|
|
Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Nov 17, 2019 10:34:06 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by NWTHabsFan on Nov 18, 2019 10:36:04 GMT -5
After such a good training camp, I am still amazed that it took 18 games and an empty net for Evans' first of the season. Hopefully he can pot a few more now. |
|
|
|
Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Nov 21, 2019 1:25:10 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by NWTHabsFan on Nov 22, 2019 15:14:10 GMT -5
He is back up with the big club, and actually practicing on one of the PP units today. They are moving him up and down (on paper) to save waiver exempt days. They must be trying to get through Paul Byron's injury without having to expose Hudon to waivers. |
|
|
|
Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Nov 22, 2019 20:28:23 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by NWTHabsFan on Nov 23, 2019 10:41:34 GMT -5
Big win over Utica last night 6-4. Primeau with the win. Goals by Leskinen (his first), McCarron (he also had an assist), Brook (see above), Evans (and an assist), Barber (plus two apples), and Poehling.
|
|
|
|
Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Nov 23, 2019 18:44:21 GMT -5
Big win over Utica last night 6-4. Primeau with the win. Goals by Leskinen (his first), McCarron (he also had an assist), Brook (see above), Evans (and an assist), Barber (plus two apples), and Poehling. I asked Andrew Zadarnowski on Twitter whether or not there were any d-men ready for the show and he mentioned three ... |
|
|
|
Post by NWTHabsFan on Nov 26, 2019 15:06:45 GMT -5
Laval is getting hit with the injury bug of late as well. The timing is not great with guys like Drouin and Byron out with the big club as well. Ouellet and Belzile are recent injuries and it is not certain how long either will be out for. Juulsen is sick and has missed the last few games too. Not a great situation as the first two play top minutes for the team. When you add in Varone who has been out for a while, that is a lot of the veteran leadership not being healthy to play and help mentor the younger players.
Speaking of high-profile young players, here is a very interesting quote from Marc Dumont's article about the Rocket from the Athletic yesterday. Bouchard is nothing if not animated about things and speaks his mind!
“It’s time to leave him alone and let me coach him,” said Bouchard. “I haven’t really coached Ryan with the noise from the outside and I don’t mean the Canadiens, I mean the journalists and the fans. We all love the potential for good things down the road, but we need to work with him, and he needs to be in a mindset in which he can succeed. The noise for a 20-year-old is a bit much. I will coach him and defend him, but we need to let him be and stop overanalyzing.”
Beyond the lack of production at the AHL level, Poehling needs time away from the hubbub involved with being a highly touted Canadiens prospect, especially a highly touted Canadiens prospect that had one of the best NHL debuts in league history while the team he belongs to also happens to be searching for more offensive weapons.
“Enough noise,” said Bouchard. “It’s time to work with him. Ryan is a good player, but he’s not exceptional, so it takes time. He played well this weekend because he wasn’t overthinking.”
|
|
|
|
Post by NWTHabsFan on Nov 26, 2019 15:28:27 GMT -5
I asked Andrew Zadarnowski on Twitter whether or not there were any d-men ready for the show and he mentioned three ... Ouellet is injured right now and is expected to miss at least two weeks, and Juulsen is sick and has missed the last few games. I don't see any immediate need for a D callup with the Habs though as everyone is healthy and they are sitting two spare defenders (one RHD and one LHD) every night. I still think that Leskinen is a guy they are looking for down the road. He has been adapting to the smaller ice surface and the less time-and-space that is typical of NA hockey. If he can continue to show that he can drive offense and do so while looking after things in his own end, then he makes a guy like Mike Reilly quite redundant except for organizational depth. Olofsson is staying healthy and is holding down a spot in Laval with his decent play, but I am not sure he has an NHL future with the Habs. He never stays healthy for long is a big concern. I was quite shocked they brought him back with the number of other NHL contracts they handed out (they are at 48 of 50). Sklenicka looked pretty decent last season in his first year in the AHL, but he has dropped down the depth chart with the emergence of Leskinen, the return of Olofsson, and Alzner who does not look like he is going anywhere due to that big cap hit. I would not be shocked to see Sklenicka returning to Europe in the offseason. Juulsen, before his illness, was getting his game back in shape after missing so much hockey last season (and the start of this season, which was delayed as well due to the whole "second opinion" issue). Noah's big challenge is that both Fleury and Folin will have to falter before he gets a call. They can send Cale down without clearing waivers, but he seems to be doing just fine holding onto that third pairing RHD position over veteran Folin, who would have to clear waivers. I do not expect the Habs to ever expose him. Brook is starting to get his confidence and playing at a good AHL level after a very rough start to the season. A full year in Laval will not hurt him one bit (see Exhibit A: Cale Fleury). |
|
|
|
Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Nov 26, 2019 21:29:20 GMT -5
I asked Andrew Zadarnowski on Twitter whether or not there were any d-men ready for the show and he mentioned three ... Ouellet is injured right now and is expected to miss at least two weeks, and Juulsen is sick and has missed the last few games. I don't see any immediate need for a D callup with the Habs though as everyone is healthy and they are sitting two spare defenders (one RHD and one LHD) every night. There's no room for any call ups at this point ... However, Andrew Zadarnowski did mention that Otto Leskinen is "an opportunity away" from getting called up ... the left side of the defence corps has to be shored up and Leskinen could be a good fit ... I think you're right in that he'd be a viable option to Mike Reilly ... Cheers. |
|
|
|
Post by NWTHabsFan on Nov 28, 2019 11:56:23 GMT -5
Noah Juulsen missed the last few games due to "illness". He had a recurring migraine and was consulting with a specialist in regards to the migraine. The good news is that he has rejoined the team and is expected to play this weekend. Health first, but good news that his medical team feel he is fit to play.
|
|
|
|
Post by blny on Nov 28, 2019 12:18:24 GMT -5
Hope that Juulsen can get back to where he was pre-injury. Nice to see Evans and Brook scoring with more frequency.
Fourth in their division, and only 4 points behind the conference lead, is very positive given where this team has been in recent seasons. The infusion of young talent and quality coaching is showing.
|
|
|
|
Post by NWTHabsFan on Nov 28, 2019 14:39:46 GMT -5
Hope that Juulsen can get back to where he was pre-injury. Nice to see Evans and Brook scoring with more frequency. Fourth in their division, and only 4 points behind the conference lead, is very positive given where this team has been in recent seasons. The infusion of young talent and quality coaching is showing. They lost a tough one to the Baby Sens from Belleville last night. That team is just the Rocket's kryptonite this season so far. Three losses, zero wins. The Rocket held the Sens without a shot for over 20 minutes and then Primeau gave up 3 on 5 shots in the third to lose the game 5-3. The Rocket are down quite a few bodies. Hudon is up with the Habs. Varone, Ouellet and Belzile are all key players out with injury. Juulsen was off with his migraine. Juulsen and Folin (on his conditioning stint) will help bolster the defense this weekend. |
|
|
|
Post by NWTHabsFan on Nov 30, 2019 14:46:59 GMT -5
Rocket double the Crunch 4-2 last night to snap their two game losing streak. Vejdemo 1+1, Evans with the goal, Peca and Barber looking good. Lindgren with the W. Vejdemo now leads the team in scoring, is very responsible defensively, and kills penalties. Ring, ring.
Peca with some great work on this goal. Barber with the finish.
|
|
|
|
Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Dec 4, 2019 20:29:55 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by NWTHabsFan on Dec 4, 2019 22:38:54 GMT -5
Nice win. 3-2 over Cleveland. The Rocket welcomed back Belzile and Ouellet to the lineup. The defender scored and Belzile had a 1+1 night. Alain with the other goal. Lindgren gets the win. Folin and Olofsson both played as well. Poehling assisted on all three Laval goals tonight, all on the PP.
Have to watch and see regarding injuries tonight. Evans left in the second and did not return. Both Weise and Belzile late in the third. Hopefully all just precautionary.
|
|
|
|
Post by NWTHabsFan on Dec 5, 2019 13:52:46 GMT -5
It is good to see that Evans, Weise, and Belzile are all travelling with the team this weekend. Hopefully, they are cleared to play after all leaving the game early last night. The Rocket would be down to 10 healthy forwards if all three were to miss the game.
|
|
|
|
Post by NWTHabsFan on Dec 8, 2019 9:18:20 GMT -5
After losing 5-2 to Syracuse on Friday night (with Kinkaid making his debut), Lindgren was in net last night in Springfield. He got injured in the first, and had to leave the game, so Kinkaid was back in relief. The Rocket were trailing most of the game, but stormed back from being down 3-1 to end up on top 4-3 when the final buzzer sounded. Evans lead the way with two goals and an apple, with the other goals from vets Lynch and Barber. The injury woes continue, with McCarron also leaving the game. Good thing Hudon is back it’s the team. Between injuries and callups, they are missing four top six forwards, one top four defender, and their top two goalies.
|
|
|
|
Post by NWTHabsFan on Dec 8, 2019 9:47:24 GMT -5
A bit of quiet Rocket news, but there is one less defender at their disposal after the Habs and Czech defender Sklenicka mutually parted ways. He was not getting much ice time as the left side D was crowded with Ouellet, Olofsson, Leskinen, and Alzner. He returns to his native Czech Republic.
Habs down to 47 contracts after this move. That may be the most significant part of this story down the road.
|
|
|
|
Post by Cranky on Dec 8, 2019 17:38:31 GMT -5
I'm worried about Juulsen.
Recurring migraines may be a long term issue that was set forth by the concussions. I don't know what is recent medical treatments but 20 years ago it was "take two aspirins then grin and bear it".
Back then, the medical advice is that thete is no cure other then known triggers like stress.
If it's THAT bad that he's seeing specialist, we just lost a really good prospect.
I hope not.....
|
|
|
|
Post by NWTHabsFan on Dec 11, 2019 9:42:49 GMT -5
I'm worried about Juulsen. Recurring migraines may be a long term issue that was set forth by the concussions. I don't know what is recent medical treatments but 20 years ago it was "take two aspirins then grin and bear it". Back then, the medical advice is that thete is no cure other then known triggers like stress. If it's THAT bad that he's seeing specialist, we just lost a really good prospect. I hope not..... It is trending that way unfortunately. |
|
|
|
Post by NWTHabsFan on Dec 11, 2019 9:45:05 GMT -5
Laval beat Cleveland 3-2 in the shootout. Goals by Weise and Hudon (both of whom also scored in the shootout along with Pezzetta - shockingly). Lindgren with the win. Glad to see he is okay to play after leaving the last game in the first. Poehling with the apple on Hudson’s goal. 6 points in his last five games for Ryan.
|
|
|
|
Post by blny on Dec 11, 2019 10:28:12 GMT -5
I'm worried about Juulsen. Recurring migraines may be a long term issue that was set forth by the concussions. I don't know what is recent medical treatments but 20 years ago it was "take two aspirins then grin and bear it". Back then, the medical advice is that thete is no cure other then known triggers like stress. If it's THAT bad that he's seeing specialist, we just lost a really good prospect. I hope not..... It is trending that way unfortunately. Yep. Sad to see. Wish him all the best. |
|
|
|
Post by folatre on Dec 11, 2019 11:52:37 GMT -5
Poehling seems to be coming on and in particular contributing to the power play success. Now that he has been recalled, I sure would like to see him get a look on the Habs' power play. Utilizing Cousins on the man advantage just does not make much sense in the here and now, and it makes zero sense looking ahead to the future.
Juulsen's situation is unfortunate. He has played so little hockey since turning pro that this year is really important from a career development angle. Usually when you see a 22 year old kid with fewer than 100 games combined between the AHL and NHL you assume the player is just not much more than a fringe type guy. But in the case of Juulsen, that really is not accurate. The injuries have derailed a player with the ability to play in the NHL.
|
|
|
|
Post by blny on Dec 11, 2019 12:37:13 GMT -5
Poehling seems to be coming on and in particular contributing to the power play success. Now that he has been recalled, I sure would like to see him get a look on the Habs' power play. Utilizing Cousins on the man advantage just does not make much sense in the here and now, and it makes zero sense looking ahead to the future. Juulsen's situation is unfortunate. He has played so little hockey since turning pro that this year is really important from a career development angle. Usually when you see a 22 year old kid with fewer than 100 games combined between the AHL and NHL you assume the player is just not much more than a fringe type guy. But in the case of Juulsen, that really is not accurate. The injuries have derailed a player with the ability to play in the NHL. At the time of the injury I think he'd all but fully established himself. I think he could have been a Bouwmeester type of player. |
|
|
|
Post by jkr on Dec 11, 2019 18:42:58 GMT -5
The migraine issue is troubling.
Nolan Patrick, in Philly, has not played at all this season due to migraine issues. Disappointing to young careers in jeopardy over an issue that can be tricky to manage.
|
|
|
|
Post by NWTHabsFan on Dec 13, 2019 14:28:54 GMT -5
Lots of interesting news out of Laval today leading up to the tough matchup against Syracuse tonight and tomorrow. It looks like Bouchard's approach of alternating goalies will end tonight based on "organizational direction". Lindgren gets the start. Kinkaid gets to sit. This does signal that the team wants Lindgren to get the games in and he could very well be the guy brought up to be Carey's backup going forward. Interesting indeed.
The infirmary has been busy in Laval, but a few guys might be back playing tonight. Hudon has been on crutches the last few days, but it sounds like he is ready to play again. The new ECHL guy signed (Cuddemi) will play. He led the ECHL in scoring and played with injured Rocket Phil Varone previously in the minors. They also signed a decent experienced defenseman (McEneny) to a PTO as he was recovering from knee surgery from March and he should make his debut.
Still a lot of key guys missing including Primeau, Leskinen and Barber on call-ups, and injured: Peca, Juulsen, Varone, Teasdale, Belzile, and McCarron.
|
|
|
|
Post by NWTHabsFan on Dec 13, 2019 15:06:07 GMT -5
I know this subject appeared in another thread, but rather than give it it's own thread, I am putting this here since it also represents the overall structure of our minor pro teams in the AHL and whatever the Habs do to get an ECHL team or affiliation.
Unfortunately, the Trois-Rivieres mayor has decided not to support the pitch to get an ECHL team in their new barn they are building. They will look in other directions. Well, unless they somehow convince the QMJHL to move a team, they may end up without a key tenant in their building. A major set back from a group with whom the Habs were in contact with.
Maybe the council overturns this decision with their vote next week, but it is a set back for getting a "local" ECHL team any time soon.
|
|
|
|
Post by NWTHabsFan on Dec 14, 2019 9:05:13 GMT -5
Laval’s depleted lineup played their hearts out, even taking over the game in the third. In the end, the boys came up a bit short 3-2. The Amerks goalie stood on his head as the Rocket outshot them 37-20. Goals by Hudon on a breakaway (great pass from Weise) and Jevpalovs. Lindgren was solid in the loss.
Syracuse is a top AHL team. The Rocket were missing top six forwards Varone, Belzile, Barber, Poehling, McCarron, Peca, defender Leskinen and Primeau in net. Hard to imagine playing without what should be your entire top two lines and your top pairing LHD. That is an AHL reality at times though.
|
|
|
|
Post by NWTHabsFan on Dec 16, 2019 10:48:45 GMT -5
Another ex-player speaks out very unfavourably about the environment that was the Lefebvre years on the farm team. Parisi was with the club for its last year in St. John's and the first year in Laval before Lefebvre and the other coaches were finally let go.
|
|
