By Joce, Senior Writer, All Habs Hockey Magazine
PENTICTON, BC. — Here are a few thoughts on different topics surrounding the Habs’ and the NHL over the past few weeks. We’re touching on Brière, Parros, Subban, the rookies, Eller, Gionta, Price and more. Feel free to post your comments as they are always welcomed.
1- Many are trying to downplay the fact that Louis Leblanc was amongst the first cut at training camp, justifying it with the fact that the Canadiens didn’t have room for him on the top nine. However, other offensive-minded forwards are still with the big club as those lines are being written and are getting the chance to make an impression. Wasn’t it Marc Bergevin himself who challenged the young players to force his hand? Don’t be fooled. If Leblanc was sent to Hamilton this early, it’s because there is something drastically wrong and it serves as a serious wake-up call for the Habs’ former first round pick. Time will tell if he’s learned the message or if he will fold under pressure. And no, I don’t think that the Habs have given up on him… yet.
2- One of those offensive forwards taking full advantage of training camp is 21-year-old Michael Bournival, who might just be THE biggest surprise thus far. Not only is he performing well by putting up points, but he also makes those on his line better. Remember who the Canadiens traded for him? Ryan O’Byrne, who now finds himself playing in the KHL.
3- Everyone knew that Jarred Tinordi was close to the NHL when he played a few games with the Canadiens last season and he may just be one who will force Marc Bergevin’s hand to find him a spot within the top-six defensemen in Montreal. In his first year as a pro in Hamilton, the former captain of the London Knights of the OHL already wore the alternate captain’s “A” on his jersey and something tells me that he’ll be team captain in the NHL before too long.
4- Habs’ fans should be pleased to see that Lars Eller isn’t showing any signs from the devastating injury he suffered in the playoffs against the Senators, after being hit by Eric Gryba. Eller understood Michel Therrien’s message last year to play with more intensity and he has shown it again since the start of training camp. He is pencilled to center a line with outstanding sophomores Alex Galchenyuk and Brendan Gallagher, in what could be a young and dynamic line for the Canadiens this season.
5- Much has been said and written about the duo of David Desharnais and Daniel Brière and coach Therrien decided to let them develop chemistry with Max Pacioretty since the beginning of training camp. The experience, while still a work in progress, is showing flashes of potential. On the one hand, you have Desharnais feeling like he needs to prove his GM right for granting him a contract extension and on the other hand, you have Brière who wants to bounce back from one of his worst seasons in the NHL. Time will tell if the experience with last but so far, so good.
6- Brian Gionta was recently awarded the Jean Béliveau Trophy, awarded annually to the Canadiens player who best exemplifies leadership qualities in the community. Brian has recently resumed practice with contact and hopes to be ready on time to start the regular season. He is currently skating on a line with Rene Bourque and Tomas Plekanec. The Canadiens’ captain enters the final year of his contract and no one has scored more goals for the Canadiens since he joined the team in 2009.
7- A young guy who is showing signs of progress is big defenseman Greg Pateryn, who was acquired in the trade which saw Michael Grabovski heading to Toronto. He wasn’t very impressive during his short stint in Montreal at the end of last year, but he seems to be playing with better composure since the beginning of training camp and if we believe the Hamilton coaching staff, he might be the most NHL ready player from last year’s team. Pateryn needs to keep things simple, play the body, use his big frame, and make a crisp and precise first pass and he’ll do just fine. He should start the season in Hamilton but may be called up in case of injuries, and might be pencilled in to replace Francis Bouillon next year.
8- Michael McCarron has opened some eyes since the start of training camp, especially those who were saying that he was a long-shot project at the NHL level. He moves well for a guy his size and since the start of exhibition games, he has shown that he likes playing a physical game and using his big body. He will greatly benefit from the coaching in London under the Hunter brothers, as did Tinordi. It will be very interesting to follow his progress this year as the guy has the necessary skills to do some damage and have an impact.
9- In a recent article in “Le Journal de Montréal”, former NHL goaltender Jocelyn Thibault had some good words for Carey Price and for his new goaltending coach Stéphane Waite. Thibault feels like Waite will be able to make Price a better goalie. “It’s hard for me to judge of Pierre Groulx’ work, even if he did well with Carey, but I know Stéphane. His mentality is closer to mine, with a more hybrid style. He’s good technically, but he leaves a lot of freedom to his goalies. He wants his goalie to make the save, without becoming a robot letting the puck hit it. He wants his men to be aggressive and to react. I think that Stéphane will draw the energy and aggressiveness out of Carey. I’m convinced that he’ll do good work.”
10- P.K. Subban is having himself a good training camp and his contractual situation should be close to the top of GM Marc Bergevin’s list of things to do this season. The Norris Trophy winner is scheduled to become a RFA at the end of the season and he has rights to arbitration, not counting the danger of offer-sheets from other teams, including the Philadelphia Flyers, who always seem to be lurking for such opportunities, as they’ve shown recently when the signed an offer for Nashville Predators’ Shea Weber. Subban will get his pay day, and it will be well deserved.
11- While he states not being at 100 per cent yet, tough guy George Parros is getting closer as he has resumed practice with a full contact jersey. Time will tell if he will be available or not for the first game of the season against the Leafs, but unless he suffers some sort of setback, he shouldn’t be too far off.
12- Head coach Michel Therrien is preparing his team for the start of regular season, a little more than a week away, as he had the following lines together at practice: Pacioretty-Desharnais-Brière, Bourque-Plekanec-Gionta, Galchenyuk-Eller-Gallagher, Moen-White-Prust. Unless Marc Bergevin pulls a rabbit out of his hat at the last minute, this could very well be the opening night line-up, with perhaps Parros inserted on the fourth line if he’s ready.
The 2013-2014 regular season starts on Tuesday, October 1st, when the Toronto Maple Leafs visit the Bell Centre in what promises to be an intense game. Go Habs Go!!!
En français: Repassage en famille: Leblanc, Bournival, Subban, Gionta et plus.