Matt D’Agostini celebrates his first NHL goal against the Atlanta Thrashers
Habster:
Like all young players, the main objective or dream is to one day play in the NHL whether it’s realistic or not, it’s something players thrive for throughout their hockey careers.
If your a young player paying his dues at the AHL level, it’s even more of a realistic goal to make it to the NHL, even if it’s for a short term call-up to get a small taste of playing at the NHL level.
The Canadiens now have numerous young, talented players in Hamilton who have these dreams and will definitely be given every opportunity to achieve these goals in the not too distant future.
For Matt D’Agostini, the future is now and he’s proving his worth after paying his dues in the AHL for the past two and a half season with the Hamilton Bulldogs. Granted, D’Agostini has only played three games thus far but hasn’t looked out of place and has displayed a solid two way game with great set of wheels. The kid can downright fly and has a great shot which can be a lethal combination.
If D’Agostini can continue his solid play, then expect Carbonneau to throw him the “for rent” section of the Gazette’s classifieds. Sergei Kostitsyn and/or Guillaume Latendresse may want to bring a pillow to the press box or rent their pads to D’Agostini. Either way, both players need to sharply upgrade their games when they are given another opportunity, if and when that might happen.
The only question that still remains unanswered is: when will Gainey throw more bones in the direction of some Bulldogs?
You would have to think it would take some injuries for Gainey to recall another player from Hamilton with three players (O’Byrne, SK-74 and Latendresse) already in the press box on a nightly basis and a healthy Mike Komisarek approximately 2-3 weeks from game action.
The Canadiens have so many solid prospects like Max Pacioretty, Yannick Weber, Ben Maxwell and Ryan White (to name a few) improving their pro skill set in Hamilton while other prospects throughout junior, the NCAA and KHL ranks are moving up the totem pole
Isn’t it reassuring to know the organization finally has the prospect/player depth to fill vacated NHL roster spots whether it’s because of injuries or poor play. Bob Gainey and Trevor Timmins have done an incredible job of re-stocking the “kitchen cupboards” throughout the hockey system and should be commended for their foresight.
The Canadiens organization hasn’t had this much young talented depth playing in the AHL since the 1970’s when they had a plenitude of prospects playing for the Nova Scotia Voyageurs. Compare it to the 1980’s with the Sherbrooke Canadiens or the 1990’s with the Fredericton Canadiens and there really isn’t much of an argument.
Players like Larry Robinson, Steve Shutt, Bob Gainey, Rod Langway and Guy Carbonneau to name a few were all by-products of great drafting in the 70’s, something Bob Gainey (one of the so called “by-products”) and his scouting staff have recreated over the past five years.
There will no longer be young players on the Habs NHL roster who take their position for granted with so many talented, motived players ready to supplant them at a moments notice. The days of Pierre Dagenais (10 points in 22 games in KHL, in case you were wondering!!) are long behind us folks, long live the new and improved Canadiens!!!
LOL, you’re getting WAY ahead of yourself. No disrespect to Matt D’Agostini, but this shifting back and forth of players at the bottom end of the roster is commonplace. It keeps the competition happening and makes other players on the team realize that they can be replaced.
What you’re saying is no different from what was said about the players you mentioned as being “on their way out” following their first few games in the league. Surely you remember the buzz around Latendresse and S. Kostitsyn when they first came up? At that time it looked like 20 years of clear sailing to the HOF for both of them.
Both Lats and Kostitsyn will be fine, if not HOFers. Trust me. They both have more talent than D’Agostini, and both are younger than he is.
Rob, Rob, Rob….
I love how you put your own little spin on things!!
First off, I don’t want to rain on your man crush on Latendresse, but you have to admit that Matt D’Agostini’s game is far better suited for the NHL than Latendresse’s game regardless of their two year difference in age.
Latendresse hasn’t further developed his game much beyond his junior days. And please stop referring to age difference when talking about Gui as he has been on the Habs’ NHL roster for nearly two and half years without much development or consistency. He needs to be playing in the AHL where he will benefit from 17-20 minutes of TOI.
Secondly, if you recall, D’Agostini was one of the leading Habs pre-season scorer in the 2007 training camp but was sent to Hamilton instead of Latendresse,makes you wonder doesn’t it??
D’Agostini has a better all-round game and forces defensemen back with his speed. He also has a better shot and is better in his own zone where Gui has trouble clearing the puck along the boards.
Granted, Gui has a more physical edge to his game but unfortunately the Canadiens already have these types of players on the roster.
Just goes to show you that some seasoning in the AHL is a great way to prepare for the NHL, something the Habs should have done with Gui….a huge mistake in his development. Now they risk losing him if they send him to Hamilton where he needs more TOI instead of sitting in the press box.
By the way, I didn’t insinuate that Sergei and Gui should be traded (“on their way out”….where did I say that??) , just suggested that they may not be kept on the NHL roster.
Though,if I could package Latendresse with another roster player, a prospect and a draft pick for a Jay Bouwmeester type of player, then I would in a heartbeat epsecially if I was able to sign Bouwmeester.
As far as Sergei is concerned, he will learn from this press box “time out” and be better for it.I’m not as convinced with Gui as he seems to think his spot on the roster is guranteed.I hope I’m wrong!!
In conclusion, Piere McGuire stated that he thought D’Agostini development was much further along than Gui because of his stint in Hamilton. He also stated that Gui’s skating wasn’t NHL caliber and thought that the Canadiens did Latendresse a grave injustice by not sending him down to the Bulldogs last year.I think a knowlegdeable hockey guy like McGuire knows a lot more than you and I, Rob…..wouldn’t you agree!!
Dagenais has a job? As a hockey player? You must be joking!
And yes Habster, Pierre McGuire knows more about hockey than you and Rob… probably combined. Still less than me though ;-)
As for D’Agostini, I’ll agree with Rob when he says that we shouldn’t get ahead of ourselves. Sergei is the best example. Right now the kid is on a rush. Let him have his first slope and see how he plays afterwards when he has to play on different lines with different players and different roles. Then we’ll know for sure what the kid can do. For now he simply displays great potential, something many players did without delivering on them.
As for Latendresse, forget it. He,s not going down. Only two players can be sent down to Hamilton without having to clear waivers: Sergei and Carey. I think we can forget about Carey already. Gainey will never send a young 21 year old player with NHL potential if he risk losing him for free. He learned from Ron Hainsey. That’s why he traded Marian Hossa for Garth Murray, he knew someone would grab Hossa like someone will grab Lats.
And yes, we have to respect the drafting work made by the Canadiens but you forgot the main man in the story: André Savard. If you remember, he was hired as General manager of the Canadiens back in 2000 and hired Trevor Timmins and Pierre Gauthier before going down to assistant GM when he was replaced by Bob Gainey. He put the ground work for great drafting and it was under his watch that Komisarek and Higgins were drafted.
Hey Big Brother,
Yes, it’s hard to believe, but one third of the “Three Amigos” is plying his trade in the KHL with Chelyabinsk Traktor…..hard to imagine!!
BB, no where in the article did I say that D’Agostini was going straight to the HHOF or wouldn’t be sent back down to Hamilton.I did say:
“Granted, D’Agostini has only played three games thus far but hasn’t looked out of place”
or
“If D’Agostini can continue his solid play, then expect Carbonneau to throw him the “for rent” section of the Gazette’s classifies”
There is nothing that says he will be a rousing success or stick with the team for the remainder of the season, just “ifs” and “buts”, guys!!
Either way, D’Agostini brings more to the rink than Latendresse does at this point in their development, something I feel badly about as Gui was mishandled from his first NHL training camp.
I also agree with you regarding Andre Savard who I think did a good job during his short tenture as the Canadiens GM (his best move was hiring Timmins!!). I’ve mentioned it numerous times in other articles but neglected in this one…thanks for reminding me, BB!!
Good article Habster! There is reason for much optimism regarding the Canadiens. Sometimes we tend to look outside the organization to fill holes but perhaps some of the answers lie within.
Sergei Kostitsyn isn’t likely to go anywhere. He is very skilled, the best passer on the team, and could help the powerplay back on the right point. His lesson in maturity hopefully has been learned.
The three of us at All Habs have a lot of respect for Pierre McGuire. It was very interesting listening to his candid views about Latendresse. He has said many times that the Canadiens made a huge mistake keeping him on the roster for the past 2 1/ years. He said that while there is no doubt that Gui has talent however “he has regressed significantly.” McGuire also feels that Gui’s “skating is about the same this year” as in the past. Pierre said that the much advertised improvement is more about spin (likely from Latendresse’s agent).
In McGuire’s opinion, Gui’s “work habits must change.” It is the coach’s responsibility to “scare the kid about his work habits”. McGuire said that there were big concerns about Latendresse’s “diet, work ethic and attitude” coming out of junior and unfortunately, there has been little improvement.
Old Chrome Dome is also touting Alexei Emelin as “the best defenseman outside the NHL”, when Emelin is playing terrible and barely hanging onto a starting role with his KHL team. Nothing McGuire says means a thing, and Andre Savard was the worst G.M., hands down in the history of the franchise. That is why he was axed so quickly.
You conveniently forget about the likes of Gino Odjick, Donald Audette, Sergei Berezin, and a host of other overpaid washouts too numerous to mention that Savard flushed money down the toilet on. Lucky for him two of the biggest free agent losers at the time REFUSED TO PLAY FOR MONTREAL, even though Savard offered them more money than they signed for. Pierre Turgeon and Martin Lapointe. His legacy would have been complete with those two on board. :(
Komisarek was the 7th overall pick remember, it didn’t take a genius to do the obvious. Higgins was a good pick, but how about the immortal Thomas Linhart from round two? Where is Duncan Milroy these days for that matter. You could make a very competitive NHL team out of the players taken after Kostitsyn in 2003 who are better players than he is. I won’t get into Cory Urquhart. Timmins and Savard have as many duds as studs, it’s just that Houle left them with extra picks for a few years and they hit on some of the later ones.
Rob,
The KHL is for the most part a non contact league where players who play a very physical style like Alexei Emelin are penalized by poor refereeing. He needs to come over to North America and better utilize that physical style…I’m sure you were aware of that fact, right??
From what I’ve read in various russian websites/publications that publish in english, he isn’t having that bad a season.
Plus my Russian neighbour who speaks to family in Russia often and reads Russian newspapers online tells me that Emelin is playing well enoughfor AK Bar so I’m not sure where you’re getting this information, Rob.
As far as Andre Savard is concerned, his tenure as GM was too short to fully evaluate (2 1/2 seasons to be exact) but overall, he did a good job.
Rob, let me ask you a question that has been puzzling me for a while. Since you are rather well versed about the Canadiens prospects and enjoy discussing them with us, why aren’t you writing more about them on your blog site?
At this time of the year, most of what the prospects do is self evident. I will do a mid season take, but most of the readers here can probably ascertain for themselves how the kids are coming along.
I mostly enjoy our friendly debates rob. But you tend to lose credibility when you write things like: “Nothing McGuire says means a thing”.
You may disagree with his opinions but it would be silly to deny that Pierre McGuire is one of the most knowledgeable analysts in hockey.
And as far as McGuire’s comments on Latendresse, many around the NHL have come to exactly the same conclusion.
I’ve tuned out McGuire so completely, that if he was in the same hotel as I was and he was running up and down the hall screaming “Fire!”, I’d just roll over and go back to sleep.
There are certain public figures I absolutely loathe, and McGuire is one of them. Latendresse will have his ups and downs, every player does, especially when they are younger. But he is a genuine talent, and if the team had really competent management they would have done all they could to secure the services of his former junior linemate Derrik Brassard.
I was jumping when they managed to land Latendresse as late as they did in the draft, but disappointed they didn’t make a move for Brassard a year later. I’m sure it could have been done at various times since then, but it is too late now. I never wanted Briere or Lecavalier in Montreal, I don’t have much use for either, but Latendresse, Lapierre, and Brassard would have been brilliant, and kept the French speaking segment of the population happy for the next 10 years.
So rob, in summary, you think that McGuire’s words are meaningless and you prefer Latendresse to Lecavalier.
OK, that tells me all I need to know.
“I never wanted Briere or Lecavalier in Montreal, I don’t have much use for either, but Latendresse, Lapierre, and Brassard would have been brilliant”
WOW!!…….I’m not sure what to say after that statement, Rob.
Granted, Brassard is playing great hockey for the Blue Jackets but I would take Lecavalier in a heart beat.
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