All Habs Headlines: Monday June 25, 2012
On this day in hockey history… In 1998, the NHL announced the creation of the Rocket Richard Trophy to be given to the NHL’s leading goal scorer each season. Happy Birthday to former Canadiens Doug Gilmour (49), Brian Hayward (52), and Glen Metropolit (38).
ALL HABS HEADLINES
► Collberg & Nystrom named to preliminary roster: Two of Montreal’s draft picks from this weekend have been named to the preliminary roster for Sweden’s Under-20 World Junior Championship team. 33rd overall pick Sebastian Collberg is no surprise, given he was one of the club’s offensive stars as its youngest player last year, and he should be a lock for this year’s tournament. 6th round selection Erik Nystrom is a pleasant surprise, though there are 20 forwards on the roster for now so he’ll have to impress to survive all the cuts. The named players will be used for a training camp, inter-squad games, and a pair of warm-up matches against the Czech Republic before a trimmed 22-man roster travels to the U.S. August 4th-11th for games against the Americans and Finland.
Previously, 122nd overall selection Charles Hudon was named to Hockey Canada’s preliminary summer roster for the WJC, and Alex Galchenyuk – who should play an important role in the tournament – is on Team USA’s list.
Read more: This season’s first U20 team squad
► Rave reviews for Bergevin’s first draft: Everyone knew Trevor Timmins was capable of great things as a head scout, but how would he work with Marc Bergevin? While it takes years to fully assess the quality of a team’s draft, Timmins & Bergevin are earning top marks for the crop they selected over the weekend. James Mirtle of the Globe & Mail is one of those who liked what he saw out of the Canadiens, and his piece features one notable quote for those afraid that Bergevin might let Timmins go at some point following the draft:
“I was a fan [going into the draft], but I’m more a fan coming out of it,” Bergevin said of Timmins. “We all know how the draft works out, but the way he manages staff, the way he talks to people, this guy is class. Above all, I enjoy working with Trev.”
Read more: Canadiens impress in Bergevin’s first draft as GM
► Qualifying offer deadline: Today (June 25) at 5:00 PM is the deadline for teams to submit qualifying offers to their pending restricted free agents so as to retain their rights. The Habs must make decisions on the following players by that time.
(updated: the following players received offers, meaning the Canadiens retain their rights, and if not signed before then, they will become RFAs on July 1…
Diaz, Raphael
Eller, Lars
Emelin, Alexei
Engqvist, Andreas
Geoffrion, Blake
Nash, Brendon
Palushaj, Aaron
St. Denis, Frederic
Subban, P.K.
White, Ryan
The following players did not receive offers and will become unrestricted free agents on July 1…
Bishop, Hunter
Blunden, Mike
Conboy, Andrew
Fortier, Olivier
Masse, Dany
Mitera, Mark
Nokelainen, Petteri
Slaney, Robert)
Easy choices for some, harder decisions for others (Conboy, Fortier, Bishop…) given that the team must look ahead to signings it wants to make this summer and remain at or under the 50 contract organizational limit. As a note, Carey Price does not have to receive a qualifying offer today, as the team’s filing for club-elected arbitration with the goaltender last week replaces the need for such an offer.
Players on this list don’t have to be signed today, but must be qualified. Any players not qualified by their clubs by the deadline become unrestricted free agents on July 1st.
► Development Camp, part 2: The second half of the Montreal Canadiens’ June development camp will take place starting this Thursday, between June 28 and 30, in Brossard. It will be a smaller group than the first camp’s 32, with the main focus being on the seven players selected over the weekend. Prospect Mac Bennett, who had been unable to attend the first camp, is also expected to be at this one, along with a number of undrafted invitees. Marc-Antoine Godin of La Presse confirmed that the Habs have extended invites to goaltender Maxime Lagace and forward Felix Girard among others. The full schedule and invitation list should be released by the Canadiens tomorrow (Tuesday).
An interesting Tweet with regards to the crazy busy travel schedule of one of the players Montreal took over the weekend:
[blackbirdpie url=”https://twitter.com/timbozon94/status/216942264574943233″]
Mentally tough: It wasn’t uncommon to hear the uninitiated use the word “under-sized” when describing the Habs new defenseman picked 51st overall at the NHL Entry draft. I suppose it is because Dalton Thrower stands at a shade under 6 feet. The picture changes when one realizes that at 200 lbs. Thrower is built like a tank.
And given his style of play it becomes increasingly difficult for that “undersized” label to stick. In addition Thrower has been through a number of family challenges, including a serious car crash on a mountain highway, and parents battling against cancer.
We know that he’s mentally strong. The proof is right there. We know he’s gone through a lot and hopefully we can help him in the future.” — Trevor Timmins
Read more: Canadiens pick Dalton Thrower grateful for much more than hockey
► New at All Habs Hockey Magazine:
Out of the Red, White, & Blue: Turning Point, Galchenyuk, Habs Draft, Free Agency
Headlines: Galchenyuk, Collberg, Thrower, Bozon, Hudon, Nystrom
On Rookies & Roster Spots – Adjusting Expectations
All Habs Mailbag: Robinson, Salak, Kane, Budaj, Jagr, NHL Entry Draft
Winners of 2012 All Habs Media Awards