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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jun 27, 2006 21:39:23 GMT -5
According to today Hamilton Spectator article, the Habs want the Dogs to themselves. In fairness to poor Edmonton who does not have a full time AHL home yet, they may permit a couple of Oiler prospects. Also, Gainey and Bulldogs owners have agreed to allow a couple of AHL vets to be signed, on Hamilton's dime to round out the team and add some experience for the kids...as they will be a really young team again. tinyurl.com/lgjqv |
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Jun 28, 2006 10:19:57 GMT -5
Last year the best Bulldog players were Oiler prospects and they still didn't have a great year.
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Post by Gogie on Jun 28, 2006 12:50:38 GMT -5
Last year the best Bulldog players were Oiler prospects and they still didn't have a great year. Last year the constant disruption of having two teams making roster moves played havoc with the Dogs' lineup and chemistry. Also, the team was pretty much forced to give ice time to the useless Jeff Deslauriers (Edmonton goaltending "prospect" - 13 games) and Ty Conklin (3 games on a condtioning stint). The top two point getters for the Dogs were Corey Locke and Andrei Kotstisyn. The next three were Oiler prospects. Also, the Dogs' had to suffer the exploits of Danny Syvret, the Oilers' offensive-minded defensively-challenged defence prospect (0 goals, -15 +/-). Having to play Syvret undoubtedly cost James Sanford some icetime - he only played 54 games (a healthy scratch for most if not all of the games he missed) yet tied the club record for goals by a defenseman with 10 and had 28 points overall (and was a +5 to boot), compared to Syvret's 20 points (with 8 more games played). I for one won't miss the Oiler prospects. |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jun 28, 2006 20:51:45 GMT -5
Having just Habs players and a few free agents will definitely help in the continuity department, as the team's roster seemed to change game by game last season with two teams in the constant call up / send down mode. Take the goalie position for example: Danis, Deslauriers, Conklin, Huet, Michaud and Halak all had games in the net. How do you get a consistent #1 in that scenario?
I know that Ham Spectator writer was critical of the team's talent and the impact of losing the Edmonton players; however, I think that Gainey and Savard can strike the balance between development and winning. I mean, they would like to see their young talent develop on a winning team and in a winning environment. Hopefully the continuity of playing together most of the season and getting a few key veteran free agents for leadership will help the team make it back into the playoffs.
With new players like Chipchura, Aubin, D'Agostini, and possibly Grabovski, that is a pretty good bunch of new forwards. Dman Gleed from Cornell and energy forward Stewart are also likely to be in camp trying out for spots and avoiding any assignment to Long Beach. In addition, Urquhart finally found some offensive consistency last season in Long Beach, and should come to camp with a lot more to prove.
In net, if the Habs do stick with both Huet and Abby, then the Bulldog tandem of Danis and Halak is really, really solid.
The defense is still lacking in both top end talent and depth, and likely needs to be topped up a fair bit before season starts. As of now, the Habs have Cote, Archer, Benoit and Sanford, with Gleed graduating and looking for a contract. I would like to see something a little better than either Paul or Aitken added to that mix, but we will see what Gainey can uncover this summer on the market. O'Byrne and Emelin patrolling Copps next season would have been fun to see, but I guess we put that on hold for now.
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Jun 28, 2006 20:59:47 GMT -5
Last year the best Bulldog players were Oiler prospects and they still didn't have a great year. Last year the constant disruption of having two teams making roster moves played havoc with the Dogs' lineup and chemistry. Also, the team was pretty much forced to give ice time to the useless Jeff Deslauriers (Edmonton goaltending "prospect" - 13 games) and Ty Conklin (3 games on a condtioning stint). The top two point getters for the Dogs were Corey Locke and Andrei Kotstisyn. The next three were Oiler prospects. Also, the Dogs' had to suffer the exploits of Danny Syvret, the Oilers' offensive-minded defensively-challenged defence prospect (0 goals, -15 +/-). Having to play Syvret undoubtedly cost James Sanford some icetime - he only played 54 games (a healthy scratch for most if not all of the games he missed) yet tied the club record for goals by a defenseman with 10 and had 28 points overall (and was a +5 to boot), compared to Syvret's 20 points (with 8 more games played). I for one won't miss the Oiler prospects. Brad Winchester was easily the best forward on the team when he played and is the best prospect combining size and a scoring touch on a team of smurfs. More goals, fewer games, better tasting, less filling. I once proudly told my wife that I was almost 100% faithful. I won't make that mistake again. |
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Post by Gogie on Jun 29, 2006 8:25:42 GMT -5
Brad Winchester was easily the best forward on the team when he played and is the best prospect combining size and a scoring touch on a team of smurfs. More goals, fewer games, better tasting, less filling. I once proudly told my wife that I was almost 100% faithful. I won't make that mistake again. I don't disagree with your assessment of Winchester being the best forward on the team when he played but I disagree with his being the best "prospect" on the team. He's 25 now (was 24 at the beginning of the 05-06 season) and is certainly showing promise, but at his age and stage of development I would expect him to dominate at the AHL level if he has any hope of making the NHL. By far the best prospect on the team last year was Kostitsyn (who is only 21, 20 at the beginning of last season). As far as size goes, I saw a lot of players bounce off AK trying to take him out - he's no slouch in the physical play category (although that's obviously not his forte). At this point in both their careers I can't imagine anyone considering for a nanosecond trading AK straight up for Winchester. |
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Post by habmeister on Jun 30, 2006 13:47:54 GMT -5
ice time is more important than winning at that level, and i cant help but believe that it is for the better, lets us bring players up and teach them our systems in the minors so they can step in seamlessley instead of an edm-mtl mix of coaching.
it also lets us truly evaluate our farm team, instead of saying that a players stats are a bit high because hes playing with a good center, at least now the center will be ours.
i really like the players that could step onto that team next season. chips, gui, obyrne, etc...
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Jun 30, 2006 14:05:20 GMT -5
Brad Winchester was easily the best forward on the team when he played and is the best prospect combining size and a scoring touch on a team of smurfs. More goals, fewer games, better tasting, less filling. I once proudly told my wife that I was almost 100% faithful. I won't make that mistake again. I don't disagree with your assessment of Winchester being the best forward on the team when he played but I disagree with his being the best "prospect" on the team. He's 25 now (was 24 at the beginning of the 05-06 season) and is certainly showing promise, but at his age and stage of development I would expect him to dominate at the AHL level if he has any hope of making the NHL. By far the best prospect on the team last year was Kostitsyn (who is only 21, 20 at the beginning of last season). As far as size goes, I saw a lot of players bounce off AK trying to take him out - he's no slouch in the physical play category (although that's obviously not his forte). At this point in both their careers I can't imagine anyone considering for a nanosecond trading AK straight up for Winchester. My greatest fear is that AK will still be the best prospect on the team when he is thirty five. He can't use epilepsy as the reason he isn't producing. He's not close to leading the AHL in scoring. He scores beautiful goals with beautiful moves but not often enough. He is fast, strong, skilled and loaded with potential. We waited for years for Brian Savage to realize his potential. Ryder performs better with less speed and skill. Hold your breath until AK proves that "the only reason that he was still available at #10 is because other teams were concerned about his health." |
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Post by Bob on Jun 30, 2006 14:37:10 GMT -5
My greatest fear is that AK will still be the best prospect on the team when he is thirty five. He can't use epilepsy as the reason he isn't producing. He's not close to leading the AHL in scoring. He scores beautiful goals with beautiful moves but not often enough. He is fast, strong, skilled and loaded with potential. We waited for years for Brian Savage to realize his potential. Ryder performs better with less speed and skill. Hold your breath until AK proves that "the only reason that he was still available at #10 is because other teams were concerned about his health." The season in which Michael Ryder turned 21, he scored 5 goals in the ECHL and 6 goals in the AHL. The season in which Andrei Kostsitsyn turned 21, he scored 18 goals in the AHL and 2 goals in the NHL. Have patience |
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Jul 3, 2006 2:09:00 GMT -5
My greatest fear is that AK will still be the best prospect on the team when he is thirty five. He can't use epilepsy as the reason he isn't producing. He's not close to leading the AHL in scoring. He scores beautiful goals with beautiful moves but not often enough. He is fast, strong, skilled and loaded with potential. We waited for years for Brian Savage to realize his potential. Ryder performs better with less speed and skill. Hold your breath until AK proves that "the only reason that he was still available at #10 is because other teams were concerned about his health." The season in which Michael Ryder turned 21, he scored 5 goals in the ECHL and 6 goals in the AHL. The season in which Andrei Kostsitsyn turned 21, he scored 18 goals in the AHL and 2 goals in the NHL. Have patience I'm on your side. I'm a hab's fan. I hope you're right. I hope Locke wins the Calder. I hope Ribeiro becomes an Henri Richard. I hope Bouillion has a late growth spurt. I bought a lottery ticket yesterday. . . . . . . I'm patient while Gainey slowly rebuilds the team from within. |
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Post by cigarviper on Jul 10, 2006 0:46:41 GMT -5
According to today Hamilton Spectator article, the Habs want the Dogs to themselves. In fairness to poor Edmonton who does not have a full time AHL home yet, they may permit a couple of Oiler prospects. Also, Gainey and Bulldogs owners have agreed to allow a couple of AHL vets to be signed, on Hamilton's dime to round out the team and add some experience for the kids...as they will be a really young team again. tinyurl.com/lgjqvOne down... Dogs score AHL veteran Manlow By Garry McKay The Hamilton Spectator (Jul 10, 2006) The Hamilton Bulldogs have made, perhaps, their biggest free agent signing ever. The Dogs have inked centre Eric Manlow to an American Hockey League contract. Manlow, 31, is a veteran of pro hockey and last year had 25 goals and 48 assists with the Grand Rapids Griffins. "I think this is great," said Bulldogs coach Don Lever. "We're getting a real solid player, a leader, something that we need who will really help the young guys. "Offensively, we struggled last year and we're getting a 70-point guy with solid leadership." The 6-foot, 205-pound, left-shot centre is a Belleville native. He's played 37 games in the National Hockey League from 2001-2004 with Boston and the New York Islanders. He has a lengthy American Hockey League career with Baltimore, Providence, Bridgeport and the last two seasons with Grand Rapids. Last year he finished 18th in the league in scoring and helped the Griffins finish first overall. In the playoffs, he scored three goals and added three assists in 16 games as the Griffins advanced to the Western Conference final before losing to Milwaukee. "I'm pretty excited about it," said Lever, whose Bulldogs finished sixth in the North Division last season and missed the playoffs for only the second time in franchise history. Bulldogs majority owner Michael Andlauer had said following last season that he wanted the right to sign and pay for two players for the upcoming year. He struck that deal with the parent Montreal Canadiens who provide all the players for the Bulldogs. Manlow is one of those two. The length of the contract was not released. |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 10, 2006 19:53:43 GMT -5
Manlow is signed for two years. www.hamiltonbulldogs.com/index.php?module=newser&func=display&nid=318From what I can see on the Dogs website, this is a good veteran who can score...he would easily have been tops of the Dogs in scoring last year with his 73 points. A proven leader who can help the kids develop, so great news. The Dogs also signed two Hab prospects last Friday to AHL contracts. Jon Gleed who just graduated from Cornell and was drafted by the Habs signed with Hamilton. A solid defensive defenceman who has limited offensive upside, but who wore the "A" for Cornell last season and was one of their steady performers when not injured. Apparently, the Habs have to sign him by August 15th or lose his NHL rights...but they will have a chance to see him in Hamilton regardless, so they are clearly watching his progress from NCAA to pro hockey for now. Alex Dulac-Lemelin was a shocker signing as the Habs drafted him in 2004, did not sign him by the June 1, 2006 deadline, watched him re-enter the draft and get passed over, only to have the farm team sign him. I would expect him to end up in Long Beach as although he is a tall guy with loads of reach, he is quite slow. He has not impressed at the last two rookie camps, so we shall see how he does against men. Both guys will be at the development camp all week. |
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Post by Bob on Jul 13, 2006 14:37:57 GMT -5
I would like to see the Bulldogs sign someone like Todd Simpson in much the same way they signed Manlow (ie. Hamilton property not Montreal property). He could provide some experience for the defense and was almost good enough to play for the Habs last year.
An NHL team might pick him up before the season begins but, if not, he would be a good addition. Obviously Gainey saw something he liked last year and the guy would be a huge upgrade over Paul, Aitken or Smith.
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Post by Bob on Jul 13, 2006 16:04:36 GMT -5
Okay, the Habs signed Dan Jancevski... I guess Simpson isn't nearly as important any more.
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Post by montreal on Jul 13, 2006 17:06:52 GMT -5
Okay, the Habs signed Dan Jancevski... I guess Simpson isn't nearly as important any more. They still need help on defense. Cote, Archer, Jancevski and Sanford should handle the top 4. Benoit and Gleed could take the bottom 4 but they still need another body or two. I hope it's not Dulac-Lemelin, I'd rather see him in the ECHL. Don't know what management thinks of the Frechette kid since he can play in Hamilton. Hopefully they add another yet or two. Right now the Dogs have 23 players, although some of them can go back to juniors or the ECHL. Grabovsky, Manlow, Kostitsyn Lemieux Locke Milroy Chipchura Lapierre Ferland Lambert Aubin D'Agostini Bonneau Urquhart Stewart Jancevski Archer Cote Sanford Benoit Gleed Danis Halak |
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Post by Bob on Jul 13, 2006 17:27:21 GMT -5
Right now the Dogs have 23 players, although some of them can go back to juniors or the ECHL. And one could end up with the Habs  |
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