Hamilton Bulldogs & Wheeling Nailers 2013-2014 Part 3

[yoyo999]

Again, remarkable similarities doncha think?

I do.

But when David Desharnais is in that ideal situation he's a 45-60 point player at the NHL level. Louis Leblanc needs an ideal situation to be a bottom 6 player.

If Louis Leblanc produced like Desharnais did in the ECHL/AHL, he'd be in our top 6 right now and this wouldn't be a discussion.

He has not stepped up, nor does he have the talent to put up those kind of numbers.

 

[FisherKing]

I do.

But when David Desharnais is in that ideal situation he's a 45-60 point player at the NHL level. Louis Leblanc needs an ideal situation to be a bottom 6 player.

If Louis Leblanc produced like Desharnais did in the ECHL/AHL, he'd be in our top 6 right now and this wouldn't be a discussion.

He has not stepped up, nor does he have the talent to put up those kind of numbers.

I agree. In do feel though that he has some utility as a "shut down" winger or defensive specialist and could be a useful player in the NHL. Granted, that wasn't why he was drafted but I still think he could be a useful NHL player, whether with the Habs or some other team is another question. I guess I'm not quite ready to write him off just yet.

 

[FisherKing]

Give Leblanc a shot as the 13th forward next year.

He hasn't shown enough to be a regular at this point but he'd be a good reserve forward because you could fit him on any given line for a reduced amount of time.

Meanwhile he also gets a lot of training time and the team is buying time in order to see if he has a future with them and they avoid losing him on waivers for nothing.

It will be interesting to see if he will pass through waivers if it comes to that. Personally, I don't think he would. Some team will scoff him up imho. Of course, there are those here who I'm sure feel otherwise, and that's fine. As I say, it will be interesting to see what happens if it comes to that which certainly seems a possibility at the very least.

 

[yoyo999]

It will be interesting to see if he will pass through waivers if it comes to that. Personally, I don't think he would. Some team will scoff him up imho. Of course, there are those here who I'm sure feel otherwise, and that's fine. As I say, it will be interesting to see what happens if it comes to that which certainly seems a possibility at the very least.

He's an RFA Jul.1.

My prediction is he will not be tendered a qualifying offer and will be unrestricted.

 

[Souffle]

So then shouldn't Tim Tebow be int he NFL?

He won 2 national titles, a heisman trophy, dominated at every level, picked in the first round, even won a playoff game. He didn't look out of place......Why isn't he in the NFL?

Because in order for him to be successful teams would have to create a role for him that would highlight his strengths. Implying, he requires to be put in that once in a lifetime ideal situation where everything, mostly out of his control, comes together.

So effectively, Tim Tebow can't create his own success because his talent alone simply can't do that, regardless of where he is put. He's not worth the trouble and really doesn't have a place. Just because you give him the top receivers, will not make him automatically better or improve his throwing.

Louis Leblanc is the same. Playing him with better players will not make him better. Teams will not go out of their way to create a role for him and he needs to show he can be put in any situation and not have to rely on everything else coming together.
In the NHL, he's looked exactly the same as he has in the AHL. Mediocre, ineffective, bland, slow. He may have a bit more jump cause of the excitement of the NHL, but he's the same player.

I don't think that's a very good analogy. A QB is a key position. You can start only one of them, and your entire offence turns on him.

You dress 8 wingers every game and you can make all kinds of combinations with the 4 centres to play specific roles.

The other thing is that you have to pay for those 8 wingers. If you can get value out of one or several of them, that creates opportunities to spend on other parts of the roster. When talking about your bottom 6, there's a big difference between a league minimum 1 year contract and a 3 or 4 year deal at 2 million USD or so.

Anyway, if he was really useless garbage, then there would be nothing to argue about. But he's shown enough, I think, to be a good candidate for the type of approach that Blind Gardien was talking about. There's not a lot of risk to it.

 

[Blind Gardien]

So then shouldn't Tim Tebow be int he NFL?

I don't know who Tim Tebow is, so that analogy doesn't help me.

But...

Louis Leblanc is the same. Playing him with better players will not make him better. Teams will not go out of their way to create a role for him and he needs to show he can be put in any situation and not have to rely on everything else coming together.
In the NHL, he's looked exactly the same as he has in the AHL. Mediocre, ineffective, bland, slow. He may have a bit more jump cause of the excitement of the NHL, but he's the same player.

I think I specifically said there is no specific role created for Leblanc. Just a depth roster spot (still contingent on him at least looking like he belongs in the mix in camp... he can still blow the chance and get waived), where he gets cycled into a variety of roles as need arises. Sort of like Bournival this season.

Playing him with better players may simply help accentuate his talents. He works the corners and boards pretty well, and makes intelligent plays in the offensive zone, from what I've observed. He may find more success doing this if he's not playing with a Parros and Moen on his line. Or he may still not be up to the task. Who knows. It'd be worth a look at some point in the season if injuries opened up a spot, perhaps.

 

[HuGort]

Wills was on FAN690 today....a few of his comments.

- Beaulieu has been playing with a lot more confidence since coming back to the Bulldogs.

- All three of Beaulieu, Tinordi, Pateryn are future NHLers. For the season Pateryn been the best of the three, but in recent weeks Tinordi has been playing better than the others.

- In recent weeks, Tinordi has started to move the puck more. Even showed flashes of an offensive flare to his game.

- Pateryn is kind of a hybrid between the other two. Beaulieu is better offensively, while Tinordi is better defensively. Pateryn has found a scoring touch since turning pro. In college he scored 6 goals in 4 years, this year in Hamilton he has scored 9 goals.

- Andrighetto is a dynamic offenisve player. He is only 5'9 but build compact, low center of gravity. Showed maturity and confiderence right from the start of season. Played a bit with injuries which held him back a little but in last 2 weeks has put his game back together.

- Louis Leblanc says all the right things but sometimes he makes you wonder what is going on between the ears.

- Tokarski has been an all-star goalie this year, giving the Bulldogs a chance to win games they shouldn't have.

- Coach Lefebvre, has evolved a lot in his second year as head coach. He doesn't have the team practice as much, giving the team more rest. Instead when he does practice concentrates on certain aspects of game. On the advice of veteran players like St. Pierre.

 

[NewHabsEra*]

Wills was on FAN690 today....a few of his comments.

- Beaulieu has been playing with a lot more confidence since coming back to the Bulldogs.

- All three of Beaulieu, Tinordi, Pateryn are future NHLers. For the season Pateryn been the best of the three, but in recent weeks Tinordi has been playing better than the others.

- In recent weeks, Tinordi has started to move the puck more. Even showed flashes of an offensive flare to his game.

- Pateryn is kind of a hybrid between the other two. Beaulieu is better offensively, while Tinordi is better defensively. Pateryn has found a scoring touch since turning pro. In college he scored 6 goals in 4 years, this year in Hamilton he has scored 9 goals.

- Andrighetto is a dynamic offenisve player. He is only 5'9 but build compact, low center of gravity. Showed maturity and confiderence right from the start of season. Played a bit with injuries which held him back a little but in last 2 weeks has put his game back together.

- Louis Leblanc says all the right things but sometimes he makes you wonder what is going on between the ears.

- Tokarski has been an all-star goalie this year, giving the Bulldogs a chance to win games they shouldn't have.

- Coach Lefebvre, has evolved a lot in his second year as head coach. He doesn't have the team practice as much, giving the team more rest. Instead when he does practice concentrates on certain aspects of game. On the advice of veteran players like St. Pierre.

Thats what Ive been saying too.. I like all 3 alot.. It will give Bergevin some very good options..

doesnt look very high on Leblanc either..

 

[Fazkovsky]

PAteryn looks like a solid future bottom pairing D. 9 Goals is impressive.

Will watch the dogs next friday at bell center, will try to write a nice report after.

 

[QuebecPride]

Wills was on FAN690 today....a few of his comments.

- Beaulieu has been playing with a lot more confidence since coming back to the Bulldogs.

- All three of Beaulieu, Tinordi, Pateryn are future NHLers. For the season Pateryn been the best of the three, but in recent weeks Tinordi has been playing better than the others.

- In recent weeks, Tinordi has started to move the puck more. Even showed flashes of an offensive flare to his game.

- Pateryn is kind of a hybrid between the other two. Beaulieu is better offensively, while Tinordi is better defensively. Pateryn has found a scoring touch since turning pro. In college he scored 6 goals in 4 years, this year in Hamilton he has scored 9 goals.

- Andrighetto is a dynamic offenisve player. He is only 5'9 but build compact, low center of gravity. Showed maturity and confiderence right from the start of season. Played a bit with injuries which held him back a little but in last 2 weeks has put his game back together.

- Louis Leblanc says all the right things but sometimes he makes you wonder what is going on between the ears.

- Tokarski has been an all-star goalie this year, giving the Bulldogs a chance to win games they shouldn't have.

- Coach Lefebvre, has evolved a lot in his second year as head coach. He doesn't have the team practice as much, giving the team more rest. Instead when he does practice concentrates on certain aspects of game. On the advice of veteran players like St. Pierre.

Interesting, thanks.

 

[habitue*]

Wills was on FAN690 today....a few of his comments.

- Beaulieu has been playing with a lot more confidence since coming back to the Bulldogs.

- All three of Beaulieu, Tinordi, Pateryn are future NHLers. For the season Pateryn been the best of the three, but in recent weeks Tinordi has been playing better than the others.

- In recent weeks, Tinordi has started to move the puck more. Even showed flashes of an offensive flare to his game.

- Pateryn is kind of a hybrid between the other two. Beaulieu is better offensively, while Tinordi is better defensively. Pateryn has found a scoring touch since turning pro. In college he scored 6 goals in 4 years, this year in Hamilton he has scored 9 goals.

- Andrighetto is a dynamic offenisve player. He is only 5'9 but build compact, low center of gravity. Showed maturity and confiderence right from the start of season. Played a bit with injuries which held him back a little but in last 2 weeks has put his game back together.

- Louis Leblanc says all the right things but sometimes he makes you wonder what is going on between the ears.

- Tokarski has been an all-star goalie this year, giving the Bulldogs a chance to win games they shouldn't have.

- Coach Lefebvre, has evolved a lot in his second year as head coach. He doesn't have the team practice as much, giving the team more rest. Instead when he does practice concentrates on certain aspects of game. On the advice of veteran players like St. Pierre.

For these three reasons, it made Diaz (a pending UFA) available to stenghten our size/forward problem.

With Budaj still aboard for one more season, I am afraid that the Habs gonna loose Tokarski on the market next July. Unless they can manage to trade him for another asset.

 

[Luigi Habs]

With Beaulieu, Tinordi, Pateryn and Nygren all showing being very close from the NHL, I wonder what decision management will take regarding them. I don't think they'll integrate the 4 of them in the lineup in the next couple of years.

 

[habitue*]

With Beaulieu, Tinordi, Pateryn and Nygren all showing being very close from the NHL, I wonder what decision management will take regarding them. I don't think they'll integrate the 4 of them in the lineup in the next couple of years.

If Markov, Murray, Bouillon, are all gone (Drewiske is expandable and Gorges is tradable), there is plenty of space for at least three of them. Only PK and Emelin are fixture on this blue line. You never have enough NHL caliber d-men.

 

[HuGort]

For these three reasons, it made Diaz (a pending UFA) available to stenghten our size/forward problem.

With Budaj still aboard for one more season, I am afraid that the Habs gonna loose Tokarski on the market next July. Unless they can manage to trade him for another asset.

Tokarski makes good depth, in case Price or Budai goes down to injury. Also be good netminder partner with Fucale next year. But, yeah chance we lose him next summer

 

[Luigi Habs]

Tokarski makes good depth, in case Price or Budai goes down to injury. Also be good netminder partner with Fucale next year. But, yeah chance we lose him next summer

Is Fucale going to Hamilton next season or the season after? I think he should spend another season in junior.

 

[habsprospects]

Is Fucale going to Hamilton next season or the season after? I think he should spend another season in junior.

Fucale is not eligible to start in the AHL next season.

 

[HuGort]

Fucale is not eligible to start in the AHL next season.

I thought 19 year olds could play in AHL? Vail played there last year at 19. What they change rules or something? Fucale don't have much left to prove in Q, won Memorial Cup, holds record for most wins in junior. Last game broke JS Giguere Mooseheads record for most games played by goalie. Time to raise his level of competition.

 

[Ezpz]

Vail played on a PTO after his junior season was done.

 

[Treb]

I thought 19 year olds could play in AHL? Vail played there last year at 19. What they change rules or something? Fucale don't have much left to prove in Q, won Memorial Cup, holds record for most wins in junior. Last game broke JS Giguere Mooseheads record for most games played by goalie. Time to raise his level of competition.

He played after his junior season ended, but he had to go back the season after because he was too young. You need to be 20 to be a full-time AHLer if you were drafted from the CHL.

 

[S Bah]

The Texas Stars are in Steeltown bringing their high octane offence 1st (AHL-184g) and a stingy defence all rolled into one. With Jack Campbell (goalie WJHC gold) Travis Morin (Top scorer AHL) and mammoth defender Jamie Oleksiak (6'7" - 250 lbs.) add to them three more Top Ten scorers and that doesn't include Brett Ritchie who has scored 29 pts in 44 games. The Stars have two complete lines that have scored more pts than Hamilton's leading scorer Sven Andrighetto (27pts in 36 games)

Tokarski and the Bulldogs better be playing top notch defensively today or they will get bombed by the much bigger Stars of Texas. Gametime is 7:00 EST - 4:00 PST.

 

[donghabs98]

Will there be any streams for the game? I need my Saturday Night hockey somehow!

 

[S Bah]

He played after his junior season ended, but he had to go back the season after because he was too young. You need to be 20 to be a full-time AHLer if you were drafted from the CHL.

The player needs only turn 20 before New Years day, to play in the AHL after being a CHL player. So in fact they can play at 19 during the year he turns 20 before Jan 1st., if that's clear as mud. Most juniors have a hard time playing at the AHL level at 19, sometimes it can ruin their confidence and be a setback in their careers. It all depends upon the individual's character, some players mature faster than others or can deal with adult living & a professional career at the same time and excel under the pressures.

The prime reasons the Habs look for these types of people when drafting their prospects. Character doesn't mean fighting abilities like so many here are under the misconception of believing. Leadership means those players that are well grounded, are mature, can help others in dealing with the pressures, and excel while showing others how too cope and succeed.

They are usually considered overachievers by many, but are just passionate about their career objectives and how best to accomplish these goals. Just common sense to choose this type of person, as they are more likely to succeed even if they have less talent in some cases. Development of these types of individuals, will prove far more successful than those with maturity issues, no matter how much talent they are blessed with, in most cases desire and passion will overcome deficits, to reach their career goals.

 

[Markowicz]

For these three reasons, it made Diaz (a pending UFA) available to stenghten our size/forward problem.

With Budaj still aboard for one more season, I am afraid that the Habs gonna loose Tokarski on the market next July. Unless they can manage to trade him for another asset.

I wouldn't be entirely surprised if either Leblanc or Tokarski are traded at the deadline. One is kind of going nowhere in his career but still has value because he was a 1st rounder, and the other is having an exceptional year that probably has his value at all-time high. The deadline could be interesting for the Habs.

 

[HCH]

I wouldn't be entirely surprised if either Leblanc or Tokarski are traded at the deadline. One is kind of going nowhere in his career but still has value because he was a 1st rounder, and the other is having an exceptional year that probably has his value at all-time high. The deadline could be interesting for the Habs.

Usually deadline trades are made by teams trying to find that last piece missing in the puzzle that will get them the Cup. I can't see any team thinking that Leblanc or Tokarski is that piece.

From Montreal's point of view, they have more than one piece missing in the puzzle so I doubt they will go looking for that one player who will cost them prospects and draft picks. And even if they did, why would a team on the other side of a trade give up a solid player for a couple impending free agents.

I agree that the deadline will be interesting but for me it will revolve around what might happen to Gionta, Briere and Murray (and a couple of others) than it will around any of the younger talent.

 

[NewHabsEra*]

I wouldn't be entirely surprised if either Leblanc or Tokarski are traded at the deadline. One is kind of going nowhere in his career but still has value because he was a 1st rounder, and the other is having an exceptional year that probably has his value at all-time high. The deadline could be interesting for the Habs.

I highly doubt Louis Leblanc still has any trade value, maybe a fourth or fifth round pick if we are lucky..