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Post by skunk on Jan 21, 2008 2:51:56 GMT -5
The 6-2, 220 pound Russian blueliner isn't quite as big as Shelly, but he is every bit as tough, and has a similar crackling point shot. Pavel is on a similar pace to the former Hab star in his first pro season at the AHL level, and has had to deal with adapting to the North American game as well. Bodes well for Valentenko who is one of the youngest players in the AHL this season.
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Post by franko on Jan 21, 2008 8:25:04 GMT -5
Ah, but is he a pylon?
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Post by Gogie on Jan 21, 2008 9:00:41 GMT -5
I think his defensive game is his real strength. He's a very solid body checker and an outstanding skater (not necessarily lightning fast, but very strong). As I've mentioned before, I like his grit. He doesn't remind me of Souray at all - he's a defenseman first. My first inclination might be to compare him to a cleaner version of Darius Kasparaitis, perhaps (I haven't seen him try to low-bridge anyone but he throws a mean hip check).
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Post by clear observer on Jan 21, 2008 11:47:36 GMT -5
I think his defensive game is his real strength. He's a very solid body checker and an outstanding skater (not necessarily lightning fast, but very strong). As I've mentioned before, I like his grit. He doesn't remind me of Souray at all - he's a defenseman first. My first inclination might be to compare him to a cleaner version of Darius Kasparaitis, perhaps (I haven't seen him try to low-bridge anyone but he throws a mean hip check). Oh my, be still my heart! ;D |
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Post by habmeister on Jan 21, 2008 12:55:54 GMT -5
thank you timmins once again!
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jan 21, 2008 20:03:40 GMT -5
Our Russian scout wanted to get him in the second round, but they went after Carle, Maxwell and White first and got him in the late rounds. Crafty drafting for sure.
Thanks to the Russian Hockey Federation not signing any transfer agreement as it kept most teams a bit nervous about drafting too many Russians too high. It sure had its impact the last two drafts.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jan 21, 2008 20:07:07 GMT -5
4 points in his first 27 AHL games after only 2 points in the RSL in 50 games last season. 7 points in his last 7 games, so he really is adding something to his game. Lever mentioned that he has been working with him to use his shot more, keep it down, and get it on net because it is a boomer. He has also been rewarding him with PP time, which is where he got his two assists yesterday afternoon in Houston.
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Post by CrocRob on Jan 23, 2008 14:06:58 GMT -5
Valentenko is exciting to watch. He can make opposing players back off pretty well. He usually establishes his physical presence early in the game, and it reaps rewards later in the game. He and Emelin are two guys I think could push into the lineup next season (if Emelin comes over, obviously).
Montreal has a really nice problem coming up. With Bouillon, Gorges and O'Byrne slotted to play D next year (and possibly Streit if he's re-signed) and a couple defensemen knocking on the door, we're in an excellent position to include a good prospect or two in a deal for a quality forward. Not that I think it will happen, but it's a good position to be in.
Personally, I think it might be hard to convince Emelin to come over given the logjam that exists.
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Post by habmeister on Jan 23, 2008 15:15:22 GMT -5
i would like to see our top 6 next year as:
markov
komi
hamr
gorges
emelin (seeing him play live at the world junior had me convinced he was ready this year)
o'byrne/valentenko if either is better than boullion
streit in my opinion needs to become a 3rd line two way forward and i think he has selke votes in him possibly, but down low he's about as strong as a wet noodle.
hard to say how subban, mcdonagh, fischer, weber, carle will turn out, but its nice to have a logjam in probably the most important position.
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Post by Skilly on Jan 23, 2008 21:32:49 GMT -5
The sad thing is ... if Emelin comes over (I think he will), and Valentenko is as advertised, then Gorges will once again find himself as the odd man out.
Markov/Komi
Hamrlik/O'Byrne
Emelin/Valentenko
An offensive force and a bruiser on each pairing ..... Gorges is neither. But he is steady and reliable which is good, but will it be enough to convince the brass?
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Jan 28, 2008 17:20:01 GMT -5
The 6-2, 220 pound Russian blueliner isn't quite as big as Shelly, but he is every bit as tough, and has a similar crackling point shot. Pavel is on a similar pace to the former Hab star in his first pro season at the AHL level, and has had to deal with adapting to the North American game as well. Bodes well for Valentenko who is one of the youngest players in the AHL this season. I never considered Souray a hitter. He was big, great shot, put up points from the point, but HIT?? Souray hit with his arms instead of his shoulder. Didn't inflict pain. Of course Souray was good at throwing checks at Spezza, just not at connecting. |
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Jan 28, 2008 17:33:56 GMT -5
The sad thing is ... if Emelin comes over (I think he will), and Valentenko is as advertised, then Gorges will once again find himself as the odd man out. Markov/Komi Hamrlik/O'Byrne Emelin/Valentenko An offensive force and a bruiser on each pairing ..... Gorges is neither. But he is steady and reliable which is good, but will it be enough to convince the brass? The nice thing about depth is that you leave some good players in hamilton. O'byrne will be back from injuries soon. I like Locke, but there are a lot of players ahead of him on the depth chart. Every training camp it's let the best man win! Perezhoegin would have a monumental task to come back and make the team. It's a better problem than not having enough quality players. The team is playing without contributions from Souray, Ribeiro and Ryder and is getting lots of goals without the former big contributors. |
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Post by habmeister on Jan 28, 2008 18:02:23 GMT -5
The sad thing is ... if Emelin comes over (I think he will), and Valentenko is as advertised, then Gorges will once again find himself as the odd man out. Markov/Komi Hamrlik/O'Byrne Emelin/Valentenko An offensive force and a bruiser on each pairing ..... Gorges is neither. But he is steady and reliable which is good, but will it be enough to convince the brass? don't count josh out just yet! i'm not sure that o'byrne is nhl material just yet, and if josh is the 7th best on this team then we're pretty damn solid compared to any d-core in the last decade. a nice problem to have. look for mcdonagh and maxpac to get legit shots this coming camp too. its going to get crowded and then the deals will be made, but not until bob is sure who can play at this level. |
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Post by franko on Jan 28, 2008 21:32:23 GMT -5
The sad thing is ... if Emelin comes over (I think he will), and Valentenko is as advertised, then Gorges will once again find himself as the odd man out. Markov/Komi Hamrlik/O'Byrne Emelin/Valentenko An offensive force and a bruiser on each pairing ..... Gorges is neither. But he is steady and reliable which is good, but will it be enough to convince the brass? Don't think they'll be pairing rookies together to start the NHL season. Maybe a bit of a rotation? Whatever . . . a D that looks like a D! |
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Post by oldhabsfan on Jan 29, 2008 0:46:35 GMT -5
The sad thing is ... if Emelin comes over (I think he will), and Valentenko is as advertised, then Gorges will once again find himself as the odd man out. Markov/Komi Hamrlik/O'Byrne Emelin/Valentenko My guess is that before Emelin comes over and makes the team (he may spend a short while in Hamilton), we will see Markov/O'Byrne Valentenko/Hamrlik Streit/Komisarek Gorges I expect that Emelin would replace Streit and the pairs would be reshuffled, and whether we would keep Streit or Gorges at that point God only knows; possibly for cap reasons and future development we would move Streit and keep Gorges. We would then have (assuming O'Byrne and Valentenko and Emelin all pan out) a ferociously good defence - skilled, tough, mobile with good size (6 big guys of 7 at least). |
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Post by seventeen on Jan 29, 2008 2:38:44 GMT -5
Emelin was ahead of Valentenko in the Russian League (by a fair bit). Emelin was a regular on the Russian World championship team IIRC while Pavel was an early cut. I really like that Emelin plays with an edge....a Henckels kind of edge. I like both, but I believe Valentino will be better offensively while Emeril will strike more fear into opponents. BAM!
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Post by BadCompany on Jan 29, 2008 10:15:12 GMT -5
I remain sceptical that Emelin will come over, but hey, you never know! Here's hoping anyways...
Keep McDonagh in school, trade Streit at the deadline, and hope Markov can play just as well on his off-wing.
Emelin - Markov
Hamrlik - O'Byrne
Valentenko - Komisarek
Gorges
Use a Markov-Komisarek duo to kill penalties and late in the game, just to keep Komi happy and his ice-time up. Lots of rookies, but I can live with it...
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jan 29, 2008 11:53:30 GMT -5
I was told yesterday that young McDonagh has been hitting everything on the ice these days and that he's pretty darn good at it as well. Do you see Emelin as another Chelios by chance? Honestly, I haven't followed this guy's progression. Cheers. |
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Post by habmeister on Jan 29, 2008 13:06:06 GMT -5
I was told yesterday that young McDonagh has been hitting everything on the ice these days and that he's pretty darn good at it as well. Do you see Emelin as another Chelios by chance? Honestly, I haven't followed this guy's progression. Cheers. emelin would probably be more comparable to a vochenkov or kasparitis, a shorter stalky d-man with a real mean streak. i watched him half kill guys in the world junior when they went into his corner. i wish komi had half the mean streak he did. unless his progress completely stalled from two years ago he is ready now. that was the same world jr that i saw malkin, johnson and johnson, and he was right in there with erik johnson as far as readiness. |
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Post by seventeen on Jan 30, 2008 1:10:03 GMT -5
I agree H & C, that's an accurate analogy...more like Kasperaitis or Volchenkov, but I think he's a bit meaner than both those guys....way more penalty minutes.
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jan 30, 2008 10:12:14 GMT -5
I was told yesterday that young McDonagh has been hitting everything on the ice these days and that he's pretty darn good at it as well. Do you see Emelin as another Chelios by chance? Honestly, I haven't followed this guy's progression. Cheers. emelin would probably be more comparable to a vochenkov or kasparitis, a shorter stalky d-man with a real mean streak. i watched him half kill guys in the world junior when they went into his corner. i wish komi had half the mean streak he did. unless his progress completely stalled from two years ago he is ready now. that was the same world jr that i saw malkin, johnson and johnson, and he was right in there with erik johnson as far as readiness. Son of a gun ... Vochenkov or Kasparitis? I remember seeing Vochenkov when he was just starting out. Ribs was having an outstanding preseason unti BOOM! ... separated shoulder courtesy of Vochenkov. Would be great getting this guy over. Only when? Cheers. |
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Post by habmeister on Jan 30, 2008 17:48:52 GMT -5
emelin would probably be more comparable to a vochenkov or kasparitis, a shorter stalky d-man with a real mean streak. i watched him half kill guys in the world junior when they went into his corner. i wish komi had half the mean streak he did. unless his progress completely stalled from two years ago he is ready now. that was the same world jr that i saw malkin, johnson and johnson, and he was right in there with erik johnson as far as readiness. Son of a gun ... Vochenkov or Kasparitis? I remember seeing Vochenkov when he was just starting out. Ribs was having an outstanding preseason unti BOOM! ... separated shoulder courtesy of Vochenkov. Would be great getting this guy over. Only when? Cheers. yeah he's a nasty little guy, the kind you want watching your back, a little bit of steve downie in him, but not as stupid. he'll step right in and play at this level, but he should go thru hamilton like everyone else. if he says nhl or nothing then i'd sign him and give him a spot either way, he's good. |
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