
Grenier (AHL deal)
Jevpalovs (AHL deal)
Martineau (AHL deal)
Defense
Juulsen
Lernout
Moravcik
Ouellet
Sklenicka
Taormina
Valiev
Lamarche (AHL deal)
Culkin (AHL deal)
Melancon (AHL deal)
Plant (AHL deal)
Goaltenders
Lindgren
McNiven
Marcoux (AHL deal)
There are some question marks as to who gets sent down from the Habs after training camp. As it stands now, Juulsen and Ouellet could be the two guys on D and I fully expect that at least one forward not listed above (Rychel or McCarron perhaps) will have to be sent down once Shaw and Byron are cleared to play. There just are too many forwards on the Habs due to the 23 man roster size.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 3, 2018 11:00:43 GMT -5
A little bit about some of the guys who they added on July 1st and why I think they will help make the Rocket a pretty decent club this season.
Kenny Agostino, 26, F - He is an AHL all star and will nicely fill the void left by Chris Terry who ended up the points leader in the AHL last season. Agonstino was the previous year's top point getter in the AHL (2016-17) and was named AHL MVP that season as well. A great veteran scoring forward pick up.
Micheal Chaput, 26, F - A QC born forward who played in the Canucks system last year. In 2011-12, he won the Memorial Cup and was named tournament MVP. He also won the 2015-16 Calder Cup (AHL). He plays centre or left wing. Another very good veteran add to the team and its offence.
Alex Belzile (AHL deal), 26, F - Another QC forward who brings winning pedigree to the team. He is a two time Kelly Cup (ECHL) champion. He also was loaned to our very own Hamilton Bulldogs in 2012-13 during his first pro season. Yes, that Lefebvre run team was a mess and its top scoring guy (Gabriel Dumont) topped out at 31 points over the whole season. A young Belzile managed 8 points in his 12 games with the team.
Alexandre Grenier (AHL deal), 26, F - Yup you guessed it, another QC born player. He has been an AHL all star the last two seasons with two different teams.
Maxim Lamarche (AHL deal), 25, D - He signed his first pro contract with Philly and has worked his was into a regular role on their AHL team. He was an offensive defender in the Q but has much more modest numbers in the ECHL and AHL. A really good add on an AHL deal as he is proven at this level and will provide nice depth in case of call ups and injuries, both which are inevitable.
Nikita Jevpalovs (AHL deal), 23, F - You don't often see European players leaving men's leagues for an AHL deal. He played in the KHL last season with Latvian-based team Dynamo Riga. He has a Joel Bouchard connection as he played his junior hockey with the Armada. He has also played frequently internationally for Latvia in the junior ranks, and most recently with the 2017-18 World Championship squad. He also won the Kelly Cup in 2015-16.
So, as you can see, these "unknowns" are actually going to form a very nice nucleus of experience that will help all our new rookies develop and ease into bigger roles with the team over time. A number of guys who have won championships, have been all-stars, and who know how to win.
When you also think of the two young Czech defenders who played key roles on their men's club team and Valiev, our depth on this team and the overall quality of players has gone up quite a bit. When you add Bouchard and Daniel Jacobs with their success with the Armada and with Team Canada (WJC and Hlinka), this team already looks like it is going to be a much better product all around. This is long overdue.
And the Cale Fleury watch will be on for the rest of the summer as there is a good chance he gets signed to an ELC deal before the season starts. The good thing is the deal will slide a year if he does not play with the Habs beyond the 9 games, so they can get an extra year out of his ELC that way (similar to Scherbak most recently).
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Post by seventeen on Jul 3, 2018 12:56:01 GMT -5
Thanks NWT. That helps fill out my knowledge base of those guys, which was zero. What stood out to me from that list is that the defense is immeasurably better. I think Juulsen starts with the Habs, myself. But even then, there's a pretty good crop of guys. Taormina will not automatically be the top defenseman.
I'm really curious, though as to the source of the impetus for these additions. Was it Bergie or Bouchard? Bergevin seemed to ignore the farm team most of the time and if Carriere was the GM, with Lefebvre as the coach, we could hardly expect anything good to happen.
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Post by blny on Jul 6, 2018 10:50:02 GMT -5
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 6, 2018 11:45:27 GMT -5
Interesting choice. I can say I did not see that coming. Always interesting when someone is added to a coaching staff without previous experience behind the bench. Bouchard does explain his rationale quite well though. There is something to be said about having a coach that can relate to what the young pro players are going through and for the players to relate to someone who has been through it as well. New coaches do have to start somewhere.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 6, 2018 12:02:23 GMT -5
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Post by seventeen on Jul 6, 2018 12:24:29 GMT -5
He'd certainly have a vast background of experience. Most importantly, he'll have a real hate on for the Bruins.
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Post by blny on Jul 6, 2018 12:28:36 GMT -5
I didn't see it coming either, but it is an interesting choice. Burrows played with a balance of skill, determination, and "attitude" lol. If he has the ability to teach he'll be a good choice.
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Post by Tankdriver on Jul 6, 2018 13:01:21 GMT -5
Any news on Julien? I thought he was going to get another coach for the defense this year?
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 6, 2018 13:27:35 GMT -5
Any news on Julien? I thought he was going to get another coach for the defense this year? At Berg's recent press conference, he mentioned that they are down to three candidates. Should not be too long then. |
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Post by seventeen on Jul 6, 2018 14:09:49 GMT -5
Should have a poll to see if it's an ex-NHL'r or someone from 'outside'.
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Post by jkr on Jul 7, 2018 10:29:54 GMT -5
Should have a poll to see if it's an ex-NHL'r or someone from 'outside'. Another friend of Bergevin? |
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Post by duster on Jul 7, 2018 12:48:04 GMT -5
Should have a poll to see if it's an ex-NHL'r or someone from 'outside'. Another friend of Bergevin? Another friend with character who will toe the company line most likely. |
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Post by blny on Jul 7, 2018 13:35:58 GMT -5
Should have a poll to see if it's an ex-NHL'r or someone from 'outside'. Another friend of Bergevin? Surely he's already hired all his friends.  |
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Post by seventeen on Jul 7, 2018 17:54:27 GMT -5
Another friend of Bergevin? Surely he's already hired all his friends. There has to be a limited number |
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jul 11, 2018 16:38:31 GMT -5
... some news from Brampton ...
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Post by folatre on Jul 11, 2018 19:09:09 GMT -5
Is Montreal staying affiliated with the Beast for another season or two?
The Habs should really have their own ECHL team located somewhere in la belle province not too far from the U.S. border.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 11, 2018 20:28:18 GMT -5
Is Montreal staying affiliated with the Beast for another season or two? The Habs should really have their own ECHL team located somewhere in la belle province not too far from the U.S. border. Most speculation I have read is that they will be looking for a new ECHL affiliate. |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 12, 2018 9:22:58 GMT -5
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 18, 2018 21:39:12 GMT -5
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Aug 15, 2018 9:37:35 GMT -5
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Aug 27, 2018 10:15:31 GMT -5
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Post by folatre on Aug 27, 2018 18:13:42 GMT -5
For a guy who stayed all four years at university, he still looks like a kid in terms of being kind of slight through the shoulders and upper body overall. Maybe that is just his build, because one would think the NCAA guys actually work out a lot in the weight room since they have relatively few games and even practice time is limited by rules.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Sept 2, 2018 10:18:42 GMT -5
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Sept 8, 2018 10:23:33 GMT -5
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Sept 9, 2018 11:44:14 GMT -5
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Sept 19, 2018 10:16:40 GMT -5
This seems like an okay thread for this news.
Jake Evans is back on the ice skating with fellow Rocket players still left in camp.
This is good news that he is on a good path to recovering from that concussion in the rookie game.
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Sept 28, 2018 16:24:33 GMT -5
... a new paradigm in Laval is welcome ...
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Sept 28, 2018 17:20:42 GMT -5
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Sept 28, 2018 17:23:56 GMT -5
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