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Post by MPLABBE on Dec 1, 2002 9:47:13 GMT -5
www.cyberpresse.ca/reseau/chroniqueurs/mbrunet/mbru_102120163260.htmlA scout with alot of experience in pro hockey says Ward is dominating that league and deserves a NHL chance ASAP. Too often we put a label on a player way too early and that has happened to Ward. He deserves another chance. While I doubt Ward could help us in a top 2 line role...on a 3rd or 4th line he could become a great fit for our team. He could become our Darren McCarty or a player similar to that. Sometimes having a hungry 23 year old kid with good size on a 4th line can bring alot more spark to a team than any other veteran assured of a job. Thoughts?
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Post by UberCranky on Dec 1, 2002 10:45:33 GMT -5
Translated by that mutli-lingual, multi-talented and multi-ply roll of a man, Mr. Bozo. (Mr. Bozo, when will you make this your permenent home my good man?) ~~~~~~~~~~ Originaly translated here. citadel6.ezboard.com/fmontrealcanadiensfrm1.showMessage?topicID=512.topic~~~~~~~~~~ Original article: www.cyberpresse.ca/reseau/chroniqueurs/mbrunet/mbru_102120163260.html~~~~~~~~~~ Mathias Brunet La Presse A 23 year old young man in whom the Canadiens had lost hope starts to make serious noise in Hamilton. Like the majority of the Canadiens first round choices over the last ten years, Jason Ward has undergone his share of criticism since his pro career began. Impressing in his first camp in Montreal in 1997, at the age of only 18, this robust right winger quickly got lost in memory; after two ordinary seasons with the Citadelles in Quebec. He quickly got labelled "flop", along with the other disappointing first round choices, Brent Bilodeau, David Wilkie, Terry Ryan, Matt Higgins and Éric Chouinard. The fact of being drafted right before a certain Marian Hossa did not help to silence his detractors. But Jason Ward quietly came out of his shell last year with a 57 point season, including 24 goals in 78 games, with the Citadelles. This year he's had a phenomenal start: 30 points in 21 games, which gives him leadership of the AHL scoring race! "This young man impresses me, an experienced professional hockey scout recently confided. I saw him play on several occasions and he is dominant on the ice. He deserves a chance to play in the NHL. Much too often one labels players too quickly and keeps the same stubborn prejudices in place. This young guy merits a promotion and he displays a beautiful talent. I hope that he'll have the chance to show his worth." Jason Ward will probably never become the power forward which one saw him being at the time of the draft. If Andre Savard thinks that we will undoubtedly see him in the NHL sooner rather than later, it would be astonishing if he should excel with the Canadiens like he does in Hamilton. But who knows; if Savard ever succeeds in performing some housecleaning among his surplus of veterans, the arrival of a hungry young forward robust enough to occupy a position on the third or fourth line would perhaps not be a bad thing. It's much healthier for a hockey club to have supporting players like Ward than established veterans who whine when their ice time isn't to their liking. Let's not forget that he is only 23 years old. Ward tries not to be discouraged, even if there is no place available for young players in Montreal. "It's a little frustrating for me to see that even established veterans don't play in all games with the Canadiens, but what good would it do for me to feel sorry for myself about my fate and to stop working? If I provide the necessary effort and I get good results, things will change. Trades can happen to open up positions on the Canadiens, or I could get my chance somewhere else." This perfectly bilingual athlete from Chapleau, Ontario, feels himself to be in much better shape this season. "I gained five pounds of muscle and I feel more solid in the corners (he weighs almost 200 pounds and measures 6 feet 3 inches). The fact of playing with Benoît Gratton (who is second in AHL scoring, two points behind Ward) helps me a lot." Ward is ready for the next challenge. "I can play in the NHL, I am convinced of it. I only hope to get a real chance. When I was in Montreal, I played between two and three minutes per game. It's difficult to prove yourself in those circumstances. I would like to earn a place on the second or third line. I'm a physical and aggressive player, but I'm also showing that I can be effective offensively."
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Post by UberCranky on Dec 1, 2002 10:45:47 GMT -5
- - -
A brawl which caused talk...
There has been a big deal made these last few days of the brawl between Richard Zednik and Karl Dykhuis at a practice. It became unnecessary any more to speculate about a malaise in the dressing room.
Team spirit is perhaps not at its best this year on the Canadiens, but the battle between Dykhuis and Zednik is not very significant. If Zednik had fought with Quintal, if Gilmour had struck Juneau, one would have worried. Because it would have implicated significant characters in this dressing room.
Dykhuis is not a significant actor in the dressing room. Rather a reserved type, a little marginal. For more internal squabbles, stay tuned...
- - -
Let's leave Traverse alone!
Jacques Demers undoubtedly would never have believed that he would create such a stir by declaring Patrick Traverse first star Tuesday against Atlanta at the Bell Centre. RDS listeners flooded the interactive site of the network with messages of incredulity.
Demers' choice is very well defended. The two goalies, José Theodore and Byron Dafoe, gave a beautiful performance that night, but Traverse was probably the best player of the two teams on the ice.
Astonishing to note to what degree the fans of the Canadiens are attacking this defenseman, who isn't having a bad season. Is it his unhurried pace? Is it his seemingly nonchalant style? Traverse has been one of the most reliable defenders on his club since the opening of the season. He manages well one against one, his great range enables him to break up attacks and his first pass is generally precise. Before facing the Flyers yesterday, Traverse had a rating of +3, tops on the team. He can't be that bad...
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Réjean Houle rehabilitated
Réjean Houle received a beautiful reception Tuesday at the Bell Centre and it is so much the better. Houle didn't have much success in his career as general manager of the Canadiens, but that chapter is finished and it serves no good purpose to flog the man. Réjean Houle was probably one of the most criticized characters in the history of the Canadiens (I was among his most severe detractors), but he always remained right and worthy in the storm. He never lost his good-naturedness even after the worst criticisms, even with his worst detractors. A big man who deserves all our admiration for his huge humanity.
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Dec 1, 2002 12:24:25 GMT -5
Well, guys, judging by this opion it sounds as if Jason Ward is making waves again. He certainly has enough supporters here and on other boards as well.
I've supported Bill Lindsay in the past, but this writer points out that Ward is ready for the NHL and is basically wasting his time in the minors.
If Ward is playing this well, I'd hate to see him shipped off and making his mark eslewhere. It's happened far too often with our club.
Nice scoop, Marc. Nice translation, HA. Cheers.
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Post by darz on Dec 1, 2002 12:35:57 GMT -5
i usually get frusterated when i start hearing the ward talk. has his skating improved? if it has improved, to an nhl level, then i figure he will be getting a call up, fairly soon. if his skating hasn't improved, it won't matter how much he scores in the ahl, because he'll never be able to keep up in the nhl. see stan drulia, pierre sevingy etc. i hope i'm wrong and the guy makes me eat every last word.
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Post by MPLABBE on Dec 1, 2002 12:49:02 GMT -5
Darz, I saw him twice last week on TV and he is far from fast. But he is not EXTREMELY slow. He gets where he wants to get to.
Habs don't need him for his speed. They need him for his size, his enthusiasm, his hands(park him in front of the net on the PP and he will tip in a few), his work in the corners,etc
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Post by Chopper on Dec 1, 2002 12:58:51 GMT -5
Right now Jason Ward is tearing it up offensively in the AHL, why put him on a fourth line right away. We have 4th liners that can't score, why not try a big player that right now is scoring, I know in the ahl but he's scoring, his confidence is high, why not give him a shot on an offensive line. Everyone seems to be making a big deal about his skating. Robitaille couldn't skate, I don't see that as having hurt him that much in his career. Granted he's an ugly skater, maybe very ugly, but slow? I'm not too sure. A big physical winger who can score, I've never heard of it in Montreal. Why not give him a shot?
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Post by MPLABBE on Dec 1, 2002 13:14:08 GMT -5
Well, he is a RW so I doubt MT will want to put 2 of his veteran RW's in the doghouse for now
I wonder if a Zed-Koivu-Ward line could work though.
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Post by HFTO on Dec 1, 2002 13:45:36 GMT -5
Maybe we should keep Ward in Hamilton until MT is fired! He'll come up see about 7 mins on the fourth line and then will be scratched. HFTO
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Post by Chopper on Dec 1, 2002 13:50:17 GMT -5
Well, he is a RW so I doubt MT will want to put 2 of his veteran RW's in the doghouse for now I wonder if a Zed-Koivu-Ward line could work though. It's not like Audette has been lighting it up playing with those 2. If Ward can help create some room for those 2, while chipping in with a couple points here and there I think he'd be doing his job. More valuable on the first line than the fourth. If he can do that.
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Post by MPLABBE on Dec 1, 2002 14:09:18 GMT -5
But I wonder if he can keep up with Koivu and Zed speed wise. No point in putting a big guy up there if he can't keep up.
Too bad Kilger can't play RW and has stone hands.
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Post by AH on Dec 1, 2002 14:24:35 GMT -5
His overall speed should not be that much of a hinderance to him playing next to Koivu / Zed. Most of the goals those two score are off the cycle anyways and hardly ever off the rush. If he plays the boards as well as they say he does, then their production will likely to go up, or at worse remain the same, seeing how Audette does absolutely nothing. At the very least his toughness will be a welcome addition to the lineup.
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Post by JohnnyVerdun on Dec 1, 2002 15:57:38 GMT -5
His overall speed should not be that much of a hinderance to him playing next to Koivu / Zed. Most of the goals those two score are off the cycle anyways and hardly ever off the rush. That's true. I hate that. Why the hell is that? Why can't Koivu and Zed generate more off the rush? I still want to see Bulis/Koivu/Zednick. Just for a game or two....I'm curious as hell.
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Post by MPLABBE on Dec 1, 2002 15:59:23 GMT -5
We already saw it. Last year the 2 last games of the regular season. They looked good together as I recall.
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Post by montreal on Dec 1, 2002 16:03:22 GMT -5
Well there's no way Ward gets called up unless several players are moved. As of Right now, we must move one player off the roster, over the next month, when Sheldon Souray returns. Who will go? My guess is Lindsay.
After that, you would still have to move one player off the roster to make room for Ward. Who then? I don't see Ward playing this year, unless injuries happen. It's only 21 games, Ward started off hot last year too, let him do it all year, and see if he stays healthy and keeps up the scoring pace. IMO, he's earned himself a contract this summer, but not a callup. If we could just call him up without having to move someone, then I would want to see him called up, but that's not the case, so lets see if he can have back to back healthy seasons for a change.
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Post by JohnnyVerdun on Dec 1, 2002 16:17:53 GMT -5
On Souray, I heard on CJAD last night that Sheldon just had another operation on his wrist last week. They said the surgery was intended to assist with the flow of blood to the scaphoid bone, which was the site of the original fracture. It does not sound good to me. Not at all. Further surgery to increase the blood flow to help with the healing process? Doesn't sound good at all.
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Post by MPLABBE on Dec 1, 2002 16:19:56 GMT -5
JV, any word if this delays his return? Didn't he have a surgery a few weeks ago as well? or is this the same surgery? Why is he so fragile
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Post by JohnnyVerdun on Dec 1, 2002 16:33:20 GMT -5
Marc:
I believe you're thinking of the abdominal surgery he had a little while back (maybe 5 weeks ago). It wasn't going to delay him because of the wrist so he went ahead and had the other groin/abdomen operated on (not the side that kept him out early last year). So, yes, from what I gather this is another surgery altogether, and was probably decided on because they didn't like the way the wrist was healing or the speed. I don't know that it will slow him down further but it seems to me that earlier projections about when he'd be back (December/January) were probably based on a healing rate faster than he actually experienced -- hence the surgery. Something tells me we won't see him until the end of February.
I don't know that I'd call him fragile. A lot of this stuff is pure luck. Pronger's not fragile, but he's got the same ugly wrist injury and I don't think he's expected back any time soon. As I recall, he just got hit on the wrist with a puck. Couldn't be more innocent looking. May change his career in a big way. There are others too.
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Post by MPLABBE on Dec 1, 2002 17:00:03 GMT -5
Yes Prongs got hit on the wrist by a puck. Not even a slap shot. A clearing attempt. That was in 2000-01. He has had the problem since As for Souray, the guy has had so many operations it's tough to keep up but I believe you are correct...the abdominal one was recently.
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Dec 1, 2002 18:28:16 GMT -5
Funny thing. Habs Fan From Maine (HFFM) saw Ward play the other night in Maine. He said that Ward looked extremely good out there, showing fortitude and drive. Pretty consistent with what Mathias Brunet said too. Nice to hear.
He also mentioned that Garon earned a shutout, but he did make some unbelievable saves in the twenty-two shots he faced. Nice to hear as well.
Cheers.
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Post by montreal on Dec 1, 2002 18:54:39 GMT -5
Funny thing. Habs Fan From Maine (HFFM) saw Ward play the other night in Maine. He said that Ward looked extremely good out there, showing fortitude and drive. Pretty consistent with what Mathias Brunet said too. Nice to hear. He also mentioned that Garon earned a shutout, but he did make some unbelievable saves in the twenty-two shots he faced. Nice to hear as well. Cheers. Garon has been good and bad. He's got 2 SO's but he was in nets for the 8-0 blow against the Sens farm team. Fichaud has been really good in his limited play. He has a 1.54gaa and .943 save % with 1 loss (a 1-0 loss). And Ward has 32pts but Gratton is on his heels with 31pts. Thats 1-2 for scoring leaders in the AHL.
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Post by habwest on Dec 2, 2002 3:25:52 GMT -5
Agree with Montreal. I really would like to see him get a real honest to goodness opportunity next season though if he does stay healthy and productive with the Dogs.
How long is McKay's contract for?
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Post by MPLABBE on Dec 2, 2002 8:25:21 GMT -5
This year and next.
Maybe he'll retire if he sees he just can't keep on.
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Dec 2, 2002 19:02:00 GMT -5
We don't need Ward to be a short track speed skater or a figure skater or even keep up with his linemates. We need him standing in the slot and banging in rebounds, tying up the defense and blocking the goaltenders vision, checking forwards into the boards and earning the respect of the other team. Cerkawski and Petrov have speed but can't control the slot.
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