Tarasov ready for next year ?

[Yeti]

In LaPresse this morning, we can read that Rollie the goalie is very enthousiastic about Tarasov. Their plan at the beginning of the year was to let him play in the AHL this season ... in order for him to be NHL ready next year. His injury probably slowed down his development, but still, this bring a lot of for the goalie situation next season. Garon can't stay there any longer, Hackett I figure is as good as gone  before next October... or is he ? If we have a duo made of Theodore-Tarasov, it means trading both Hackett and Garon. Any other scenario  ?

And consider this about Tarasov, he had two knee surgery in Russia but no rehab (one leg was much weaker than the other), which is why he developed bad habits, hence the nasty groin injury . He's now close to 100%, so he will be even better than  he was in Russia...

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

article translation -

Vadim Tarasov back on track

François Lemenu - Presse Canadienne - Washingon

Vadim Tarasov will be able to reacquaint himself with competition after more than two months of medical treatments. Tarasov, who accompanied the Canadiens on their road trip, will rejoin his Citadelles' teammates. he should be able to play in a week's time.

The young goalie went through hell the past few weeks. Suffering from a hip injury, he was subjected to treatments and exercises under the direction of Scott Livingston. Tarasov had both knees operated on in 1994 and 1995. But in Russia he couldn't benefit from an adequate physiotherapy program after his surgeries. over time, he developed a weak hip.

"In Russia, I had to play even if I should have rested. I could not say no. Over there, one trains 11 months a year. It's very different from here. It's not only the country, it's the mentality which is different, he explains. But I feel ready now. I only need one week of practice."

Tarasov admitted that the last little while was difficult. he hoped to make progress in his first season in North America. instead he finds himself in a gym after an excellent rookie camp with Hull and three games in the American League where he had a record of of 2-0-1, an average of 2.28 and a save percentage of.926.

"it was very tough mentally. I must thank the organization for its support. The therapists, the trainers and Mr. André Savard", he says.

Language

Tarasov, 25 years old, has a winning personality in addition to having an actor's profile. In the space of a few weeks, he learned how to manage in English. "on arriving in Montreal he went and bought books", says Roland Melanson.

Tarasov also wants to learn French. Besides his wife Julia speaks better French than English. "There are many French-speaking guys on the team. I will have to learn the language", he says.

Talent

Melanson recognizes that Tarasov did not progress as quickly as expected because of the injury. But he appreciates the qualities of the goalie from Ust-Kamenogorsk in Kazakhstan.

"he has a good glove hand and good legs. he plays the angles to block the first shot and uses the butterfly when the puck is close to the net, he explains. he is also a good athlete and an intelligent guy. The players like him. he is always in a good mood."

Tarasov was the ninth choice of the Canadiens and the 196th player claimed in the 1999 draft. he was named best goalie of the Russian league three seasons in a row. Last season, he maintained an average of 2.11 and a save percentage of .911 in 33 games.

"he'll play in the nhl one day", predicts Melanson.

Nabokov, a friend

Tarasov is a good friend of Evgeni Nabokov, the excellent young San Jose goalie. "he telephoned me yesterday (Friday). We were born in the same city and his father, who was a goalie, was my first coach."

"Evgeni encouraged me very much these last weeks", says Tarasov who is very happy to find himself in front of a net.

[habmeister]

it brings a tear to my eye   to see that a russain wants to learn english and french to play on the habs team.  this guy is a keeper, deal hackett and give this guy the #2 spot, if he falters we've got garon on the farm that could take his place.

great to see players wanting to play for us isn't it!!

[Doc Holliday]

I strongly doubt Tarasov is having the kind of year that will make him jump in front of Garon in the depth chart so normally, Garon should be getting up to the NHL next year with Tarasov being the #1 guy in Quebec.  But then again we'd have to figure out a way to rid ourseselves of Hackett which is easier said then done and there is of course Michaud who's having a breakout year in the minors....

Sheesh


If goalies had good trade value, we could be a contender next year  

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

the habs goaltending situation is rife with potential scenarios. my personal favorite at the moment goes like this -

hackett traded to nashville for zbynek irgl, bubba berenzweig and bobby schnabel.

next year théodore mans the nets, seconded by tarasov. garon continues his apprenticeship in québec [or has been bundled off in a trade] and is joined by olivier michaud [if not, the habs buy out luc bélanger's contract from the citadelles].

oh yeah, a few months from now savard signs free agent junior adam russo of bathurst-acadie in the qmjhl to a contract.

[BadCompany]

mr_bozo said:

hackett traded to nashville for zbynek irgl, bubba berenzweig and bobby schnabel.

Cripes! Thats like an announcer's nightmare!  

"And Komsisar, err, Komisarus, uh, uh, err, the defence moves the puck to the neutral zone where zubby gurgle, um, irgin, smirgin, not sure how you say his name. Anyways, bubba-gum bear-in-the-woods, no thats not it, um, bubba bear-in-the-wig - now why would a bear wear a wig? Anyways, about 2 minutes ago Bobby Snapple scored, assisted by Pear-in-the zoo-again. Why are we talking about fruit in zoos? And does it have anything to with that dumb bear in the silly wig?

Sheesh. I liked it better when they had names like Ro-ah, and Clod. Those were easy to pronounce..."

[PTH]

While we can all hope for Tarasov to be ready, I think with 3 AHL games played no one will want to bet on it. Still, it means that if Hack's trade value is nil, we can keep him as Theo's #2 for next year and assume Tarasov can take over the next season, which means that Garon is tradeable right now.

Which all winds up meaning that whoever of Hack and Garon has the highest value will be dealt, and I think Tarasov really only enters the NHL equation a year later - unless whoever gets the #2 job falters, of course.

BTW Yeti: Happy to see you join the group here. We're forming quite a refugee group over from HF, aren't we ?