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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 1, 2023 12:08:25 GMT -5
37 players were invited to Development Camp which starts today with off ice stuff and the on-ice work starts tomorrow and runs to July 4th with a scrimmage session. 6 of the 9 2023 draft picks will be in attendance with the two Russians and American Sam Harris missing. There are a number of invitees and there are a trio that I find very interesting and will post profiles on later today. Here is the roster of participants: cms.nhl.bamgrid.com/images/assets/binary/345141772/binary-file/file.pdf |
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Post by Willie Dog on Jul 1, 2023 12:16:50 GMT -5
The majority of forwards at camp are 6 feet or less whereas it's the reverse on D... JP Jones is 6 foot 7
Why can't we have tall forwards?
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 1, 2023 12:59:51 GMT -5
From McKeen’s:
97 FRANCESCO DELL'ELCE DEFENSE 6-0 165 LBS CANADA 23-JUN-05
GP-G-A-PTS-PIM
2022-2023 ST. ANDREW'S (CHS-O) 51-20-42-62
Dell’Elce, a UMass commit, is an intelligent and smooth skating puck moving defender. He is an effortless four-way mover and a strong linear attacker, something that he uses exceptionally well to create space for himself on the attack. By attacking both North/South and East/West, he becomes a very tough cover as he slices up the neutral zone. Dell’Elce also looks comfortable running the point of the powerplay. He uses his mobility to his advantage to work his way in tight, often beating the top layer of pressure. His point shot is good, but it is his scoring instincts and ability to get to the inside that have led to his high scoring totals this year.
As a defender, Dell’Elce defends pace well. He often neutralizes transitional attacks and has a good stick and gap control. He will occasionally assert himself physically, but he can struggle to tie up opposing forwards near the crease and he will need to add strength to his frame to consistently win positional battles at higher levels. It looks like Dell’Elce will play in the BCHL (with Penticton) or in the USHL next year before going to UMass in 2024, which is a smart play on his part to allow him to mature physically before such a large step in a tough conference. There’s definitely a chance that he could develop into a Calvin de Haan type of player with patience.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 1, 2023 13:01:33 GMT -5
From McKeen’s:
116 WILL VOTE RIGHT WING 2022-2023 USN U18 (USDP)
5-8 155 LBS USA 22-FEB-05
GP-G-A-PTS-PIM
60-16-29-45
A member of the dominant USNTDP this season, Will Vote is an undersized winger who never really broke through this season. He produced 45 points in 60 games, a fairly low point-per-game total compared to the other forwards on the team. He did get the chance to participate in the World Under-18s though, where he did play at a point-per-game rate while helping Team USA to a gold medal.
Vote will be heading to Boston College next season, where he has his work cut out for him. The 5-foot-7, 159-pound winger is a two-way player and does show some promising defensive awareness and positioning at times, but not necessarily enough to carry him to the next level. His playmaking and hands show potential as well, making quick moves and dishing the puck out well. His skating needs some work that may come with strength and development. He may be a good AHLer or depth piece in the future.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 1, 2023 13:08:12 GMT -5
From McKeen’s:
143 SAMUEL URBAN GOALIE 6-1 195 LBS SLOVAKIA 1-MAY-05
NWT’s edit: He spent the year on various teams, the U18 Slovakia team that plays in the Slovakian 2nd men’s league, on the U18 team in the Slovakian junior league, four games with Sioux City in the USHL, and at the IIHF U18 championship for Slovakia.
Urban showed great progression from the start of the year to end, culminating with a strong performance at the U18’s for Slovakia. When you compare and contrast his performance at the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup in the summer with his play in the season ending U18’s, you see a different goaltender. This was also evident in his short stint in the USHL prior to the U18’s.
An excellent athlete, Urban’s extremely quick post to post and his agility allows him to make second and third chance saves look easy. He is quick to kick out his pads and he will come out past the blue paint to challenge shooters, trusting his athleticism can help him recover if needed. The growth in his game has come in the form of his positioning and rebound control. He was previously prone to bad goals as he over-extended on his pushes and failed to hold his angles. Additionally, his flopping style, in combination with his poor rebound control, left him susceptible to easy tap-ins as a result of weaker perimeter or point shots. Simply put, he is turning into an actual netminder who can harness his athleticism. Much work is still to be done, but the growth is measurable. The CHL looks like a possible landing spot for him next season.
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Post by PTH on Jul 1, 2023 16:25:33 GMT -5
The invites can turn into contracts, a couple of years ago we missed out on a guy who went to Chicago the year after...
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 1, 2023 18:00:02 GMT -5
The invites can turn into contracts, a couple of years ago we missed out on a guy who went to Chicago the year after... A big one that got “away” was goalie Devon Levi for me. Had him at camp while he was still playing Junior A in the Ottawa Valley. Could have used a 7th on him in the day. Oh well. Goalies…. |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 1, 2023 18:08:46 GMT -5
The invites can turn into contracts, a couple of years ago we missed out on a guy who went to Chicago the year after... The three I mentioned above are all first year eligibles that had some decent rankings on public lists. They are all eventually headed the NCAA route, which is trickier business as a team cannot sign them and slide the contract, as they would lose their NCAA eligibility. The Habs can build a relationship and then take their chances in free agency down the road if they are interested in the kid. Alternatively, they could take a big chance, offer the 18 year old a deal, get them to play in the CHL, and have their ELC slide two years. There are always options. There are a few guys who are finishing up either NCAA or CHL careers who are in for purposes of looking at for a minor league deal (most likely for 3R but possibly an AHL/ECHL two way deal too). Need to fill those rosters too. They likely would be brought back in the fall for rookie camp and then invited to minor pro camps before getting a deal done. |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 2, 2023 9:53:51 GMT -5
Some updated heights and weights from the Habs after off ice gym day yesterday.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 2, 2023 9:59:13 GMT -5
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 2, 2023 10:03:47 GMT -5
Some of the new faces.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 2, 2023 10:06:09 GMT -5
Adam Nicholas’ welcome could put a few guys on the IR for the summer!
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 2, 2023 19:36:11 GMT -5
It would not be a true Habs camp without some guys nursing injuries. 😬
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 2, 2023 19:42:02 GMT -5
Interviews with some of the lads.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 3, 2023 17:51:53 GMT -5
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 3, 2023 18:36:33 GMT -5
Mešár definitely has his sights set on Laval next season versus another season in the OHL.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 3, 2023 18:39:10 GMT -5
Here is how to watch the scrimmage tomorrow morning at 11:00 am ET, which will be the final wrap up for this year’s development camp.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 4, 2023 0:19:29 GMT -5
Today’s interviews were with Engström, Struble, Roy, Dobeš, Kidney, Miller and Tourigny.
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Post by seventeen on Jul 4, 2023 2:04:03 GMT -5
Some updated heights and weights from the Habs after off ice gym day yesterday. Hockeydb.com still has Engstrom at 6', 168 lbs. A reading of 6' 2", 193 lbs kind of changes the outlook, no? He's a favourite under the radar prospect for me. I think he'll be patrolling our back line on the top 4 after this season, if his contract allows. He'll only be 20 in November! Sixteen points in 43 games in the SHL as a 19 year old. Pretty good. |
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Post by Cranky on Jul 4, 2023 4:34:00 GMT -5
Hughes warned X to be careful around his boy toys. He doesn't want any of them accidentally broken or maimed.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 4, 2023 12:53:26 GMT -5
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 4, 2023 12:56:14 GMT -5
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 4, 2023 12:58:34 GMT -5
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 4, 2023 14:14:52 GMT -5
Close to 50 minutes long. Interviews with Reinbacher, MPP, Nicholas, Pellegrin and Hutson after the wrap up of the scrimmage and camp today.
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Post by Willie Dog on Jul 4, 2023 20:57:26 GMT -5
Wow, I really like Nicholas, such a smart guy... After decades of no player development the Habs are going to develop their draft pics... Finally.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 4, 2023 21:09:33 GMT -5
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 5, 2023 13:02:10 GMT -5
Wow, I really like Nicholas, such a smart guy... After decades of no player development the Habs are going to develop their draft pics... Finally. He is smart, articulate and so full of energy. And the players all seem to love working with him. A great hire indeed! |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 5, 2023 13:18:43 GMT -5
Just a few thoughts on the two scrimmages. First the caveats, that it was hockey in July, it was four on four and more shinny that a real game, and guys have little or no chemistry together.
The goalies all looked solid. Dobeš is an absolute monster at 6’6” but he plays a very sound game. I thought all five played well, and tryout Samuel Urban (a fave of mine) was great and stopped all the shots he faced in the shootout. Funny they gave a tryout the shootout experience over a drafted guy, right? He is a very good goalie. He was amazing for Slovakia at the U18s. I just rewatched his quarter final heroics in an upset win over 🇫🇮 where he made 52 saves. He then took 🇨🇦 to OT in the Bronze medal game to be beaten by Connor Bedard’s spectacular game winner where he went through the whole team to win. Yes, I would be very interested in this guy even though the Habs drafted THREE goalies this draft. Nuts.
The defense were definitely where the stars were. All eyes were on the dynamic duo of Hutson-Reinbacher who had instant chemistry and were dancing all over the ice. Mailloux was solid, but some criticized his trying to do too much and skate through a few too many guys (did I mention it was summer shinny hockey and a lot of guys tried to do too much!?). The coolest of the cucumbers was my guy Engström who just looked so composed with the puck out there. He is mobile and has great vision and you can tell how well he has benefited from all those games against men. He is close. The pleasant surprise was 18 year old Canadian prep school invite Dell’Ellce. This kid has great feet, is great with the puck and can skate. He just needs to thicken up a bit, but he looks composed especially for a kid who came from lower tier hockey. He should have been drafted for sure (hint, hint).
Up front, nobody really blew it away. Mešár was quiet but scored a nice goal. Beck was quietly efficient. Tuch is big and fast, but definitely is a north-south skating guy. He looked good considering his best games that I have seen were when he was moving his feet and being physical. This was a rather lightly physical scrimmage, after all. Rohrer and Simoneau were buzzing all over the place. Smilanic was fast. Biondi, Xhekaj and Davidson did not play as they were nursing minor injuries.
It was fun to see some of the new guys in action, but it is July and their real games in the fall will be fun to track.
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Post by Cranky on Jul 5, 2023 19:59:08 GMT -5
I wonder if they are going to give up on Primeau this year?
We need goaltending and unless Primeau is hiding his talents, I don't think he he is the answer.
Where is Dobes playing? Back to university or Laval?
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Post by Willie Dog on Jul 5, 2023 20:29:45 GMT -5
Great that they had Byron come in and talk to the kids, I think he'll be part of the staff soon...
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