Rookie Camp 2022

[NWTHabsFan]

Another take on the game and its performers.

[NWTHabsFan]

Definitely a lot less “star power” on the ice for tonight’s game. No Slafkovsky, Myšák, Barron, Xhekaj or Guhle.

[seventeen]

Odd that Guhle hasn't seen the ice. Does Management feel they don't need to see him vs higher than CHL competition? Are they concerned about the usual goons as we always seem to have guys injured by opponents who will never make the NHL? Is he nursing an injury? Enquiring minds want to know.

[NWTHabsFan]

Sept 16, 2022 14:30:55 GMT -5 seventeen said:

Odd that Guhle hasn't seen the ice. Does Management feel they don't need to see him vs higher than CHL competition? Are they concerned about the usual goons as we always seem to have guys injured by opponents who will never make the NHL? Is he nursing an injury? Enquiring minds want to know.

He had a knee injury that kept him off the ice at development camp in July. Who knows where he is at in his recovery from that. Houle said he wanted him to get more practice in before he plays. Maybe see him on Sunday against the Sens?! I imagine they don’t want to set back his injury before a pretty big training camp for him.

[frozone]

Sept 15, 2022 20:19:00 GMT -5 seventeen said:

So.....did anyone watch that game? Comments?

I watched the whole game. It was half entertaining and half frustrating. It was rusty hockey, but there were some good displays as well.

Slafkofsky clearly has so many tools it's not even fair. I liken him to that kid in high school that could do it all... captain of the track team, all-star running back, point guard, plays the guitar in a band, honour roll student, talented artist... well eventually those students could stand to focus on fewer things at a time. And I think Slafkofsky is in that type of situation with his game. Yesterday it looked to me like everything seemed possible to him in his head, but he was at his best when he was able to isolate his strengths and use them more selectively. When there was a race for the puck, he won. When he had to fight guys off on the boards, he won possession. His simple soft touches were smart and on point. When he was tasked with being the net front presence, he was excellent. When he had to make space for himself, he used his hands very well. What wasn't so great was when he found himself in more unbound situations. That's when he found himself trying to shove too many of his tools into a single sequence. Ie, zigzagging with speed and fancy moves through the whole team. It just didn't work.

Beck looked like a Danault type center.

Heineman has a very impressive shot and good straight ahead speed.

Jordan Harris was imo our best player. He does so many good things, but I'm not exactly convinced that he will eventually turn his excellent play into offensive production.

The X-man has very good mobility and puck skills for a big man. I really hope he continues to develop because it would be great if he could turn into a fixture on the blue line.

Mesar reminds me of Tatar.

The play of the game for me was when the 24 year old Zach Berzolla tried to line up Slaf with his head down. To see 6'2" 196 lbs Berzolla bounce off of him the way he did confirmed to me that Slaf is indeed 238 lbs. The play in question:

[folatre]

You are right, fro. Slafkovsky is seriously talented and he will have to learn to scale back the natural tendency to do too much.

There are a few 'ifs' involved in futurology, but Montreal certainly seems on track to have a physically big team when they are good enough to compete for the playoffs again. Imagine the 2024-25 lineup with Slafkovsky, Dach, Dubois, Anderson, Pezzetta, Guhle, Savard, and Xhekaj. That is a healthy amount of size to lean on opponents. And it would be a bonus if second tier prospects with muscle like Struble and Tuch can get it together too.

[NWTHabsFan]

1-0 Jersey early.

Here is the link to le broadcast.

[NWTHabsFan]

Tied up.

[NWTHabsFan]

This Mešár kid might be good. 😉

[seventeen]

Nice hands. Quick release.

[NWTHabsFan]

Not a goal, but Beck’s speed creates stuff.

[NWTHabsFan]

Beck and Heineman keep getting noticed. It’s a good thing.

[seventeen]

Sept 16, 2022 19:14:50 GMT -5 NWTHabsFan said:

Beck and Heineman keep getting noticed. It’s a good thing.

Not sure about Heineman. He spends a lot of time on his butt after being knocked down. With Beck I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s a top 10 scorer in the OHL this year. Lots of skill and some great wheels. His zone exits are excellent.

[NWTHabsFan]

Hockey Canada, you paying attention?

[NWTHabsFan]

Game 2 report.

[NWTHabsFan]

Another report on game 2.

[NWTHabsFan]

Sept 16, 2022 20:01:03 GMT -5 seventeen said:

Not sure about Heineman. He spends a lot of time on his butt after being knocked down. With Beck I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s a top 10 scorer in the OHL this year. Lots of skill and some great wheels. His zone exits are excellent.

I really like Beck’s game. His positioning both on and off the puck is great. He does so many little things right at both ends of the ice. You can see his hockey smarts through all those actions too. And he is very good in transition, with great skating and hopefully we are seeing a growing confidence in exploring more of his offensive game. And it never hurts to be the OHL’s best faceoff guy. He could be poised for a breakout year with Mississauga depending on how they balance his and Del Bel Belluz’s ice time. I can also see him being a big contributor to the next two Team Canada WJC teams as he has a lot of things that they look for as their third line “responsible” centre.

[NWTHabsFan]

Another angle of Beck’s goal last night.

[seventeen]

Sept 17, 2022 8:21:41 GMT -5 NWTHabsFan said:

Sept 16, 2022 20:01:03 GMT -5 seventeen said:

Not sure about Heineman. He spends a lot of time on his butt after being knocked down. With Beck I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s a top 10 scorer in the OHL this year. Lots of skill and some great wheels. His zone exits are excellent.

I really like Beck’s game. His positioning both on and off the puck is great. He does so many little things right at both ends of the ice. You can see his hockey smarts through all those actions too. And he is very good in transition, with great skating and hopefully we are seeing a growing confidence in exploring more of his offensive game. And it never hurts to be the OHL’s best faceoff guy. He could be poised for a breakout year with Mississauga depending on how they balance his and Del Bel Belluz’s ice time. I can also see him being a big contributor to the next two Team Canada WJC teams as he has a lot of things that they look for as their third line “responsible” centre.

Matt Drake of HabsEOTP mase the point that the Devs iced their best prospects and it was close to what their AHL team will be. That’s a key point. When a few of our kids show as well as the did against a good , more mature crop, that’s a hell if a sign. I ecpect that from Harris, but not Beck and Mesar or kids like Trudeau and Dube who also was noticeable.

Im beginning to have the feeling we got Shane Wright in this past draft but at the 33rd pick. Really impressive.

One play that popped my eyes was on an attack where Beck ended up on the right side and I think he was almost stationary. The puck was brought up the middle or left, can’t recall, but it was passed to him and a guy was breaking up the middle. A Devils Dman had Beck in his sights and he had no time at all. Somehow he collected the pass and relayed it through some bodies to the streaking Hab who had a partial breakaway that the goalie saved. Pure skill. Great hands and vision. Took a hit and created a high danger scoring chance. Elite stuff. The concern was his offense. Bah!

[Willie Dog]

I only watched the highlights of both games but it looks like the refs are there for observational purposes... lots of shenanigans going on...

[NWTHabsFan]

For those hoping to see Guhle (seventeen) and get more Slafkovsky, tomorrow is your day. Game starts at noon ET, so it is an early one.

[seventeen]

Sept 17, 2022 13:18:35 GMT -5 Willie Dog said:

I only watched the highlights of both games but it looks like the refs are there for observational purposes... lots of shenanigans going on...

I think it's what interior designers call decor.

[seventeen]

Sept 17, 2022 14:32:11 GMT -5 NWTHabsFan said:

For those hoping to see Guhle (seventeen) and get more Slafkovsky, tomorrow is your day. Game starts at noon ET, so it is an early one.

Just to clarify, while I would like to see how Guhle plays vs higher than CHL quality hockey, I suspect he is already considered to be at worst a Laval top 2 or he may even break the Hab line-up. His competition is Joel Edmundson, Michael Matheson and possibly Jordan Harris (if he's slotted on the left. It will be tough for him to insert himself ahead of those 3 and he would not get the ice tie we'd like to see him have.

I can't see him playing the right side, but if Harris is slotted for the right then it's possible. Harris has to beat out Savard, Barron, Wideman or Schueneman. The last two don't concern me. They are warm bodies. So it is a possibility. My preference is that he starts out in Laval for 20-30 games and then gets called up. Injuries will play a role, of course.

I haven't included Xhekaj in that mix as he will very likely need a full season in Laval....but who knows...maybe gets a call up in the last 20 games or so? If we get a spate of injuries, their big team ice time will be sped up.

This most recent draft has a makings of a real knockout. Slaf and Mesar are looking like the real deals...especially getting Mesar at a historically weak statistical spot in the first round. Beck is looking like a "start the car!" pick at 33 and then there are the longer (but very exciting) shots of Hutson and Engstrom. If you can get 5 guys out of a draft and if any of them become elite, that's a home run. Maybe even and inside the part home run.

[NWTHabsFan]

[NWTHabsFan]

[NWTHabsFan]

No play by play though.

[NWTHabsFan]

Kidney makes it 2-0 for another PP goal today. Shortly after Sens get one back.

[NWTHabsFan]

To help with who is who. The Guhle-Barron pairing is a reunion from when they played the WJC together. Fun to see Beck and Slafkovsky together too.

[NWTHabsFan]

Xhejak gets two for a high hit. A Sens player takes him on right out of the penalty box, and Xhejak KO’ed the dude. Arber is tough.

[NWTHabsFan]

The smallest guy is rewarded for all his buzzing around all three games with a nice goal. 3-1. The biggest guy (invite John Parker-John who is a monster) makes it 4-1 on a beauty breakaway goal.