by Robert Rice, Senior Writer, All Habs Hockey Magazine
TORONTO, ON — This week in review (February 4th – February 10), top honours belong to a player looking to turn his year around in the 2nd half.
Your comments are most welcome. If you have a question about any of the prospects email me, and perhaps it will be answered in the weekly All Habs Mailbag feature that appears on these pages on Thursdays.
The Three Stars
1. RW Louis Leblanc
It has not been an easy season for Louis Leblanc. After suffering a high ankle sprain that hampered his performance well after he came off the injured reserve for the Hamilton Bulldogs, Leblanc has often been struggling for points until he made a notable surge this past week. In the Hamilton Bulldog’s final road game against the Toronto Marlies and still searching for a win in an arena that has seen them routinely defeated all season, Leblanc scored two goals, including the game-winner in a surprising 6-4 victory for the Hamilton Bulldogs after they squandered a 4-1 lead. Leblanc would find himself held off the scoresheet with the rest of Hamilton in the following game to the Chicago Wolves in a 3-0 loss. Leblanc would finish the week by getting his hand in on the game-winner once more, assisting on a Greg Pateryn goal to give the Bulldogs a 2-1 victory over the Texas Stars. Louis Leblanc was drafted in the 1st round, 18th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2009 NHL Draft.
2. RW Danny Kristo
Danny Kristo continues to set the standard as one of the best offensive players in NCAA hockey this year. Kristo would score the game-winning goal along with an assist on Friday night against the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks in a 2-1 victory. Kristo would add another goal and assist on Saturday to help North Dakota earn a weekend sweep of the Mavericks in a 5-2 victory. Kristo is currently ranked 5th overall in NCAA scoring and 2nd in goals. Danny Kristo was drafted in the 2nd round, 56th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2008 NHL Draft.
3. D Darren Dietz
Darren Dietz continues to be the leading source of offence for the Saskatoon Blades this season from their back end, while reversing his most troublesome stat. Dietz would go without a point in a 5-4 win for the Saskatoon Blades over the Moose Jaw Warriors. Dietz would collect an assist the following night in a rather one-sided 7-1 defeat of the Prince Albert Raiders. Dietz would mark his first 2-goal game of the season in a 4-1 victory over the Swift Current Broncos, Dietz would also add an assist in the game. Dietz would finally go without a point in a 5-2 victory over the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Dietz tied his previous career best this past week of 15 goals on a season, but he has done so in 16 fewer games than it took him last season. Dietz has also had a dramatic reversal in a troubling plus-minus column that was a team-worst -20 as of January 27th, but has now been reduced to -5 after going +15 in his last 8 games. While plus-minus is a limited picture of a player, having the worst +/- rating on a team is something of an alert on a player’s season. Darren Dietz was drafted in the 5th round, 138th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2011 NHL Draft.
On The Radar: 
– LW Olivier Archambault scored 2 goals and 2 assists.
– D Nathan Beaulieu scored a goal and assist.
– C Gabriel Dumont scored a goal and assist.
– D Greg Pateryn scored the first 2 goals of his professional career.
– C Brady Vail scored 2 goals.
Question Marks:
– D Morgan Ellis has no points in his last 16 games.
– RW Erik Nyström has been out with an unspecified illness.
– LW Steve Quailer has no points in his last 12 games.
NHL Graduates:
C Alex Galchenyuk: 19 years old, 6’0”, 194 pounds, LH shot.
Junior Club: Sarnia Sting – Team Captain
| Season Stats | 33GP | 27G | 34A | +16 | 22 PIM |
RW Brendan Gallagher: 20 years old, 5’9″, 182 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 36GP | 10G | 10A | -1 | 61 PIM |
Season-Ending Injuries:
LW Blake Geoffrion: 24 years old, 6’1”, 190 pounds, LH shot.
– Recovering from a depressed skull fracture
| Season Stats | 10GP | 4G | 2A | -3 | 9 PIM |
C Joonas Nättinen: 21 years old, 6’2”, 187 pounds, RH shot.
– Shoulder surgery
| Season Stats | 24GP | 5G | 4A | +6 | 8 PIM |
Complete Statistics for the week of February 4th, 2013
Legend
Skaters: Games Played, Goals, Assists, +/-, Penalty Minutes
Goalies: Wins, Losses, Overtime Losses, Shootout Losses, Goals Against Average, Save Percentage
Teams: Wins, Losses, Overtime Losses, Shootout Losses. For NCAA, Wins, Losses, Ties. For Elitserien/Allsvenskan/Extraliga, Wins, Losses, Overtime Losses.
Season Stats: Season scoring prior to the past week.
The AHL Report: The Hamilton Bulldogs have been the AHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens since 2002. It is the most common route for developing Montreal Canadiens prospects into full-time members of the organization. There are currently 9 members of the Hamilton Bulldogs that can be thought to have future consideration for an NHL position. The Hamilton Bulldogs are 16-24-1-5 this season, 5th in the North Division, 30th overall in the AHL.
D Nathan Beaulieu: 20 years old, 6’2”, 194 pounds, LH shot.
| Season Stats | 42GP | 2G | 11A | -13 | 37 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 1G | 1A | +2 | 2 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 45GP | 3G | 12A | -11 | 39 PIM |
C Michaël Bournival: 20 years old, 5’11, 191 pounds, LH shot.
| Season Stats | 39GP | 3G | 10A | -3 | 18 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 0G | 1A | 0 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 41GP | 3G | 11A | -3 | 18 PIM |
C Gabriel Dumont: 22 years old, 5’10”, 189 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 41GP | 14G | 11A | +5 | 57 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 1G | 1A | -1 | 8 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 44GP | 15G | 12A | +4 | 65 PIM |
D Morgan Ellis: 20 years old, 6’1″, 202 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 39GP | 3G | 4A | -10 | 41 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 0G | 0A | -3 | 6 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 42GP | 3G | 4A | -13 | 47 PIM |
RW Patrick Holland: 21 years old, 6’, 175 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 41GP | 5G | 6A | -13 | 2 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 0G | 1A | +1 | 2 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 44GP | 5G | 7A | -12 | 4 PIM |
RW Louis Leblanc: 21 years old, 6’, 190 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 29GP | 4G | 2A | -5 | 25 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 2G | 1A | -1 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 32GP | 6G | 3A | -6 | 25 PIM |
D Greg Pateryn: 21 years old, 6’2”, 219 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 9GP | 0G | 1A | -6 | 2 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 2G | 0A | +1 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 12GP | 2G | 1A | -5 | 2 PIM |
LW Steve Quailer: 22 years old, 6’4”, 209 pounds, LH shot.
| Season Stats | 42GP | 4G | 4A | -6 | 27 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 0G | 0A | -1 | 2 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 44GP | 4G | 4A | -7 | 29 PIM |
D Jarred Tinordi: 20 years old, 6’6″, 218 pounds, LH shot
| Season Stats | 41GP | 1G | 4A | -6 | 44 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 0G | 1A | 0 | 5 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 43GP | 1G | 5A | -6 | 49 PIM |
The Juniors Report: The Canadiens currently feature prospects playing in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and the Western Hockey League (WHL). These leagues can be considered the primary conduit towards professional hockey in North America.
QMJHL:
LW Olivier Archambault: 19 years old, 5’11”, 184 pounds. LH shot.
Junior Club: Drummondville Voltigeurs
Team Record: 29-20-2-2
| Season Stats | 47GP | 20G | 23A | -5 | 34 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 2G | 2A | -1 | 2 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 50GP | 22G | 25A | -6 | 36 PIM |
LW Charles Hudon: 18 years old, 5’10”, 171 pounds, LH shot.
Junior Club: Chicoutimi Saguenéens – Team Captain
Team Record: 24-26-2-3
| Season Stats | 41GP | 25G | 27A | +10 | 52 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 0G | 0A | -2 | 4 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 43GP | 25G | 27A | +8 | 56 PIM |
OHL:
C Brady Vail: 18 years old, 6’, 195 pounds, LH shot.
Junior Club: Windsor Spitfires – Alternate Captain
Team Record: 22-25-1-6
| Season Stats | 51GP | 15G | 26A | -13 | 33 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 2G | 0A | 0 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 54GP | 17G | 26A | -13 | 33 PIM |
WHL:
LW Tim Bozon: 18 years old, 6’0”, 183 pounds, LH shot.
Junior Club: Kamloops Blazers
Team Record: 37-15-2-3
| Season Stats | 52GP | 31G | 41A | +28 | 48 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 0G | 1A | +1 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 54GP | 31G | 42A | +29 | 48 PIM |
D Darren Dietz: 19 years old, 6’1”, 195 pounds, RH shot.
Junior Club: Saskatoon Blades – Alternate Captain
Team Record: 31-21-0-3
| Season Stats | 51GP | 13G | 20A | -14 | 71 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 4GP | 2G | 2A | +9 | 4 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 55GP | 15G | 22A | -5 | 75 PIM |
D Dalton Thrower: 19 years old, 5’11”, 200 pounds, RH shot.
Junior Club: Saskatoon Blades
Team Record: 31-21-0-3
| Season Stats | 36GP | 4G | 15A | +17 | 62 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 4GP | 0G | 1A | -1 | 7 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 40GP | 4G | 16A | +16 | 69 PIM |
US College Hockey (NCAA) Report: The Canadiens have drafted a number of college players in recent years, these are generally ‘project players’ who benefit from additional years in lower level hockey to develop their skills.
D Mac Bennett: 21 years old, 6′, 180 pounds, LH shot.
NCAA Team: University of Michigan Wolverines – Alternate Captain
Team Record: 10-18-2
| Season Stats | 19GP | 4G | 9A | 0 | 4 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 1G | 1A | -3 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 21GP | 5G | 10A | -3 | 4 PIM |
RW Danny Kristo: 22 years old, 5’11”, 188 pounds, RH shot.
NCAA Team: University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux – Alternate Captain
Team Record: 16-8-6
| Season Stats | 26GP | 16G | 19A | +7 | 18 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 2G | 2A | +5 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 28GP | 18G | 21A | +12 | 18 PIM |
C Mark MacMillan: 21 years old, 6’, 183 pounds, LH shot.
NCAA Team: University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux
Team Record: 16-8-6
| Season Stats | 28GP | 9G | 9A | +6 | 20 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 0G | 0A | 0 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 30GP | 9G | 9A | +6 | 20 PIM |
Czech Extraliga Report: The Extraliga is the top professional league in the Czech Republic.
C Daniel Pribyl: 20 years old, 6’3”, 193 pounds, RH shot.
Extraliga Team: HC Sparta Prague
Team Record: 27-17-2
| Season Stats | 36GP | 10G | 9A | +12 | 10 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 0GP | 0G | 0A | 0 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 36GP | 10G | 9A | +12 | 10 PIM |
Elitserien Report: The Elitserien or Swedish Elite League is the top professional league of Sweden. A prospect playing well in this league is a typical indication they may be ready for the NHL. The Allsvenskan is the secondary professional league of Sweden, playing directly under the Elitserien.
RW Sebastian Collberg: 18 years old, 5’11”, 180 pounds, RH shot.
Elitserien Team: Frölunda HC
Team Record: 24-18-5
| Season Stats | 27GP | 5G | 3A | +2 | 6 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 0GP | 0G | 0A | 0 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 27GP | 5G | 3A | +2 | 6 PIM |
Allsvenskan Team: Örebro HK
| Season Stats | 15GP | 6G | 2A | +4 | 2 PIM |
D Magnus Nygren: 22 years old, 6’1”, 191 pounds, RH shot.
Elitserien Team: Färjestads BK
Team Record: 29-12-5
| Season Stats | 42GP | 10G | 14A | +8 | 47 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 0GP | 0G | 0A | 0 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 42GP | 10G | 14A | +8 | 47 PIM |
RW Erik Nyström: 19 years old, 5’11”, 176 pounds, LH shot.
Allsvenskan Team: Karlskrona HK
Team Record: 10-33-1
| Season Stats | 15GP | 2G | 3A | +1 | 4 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 0GP | 0G | 0A | 0 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 15GP | 2G | 3A | +1 | 4 PIM |
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