Prospect Info: Gianni Fairbrother a.k.a. Giovanni Fairbrudder

[ChesterNimitz]

Modern day version of Josh Gorges?

Fairbrother impressed me the first time I saw tapes of him in action. He has a snap to his game (call it a presence on the ice) that attracts one's eye to his game. I think we 'stole' this kid and by the end of the year he will be among the upper echelons of all our prospects (whether forward or defenceman). Some times you simply get lucky in the very uncertain science of player development. Some kids skyrocket and some plateau.

 

[JAVO16]

What's his ceiling/floor in comparison with Cale Fleury ? Any reason to be more excited than that ?

 

[Stive Morgan]

What's his ceiling/floor in comparison with Cale Fleury ? Any reason to be more excited than that ?

Way better than Fleury. I'm hoping Fairbrother will be what Juulsen would've been if not for the injury trouble, a physical D who can also skate well and move the puck.

 

[Vachon23]

I like what I saw with Fairbrother against the Leafs. He's clever and good in the intangible areas. Reminds me of a Josh Gorges type. Gets his body in the way and has good awareness of what to do with the puck when he gets it.

More physical then Gorges

 

[KevSkillz4]

Fairbrother is good at defensive zone?

I'm just really watched his passing ability, physical ability and mobility. (Got great shot too).

 

[KevSkillz4]

More physical then Gorges

If he become a more physical Gorges, that would pretty huge for the future of Habs!

 

[Gillings]

Fairbrother impressed me the first time I saw tapes of him in action. He has a snap to his game (call it a presence on the ice) that attracts one's eye to his game. I think we 'stole' this kid and by the end of the year he will be among the upper echelons of all our prospects (whether forward or defenceman). Some times you simply get lucky in the very uncertain science of player development. Some kids skyrocket and some plateau.

I dont know how I feel about the Upper echelons of our prospects take but I was impressed with not only his usage but his consistency that led to his usage especially in game 1 of preseason..

 

[ChesterNimitz]

I dont know how I feel about the Upper echelons of our prospects take but I was impressed with not only his usage but his consistency that led to his usage especially in game 1 of preseason..

This kid plays with a high motor/intensity level. Listen, he's still a year or two away from the NHL, but he has all tools and swagger you need to reach and succeed in the NHL. Bergevin has screwed up a lot of personnel decisions, but with Fairbrother, he invested a mid round pick in a player who could out perform many of the players taken before him. Blind luck? Or inspired vision? There's a reason I call him the Idiot Savant.

 

[smcgreg]

This kid plays with a high motor/intensity level. Listen, he's still a year or two away from the NHL, but he has all tools and swagger you need to reach and succeed in the NHL. Bergevin has screwed up a lot of personnel decisions, but with Fairbrother, he invested a mid round pick in a player who could out perform many of the players taken before him. Blind luck? Or inspired vision? There's a reason I call him the Idiot Savant.

Well, isn't that the case with most mid-round picks? Most don't make it even in the higher rounds, so, those mid round picks who do, by definition "out perform many of the players taken before them".... Or maybe I misunderstood. Lots of GMs (most?) have picked some mid rounders that made it. So, they're all "idiot savants" to some extent, I guess.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

Well, isn't that the case with most mid-round picks? Most don't make it even in the higher rounds, so, those mid round picks who do, by definition "out perform many of the players taken before them".... Or maybe I misunderstood. Lots of GMs (most?) have picked some mid rounders that made it. So, they're all "idiot savants" to some extent, I guess.

I think most here have no problem with the "Idiot" part of this honorific. It's the "Savant" part that is still up in the air.

 

[montreal]

What's his ceiling/floor in comparison with Cale Fleury ? Any reason to be more excited than that ?

He's smarter and better defensively then Fleury, both like the physical game, Fleury looked like he would have more offense but then they screwed up his development in his 2nd pro season by putting him in the NHL for 41 games when he very clearly was not ready imo.

I don't know why they have him at RD though as I can't say I can recall ever seeing him at RD before.

 

[Deebs]

A couple of years in Laval and he might become a 3rd pairing guy. Nothing wrong with that

 

[smcgreg]

I think most here have no problem with the "Idiot" part of this honorific. It's the "Savant" part that is still up in the air.

I've been anti MB for quite a while. Alzer is the gift that keeps on giving, as will be JD if he doesn't become a consistent asset this year. Of course, sticking with MT as long as he did is another kick to the nutz of the fanbase. BUT..... I've gone on record liking most of the things he's done the past two years. So, I'm not so sure I'd call him either at this point. There are only a couple GMs I'd call savants and he doesn't cut it there. But I also think he's learned quite a lot and I'd even go so far as to say he's almost competent.. or at least getting there.

 

[KevSkillz4]

He is not Josh Gorges for sure. But he can be a pretty good 3rd pairing defenseman. Really liked his mobility, passing ability. Great choice at 3rd round.

 

[Archijerej]

He's smarter and better defensively then Fleury, both like the physical game, Fleury looked like he would have more offense but then they screwed up his development in his 2nd pro season by putting him in the NHL for 41 games when he very clearly was not ready imo.

I don't know why they have him at RD though as I can't say I can recall ever seeing him at RD before.

Ducharme gave a pretty interesting explanation as to why they tried him at RD, but didn't like Romanov and Norlinder there. It was along the lines of Fairbrother making smart and simple plays with the puck as opposed to those two (if you read between the lines).

Will be interesting to see if the experiment continues in Laval. They have enough defencemen able to play on the right side, especially if Niku is sent down.

Pretty excited to watch him in Laval this season. The kid has smarts and composure. We might have something here.

 

[montreal]

Ducharme gave a pretty interesting explanation as to why they tried him at RD, but didn't like Romanov and Norlinder there. It was along the lines of Fairbrother making smart and simple plays with the puck as opposed to those two (if you read between the lines).

Will be interesting to see if the experiment continues in Laval. They have enough defencemen able to play on the right side, especially if Niku is sent down.

Pretty excited to watch him in Laval this season. The kid has smarts and composure. We might have something here.

it's odd as I read that he had never played RD before. I was a RD that I didn't care if I played LD or RD, so I know for some they can hack it and even like being on the off side, others can't for whatever season. I just found it an odd thing to do that you take a kid that's already missed so much key development time to injury in the WHL and now that he's a 1st year pro you put him on his off-side for the 1st time.

But 100% there is something there, I haven't seen a ton of him but have always liked what i've seen. Just that with so many D prospects he gets overlooked since he's not flashy.

I can't say I'm impressed with Ducharme so far, I'm starting to think they should look to trade Norlinder. I fear after the cup run they will want that big stay at home type blue so might as well get something for him now then try to make him a better person as he will drive coaches nuts at times. If they couldn't develop KK, I shudder to think of this group trying to turn Norlinder into Hal Gill.

 

[Archijerej]

I just found it an odd thing to do that you take a kid that's already missed so much key development time to injury in the WHL and now that he's a 1st year pro you put him on his off-side for the 1st time.

I don't mind it as an experiment. I don't think they are going to force it if it doesn't work. With so many LHD prospects it might actually be beneficial both to the team and to Fairbrother's future if he's going to be versatile in this way.

I can't say I'm impressed with Ducharme so far

I'm the opposite. I like the vibes I'm getting from him and I love how air-tight our team defence was in the playoffs.

I'm starting to think they should look to trade Norlinder. I fear after the cup run they will want that big stay at home type blue so might as well get something for him now then try to make him a better person as he will drive coaches nuts at times. If they couldn't develop KK, I shudder to think of this group trying to turn Norlinder into Hal Gill.

This seems like an overreaction, so I should probably clarify. The unwillingness to play Norlinder on the right side was not a knock on him. In fact, they said he would be more free to play his game when deployed on the left.

I think they are very concious that they need a diversified skills on the blueline. The way they drafted the last several years is telling. Norlinder getting a chance at camp, Wideman, Niku, Gustafsson, the interest they had in DeAngelo, all this point out to an attempt to address a perceived weakness, albeit within the current cap constraints.

 

[montreal]

I don't mind it as an experiment. I don't think they are going to force it if it doesn't work. With so many LHD prospects it might actually be beneficial both to the team and to Fairbrother's future if he's going to be versatile in this way.



I'm the opposite. I like the vibes I'm getting from him and I love how air-tight our team defence was in the playoffs.



This seems like an overreaction, so I should probably clarify. The unwillingness to play Norlinder on the right side was not a knock on him. In fact, they said he would be more free to play his game when deployed on the left.

I think they are very concious that they need a diversified skills on the blueline. The way they drafted the last several years is telling. Norlinder getting a chance at camp, Wideman, Niku, Gustafsson, the interest they had in DeAngelo, all this point out to an attempt to address a perceived weakness, albeit within the current cap constraints.

It could work out since RD is now an issue with Weber's status in the air and Brook missing so much time with a major injury when the waivers issue will be there next camp. I'm just not a fan of doing this to a first year pro.

I don't like how he's handled the roster. Caufield sits for 2 games in the playoffs, Romanov should have gotten more games, and the KK thing was f***ed imo.

Well you have what MB is after but how Dom uses them. We'll see how things go this year, big test for him.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

This D prospect pool is shaping up to be big, mobile and tough to play against.

Guhle Mailloux
Romanov barron
Xhekaj/Harris norlinder

Guhle at the top of the list below, plus a surprise appearance by another habs prospect:

Fairbrother will have a bigger impact than several of the usual suspects you have listed.

 

[Vachon23]

Fairbrother will have a bigger impact than several of the usual suspects you have listed.

He will need to stay healthy

 

[ChesterNimitz]

He will need to stay healthy

You could say that about almost every player. Fairbrother passes the 'eye-test' much more so than many of our other supposed prospects. You notice him when he plays. I think ultimately, he easily slots into our second set of defencemen. A more physical Josh Gorges style of player, who will give us more offence than Gorges. Timmins had his misses, but Fairbrother, taken where he was, was at least a double. And who knows, maybe more.

 

[montreal]

He will need to stay healthy

and play a lot better. Good physical game but defensive game struggled this year. Granted injuries have been a problem since we drafted him but I expected a good bit better defense from him

 

[Vachon23]

You could say that about almost every player. Fairbrother passes the 'eye-test' much more so than many of our other supposed prospects. You notice him when he plays. I think ultimately, he easily slots into our second set of defencemen. A more physical Josh Gorges style of player, who will give us more offence than Gorges. Timmins had his misses, but Fairbrother, taken where he was, was at least a double. And who knows, maybe more.

Don't get me wrong, I like the player how he play with an edge but injuries are a problem since we draft him and his defensive game need to be improved. Don't see him produce offensively either so he will need time.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

Don't get me wrong, I like the player how he play with an edge but injuries are a problem since we draft him and his defensive game need to be improved. Don't see him produce offensively either so he will need time.

Fairbrother's role will not be to produce offence. You will have Mailloux and Barron for that. Fairbrother plays with a snap to his game. He closes with purpose and has the skating and balance to take away the time and space offensive players need and like. Exactly what you need on your second paring. In two years, this team could be quite interesting. With a competent management team in place, a boatload of surplus draft choices, the future hasn't looked this promising since 1984, when I went to see a Montreal exhibition game and saw Lemieux, Roy, Chelios, Richer, Momesso, McPhee, Skrudland, Keene, Corson, Naslund, etc. skate against a powerhouse Oiler team. We lost, but the skill that our young players displayed showed the promise of the future. And by 1986, we won a Cup.

 

[Tyson]

Fairbrother will have a bigger impact than several of the usual suspects you have listed.

If we can get him healthy. I agree he has upside