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!!!