GDT Toronto at Rocket 7pm 6 Dec

[MarkovsKnee]

Beck has had two iffy games this season as a rookie. Both games he had Farrell and Kidney on his wings.
5 games in a row with points. The lad is wicked smart someone said he reminded him of Suzuki he isn't far off.
I said it earlier in his thread Beck is rock solid consistent and the one thing that has impressed me most was he is rarely blanked.
He showed that with Saginaw. I'd be surprised if there is a Rocket who has points in more games.
He's slowly but surely showing management he's a top forward on Laval.

I wouldn't mind seeing him as 2C. Give him a chance with Laine & Slafkovsky. Hopefully that happens after Christmas. They could use a defensively conscience center with a good shot.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

I wouldn't mind seeing him as 2C. Give him a chance with Laine & Slafkovsky. Hopefully that happens after Christmas. They could use a defensively conscience center with a good shot.

How things have changed.

Beck has gone from being pigeon-holed as a 4th line, defensive oriented center ( a possible replacement for Evans) to being a 2nd line center. I suspect that ultimately he falls somewhere in between. I have followed this kid's progress closely over the years and, as some people here who have read my posts know, I always thought the idea that Beck was somewhat limited in his offensive capabilities was way off the mark. When a player can skate like Beck, shoot like him and possess his offensive vision, you have something far more than just a potential forth line center.

The good news is that there is still more growth potential in this young player. He'll get stronger and consequently faster. We have yet to see the best that this kid can offer. I think ultimately he slots into being a very good 3rd line center (after Suzuki and Hage) on an ever improving and deepening Montreal roster .

As Frank liked to sing: The best is yet to come.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

Toronto wins in shoot out. Pare with the shoot out winner of course.

Only Roy scored for Laval. Davidson, ABB & RHP all missed.

Steeves also scored for Toronto.

Hughes played well.

In my opinion I thought Laval played a largely uneven game. They seemed flat in the first period and aside from some spurts of energy were controlled by what looked like a larger and at times faster Toronto team. There were some positives however and this is my assessment of the play of our prospects.

Beck, was again, one of our best prospects against Toronto. While not as noticeable and effective as he has been in other games, Beck did display the traits that make him one of Montreal's best prospects: great speed, high compete level, good vision, excellent passing and anticipation and his high NHL level shot. Beck's goal said it all about what Beck will bring to the Canadiens: explosive skating, good anticipation and that great shot that he has now displayed in two straight games, including the the overtime goal the game before. Beck's skill is a cut above the average player in the AHL and its only a matter a time before he's playing an important role for the Canadiens. It will also help him immensely to play with superior players who are as fast as him and can process the game as quickly.

Roy had a better game. He was more involved. he had a net presence that led to his scoring an opportunistic goal. He was more noticeable. He competed harder. While he has NHL level hand skills, offensive vision and shooting ability, his obvious skating limitations will blunt his chances at success at the next level.

Davidson had a poor game. His lack of quickness was really exposed when twice under pressure he turned over the puck to opposing forwards resulting in chances against. Davidson has many good traits that I have commented on before, but he'll have to get quicker to make any impact at the next level.

Farrell, despite a few instances where he flashed some quickness in both carrying the puck and on the forecheck, was largely invisible. On several occasions, Farrell reacted to late in getting the puck to Beck when the latter was starting to break into open ice. He was also a huge liability in the defensive zone where he was stripped of the puck that in turn directly led to chances against. Unless there is a significant improvement in Farrell's play with a resulting increase in production, I'm afraid that when Mesar and Gignac return to the line-up, Farrell's tenure with Laval will be coming to an end.

Tuch had a slow start in his return to the line up but by the second period Tuch started to show the high end skating that made him such an effective player before his injury. I suspect over the next few games Tuch will re-emerge as Laval's most NHL ready player.

While Florian Xhekaj had a modest game, he continued to display the good straight forward skating both in pursuit of the puck and on the rush that is one of this young player's greatest assets. Xhekaj's size, reached and net presence allowed him to have a few good scoring chances but he will have to get stronger and quicker before he will realistically be able to challenge for a place on an NHL roster. But the basic tools are there for this young player to have success at the next level.

Like many of Laval's forwards, Kidney had a quiet, if not invisible first period. He was much more noticeable and involved as the game proceeded including showing good speed on the forecheck showing surprising strength along the boards and nearly converting an excellent set up by Engstrom. Kidney's game is growing incrementally and I suspect that in the near future you will see him convert on the chances he creates with his quickness and anticipation. The kid's going to be a player.

Mailloux had a poor game with his positive plays being largely outweighed by his poor ones. In the positive, Mailloux made a number of long stretch passes that created offensive opportunities for Laval; he continued to show his vision in the offensive zone and made one rush that gave one confidence that Mailloux may well have the mobility to be an effective and consistent transporter of the puck. In the negative, Mailloux was too slow in his decision making when on the power play; had a terrible shift when playing 4 on 4 where he was stripped of the puck and he allowed a Toronto penalty killer to get behind him which led to a break-a-way and a shorthanded goal. While he was steady and adequate in most situations when defending in the defensive zone, Mailloux has to get better and faster to have any chance of being the impactful defenceman many here have hoped (presumed) he would be for the Canadiens.

Overall, Engstrom had a good and continues to show the mobility and defensive acumen that makes him, at least as of now, Montreal's best defensive prospect. Engstrom used his superior mobility to skate the puck out of the Laval Zone; cut off the ice to attacking forwards and to walk the line to gain time and space to keep plays alive at the offensive blue. Engstrom was active in actively pinching in all zones of the ice and on one occasion was able to step up and cut off a high flip Toronto clearing efforts ( he looked like a free safety) and quickly start a transition play that allowed Kidney a clear route to the Toronto net. Despite the occasional bad turnovers by Enstrom when he was trying to do too much, he is, and remains, the Laval defenceman that is the most NHL ready.

Trudeau played another steady game where he continued to flash his good skating and intense physicality, including throwing one of the best open ice hits of the season in the first period. It was clean but devastating. Trudeau is showing more confidence both defensively and in supporting the offence. He made numerous strong plays at the offensive blueline displaying an offensive flair that may well earn him a ticket to the NHL.