Balej's Hot Hand and Next Year's Line-up

[Johnny Verdun]

You never know but I think it's a fair bet that Balej will have to play the better part of next season in Quebec no matter how good a season he's having this year -- and he's having a very good season -- or how good a camp he has next fall.  Balej is yet another smallish forward with ample skill that is not certain to translate into NHL success.  A familiar tale.

Anyway, I can picture Hossa and Hainsey making the club next year (Hainsey almost certainly) and Balej, Ribeiro and Chouinard in Quebec next year.   If Hossa keeps developing he'll have the best chance to make the club, among the forwards, followed by Gratton, who I can see taking over for Van Allen on the fourth line center spot.  Although we didn't get a  chance to see a lot of Benoit, he showed a lot of piss and vinegar while in the few games he did play.  If he can (at his advanced age) develop into half the player Darcy Tucker is, he could help us on the fourth line at a very good price.  My impression was that his defence is almost as good as Van Allen's and that his skating is quite a bit better.  As for Hossa, he's a better bet to make the club because of the physical element to his game (even if it's still evolving).  At least he has the frame and the attitude to get in there and muscle for the puck; two things that can't be said of Chouinard and Ribeiro.  Milroy is another guy who has a shot at making it, for similar reasons.  This team is shy on grit and muscle at almost every position.

As for the top three lines, if Audette and Koivu both come back (which is now expected), there just won't be any room for Ribeiro at all...If the Habs make Berezin a qualifying offer (which they're very likely to do) then you've got the following list of forwards who will definitely be on the team (Gilmour  and Van Allen are not included because I think Dougie is likely to retire and Van Allen won't be re-signed):

At C:  Koivu, Perreault, Juneau,
At LW: Berezin, Bulis, Petrov, Kilger, Odjick
At RW: Audette, Zednik, Dackell, Asham

That's a dozen right there.  The guys battling for spots should therefore include Hossa, Chouinard, Milroy, Balej, Ribeiro, Gratton and Ward (not to mention Patrick Poulin).  Since Ribeiro is a natural top two line centerman without the skating ability or size to really cut it in the NHL, he's a longshot, especially because Gratton can do a better job on the 4th line and Hossa and others will be more effective on the wing, which is where they keep trying to find work for Ribeiro.   The other thing is that the center position is right up there in terms of needs to be addressed, if at all possible, and so a free-agent signing is not out of the question.  That would deep six any hope Ribeiro has of making the team, as meagre a chance as it already is.  <br>
The conclusion?  Hadn't really planned to draw any.  But I would guess that a trade or two to clear the decks for a young face or two and a free agent is what Savard will have to aim for.  He's got a lot of bodies under contract, which is both good and bad.  My hope is that the scene unfolds in such a way that the following guys simply don't fit:

Traverse (trade), Robidas (trade), Bouillon (back to Quebec), Ribeiro (trade or Quebec), Berezin (sign and trade), Hackett (waivers) Odjick (waive and buy out) and Rivet (trade).

Start with the following:

To Washington: Rivet and Berezin
To Montreal: Chris Simon

Then go overboard to sign Holik as a free agent.  Once you do that you can move Perreault out West where he belongs:

October 2002 line-up:

Zednik/Holik/Audette
Simon/Koivu/Petrov
Bulis/Juneau/Dackell
Hossa/Kilger/Asham

There. That's better.  A decent mix of size, speed, finish and grit. The thing about Simon is that he's versatile in a way Odjick is not.  You could play him on the second, third or fourth depending on the circumstances.  I think he's got plenty left in the tank.  Anyway, I knew I shouldn't have started this (being half-rocked) but the room was spinning too fast to sleep anyway....Those are twelve forwards I would think could get it done in the East....

[seventeen]

Wish I could tell you much more about Balej, but he must be injured because he didn't dress Friday against Kelowna.  Neither did Kobasew for the Rockets.  Great huh?  I drive 1 1/2 hours to watch these 2 guys and neither is dressed.  That says it all for the game.  Boring.  Thought a just turned 17 year old for Portland called Coburn was very smart, good size and decent skater.  Needs to get a bit meaner and develop a little more sense in his own end, but was he a pleasure offensively.  Always knew where he was going to put the puck before he ever got it.  Instead of Balej, I got a guy called Klepis, who wasn't bad.  Portland really missed Josef on the PP.  Sigh.

The good news is I didn't have to watch the Sabres beat us.  A different coach would get a better effort out of the guys, but there's still a ways to go talent wise and certainly size wise.  We absolutely HAVE to dispose of 3rd & 4th liners to give the Hossa's, Balej's, Milroys and Perezhogins an opportunity.  On the backline, we could practically dump almost everyone, dress Hainsey, a newly signed Komisarek (dream), and a Dyment and be further ahead than now.  After a game like tonight (outshot badly again), it's hard to judge players.  They're better than they are showing.  Good enough to make the playoffs, without MT, Green & Carbo.  With those 3, we're out.  The players have quit on them.  

I expect much the same Saturday.  Outshot, outhustled, outscored and embarrassed.   The game is in Theo's and Squab's hands.  The Oracle has spoken.

[Habs_fan_in_LA]

Excuses, excuses, excuses

I'm tired of hearing that Markov has tremendous upside potential but has difficulty adjusting and communicating. Does Kovalchouk communicate that much better or does he just lay that much better. Does Kovalchouk adjust to North America that much quicker or does he just play that much better.

I'm tired of hearing that Therrien is a bad coach. Get rid of him.

In Chouinard, we drafted a tremendous AHL talent. Leave him there.

Give Hossa and Balej a chance. Ribiero is small and slow. That's not a problem, because when he's given a chance, he produces. Give him that chance.

Boullion is too small. You can't teach size. He isn't too small to be the best d-man on the team night after night. Even if he doesn't have the upside potential of the other guys, he's producing and working. The work ethic can be infectious.

Kilger is another workhorse. He doesn't have the touch around the net, but he is holding his own. Give him the ice time he earns and deserves.

Our top performers are small ageing journeymen brought here from several NHL teams. Their best years are behind them and unless the goal is to make the playoffs in 2002 and then bow out in the first round, we will have a worse team than Atlanta does in three years. Audette, Berezin, Juneau will be gone and Kovalchouk will be starring. We will have the consolation that we almost made the playoffs five years in a row.

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

Nice post Johnny V. Not much to disagree with, some quibbles though.

I see Chouinard on lw instead of Simon. Don't forget he was to be called up when Hossa got the nod, but had just injured his shoulder. Of course my prediction all depends on whether Eric is offered a new contract by the organization, seeing as his cureent one expires at the conclusion of this season. I expect he'll get a new deal.

Balej strikes me as a younger Petrov/Bulis type. mind you if he can actually score at the major league level...

Milroy was on record as saying he was determined to make the club this past camp. cocky, sure, but why not reach for the stars. This year he's playing like he's pissed off he didn't make it. I think this kid's a definite keeper. Badiminton champ's touch around the net with a bit of a chip on his shoulder.

Holik is EXACTLY what this team needs [more of].

I look forward to Hainsey's promotion with the same eagerness as everyone else. I also expect Chris Dyment to take his spot on the goats.

I wouldn't be averse to hearing that Savard has gone out and signed Adam Russo [who was in camp this past summer and acquited himself well].

Van Allen and Odjick gone for sure. Robidas, Bouillon, Ribeiro and Berezin on the bubble.

In closing, it's always nice to come across someone else who appreciates the positives that Benoit Gratton can bring to the team.

[MPLABBE]

Always the hope of looking towards next year Believe me, I have been doing this for a long time it seems with the Habs and Expos.


Hossa HAS to make this team next year.Dear god, the only young guys who are interesting to watch up front are Zed and Bulis.Hossa showed he is pretty close to being ready for the NHL when he was called-up.He should definitely be ready for next October.I would love to see him on a line with Koivu and Zednik or Audette.


Hainsey also HAS to make this team next year.Start Hainsey out with a veteran like Quintal, give him some PP time,give him 15 minutes of ice time per game and notch it up a minute per month.God, we need him to push the midgets and the big stiff out of a job!

I don't see another young player making the team.Ribs will probably be back with the Cits and Chouinard will continue to be in the AHL.Same thing for Ward and co.I also think Balej will not make the team.Give him some AHL time.This guy could be the next Bondra(remember,I said could be).Bondra isn't really big and just has great hands and speed.That seems to be the deal with Balej.As for Gratton,I would love to see him replace Van Allen.Therrien(if he still here) will certainly push to keep Benoit in MTL.As for Simon, it depends what role we give him.IF we want him to be an enforcer, forget about it.Ever since he scored 29 goals or something like that, he thinks he can play.IF we want him to be a power forward, score goals and be a force physically.Pick him up.


So my Habs lineup withouth any UFA or trade pickups:


Hossa-Koivu-Audette
Berezin-Perreault-Zednik
Bulis-Juneau-Dackell
Kilger-Gratton-enforcer or Asham


Dykhuis-Brisebois
Markov-Rivet
Hainsey-Quintal

Theo
Hackett or Garon


Now, IF I was GM,I would make some moves:get a big center(Holik or a young kid who could become a solid #2), get a big winger and create 3 offensive lines with at least 1 player on each line who provide grit, toughness, physical play,etc.


so we could see something like this:


Hossa-Koivu-Audette
Kilger-Perreault-Zednik
big winger acquired-young center or Holik-Berezin
Bulis-Juneau-Dackell

You can shuffle those names around to create the right combinations.

[MPLABBE]

Habs_fan_in_LA said:

Excuses, excuses, excuses

I'm tired of hearing that Markov has tremendous upside potential but has difficulty adjusting and communicating. Does Kovalchouk communicate that much better or does he just lay that much better. Does Kovalchouk adjust to North America that much quicker or does he just play that much better.

I'm tired of you only mentioning Kovalchuk.Look, we almost had him, we should have had him when you look at our roster most of last year, but we didn't get him.Time to move on.

Kovalchuk does speak good english(heard him during the All-star weekend) he has taken English lessons and it has helped.Markov should take some, it will only do him good.But the reason why Kovalchuk just plays that much better is simple:Dany Heatley.I am convinced Ilya wouldn't have the numbers he has now withouth Heatley.It also helps when you play 25 minutes per game, WITHOUTH any detail to your defensive zone play.All Ilya can do is wait for his team to get the puck to him and go on the attack.It's not his fault, the coaches in ATL have told him it's OK to do that.

[Vinna]

Braydon Coburn. Born Feb 27, 1985. Position Defence, Shots Left. He is 6'3 182 lbs. A very bright outgoing kid who is always willing to help with the smaller kids in his hometown of Shaunavon Sask. He was selected first overall in the 2000 WHL Bantam draft. He started playing at age 4 and always played a level up. His dad drives the local ESSO fuel truck and his Mom is an EMT. Any other questions about Braydon?

[MPLABBE]

Vinna said:

Braydon Coburn. Born Feb 27, 1985. Position Defence, Shots Left. He is 6'3 182 lbs. A very bright outgoing kid who is always willing to help with the smaller kids in his hometown of Shaunavon Sask. He was selected first overall in the 2000 WHL Bantam draft. He started playing at age 4 and always played a level up. His dad drives the local ESSO fuel truck and his Mom is an EMT. Any other questions about Braydon?

Yup, will he be eligible for the 2003 draft and he is a bonafide NHL prospect?

[MPLABBE]

by the way, JV, you mentionned trading Perreault.We can't, he has a no trade clause.Unless he would accept to waive it(which I doubt, he knows he won't get as much ice time on another team).

[Vinna]

Is he a bonafide NHL prospect. Yes, definatley. I will personally atest to his charachter. He is a great kid. I believe he is eligable for the 2003 draft. He will be a first rounder for sure. I have seen him go out of his way to help novice age kids with their skating and fundementals. How many 15 year old kids do that? Not to mention, he comes from the same minor hockey system that produced Shaun Van Allen, Rhett Warrener and Hayley Wickenheiser. He has more skill than any of them. His only drawback may be his physical game, but that is something that he can work on.

[Johnny Verdun]

MPLABBE said:

by the way, JV, you mentionned trading Perreault.We can't, he has a no trade clause.Unless he would accept to waive it(which I doubt, he knows he won't get as much ice time on another team).

I was aware of the no-trade clause for Brisebois, which I didn't like, but I swear I've never heard anything about Perreault. Are you sure?  That would be most displeasing.  I don't think we should be doing that sort of stuff for guys like Perreault.  In any event, my point was that if we sign Holik (a big "if" I know) then a guy like Perreault could become close to expendable.  I would love to see us have the strength at center that Holik/Koivu/Juneau/Kilger would provide.  But if we're stuck with Perreault that limits our options.  You can't be paying your third line center almost 3 million a year.

[seventeen]

Vinna said:

Is he a bonafide NHL prospect. Yes, definatley. I will personally atest to his charachter. He is a great kid. I believe he is eligable for the 2003 draft. He will be a first rounder for sure. I have seen him go out of his way to help novice age kids with their skating and fundementals. How many 15 year old kids do that? . His only drawback may be his physical game, but that is something that he can work on.

Thanks Vinna.  Great scouting huh?  Probably the most obviously talented player on the ice, so I didn't have any special insight.  I agree with your skills assessment.  He won't be available until the 2003 draft given his age and that's partly why I was so impressed with him.  He played with more aplomb than anyone else, a compliment at 17 years of age.  Low panic threshold, solid passes, very good vision and mentally one step ahead of most others.  Took wrist shots on the power play instead of winding up and having it blocked.  Just lots of good little things.  Tall enough, probably a little heavier than 180 now, but not much heavier. He could benefit from some meanness, but that doesn't seem to be in his character from your statements.  That's ok.  No doubt he'll be a popular guy in a year and a bit.

[MPLABBE]

Vinna said:

Is he a bonafide NHL prospect. Yes, definatley. I will personally atest to his charachter. He is a great kid. I believe he is eligable for the 2003 draft. He will be a first rounder for sure. I have seen him go out of his way to help novice age kids with their skating and fundementals. How many 15 year old kids do that? Not to mention, he comes from the same minor hockey system that produced Shaun Van Allen, Rhett Warrener and Hayley Wickenheiser. He has more skill than any of them. His only drawback may be his physical game, but that is something that he can work on.

Thanks!

[MPLABBE]

Johnny said:

I was aware of the no-trade clause for Brisebois, which I didn't like, but I swear I've never heard anything about Perreault. Are you sure?  That would be most displeasing.  I don't think we should be doing that sort of stuff for guys like Perreault.  In any event, my point was that if we sign Holik (a big "if" I know) then a guy like Perreault could become close to expendable.  I would love to see us have the strength at center that Holik/Koivu/Juneau/Kilger would provide.  But if we're stuck with Perreault that limits our options.  You can't be paying your third line center almost 3 million a year.

I am 90% sure, can anyone officialy confirm this? I agree, we shouldn't be giving no trade clauses to Perreault who would have signed with us anyways IMO.

[MPLABBE]

seventeen said:

Thanks Vinna.  Great scouting huh?  Probably the most obviously talented player on the ice, so I didn't have any special insight.  I agree with your skills assessment.  He won't be available until the 2003 draft given his age and that's partly why I was so impressed with him.  He played with more aplomb than anyone else, a compliment at 17 years of age.  Low panic threshold, solid passes, very good vision and mentally one step ahead of most others.  Took wrist shots on the power play instead of winding up and having it blocked.  Just lots of good little things.  Tall enough, probably a little heavier than 180 now, but not much heavier. He could benefit from some meanness, but that doesn't seem to be in his character from your statements.  That's ok.  No doubt he'll be a popular guy in a year and a bit.

Do you guys think he is good enough to make our WJC team this year? can you compare him to a current NHL player? sounds like a Wade Redden clone to me.

[MPLABBE]

JV, read the posts in this thread I found:


habsrus.proboards4.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&num=1011835249



Someone mentions his no trade clause.I also remember someone's (I would trade anything for Vinny...could that be you, JV? ;D) thread and it was also mentionned Yanick had a no trade clause.