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Catching The Torch: Leblanc Rises

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 

(Photo by Alain Roberge / La Presse)

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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