All Habs Headlines: Sunday June 14, 2015 |
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On this day in hockey history… 1974 — Montreal Canadiens acquired Glen Sather from St. Louis for Rick Wilson 1977 In the NHL Amateur draft held in Montreal, the New York Islanders chose Mike Bossy with the 15t h overall pick. 1988 — Minnesota North Stars fired coach Herb Brooks after a one year stint with the team. The North Stars had finished 19-48-13 under Brooks. 1993 — The Florida Panthers officially received their NHL franchise membership. |
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► Habs on Kessel’s list
- With the Toronto Maple Leafs in full rebuild mode, there has been speculation about the futures of most players on the roster but particularly about Phil Kessel. The Leafs sniper has a limited no-trade clause but it is believed according to TSN that there are eight teams on the list that Kessel can be traded to including: Montreal, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Minnesota, New York Rangers, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
► Beaulieu rewarded
- Marc Bergevin has officially finalized the first of three contracts for his 20-year old pending restricted free agents. The Canadiens and Nathan Beaulieu have agreed on a 2-year-extension worth an average annual value of $1 million a year.
- Beaulieu received a bridge contract a la P.K. Subban rather than getting a long term extension right out of his entry level contract. Alex Galchenyuk and Jarred Tinordi are next in line to be signed.
- It appeared as if the 22-year old had found his niche midway through the season as he was temporarily playing in the top-4. However, Beaulieu was demoted to the bottom pairing where he is better suited at this stage in his career when the Canadiens acquired Jeff Petry. Alexei Emelin and Petry formed the second pairing for the best part of the remainder of the season and playoffs.
- Beaulieu played with a fractured sternum in the playoffs after getting lit up in open ice by Ottawa Senators captain Erik Karlsson. The Canadiens and Beaulieu faked a concussion when the young defenseman wore a tinted visor in practice to mask his fracture.
- Beaulieu had an illustrious junior career including three deep playoff runs with the Saint John’s Sea Dogs in which he recorded 47 points in 57 games.
In four seasons in Saint John’s Beaulieu ended up with 152 points in 233 games. - The former 17th overall pick didn’t look out of place at all in his first season of professional hockey in 2012-13, he had 31 points in 67 games on an underachieving Hamilton Bulldogs team.
- Beaulieu was tied for second on the team with Jarred Tinordi with three fighting majors this season, most notably dropping the gloves with David Clarkson after the former Leafs forward drove Beaulieu’s defence partner Sergei Gonchar from behind into the glass.
► Galchenyuk not focused on centre
- For the past three years the expectation is that at some point Montreal Canadiens forward Alex Galchenyuk would play center. Galchenyuk was originally a winger before he came to Sarnia where he was transitioned into a centreman.
- In a recent interview with Canadiens.com, Galchenyuk said that his playing position doesn’t change his approach to the game: “If you put me at center, I’ll play center. No matter how many times you ask me this question, at the end of the day, if you put me at center, I have to play center. I have to be the best I can be at that position. If I’m on wing, I have to help the team win on the wing. To be honest, it’s as simple as that.”
- When Galchenyuk played at centre for a short period this season, he scored a hat trick against the Carolina Hurricanes centring Max Pacioretty and Brendan Gallagher.
- The development path that the Canadiens and Michel Therrien have taken to develop the former third overall pick has been widely debated. In his end of year press conference, Marc Bergevin noted that Galchenyuk might never be a centreman.
- Alex Galchenyuk had a 20-goal season last year, the first forward 21-or-younger to do that since Saku Koivu and Valeri Bure.
► Credit for Jacques Martin
- Jacques Martin almost dislocated his shoulder patting himself on “Dave Morrisette en Direct” on Friday night.
- Martin noted that the Canadiens would have never gotten Alex Galchenyuk if they hadn’t canned him midway through the 2011-’12 season. More accurately, had Geoff Molson and Pierre Gauthier not undermined coach Randy Cunneyworth following Martin’s firing, the Canadiens may not have fallen close to the bottom of the standings.
► Evander Kane thrilled to be a Sabre?
- Evander Kane practiced in a Sabres jersey for the first time since being acquired by Buffalo on February 11th.
- Kane was traded to the Sabres in an a deal that involved Buffalo sending Drew Stafford, Tyler Myers, Joel Armia, Brendan Lemieux, a first round pick to Winnipeg in exchange for Zach Bogosian and Kane.
- Kane has 222 career points in 361 games with the Thrashers / Jets franchise.
- Kane acted his way out of Winnipeg, with a plethora of negative off ice actions and a nasty contract negotiation leaving a sour taste in the mouths of Jets management.
https://twitter.com/NHLexpertpicks/status/609345087311609856/
► Grigorenko to KHL?
- It seems a former first rounder has overstayed his welcome. In an interview with WGR 550 Sabres GM Tim Murray said that they have qualified Grigorenko but don’t know where he fits into the team’s lineup next year. That’s saying a lot considering the depletion of the Sabres lineup. If the Sabres want to send down Grigorenko he will need to pass through waivers.
- The 6-foot-3 centreman had five points in 25 games in his rookie season before getting sent back to the Quebec Remparts where he recorded 54 points in 33 games.
- The next season Grigorenko started the year in the NHL once more and again he struggled with three points in 18 games. He was sent back to the QMJHL were he got 39 points in 23 games.
- The Sabres finally figured it out and started Grigorenko in the AHL this season where he had more success with 36 points in 43 games but when he was called up he struggled with six points in 25 games.
- Bob McKenzie reports that “There has since been talk Grigorenko will opt to return home to Russia and take a more lucrative offer in the KHL rather than contest for a spot on the Sabres on a two-way contract next season.”
► Chase De Leo and Eric Comrie make a pact
- The Winnipeg Jets have come to terms with forward Chase De Leo one a three-year entry level contract that will pay him $875,000 annually.
- De Leo was drafted 99th overall in 2014 and he shares an interesting story with Winnipeg Jets goaltending prospect Eric Comrie. The two boys grew up together and when they were 10-years old, they made a pact to stay friends hoping one day to be teammates in the NHL. Nine years later the two have realized their dream.
- Comrie said “It’s really cool. We were young when we did that and we didn’t know what it was come to. We’re lucky that the hard work that we’ve put in is starting to pay off. There’s still a lot of hard work to go to reach the NHL , but it’s a good start right now.”
- De Leo is a pure goal scorer with back-to-back 39 goal seasons in 72 and 67 games respectively. Winterhawks General Manager and Head Coach Jamie Kompon had this to say about De Leo, “Chase is a dynamic offensive player, but it’s his commitment to playing a 200-foot game that will help him succeed at the next level.”
► Dany Heatley to KHL?
- Dany Heatley’s next hockey destination will likely be in the KHL having received two offers from SKA Moscow and SKA St. Petersburg.
- Heatley’s play has been declining since 2009-2010 when he put up 39 goals and 82 points to his worst NHL season with 21 points in 76 games.
- The Anaheim Ducks signed him to a one year, $1 million contract last season and recorded zero points in six games before getting hurt and eventually being demoted to their AHL affiliate.
- Heatley had seven points in 25 games with the Norfolk Admirals and had good run with the San Antonio Rampage after getting traded as he had 13 points in 18 games.
► Texas Stars unveil new logos
- In a press release and video, the Texas Stars, American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL’s Dallas Stars, unveiled today a new logo and color scheme for the upcoming 2015-16 season.
► Subban loses playoff beard
► Bobby Ryan ties the knot
https://twitter.com/b_ryan9/status/609844570021494784
► Free agent targets
- Corey Desormeaux looks at free agent solutions for the Habs scoring woes.
► Doing good deeds
- Caitlyn Golem writes about Habs off-season fundraising events.
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