dlbalr Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 It's probably time to close down the season thread since it's the summer. Here's a look at the offseason so far: New players: F Alain Berger (Oshawa, OHL) F Michael Blunden (Springfield, AHL) D Olivier Dame-Malka (Lewiston, QMJHL) F Philip DeSimone (New Hampshire, H-East) D Raphael Diaz (Zug, SUI) G Nathan Lawson (NY Islanders) F Louis Leblanc (Montreal, QMJHL) F Phillipe Lefebvre (Montreal, QMJHL) (also has junior eligibility) D Mark Mitera (Syracuse, AHL) F Joonas Nattinen (Hameenlinna, FIN) F Brock Trotter (Riga, KHL) F Brian Willsie (Hershey, AHL) D Zack Fitzgerald (Charlotte, ECHL) (Plus a full season from late season addition Joe Stejskal) Confirmed/potential departures, not including free agents: D Sebastien Bisaillon (Graz, Austria) F Dustin Boyd (Barys Astana, KHL) D Mathieu Carle (Anaheim) F Nigel Dawes (Barys Astana, KHL) D Kyle Klubertanz (Djurgarden, SEL) G Drew MacIntyre (Buffalo) F Ryan Russell (Columbus) G Curtis Sanford (Columbus) F J.T. Wyman (Tampa Bay) F Ryan White (likely a full-time Hab) F Paul Zanette (Rockford, AHL) Free Agents: AHL Free Agents: F Jimmy Bonneau D Neil Petruic D David Urquhart Approximate Depth Chart: Forwards: Willsie - Leblanc - Palushaj Trotter - Engqvist - Fortier Conboy - Nattinen - Blunden Berger - Dumont - Avtsin Schultz/Masse/Bishop/DeSimone/Lefebvre Defence: Nash - Diaz Mitera - St. Denis Henry - Fitzgerald Stejskal/Dame-Malka Goalies: Lawson Mayer Delmas I'm going on the assumption that D Jeff Woywitka will crack Montreal's roster out of training camp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trizzak Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 Approximate Depth Chart: Forwards: Trotter - Leblanc - Palushaj Russell - Engqvist - Fortier Conboy - Nattinen - Dumont Schultz - Masse - Avtsin Bishop/Lefebvre Do you really see Avtsin getting 4th line time again? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lammy Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 Do you really see Avtsin getting 4th line time again? He will if he plays like he did this past season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlbalr Posted July 5, 2011 Author Share Posted July 5, 2011 Do you really see Avtsin getting 4th line time again? Until he shows he can play a top-6 role, I see him on the 4th line with some PP time. That's not terrible by any stretch to start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saskhab Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 Given the current situation, I still expect Trotter to make the Habs in Pyatt's old roster spot at the very least. Lord knows the Habs could use a RH shot on the main roster, and Trotter's AAAA qualifications (plus waiver status) make him the first in line. I'm also not convinced Nattinen will be in the AHL next year... I could see the Habs burning a year of his ELC by sending him back to Espoo, like what happened with Engqvist. If Nattinen isn't there, I expect one of Russell or Fortier to play centre. Maybe Dumont, but I have a feeling he's being groomed in the Ryan White mold. With those adjustments, I definitely see an opporutnity for a larger role for Avtsin. Wyman was obviously a key Bulldog... who takes his tough minutes? Russell? Engqvist? Leblanc? Dumont? Fortier? BTW, you forgot Alain Berger, dlbalr. I'd expect him to be in the everyday lineup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saskhab Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 AHL vet situation... Diaz has 238 GP from 2007-11 in the NLA that will count towards the 260 GP total that would make him an AHL vet (years that one could play in the CHL not as an overager don't count). From what I can tell, he will be viewed as a developing player. That's nice. Likewise, Brock Trotter is at 221, so he wouldn't have vet status, either. Mathieu Carle is at 225. Ryan Russell is at 243. Engqvist has 211. From my understanding of the rule on the PHPA's website, goalies don't apply. From what I can tell, Alex Henry is the only vet on the Bulldogs' projected lineup so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlbalr Posted July 6, 2011 Author Share Posted July 6, 2011 D Josh McFadden apparently has signed a tryout contract (I assume with Hamilton) though there has been no confirmation from the Bulldogs yet. http://www.sudburywolves.com/article/mcfadden-earns-tryout-contract Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saskhab Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 D Josh McFadden apparently has signed a tryout contract (I assume with Hamilton) though there has been no confirmation from the Bulldogs yet. http://www.sudburywolves.com/article/mcfadden-earns-tryout-contract That sounds like a Habs training camp invite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlbalr Posted July 6, 2011 Author Share Posted July 6, 2011 That sounds like a Habs training camp invite. He is, that's why I said apparently. If he has put pen to paper on something as the Wolves' site implies, it'd be an AHL tryout in all likelihood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueKross Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 CANOE REPORTING TWO-WAY 1 year contract to B. Willsie. I would say that is your Wyman replacement, with a tad more NHL experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trizzak Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 Ryan Russell traded to Columbus for Michael Blunden Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saskhab Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 Well, just like that, the Bulldogs get two veteran forwards after me saying they had zero. Actually, Blunden counts as the additional 260-320 GP player you are allowed to dress while Willsie is a pure vet like Henry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lammy Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 Ryan Russell traded to Columbus for Michael Blunden OMG!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlbalr Posted July 9, 2011 Author Share Posted July 9, 2011 D Sebastien Bisaillon signs with the Graz 99ers of the Austrian league. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueKross Posted July 12, 2011 Share Posted July 12, 2011 It's probably time to close down the season thread since it's the summer. Here's a look at the offseason so far: New players: F Alain Berger (Oshawa, OHL) F Michael Blunden (Springfield, AHL) D Raphael Diaz (Zug, SUI) G Nathan Lawson (NY Islanders) F Louis Leblanc (Montreal, QMJHL) F Phillipe Lefebvre (Montreal, QMJHL) F Joonas Nattinen (Hameenlinna, FIN) F Brock Trotter (Riga, KHL) F Brian Willsie (Hershey, AHL) (Plus a full season from late season addition Joe Stejskal) Forwards: Willsie - Leblanc - Palushaj Trotter - Engqvist - Fortier Conboy - Nattinen - Blunden Berger - Dumont - Avtsin Schultz/Masse/Bishop/Lefebvre Defence: St. Denis - Diaz Nash - Carle Henry - Stejskal McFadden? Goalies: Lawson Mayer Delmas After doing a head count, I believe Willsie is the most likely forward from your Bulldog lineup to spend significant time with the Canadiens, followed by Trotter and Palushaj. I have him pencilled in on the Canadiens opening squad. He will be a favourite for me to watch because he is from my area. I really like how many right hand shots we have accumulated. I haven't figured exactly who I think they will send to Wheeling but your bottom pairings/extras have to be on list. I think they sign a couple of defenseman such as McFadden and Dame-Malka to fill out roster as call-ups Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlbalr Posted July 13, 2011 Author Share Posted July 13, 2011 I think they sign a couple of defenseman such as McFadden and Dame-Malka to fill out roster as call-ups I'd be content with McFadden signing for some offensive depth, though anyone not named Neil Petruic would work for me quite honestly. The problem is, I really could see Hamilton bringing him back, he played a fair bit last year much to my chagrin. I would like to see them add one more veteran D on a two-way deal but there really isn't a whole lot of the Jancevski-like veteran minor leaguers. Names like Mathieu Roy, Casey Borer, and Shawn Belle are the only ones that I see as I skim through my UFA list that would be useful upgrades. (I'd also include Andre Benoit but he reportedly is Sweden-bound.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Habzmaniac Posted July 13, 2011 Share Posted July 13, 2011 My Lineup for the upcoming season Palushaj-Leblanc-Dumont Willsie-Nattinen-Blundin Conboy-Enqvist-Avtsin Berger-Fortier-Schultz Echl- D.Masse, H.Bishop,P.Lefebvre. Possibly E.Brodeur if the habs sign him Diaz-Nash Henry-St-Denis Stesjkal We still need to fill a spot with a veteran or two for the blueline. McFadden and Dame-Malka I'd sign and send to Wheeling Lawson-Delmas There was a goalie on tryout with the habs in June E.Mosher a goalie from Quebec Junior league had good stats in the Q. Maybe sign him and send him to Wheeling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlbalr Posted July 13, 2011 Author Share Posted July 13, 2011 There's no need to sign another goalie, one of Delmas/Mayer is already Wheeling bound...or wherever the Habs' farm team there will be, the new deal isn't signed just yet. Pittsburgh still is the primary tenant of the team and will supply the second goalie. As for what forwards could go down, I agree on all but Masse. First, they need to carry at least 1 extra forward and as much as I've been a Masse critic before (and I'm still not a big fan), he did step up when all the injuries/recalls hit last year, even becoming somewhat responsible defensively. I'm not sure he's an everyday player depending on what happens but that extra little bit of role versatility to go with his position versatility should give him a clear edge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saskhab Posted July 13, 2011 Share Posted July 13, 2011 Lefebvre can go back to the Q for another year, couldn't he? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlbalr Posted July 13, 2011 Author Share Posted July 13, 2011 Lefebvre can go back to the Q for another year, couldn't he? I thought he was an overager last year but upon further review, he doesn't appear to be. The big question is, would his junior team want him back? Without fully knowing their OA situation, I'm not sure they would. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbp Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 I wonder how well Leblanc will play this year Looking forward too that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueKross Posted August 3, 2011 Share Posted August 3, 2011 I wonder how well Leblanc will play this year Looking forward too that. The only thing that I see that is outstanding (remaining to be done); is the naming of assistant coaches in Hamilton and identifying the people to be invited as try-outs to the rookie camp. START THE SEASON! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trizzak Posted August 3, 2011 Share Posted August 3, 2011 The only thing that I see that is outstanding (remaining to be done); is the naming of assistant coaches in Hamilton and identifying the people to be invited as try-outs to the rookie camp. START THE SEASON! Need another defenseman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saskhab Posted August 3, 2011 Share Posted August 3, 2011 Need another defenseman Mitera-Diaz Nash-St. Denis Henry-Stejskal I assume McFadden will figure in here. Do the Bulldogs really need much more? I assume all they'll get on D are guys invited on tryouts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlbalr Posted August 3, 2011 Author Share Posted August 3, 2011 Mitera-Diaz Nash-St. Denis Henry-Stejskal I assume McFadden will figure in here. Do the Bulldogs really need much more? I assume all they'll get on D are guys invited on tryouts. If the Bulldogs are to contend as they have in years past, can they really afford to rely on a pair of rookies (Diaz, Stejskal), a declining veteran in Henry, and a pair of second year defencemen? I think they need at least one more top-4 veteran to help in case of injuries, callups, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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