OffThePost.org

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_d ... nhl-275650

Meanwhile, our supposed backup goalie next year....

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Injustice? Cobain died and Eddy Fucking Vedder lived to haunt us with his shitty fucking voice, trite lyrics and his Eddy Vedderness.



- Ancient Chinese Proverb

A few notes...

Our CHL prospects are genearlly doing good to very good. Leblanc has been very solid in the QMJHL, teaming up with fellow prospect Phillippe Lefebvre on one of the league's top lines. Michael Bournival, acquired for O'Byrne, is having a great season as well. Morgan Ellis, a d-man for one of the worst teams in the league, has been solid. Tinordi isn't blowing people away in London, but has generally improved quite nicely as the season moves on. Brendan Gallagher is one of the best players in the WHL.

Outside of Canada, however, the news isn't very good. Danny Kristo has only 1 goal and 4 points in 12 games so far this year. Steve Quailer doesn't have a point after missing all last year with an ACL tear. Mac Bennett seems to be doing decently as a freshman at Michigan, which is good, but he's about the only NCAA player to do well... Dustin Walsh has improved, but isn't significant yet. Stejskal, Kishel, Pateryn... tough to tell as d-men how well they're doing by stats, I suppose.

In Europe, Joonas Nattinen lost the entire season with a severed Achilles tendon. John Westin (7th rounder in '10 out of Sweden) has also not played at all this year due to some injury. Brock Trotter is a 3rd liner in the KHL. Trunev is struggling to find ice time. Ramo is doing well, and Emelin has definitely become one of the top d-men in the KHL. This is the last year I'll include any Emelin progress... if he's not in the Habs organization in 11-12, he never will be.

Basically, the Habs and Bulldogs are doing well, as are the CHL prospects. If you're Habs property and playing in Canada, things are going good. If you're not in Canada, you're probably doing shitty.

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Injustice? Cobain died and Eddy Fucking Vedder lived to haunt us with his shitty fucking voice, trite lyrics and his Eddy Vedderness.



- Ancient Chinese Proverb

A trio of Habs prospects were named to Team Canada WJC camp.

Louis Leblanc is a lock for scoring line duty, while Brendan Gallagher and Michael Bournival (the other man in the Obie trade) will get chances to make the squad.

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Congrats to Jarred Tinordi for being too awkward and slow to crack a very good USA junior squad.

I'm not worried, he was definitely a swing-or-miss kind of pick in a mediocre draft year.

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Plus, he's 18. He can get a lot better in a year and make it.

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Injustice? Cobain died and Eddy Fucking Vedder lived to haunt us with his shitty fucking voice, trite lyrics and his Eddy Vedderness.



- Ancient Chinese Proverb

Hishon doesn't make the cut for Team Canada, Bournival does.

Fuck off.

Hishon was just cut before Bournival. Bournival gone today in last round of cuts, Leblanc makes it. Bournival could be one of the potential injury replacements if someone goes down in pre-tournament action, I suppose.

_________________
Injustice? Cobain died and Eddy Fucking Vedder lived to haunt us with his shitty fucking voice, trite lyrics and his Eddy Vedderness.



- Ancient Chinese Proverb

Louis Leblanc at the World Jrs. 7 GP 3 G 4 A 7 PTS, and fourth in team scoring.

He slid onto the third line, but if anything it was more about fitting better with other linemates. I thought he was alright, solid positioning along the boards while cycling. He needs to bulk up, but otherwise I was pleased.

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Sobchenko and Urychev would be fine pickups.

Nattinen was alright, but fuck does our scouting in Sweden and Finland blow.

_________________
Injustice? Cobain died and Eddy Fucking Vedder lived to haunt us with his shitty fucking voice, trite lyrics and his Eddy Vedderness.



- Ancient Chinese Proverb

http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophe ... 64634.html

Kristo staying at UND for another year. BTW, we tried to sign their goalie, Aaron Dell. He's returning, and Kristo says him staying is part of the reason he is as well.

I kinda thought Kristo and Leblanc would turn pro at the same time, but I guess not. No Omaha reunion in Hamilton next year.

_________________
Injustice? Cobain died and Eddy Fucking Vedder lived to haunt us with his shitty fucking voice, trite lyrics and his Eddy Vedderness.



- Ancient Chinese Proverb

http://www.tsn.ca/chl/story/?id=365218

Shoulder surgery for Louis Leblanc. 4-6 months.

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4-6 months on a SHOULDER? Man, he must be getting a new one.

Was wondering why he wasn't added to the Bulldogs' roster.

_________________
Injustice? Cobain died and Eddy Fucking Vedder lived to haunt us with his shitty fucking voice, trite lyrics and his Eddy Vedderness.



- Ancient Chinese Proverb

Bobby Mac reports today on his Twitter that Yemelin is going to come over, that he wants to play in North America. We shall see.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=365384

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No link, but Nigel Dawes and Dustin Boyd are heading to the K. Arrivederci.

And Kyle Klubertanz is going back to Sweden.

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Not mentioned by anyone here while I was away, but the Habs did sign Joonas Nattinen out of Espoo in Finland (3rd rounder, 2009).

_________________
Injustice? Cobain died and Eddy Fucking Vedder lived to haunt us with his shitty fucking voice, trite lyrics and his Eddy Vedderness.



- Ancient Chinese Proverb

Engqvist and Avtsin fascinate me to no end. Let's add Nattinen to the mix. Tantalizing mixes of size and smarts (and with Avtsin some skill too).

Probably because their upsides fill gaping immediate holes, I'm sure I'll be unable to temper my enthusiasm should any of them get off to hot starts in the A.

And if Quailer shows some life? And Leblanc returns from surgery and looks good? And if Kristo doesn't freeze off his other foot?

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BTW, I assume Nattinen is being signed because they didn't want to lose him (he'd re-enter the draft if not signed by the 1st). I think he'll spend one more year in Finland, much like how Engqvist spent one extra year in Sweden after being signed.

I've got to participate in a mock draft soon. Should be interesting.

_________________
Injustice? Cobain died and Eddy Fucking Vedder lived to haunt us with his shitty fucking voice, trite lyrics and his Eddy Vedderness.



- Ancient Chinese Proverb

The first summer dev camp is going on right now, ending Thursday. Yemelin and Diaz are absent, but there are a few pieces in Brossard.

The list: http://canadiens.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=564594

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Quite happy with the pick. The EOTP guys all voted four picks before we were up and got our #2 guy from that point on. Would've had to re-vote if he had been gone, as our picks were all over the place after that.

Crazy draft at that point. I think you're going to see a lot of "risers and fallers" from the consensus rankings, but in reality, its just a volatile range. Guys will be 50th on someone's list and 15th on someone else's.

_________________
Injustice? Cobain died and Eddy Fucking Vedder lived to haunt us with his shitty fucking voice, trite lyrics and his Eddy Vedderness.



- Ancient Chinese Proverb

Speculation is quite heavy that Brock Trotter is returning to the Habs on a one way deal. I wouldn't be shocked if he's viewed as a Pouliot replacement for a line with Desharnais... it was the Desharnais/Trotter line that ruled the AHL in 2009-10.

That's apparently the word out of Riga, at the very least.

_________________
Injustice? Cobain died and Eddy Fucking Vedder lived to haunt us with his shitty fucking voice, trite lyrics and his Eddy Vedderness.



- Ancient Chinese Proverb