Commandant

Fine, but I'm telling you, first pre-season game they lose, I'm off the bandwagon.

Combine: A pre-draft exhibition held by the Habs... top prospects are put invited and put through off ice workouts, on ice workouts, and interviews. An evaluation of players prior to the NHL draft. Developmental Camp One: Habs prospects from young bulldogs and habs (Louis Leblanc) to NCAA guys (Danny Kristo) to guys finishing the CHL (Tinordi, Beaulieu) are put through off ice workouts, on ice practices and possibly scrimmages, and some meetings with team brass on what they need to learn, how to conduct themselves as professionals etc... going forward. There are also a couple of goalies trying out, looking for contracts, or to be invited to the Rookie Camp. For most guys, with a few exceptions, this is a players 2nd or 3rd developmental camp with the Habs, so its about continuing progress, and catching up on how they did this season and looking to the future. Developmental Camp Two: Prospects who didn't attend camp one. This will be filled with our newest draft picks, some guys like Mac Bennett who couldn't attend camp one, and probably a bunch of undrafted tryouts. This is much the same as Camp one but with a new set of players. In addition this is a first camp as a Hab for many of the guys, so things like learning to be a pro, and how to conduct yourself are different and arguably more important. There will also be meetings with coaches and staff about what they want guys to work on this year and what will help them become pros. Rookie Camp: Happens late august/early september right before Regular Training Camp. Rookies and prospects are brought in. Attempt to make the cut to get to the next stage which is full training camp with the big club. Tryouts who impressed in the D-Camps will be invited.

My strategy worked... WOAH

Bennett will be attending the second camp, he tweeted that. The rules on NCAA guys are pretty simple - 1 summer camp only... can't do both - Must not miss classes to attend (some of the hockey players take extra classes in a May - June semester to make up for taking less class during hockey season). - Must pay their own way. Can not accept anything from the team (flight, hotel, etc...)

From Chicoutimi of the QMJHL... our #65 ranked prospect, Charles Hudon http://lastwordonsports.com/2012/06/12/nhl-draft-prospect-profile-65-charles-hudon/

Maxwell played decently enough in Mississauga after getting out of Sarnia.

Since Bergevin has never been a GM before and this is our first run through, we don't really know. Dudley is well known for moving up and down with his picks. Montreal with Timmins as head scout has done quite a bit of movement with our picks as well. So that should indicate that we might move. But Bergevin is the guy in charge here, and we just don't know his style.

Brisebois is rumorred to be an assistant coach in Hamilton, not with the big club. They are starting him off slowly.

Gretzky was the smartest player of all time... no doubt about that. You can maybe argue for Mario or Orr as better players, and make a good case, but I think Wayne was the best. What you can't argue though is who was the smartest player, who had the most hockey sense, because that was Wayne by a mile. He couldn't coach to save his life though. Coaching and playing, they are just different.

I had them both really close as I had Wilson in the 50s. One of my colleagues had Wilson in the teens. The others around where he was drafted. When we did the math, thats what came out.

Latendresse would be good for the Montreal economy. Think of all the Poutine that Belle Pro will sell.

Yes I still think Kaberle will be here, for two reasons. 1) he actually performed well in Montreal, despite what you may believe.... he was on pace for 40 assists and about 45 pts in a Habs jersey. Only 11 D in the league last year had 45 pts, so its a rare commodity. 2) Markov's health is still a concern. Yes, he's week defensively, but that problem was made worse by bad coaching. Making Kaberle and Campoli a pairing was the worst coaching decision I've seen in a long time. He needs a steady, stay at home, physical partner, not a worse version of himself beside him. This was just dumb. Should've been Kaberle and Emelin. He gets lumped in with Gomez all the time, and thats really unfair to Kaberle... no where close to the same situation. ============================================= Onto the next prospect though Branden Troock, an Edmonton Native, and member of the Seattle Thunderbirds. He is a big power forward prospect. http://lastwordonspo...branden-troock/

A Montreal Native, Dillon Fournier of the Rouyn-Norenda Huskies http://lastwordonsports.com/2012/06/10/nhl-draft-prospect-63-dillon-fournier/

Im 100% behind hiring Gallant 120% even

I'd give up our 1st, both 2nds, the 3rd, and Dany Kristo for John Tavares. Mark my words Tavares is *this damn close* to becoming an elite NHL centre. Still so young, he's primed to break out huge. He scored 31 goals and 81 points this season with Matt Moulson (a career AHLer til someone put him on Tavares line) and PA Parenteau (career AHLer til he hit Tavares line). He's the only scoring threat on the Isles and is focused on by every team in the league. Kid is gonna be up there with Stamkos very soon... mark my words.

He needs waivers to start the season in the AHL. He needs waivers to be sent down. He needs re-call waivers to be called up.... He won't make it to the AHL... he needs waivers, there is no two ways around this. You either keep him on the big club, or you trade him, or you put him on waivers, there is no other option.

Kaberle just needs a stay at home partner... Guy was still on pace for 40+ assists and 45 points in a Habs jersey, something only 11 D in the NHL did. As for the shallow FA pool, its not if you are looking for a 20 minute per game defenceman... its only shallow if you are looking for a #1 guy, we're not, we need a #4. You've got Suter at the top Then Carle and Wideman who don't fit our needs. Garrison who i'd love but he's gonna get overpaid. Then you've got Brad Stuart who is going to california. So by the time you reach the level of guys I'm targetting, you are into the 4th tier or so.... Rozisval, Allen, Jackman, Zanon,

He's reached an age where he must be subjected to waivers to be put in the AHL or Europe so unless you want to keep him on the big club you move him out via trade. I'd take a third rounder for him As for being mirror image with PK in the OHL, I disagree, they may have had similar stats but Weber was no where near as dynamic as PK. PK also greatly improved his D post draft to the point where in his final year in the OHL he was named the 2nd best defensive D in the conference by the coach's poll.

I wouldn't worry about the 6th D... I'd go after a Jackman or Allen to play in the top 4. Heck Bryce Salvador is looking like more and more of a good option cause he's older and wouldn't want a long term deal and the guy we sign just needs to be a stop gap. My thinking is that you need a D who can play 20 minutes per night. 1) Emelin might have a sophomore slump. 2) Markov's health is a question mark If neither of those happen and our signing plays with Kaberle.... thats good for us, we'll have a damn good defence. If however our signing needs to be top 4 he can be. I'd line it up Gorges or UFA - Subban Markov - Gorges or UFA Kaberle - Emelin Diaz 2)

I don't think you can blame everything on Martin. Weber was a minus player as a defenceman on a first place bulldogs club. He would score on the PP but his play in his own zone was also poor even in Hamilton. I really don't see a future in him more than a 6th defenceman, and the fact that he's younger might mean he has more trade value. =========================================================== Moving on though Today we look at Swedish Defenceman Calle Andersson http://lastwordonsports.com/2012/06/09/nhl-draft-prospect-profile-62-calle-andersson/

Playing on the fourth line, while some goon sits in the press box, Roy will provide 7 pts via an extra 7 shootout wins over the course of the season.

Calling Weber more physical than diaz, is like saying my 9 year old niece is stronger than your 8 year old daughter. It doesn't make a difference. Diaz is a much smarter player, much more sound positionally, and a much better defender overall. I do agree Weber has the better shot, but Diaz is the better skater, puckhandler and passer. I'd keep Diaz easily.

The throat slash at Kyle McLaren was great.... I'll criticize him for a lot of things, but not for that. His press conference after that game was memorable too, I'm disappoint that no one has put it on youtube.

Edmonton has plenty of third pairing defenders, they need guys who can play a number 1 role. Plus Edmonton has a ton of defensive prospects too (lots of good #2s, 3s, and 4s)... What they lack is the number 1, so Weber and Diaz don't fill their needs. Plus I don't see the point in any team, (including ours) carrying both Weber and Diaz... they are redundant pieces... and one of them (Weber) needs to go.

Our soccer guys did previews for all four groups (not me). Group A http://lastwordonsports.com/2012/06/01/euro-2012/ Group B http://lastwordonsports.com/2012/06/03/euro-group-b/ Group C http://lastwordonsports.com/2012/06/05/group-c-spain-italy-battle-it-out-with-croatia-and-republic-of-ireland/ Group D http://lastwordonsports.com/2012/06/07/euro-2012-group-d-england-battle-it-out-with-france-sweden-and-ukraine/