Brock Trotter

[ropoflu]

Habs signed Brock Trotter.

MONTREAL – Canadiens GM Bob Gainey announced Thursday the signing of free agent centerman Brock Trotter to a three-year contract (2007-08 to 2009-10). As per club policy, financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Trotter will report to the Hamilton Bulldogs on Friday.

In 2007-08, the 20-year-old Trotter played in 24 games with the University of Denver Pioneers, his third season with the NCAA team. He led the team with 31 points in 24 games (13 goals, 18 assists), and registered 18 penalty minutes.

The 5-foot-10, 180-pound forward native of Brandon, Manitoba led the Pioneers in scoring with 40 points in 40 games in 2006-07 (16 goals, 24 assists). He registered 76 points (32 goals, 44 assists) and 42 penalty minutes in three seasons with Denver (79 games).



canadiens.nhl.com/team/app?articleid=352685&page=NewsPage&service=page

www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid=00080999

[Patty Roy]

Something for nothing, i like it. Even if its just to help Hamilton the next few seasons.

[ropoflu]

So he's a small guy but apparently built à la Bouillon. He lost a year due to a injured achilles tendon It seems he doesn't know how to boxe.



Trotter: right on the picture.

[skunk]

This is a significant signing. Trotter himself may not be that big, but he is just as offensively skilled as Paul Statsny, putting up similar numbers at the same age as Statsny in the USHL, and with Denver. It is wrong to write him off as a career minor leaguer.

[Patty Roy]

skunk said:

This is a significant signing. Trotter himself may not be that big, but he is just as offensively skilled as Paul Statsny, putting up similar numbers at the same age as Statsny in the USHL, and with Denver. It is wrong to write him off as a career minor leaguer.

Just out of curiosity, have you seen him play, or are you basing the statement that he is as offensively skilled as Paul Stastny based on numbers alone?

[Disgruntled70sHab]

ropoflu said:

So he's a small guy but appently built à la Bouillon. He lost a year due to a injured achille"s eal. It seems he doesn't know how to boxe.



Trotter: right on the picture.

I've seen this in the gym here in Kingston. I don't know who the agent was but he sent as many of his younger clients to Kingston for a two-week conditioning program. I don't think there was anyone older than 17 maybe 18 at the very most.

But, when the instructors were away these youngsters put on some small-weight boxing gloves and went at one-on-one. I know it's probably just youth taking over, but they weren't holding back at all.

One of the gym staff pointed out that one of the young lads working out was Geoff Courtnall's son. It wasn't hard to find him; he looked like the spittin' image of his dad.

Cheers.

[Disgruntled70sHab]

Here's a little more on Trotter from Hockeyfuture.com (cut and paste only)

7. Brock Trotter, C
Redshirted Freshman, University of Denver
5'10 170 lbs.
DOB: 9/18/87 Shoots: Right
NHL Central Scouting final ranking: N/A

2006-07 season: A year after suffering a season-ending Achilles tendon injury, Brock Trotter emerged as a better, wiser and more appreciative player. The Brandon, MB native led the Pioneers with 40 points (16 goals, 24 assists) playing in all 40 games this season. His 24 assists also led the team. He was the first freshman to lead Denver in scoring in two decades. Trotter's stellar season earned him the team's Leading Scorer and "Star of the Year" awards.

Talent Analysis: Trotter is an instinctive, multi-dimensional player who is equally adept in both offensive and defensive situations. He possesses great vision, awareness and anticipation, and utilizes those attributes effectively regardless of where he is on the ice. While Trotter is not an overly physical player, he has the capability to deliver some pretty solid checks. One of Trotter's greatest assets are his hands, whether it's in making nice tape-to-tape passes or keeping the puck on his stick. Continuing to add size and strength should help to not only make Trotter tougher to play against but also add power to his quickness and speed.

Denver head coach George Gwozdecky's comments on Trotter: "After sitting out a year, Brock was starting over again in many ways, especially in his timing and confidence. He is the kind of athlete, not only physically but also intelligence-wise, where he picked it up again pretty quickly. We're very fortunate that Brock has the skills and the attitude that makes him as good in our own zone as he is the offensive zone and that's kind of player that you can build around."

www.hockeysfuture.com/articles/9737/top20_ncaa2007_prospects/

[skunk]

Trotter came into the NCAA (as a 17 year old), and was ahead of Jonathan Toews in WCHA scoring early in the season (beat out Toews for ROTM), before severing his Achilles tendon. That was his draft year (2006) and since he missed nearly the entire season, he went undrafted. Last season (as a red shirt freshman) he tied Kyle Okposo, the 7th overall pick in the 2006 draft, with 40 points in 40 games. INCH magazine named him top rookie in the league ahead of Okposo. I believe he also won top rookie honors in his only USHL season as a 16/17 year old. The kid is very skilled, and tough for his size (5-10, 180). Not dissimilar to Christopher Higgins at the same stage of his career.

[halihab]

Can he play centre for us right now ? ;D

Seriously though, he seems like the typical habs prototype darft choice. Skills, speed combined with character and determination. I like it. Could turn out to be quite a find.

[cigarviper]

Is this Timmins turning over stones to find hiddem gems? There is some questioning as to why he left his DU team in the middle of the season and left school mid-semester.

[cigarviper]

disgruntled70shab said:

ropoflu said:

So he's a small guy but appently built à la Bouillon. He lost a year due to a injured achille"s eal. It seems he doesn't know how to boxe.



Trotter: right on the picture.

I've seen this in the gym here in Kingston. I don't know who the agent was but he sent as many of his younger clients to Kingston for a two-week conditioning program. I don't think there was anyone older than 17 maybe 18 at the very most.

But, when the instructors were away these youngsters put on some small-weight boxing gloves and went at one-on-one. I know it's probably just youth taking over, but they weren't holding back at all.

One of the gym staff pointed out that one of the young lads working out was Geoff Courtnall's son. It wasn't hard to find him; he looked like the spittin' image of his dad.

Cheers.

The only NHL agent here in Kingston I know of is Mike Gillis.

[Disgruntled70sHab]

cigarviper said:

Is this Timmins turning over stones to find hiddem gems? There is some questioning as to why he left his DU team in the middle of the season and left school mid-semester.

Especially when he was redshirted as well. I wasn't sure of the term so I looked it up. From Wikipedia:

Typically, four years of academic classes are required to obtain a bachelor's degree at an American college or university. A student's sport eligibility is based on this timetable. Therefore, a student-athlete may only represent a school in any given sport for a total of four seasons. However, a student-athlete may opt to redshirt for one year. Redshirting allows the student-athlete to spread those four years of eligibility over five years. In a redshirt year, a student-athlete may attend classes at the college/university and practice with an athletic team, however he or she may not appear in games. Using this mechanism, a student-athlete has up to five academic years to use the four years of eligibility, thus creating the phenomenon of "Fifth Year Seniors".

It would be interesting to find out why he left. But, it may just come down to wanting to play in the pros. Hard to say though.

Cheers.

[cigarviper]

disgruntled70shab said:

cigarviper said:

Is this Timmins turning over stones to find hiddem gems? There is some questioning as to why he left his DU team in the middle of the season and left school mid-semester.

Especially when he was redshirted as well. I wasn't sure of the term so I looked it up. From Wikipedia:

Typically, four years of academic classes are required to obtain a bachelor's degree at an American college or university. A student's sport eligibility is based on this timetable. Therefore, a student-athlete may only represent a school in any given sport for a total of four seasons. However, a student-athlete may opt to redshirt for one year. Redshirting allows the student-athlete to spread those four years of eligibility over five years. In a redshirt year, a student-athlete may attend classes at the college/university and practice with an athletic team, however he or she may not appear in games. Using this mechanism, a student-athlete has up to five academic years to use the four years of eligibility, thus creating the phenomenon of "Fifth Year Seniors".

It would be interesting to find out why he left. But, it may just come down to wanting to play in the pros. Hard to say though.

Cheers.

True enough. It could be as simple as seeing an opportunity appearing by way of a contract with a pro team and realizing by doing so he will have the money to go and finish school should the pro career not pan out. Either way, I look forward to hearing and reading progress reports of this kid. So, I wonder what the other gms in the league spent their last few days doing? Go Gainey.

[Deleted]

Funny how they just happened to find this guy. I'm interested in seeing how this turns out. (Replacement for Koivu, mayhaps?)

[habmeister]

looks good to me, i like that we're looking under every rock and finding guys that have "potential" really no risk here and let's see if he's another kris russell or a mark streit.

[skunk]

He is a better prospect than the Habs top 2006 pick David Fischer, right off the top. As to the reason he left DU, he probably realized he had enough ability to play in the NHL, so the college routine lost it's appeal. I would say he was easily the best free agent prospect at the NCAA level. At the same age he is on the same scoring pace as Paul Statsny was with the Pioneers before he turned pro.

[skunk]

Trotter is from Winnipeg, and may have been a Hab's fan growing up. If he waited until the end of the season, he would have gotten a ton of offers from every team in the NHL. Maybe he did, anyway. Gets Timmins off the hook a bit if Fischer doesn't pan out. If you had to do the 2006 draft over again today, Trotter would have been a first round pick.

[Yossarian]

Apparently, he has a connection to Habs prospect Ryan White, and used him as a reference. They played minor hockey together.

[NWTHabsFan]

yossarian said:

Apparently, he has a connection to Habs prospect Ryan White, and used him as a reference. They played minor hockey together.

Born in Brandon, same as Ryan and also in only 6 months older so likely played minor a lot together.

[NWTHabsFan]

Trotter was ranked #7 by Hockeys Future from the NCAA going into the draft last summer. That is pretty impressive. He played in the Manitoba Junior A league and then was injured for his freshman year, so a little under the radar. In his freshie season, one point per game leading his team in scoring. This year he was leading his team again in scoring, one of the top in the NCAA and one of the best ppg in the NCAA.

A bit small, but plays tough, and has great hands, scores a lot and has a big slapshot.

[Roggy]

www.nhl.com/nhl/app?articleid=352823&page=NewsPage&service=page

Canadiens jumped at chance to grab Denver U star Brock Trotter[/i]

MONTREAL - The Montreal Canadiens jumped at the chance to sign free agent Brock Trotter when the high-scoring forward opted to leave the University of Denver, where he was suspended for unknown reasons.

The undrafted native of Brandon, Man., who turned 21 last month, was leading the Pioneers in scoring with 31 points, including 13 goals, in 24 games when he decided to turn pro and make himself open for bids by NHL teams.

He signed a three-year contract Thursday with the Canadiens and was assigned to Hamilton of the American Hockey League.

His reasons for leaving Denver remain a mystery, although rumours abound of disciplinary or academic problems.

Agent Wade Arnott said only that it was "a private matter" and that Trotter was suspended for the rest of the term and would not have been allowed to play for the Pioneers.

"He was forced to make a decision," said Arnott. "He didn't walk away from the team or the university."

Trevor Timmins, the Canadiens director of player recruitment, said only that it was "a private matter between the player and the coach."

"We know the player's character. He's a super-nice young man," Timmins said. "We're confident that this will work out. Players with the skill set he has are at a premium at the pro level."

Denver coach George Gwozdecky also gave no details to the Denver media this week, saying only that "our players have private lives and I hope people respect their privacy."

He wished Trotter well and said there was no problem between the player and his teammates.

Concern was raised when Trotter missed two games at Minnesota State last week. Then it came out that he was leaving midway through his third year at Denver to turn pro.

Timmins said Trotter's adviser - Arnott works for the Newport agency headed by Don Meehan, they're not allowed to have agents in U.S. university sports - contacted NHL teams to let them know the five-foot-10 180-pound skater was available.

"That spiked our interest," said Timmins. "We spent a lot of time on Brock last year.

"We researched him. One of our scouts went to his home to interview his parents. Our prospect Ryan White played with him in Brandon in minor hockey and spoke highly of him."

He said Montreal's keen interest and the connection with White probably sold Trotter on signing with the Canadiens.

White, 19, last week's CHL player of the week with the Calgary Hitmen, was drafted in the third round by Montreal last June.

Arnott said the Canadiens "did a really good job selling their work with young prospects and giving them opportunities in the NHL. He also really wanted to play for an Original Six team."

He did not say how much Trotter's contract would pay, but called it "very generous."

"He's very good from the blue-line in," Timmins said of Trotter. "I can't say he's a shooter or a passer because he does both well.

"We're happy to have him. He's in Hamilton now. He'll get settled and probably start playing next week."

Trotter played a season with Lincoln, Neb., in the U.S. junior league before moving to Denver for the 2005-06 season.

A severed Achilles tendon ended his first season after only five games. Last season, he had 40 points in 40 games to lead the team. His university career ended with 76 points in 69 games.

[seventeen]

The Dogs, who looked like a team with real scoring deficiencies, suddenly look a lot better. The addition of Corso and now Trotter, should add some juice to their forward lines. Corso is already having an impact. It will be nice to not have to win games 2-1 or 2-0. Calder Cup champs two in a row?

[seventeen]

skunk said:

INCH magazine named him top rookie in the league ahead of Okposo.

Did you mean Trotter, or the other guy we just signed, Everhard? ;D

[NWTHabsFan]

seventeen said:

The Dogs, who looked like a team with real scoring deficiencies, suddenly look a lot better. The addition of Corso and now Trotter, should add some juice to their forward lines. Corso is already having an impact. It will be nice to not have to win games 2-1 or 2-0. Calder Cup champs two in a row?

Grabovski returning from the dreaded high ankle strain as well adds some nice jump to the offense. It will be interesting to see how and when they add Trotter into the lineup with all these healthy bodies back for once.

[habmeister]

sounds good to me! great deal, getting a 1st round type pick without making a deal or even having to draft him. chips had the same thing happen to him, didn't seem to slow him down. wow we're stockpiling a lot of "potential" star prospects.

[Forum Ghost]

Great signing by the Habs. By all accounts, Trotter seems like he could be a steal for us down the road. He reminds me a bit of Martin St. Louis in the sense that he is a small, smart offensive player from the NCAA, who went undrafted.

This should squash all that talk of free agents not wanting to come to Montreal.

[skunk]

I see a couple of different birth dates for Trotter. One has him born September of 1987 (20 years old), another January of 1987 (21). It looks like the January birth date is correct, which means he would have been eligible for the 2005 draft, not 2006. That means he was basically passed over in his draft year, as well as the following year of eligibility.

Takes some of the shine off his prospects, for sure.

[CrocRob]

As much as he was highly ranked, he was still passed over in two drafts.

Regardless, he'll be a good or very good AHL player, and if he makes the NHL that's just a bonus.

[Douper]

Here's a story on Brock from the spec

thespec.com/article/324211

Mysterious departure

February 13, 2008
Garry McKay
The Hamilton Spectator
(Feb 13, 2008)
The past couple of weeks have been pretty much a whirlwind of emotions for Brock Trotter and he's still not sure what to make of it all.

The 20-year-old Brandon, Man., native has gone from being the leading scorer on the University of Denver hockey team, to finding out he couldn't play for them anymore this season, to signing with the Montreal Canadiens, to becoming a Hamilton Bulldog in a matter of days.

Trotter is somewhat reticent to talk about why he left Denver where he was a business management major.

"It was some personal stuff that came up at the time that made me look at my options. I wasn't kicked off the team but I wasn't able to play for the rest of the year. I'm not sure what to call it," he explained.

Trotter said his situation is not at all like that of collegian Kevin Quick, who was suspended by the University of Michigan hockey team and has signed an ATO (amateur tryout) contract with Norfolk. It's recently surfaced that Quick allegedly stole a teammate's credit card at Michigan and ran up considerable charges.

"I'm not going to jail or anything like that," Trotter added. "I could have gone back to the school team next year."

Rather than go back, however, Trotter and his agent decided what was best for his development as a player was to begin his pro career now.

Undrafted, he was a prized free agent. Bulldogs' GM Julien BriseBois said all 30 National Hockey League teams were interested in him.

Trotter led the University of Denver team in scoring this year with 13 goals and 18 assists in 24 games. In his three seasons at the school, he had 32 goals and 44 assists in 79 games.

Trotter apparently liked what he heard from the Canadiens and that's how the 5-foot-10, 180-pound centre finds himself in Hamilton with the Bulldogs.

"I'm going to miss the whole hockey program in Denver, the coaches, the staff and my teammates," he says. "And obviously there were no hard feelings. They supported my decision to leave. I think they're happy for me."

Trotter arrived on Friday and had his first real practice yesterday on a line with Greg Stewart and Brett Engelhardt.

"I'm just going to work as hard as I can here and see what happens, where the coach thinks I fit in."

The coach, Don Lever, isn't exactly sure where Trotter fits in.

"Montreal signed him to a three- year contract, so I guess that means they want him to play," Lever says with a grin. "He has a nice gliding stride and he's a better skater than I thought he was. He looks more like a playmaker than a shooter and he sees the ice pretty well.

"He hasn't practised in about three weeks, so he needs to get a few more practices under his belt."

Which means Lever's probably in no hurry to get him into the lineup.

"We have five extra guys right now. And that's a good problem to have at this time of the year because you never know what's going to happen."

The Bulldogs open their stretch of eight games in 12 days tonight in the second of three straight games they play against the AHL North Division-leading Toronto Marlies.

They host the Marlies Friday, entertain the Lake Erie Monsters Saturday, then visit Rochester Sunday.

NOTES: Francis Lemieux, who was traded to Detroit and assigned to Grand Rapids in the deal last week, was still at Copps yesterday. He's awaiting word that his U.S. visa had been approved so he could join the Griffins.