According to Arber, Florian has always been a center but was moved to wing in season 1 of his OHL career. He is a natural center.
Laval Rocket: GDT: Game 2 Laval at Cleveland 7PM EST
- Thread starter Tyson
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They actually have a lot of similarities in their style. Despite being undersized they are both way above average at tracking pucks through bodies. That is an extremely important skill for smaller body goalies.
I mean, Fowler does kind of look small compared to guys we're used to seeing in the N. I think he will be able to pull it off because he is so good at finding ways to see pucks.
ChesterNimitz
governed by the principle of calculated risk
- Jul 4, 2002
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I was able to watch the game and here are my brief comments. Laval, which won 4-0, played a competent , strong road game where they limited the Monsters scoring chances and took advantage of theirs. Backstopped by the solid goaltending of Fowler, Laval is now up 2-0 in this best of five series. I will say the production values of the game can only be described as amateurish as the coverage continued to show replays during live action, including, the play where Laval scored its second goal.
I will, as usual, limit my comments to only the players that can be regarded as prospects.
The best player on the ice was Florian Xhekaj who played his usual hard, physical game and made numerous smart plays that created clean breakouts and scoring chances. Xhekaj, continues to show increased mobility and excellent offensive anticipation. He’s even improved on faceoffs, winning more than he lost and was particularly effective on the penalty kill where his hockey sense coupled with his reach allowed him to break up multiple plays. If this kid can add a bit of strength and, that all so elusive half step of quickness, the younger Xhekaj will be a strong player at the NHL level. Maybe even as soon as next year.
Tuch had a fair game, showing good physicality and his speed both on the forecheck and the backcheck. But, Tuch still hasn’t shown the on ice presence and snap to his game (particularly offensively) that made this player such a promising prospect prior to the injury that kept him out for a couple of moths early this season. Davidson, while he played hard and scored Laval’s first goal with his NHL level shot, made a number of poor decisions in the both ends of the ice which resulted in lost scoring opportunities and turnovers.
Beck had his best game in over a month, once again playing on a line with Gignac and Roy. Beck showed his explosive speed that allowed him to create a couple of excellent scoring chances and be effective on the forecheck and defensively. Beck also made a number of clever plays in the defensive zone, small touch passes under pressure, that allowed Laval to exit their defensive zone cleanly. Farrell had a quiet game for him as he didn’t create the offensive chances that he had become such an important part of the team’s success over the past 40 or so games. Farrell did show spurts of quickness and played an integral role on Laval’s third goal that really was the clinching goal in this game.
Roy, like Tuch, had a fair game showing good strength on the puck, defensive responsibility and excellent offensive vision and anticipation. He had several good scoring chances, but then, as is his MO, disappeared for long stretches of the game.
On defence, the young cadre of defenders (Mailloux, Trudeau, Reinbacher and Engstrom) had a mixed game. Mailloux played a largely steady game where he was physical in his defensive zone and was effective in the offensive zone placing himself in a position to receive a pass and get his shot away. Mailloux’s was able to get his shot through to the net including one that hit the post. With a little bit of luck, Mailloux could have scored a couple of goals. My same complaints remain about Mailloux’s game: lack of acceleration that makes him vulnerable to the forecheck and poor defensive reads in both the neutral and defensive zones. The defensive pair of Mailloux and Trudeau allowed opposing forwards to split them on a couple of opportunities, forcing Fowler to make a difficult stop. Nothing that I saw of Mailloux in this game changed my opinion that he would get exploited at the NHL level. Trudeau had a non-descript game committing no major gaffs (other than allowing an opposing forward to split him and his defensive partner and one bad turnover in the offensive zone ) and was largely unnoticeable offensively in the game.
Reinbacher started the game strongly and was noticeable in both the offensive and defensive zones. Reinbacher showed good mobility supporting offensive rushes and closing gaps in the defensive zone and made a number of clever passes the created scoring opportunities and allowed Laval to exit their defensive zone. He did, however, allow, when playing with Trudeau, an opposing forward to split their defensive coverage. Reinbacher became largely unnoticeable as the game proceeded. Most importantly, he was able to take a heavy hit without showing any ill effects. Engstrom, who was mostly paired with Reinbacher, was not particularly effective in this game and was surprisingly beaten wide by opposing forwards on two occasions.
Fowler had another strong game. Though not overly tested until late in the third period when the game was largely over, Fowler showed the great skills he possesses including: good positioning; sound rebound control; excellent anticipation and a quiet approach in the crease. You can see that his teammates have high confidence in Fowler’s abilities. This kid will soon be a star in the NHL.
I will, as usual, limit my comments to only the players that can be regarded as prospects.
The best player on the ice was Florian Xhekaj who played his usual hard, physical game and made numerous smart plays that created clean breakouts and scoring chances. Xhekaj, continues to show increased mobility and excellent offensive anticipation. He’s even improved on faceoffs, winning more than he lost and was particularly effective on the penalty kill where his hockey sense coupled with his reach allowed him to break up multiple plays. If this kid can add a bit of strength and, that all so elusive half step of quickness, the younger Xhekaj will be a strong player at the NHL level. Maybe even as soon as next year.
Tuch had a fair game, showing good physicality and his speed both on the forecheck and the backcheck. But, Tuch still hasn’t shown the on ice presence and snap to his game (particularly offensively) that made this player such a promising prospect prior to the injury that kept him out for a couple of moths early this season. Davidson, while he played hard and scored Laval’s first goal with his NHL level shot, made a number of poor decisions in the both ends of the ice which resulted in lost scoring opportunities and turnovers.
Beck had his best game in over a month, once again playing on a line with Gignac and Roy. Beck showed his explosive speed that allowed him to create a couple of excellent scoring chances and be effective on the forecheck and defensively. Beck also made a number of clever plays in the defensive zone, small touch passes under pressure, that allowed Laval to exit their defensive zone cleanly. Farrell had a quiet game for him as he didn’t create the offensive chances that he had become such an important part of the team’s success over the past 40 or so games. Farrell did show spurts of quickness and played an integral role on Laval’s third goal that really was the clinching goal in this game.
Roy, like Tuch, had a fair game showing good strength on the puck, defensive responsibility and excellent offensive vision and anticipation. He had several good scoring chances, but then, as is his MO, disappeared for long stretches of the game.
On defence, the young cadre of defenders (Mailloux, Trudeau, Reinbacher and Engstrom) had a mixed game. Mailloux played a largely steady game where he was physical in his defensive zone and was effective in the offensive zone placing himself in a position to receive a pass and get his shot away. Mailloux’s was able to get his shot through to the net including one that hit the post. With a little bit of luck, Mailloux could have scored a couple of goals. My same complaints remain about Mailloux’s game: lack of acceleration that makes him vulnerable to the forecheck and poor defensive reads in both the neutral and defensive zones. The defensive pair of Mailloux and Trudeau allowed opposing forwards to split them on a couple of opportunities, forcing Fowler to make a difficult stop. Nothing that I saw of Mailloux in this game changed my opinion that he would get exploited at the NHL level. Trudeau had a non-descript game committing no major gaffs (other than allowing an opposing forward to split him and his defensive partner and one bad turnover in the offensive zone ) and was largely unnoticeable offensively in the game.
Reinbacher started the game strongly and was noticeable in both the offensive and defensive zones. Reinbacher showed good mobility supporting offensive rushes and closing gaps in the defensive zone and made a number of clever passes the created scoring opportunities and allowed Laval to exit their defensive zone. He did, however, allow, when playing with Trudeau, an opposing forward to split their defensive coverage. Reinbacher became largely unnoticeable as the game proceeded. Most importantly, he was able to take a heavy hit without showing any ill effects. Engstrom, who was mostly paired with Reinbacher, was not particularly effective in this game and was surprisingly beaten wide by opposing forwards on two occasions.
Fowler had another strong game. Though not overly tested until late in the third period when the game was largely over, Fowler showed the great skills he possesses including: good positioning; sound rebound control; excellent anticipation and a quiet approach in the crease. You can see that his teammates have high confidence in Fowler’s abilities. This kid will soon be a star in the NHL.
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Tim Wallach
Registered User
I remember when Jay McKee in Brantford moved him to C and I worried it’d expose him but it was completely the opposite. From the first game he looked so much better at C. A natural on draws with range and reach to dominate the middle of the ice. That is when he went from a C prospect to a B+ for me.
- Jun 24, 2012
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The AHL doesn’t keep TOI stats but we know that Xhekaj didn’t have as much time at centre simply on account of playing on the bottom 6.
Given the offensive potential he has shown in his limited TOI this season, would it not be a good idea to have him play the top 6 for more seasoning next season, in Laval, before he vyes for a bottom 6 role with the Habs?
Boss Man Hughes
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- Mar 15, 2022
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That is the explanation I cam up with other than staff changing teams and knowing what sort of player the GM favors. If you see the same 2 or 3 teams scouts several times at games where there is only 1 or 2 players worth watching you would assume some of those teams are very interested in at least one of those players.
For example it was widely reported that several teams would have taken Mailloux with their 2nd round pick so teams and media knew something there
And their are things like San Jose knew Ottawa favored Brian Kilrea players so they trade up 1 spot ahead of Ottawa to take... Logan Couture.
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Schooner Goon
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- Jun 23, 2006
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It has nothing to do with keeping lists confidential. Many GMs have mentioned that they always have a good idea of who's interested who, who's been watching who, who's been interviewing who. Yes sandbagging plays a role too but NHL teams lists are usually a lot closer to each other's lists than they are to public lists. It wouldn't be hard to know that many teams were interested in Florian. Why would Hughes who is very honest and sometimes too candid make this up?
Boss Man Hughes
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Some GM's (not Hughes) might make a story up about other teams interest in a player in order to defend picking that player as high as they did.
Schooner Goon
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True. However I don't think it's Hughes style. I think he takes pride regarding his integrity with this peers.
If Habs were the only NHL team interested in Florian that round, they would be deserving of huge bragging rights and accolades over the rest of the league.
montreal
Go Habs Go
I haven't liked the way some of the prospects have been handled but the results are there for Xhekaj despite being tied to the hip with Arseneau and Tuch for much of the season. Of course they kept winning so hard to change things too much outside of the PP lines but nothing really worked. Was glad they always used Xhekaj on the 2nd PP and on the PK though, was great to see.
Yup, a combo of both. But, without Price, they wouldn't have been drafting in mid-teens most years. But I get your point: During the Bergevin years the drafting was pretty putrid.
Redux91
I do Three bullets.
It's par of course for us Hab fans eh lol..
Out of nowhere we're talking about his "height" again because he's a measly 6"2 and not 6"3 like Carey was
Instead of talking about 2 playoff wins 0 loss, 1 shutout, 1.00 GAA .956%
Out of nowhere we're talking about his "height" again because he's a measly 6"2 and not 6"3 like Carey was
Instead of talking about 2 playoff wins 0 loss, 1 shutout, 1.00 GAA .956%
Habs
60% of the time I’m right every time
- Feb 28, 2002
- 21,696
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Wonder if Mailloux can make the jump at least he nasty when needed. I hope he makes the nhl goalies seem to like him
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