dlbalr
-
Posts
32472 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
469
Posts posted by dlbalr
-
-
21 minutes ago, hab29RETIRED said:
It seems kind of strange that all our young RD prospects are in Laval (until Barron’s emergency call up) - particularly with the premium placed on RD.
Reinbacher obviously would be expected to be in Laval, but it seems like the LD prospects all seem to have progressed faster than Barron and Mailloux and haven’t had to spend as much time in the minors. I don’t recall any of our young LD prospects spend as much time in Laval. Guhle, Harris, Struble, and Wifi all were picked up to the big club a lot faster.Not trying to make any point - just an observation. Hopefully one of them progresses to the NHL level next year.
It's worth noting that two of the lefties came out of college so they were a bit more polished and mature than players coming out of major junior. I think that's a notable factor. Mailloux is more than NHL-ready offensively but defensively, he still needs some work. That's not a typical profile so yeah, it's understandable that he needs more time.
Barron is an interesting one though. I think they could have easily kept him up over Struble but are prioritizing him getting bigger minutes in a more prominent role. So is it that he had to spend more time in the minors for development or is it that the Habs chose the more gradual path? Barron is waiver-eligible next year so it's fair to say he'll be up full-time.
-
Stephens had himself a game, 3 goals and 2 assists as Laval wins 7-4.
-
Today's lines (no Gignac who's DTD with a lower-body injury):
2-1 Laval after 1. Stephens and Reinbacher with the goals.
-
43 minutes ago, The Chicoutimi Cucumber said:
Remember the hype around Reaves at the start of the season? 🙄 It seems like WiFi's ragdolling him and his subsequent suckage put an end to that pretty quick
Trust me, the hype is still there. There's plenty of talk about how he is playing his best hockey in a long time (he had one whole point last month) and how he's a must-play player to start the playoffs.
-
1-1 in the 3rd period against Syracuse. Laval is getting outplayed a bit but Dobes has been sharp so far.
Belleville is up 3-0 tonight so getting two points here gets a little more important.
-
9 hours ago, Commandant said:
Again... the basketball games will be Saturday (semis) and Monday (final)
There js no overlap if they played Friday (semis) and Sunday (final)
Or start the season a week earlier and have this past weekend be the actual Frozen Four. That makes plenty of sense to me as well.
-
College free agency has started up. I've done a series of pieces for PHR with an overview of some of the better options by position. Some goalies/defence have signed since posting while the forwards were just posted this weekend so they're all still available for now. Gorton mentioned recently that they were doing some planning for college free agency so it appears they'll be trying to sign some players, likely some of the ones in these columns.
Goalies: https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/2024/03/2024-college-free-agency-preview-goaltenders.html
Defence: https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/2024/03/2024-college-free-agency-preview-defensemen.html
Centres: https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/2024/03/2024-college-free-agency-preview-centers.html
Wingers: https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/2024/03/2024-college-free-agency-preview-wingers.html
-
1
-
1
-
-
A bit of a quieter third period from the Habs but this is one of those 'competitive losses' that most I suspect will be okay with. (Although a goal from the Habs would have been nice.) I thought Kovacevic had a decent game for someone who hasn't been in much lately.
-
3 minutes ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:
Habs are playing a hell of a game.
Agreed, this is one of their better all-around games. They're playing Carolina pretty tough so far and have had some good chances offensively. Good to see.
-
Hutson gets the winner as Boston University moves to the Frozen Four. That means the earliest they'll be eliminated is now April 11th since they don't want to go up against the NCAA Final Four.
-
Laval waited until the second half of the game when they were down 4-1 to show up; their offence was non-existent once again before that point. Not a viable strategy for success and they fell 5-2.
-
It was only a few months ago that Laval was playing a lot of high-scoring games. We know Dobes has turned it around but where did the offence go? All of a sudden, it's a minor miracle if they get 25 shots on net and lately, they are routinely getting outplayed and outchanced. I'm happy that Dobes is stealing some wins but they need to figure out how to start putting up some goals and scoring chances again.
-
1 hour ago, Habs Fan in Edmonton said:
Yes, is 12 years x 835,000/yr of dead cap space worth a pick in the 26 - 32 range? I just don't see Carolina giving up on him yet. He has had a brutal year though, after a hot start he has basically 13 points in his last 60 games. It sure went downhill fast for him. Not sure what's going on, his confidence must be shot right now.
That's a lot of real money to give up to buy a single late first-round pick (it's not just the cap charge but actual dollars). I think Carolina waits it out one more year, there's not much risk for them doing so.
-
45 minutes ago, GHT120 said:
ClickBait30 proposing a KK and a first rounder to Habs ... given that they could take advantage of the under 26 buyout next June (and June 2026), it might be worthwhile if either they can move Dvorak, and let KK and Evans fight it out for 3C/4C, or if they think KK can play wing.
If the idea is to eventually do a buyout, that's a lot of dead money (even at 1/3) to eat for a late first-round pick.
-
Guhle has a suspension hearing today.
-
2 hours ago, GHT120 said:
Luke Tuch
This one surprises me slightly in that his offensive progression has been modest but he his size/physicality may translate well to the pros, albeit in a grinder role, that the Habs may see as a need.SOON... or ... NEXT SEASON (i.e., not using a 23/24 contract slot)
The contract slot could a factor to allow freedom to make trades before July 1st ... the Habs currently have 5 available ... for that reason, I would slide Tuch into this category ... if Engstrom can't join Laval for their playoff run/playoffs I wudl slide him in this group as well.
Oliver Kapanen
Habs could wait until June 2025, but his production as a 20-yr-old in a mens league has been solid (tied for 50th in scoring), he has also shown a strong all-round game ... he has had a strong playoff thus far (9pts, 4g in 6 games) ... but another year in the SM-liiga might fit both his and the organization's needs.
Blake Biondi
As an NCAA player, Habs have until August 15th to sign him ... 2020 4th rounder (109th) out of high-school ... his second/sophomore season was promising, but his production has regressed ... last season he played through a left shoulder injury until mid-season when a right-shoulder injury ended his year and he had surgery on both ... slight uptake in production this season ... how much was recovery from the surgeries a factor ... but with the Habs depth in D-prospects there seems little urgency to sign him ... but RHD depth might be a factor in offering an AHL contractNOTE: Italicized text taken from Journal article, non-italicized my comments
Tuch is a player whose style is better for the pros than college. They'd be crazy not to try to sign him. He's a legitimate NHL prospect, albeit a low ceiling.
Kapanen - I don't think he'll be in Finland. He'll either go to the SHL (one team is believed to be ready to make an offer) which is a bit of a stronger league or North America.
Biondi is a forward, not a d-man. Also, while it wasn't mentioned in the article, he opted for a fifth college season last week so the deadline doesn't apply to him.
-
2 hours ago, Sir_Boagalott said:
How does that work exactly because I haven't seen any particulars on that rule that specifies what happens when a pick is traded. Technically, it is the Jets pick but the Habs are in control of it. If the Jets pick wins the lottery wouldn't that mean it takes up 1 of the Jets 2 possible wins in 5 years?
I'd have a hard time thinking they'd penalize a team who doesn't have their own draft pick further by counting it as one of the two improvements for the team who didn't have it. That's just rubbing it in. That said, I don't think I've seen the wording of the rule either so I suppose I can't be sure on that one.
-
Things aren't looking so good for ECHL Trois-Rivieres. At a minimum, it seems unlikely they'll be around next season. It's possible they might not even get through this season.
https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/2024/03/echl-newfoundland-trois-rivieres-may-not-finish-season.html
-
12 hours ago, Habs Fan in Edmonton said:
Wouldn't it be nice if Winnipeg lost their last 10 games, slipped out of a playoff spot, won the draft lottery, moved up 10 spots and then we draft 6 and 7? Is that too much to hope for?
It'd be nice but it'd also use one of the allowable two lottery advancement slots. Teams are only allowed to move up I think twice in a five-year period now; would Montreal want one of them to happen without moving into the top two? Considering the jump, I think they would but it's a factor to consider.
-
Well, we might as well make this the GDT since it's close to puck drop.
-
1
-
-
On 3/25/2024 at 6:18 PM, alfredoh2009 said:
He was injury to start ths season, day-to-day with a wrist injury. Then Nov 15 to Dec 14 he was out with an upper boddy injury. He was hurt again from Jan 17 to Feb 10 and missed a couple of days mid-March.
IN March, once he was healthy he improved, to the point when some on this board were commenting that maybe the Habs should offer him a PTO or a minimum salary contract. I made the point at that time that the organization and him were walk away at the end of his contract. I think I even posted comments from journalists saying something similar. I know there was chatter about it.
I am happy for him in COL, I wish him well.
I'm aware of the injuries. I'm aware that he was serviceable at the end of the season. But two goals in 58 games does not constitute improvement throughout the season (unless you're a goalie, then that would be impressive...).
-
On 3/25/2024 at 4:06 PM, GHT120 said:
I assume you mean Guindon signing a PTO ... looking elsewhere, is Florian certain enough of getting an NHL contract that he would decline such an offer, or might he also want to "show his wares" if he is eliminated early enough to warrant an offer?
EDITED: For clarity
ATO for Guindon. If he thinks he has a chance to earn a contract or to help his case of getting one from another team for next year (over going back for his OA year), then I suspect he'd take it. Otherwise, he sits and hopes for a contract from Montreal or goes back into the draft and hopes someone takes him.
Xhekaj is a bit of a different case as his rights aren't up in June like Guindon's are. If Brantford is eliminated early, he'd likely be invited to skate with Laval but it wouldn't necessarily be about trying to impress for a contract rather than just being an extra body and getting a chance to work with the coaches/development staff. I imagine he'd jump at the opportunity no matter what.
-
Utica's a bit stronger on paper now with Schmid and Daws both down there, a byproduct of the Allen trade. That one could be tougher than it might seem.
-
1 hour ago, DON said:
Beck vs Guindon in 1st round
Assuming Saginaw takes this series, I'll be curious to see if Guindon joins Laval down the stretch. I think he's on the bubble for getting signed to an ELC so getting even some practice time with the Rocket might be useful from an evaluation standpoint.
GAME 76 - Montreal vs Toronto - 7 p.m. - April 6, 2021
in Habs & Hockey Talk
Posted
He didn't look right, especially when he had to play the puck right after. I'm surprised he wasn't pulled by the spotter.