Nova_Scotia_Vees
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- Jun 1, 2004
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Prospect Info: Sean Farrell, C/LW, 124th Overall
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SlafySZN
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- May 21, 2022
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I wanna see him play with Dach so bad. I hope it’ll happen.
Skip Bayless
The Skip Bayless Show
- Aug 28, 2014
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If Dach is the next Bobby Smith for us, hopefully Farrell can be the next Mats Naslund!
SlafySZN
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JianYang
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- Sep 29, 2017
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Habs are still in the talent acquisition phase. The main priority right now should be to accumulate and develop as many quality talents as possible.
If there happens to be too many small guys at the end of this stage, then so be it. If the Habs have been successful in accumulating talent, they can leverage that in trades to round out their roster.
Asset accumulation takes first priority. Then we can worry about how the assets are managed down the road.
JianYang
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- Sep 29, 2017
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And most importantly (as I mentioned early in the year), this is his first 82 game season. I always think this is an underrated factor.
We saw how good he was early on, but figuring out how to manage an 82 game grind is something completely foreign to him, let alone playing against men.
You just gotta see if he can figure it out. I think he can.
I suspect Harris, a smart guy, expects more than that role for himself in the future (and the matching, larger contract that goes with that).
If he gets blocked there on the depth chart next season, it's one thing, because it can still be considered a development year and a case can definitely be made for a hierarchy of Guhle - Matheson - Xhekaj for the moment, but, if the next season, with the arrival of Hutson on the left side, to further add to the congestion at that position, I can't imagine Harris not asking for a trade!
In fact, looking at the depth on LD in Montreal, I can't imagine Struble signing with the Habs instead of offering his services as an UFA after his 4th year of university?
The best option is packaging someone of Matheson, Harris or Xhekaj from the left side, with another asset (Anderson, Dvorak, Beck, even, maybe) to go get a stud on RD that still fits the demographics of our young core.
I just don't see a future for Harris, either on the left side, or, as per our needs for something better there, on the right side, his off side, even if he does have prior experience playing there.
In two years, Barron will have picked up experience at the NHL level and should have at least solidified his role as a 3rd pairing, puck-moving, RHD. Mailloux should be looking to mark his territory as a top-4 RHD, providing the potential for the Habs to have a physical, offensive D with a bit of an edge to his game. That's two of three locked in on the right side and, TBH, I think Mailloux would be better served in a 2nd pairing role and I'd want better than both Barron or Harris (on his off side) for a first pairing role on the right side.
Numbers game. Like Harris and his potential to be an effective 2nd pairing D that doesn't wow you, but that does the job while eating lots of minutes.
However, I believe there are too many better options already in Montreal, or pushing up through the system for Harris to have a future to his liking with the Montreal Canadiens.
And, I haven't even mentioned Engstrom, another LHD with lots of upside, already in the Habs' system...
I agree that it's about accumulating as much talent as possible at the moment, but I still don't see a huge future for multiple midgets on this roster, whatever their talent level. Management will keep the best and move the rest, as they say.
Hopefully, they get parlayed into equal talent where we need it more?
JianYang
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- Sep 29, 2017
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It doesn't even need to be "equal talent". The trades just need to be something that make sense for both clubs involved.
Habs main priority when they get to that stage is to find trades that make the team better in the present, whereas the main priority now is how to make it better for the future.
So why say that it doesn't have to be equal (or better) talent.
We sure as hell won't be making the team better for the future by trying away players in return for lesser talent??????????????
Did I misunderstand what you mean? Did you misunderstand what I meant? Did you say exactly what I think you meant and it doesn't make sense?
JianYang
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- Sep 29, 2017
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Generally, working on getting better for the future requires trading current players for future draft picks and/or prospects. Some will hit, some will miss, but that's what I mean about getting better for the future.
And it runs vice versa when you are good in the present, and trying to round out your team. You are more inclined to trade those picks and prospects (which hopefully you did a good job of stocking while building up to this moment) , to get the peices that can help you take a cup run in the present. You may pay a steep price, but that's the cost of doing business when the cup window creeks open. Some could be present day rentals, but others will be guys you trade for who address a need, and become more permanent fixtures on the club.
I'll give a classic example. Dallas trades Iginla to the flames in exchange for nieuwendyck.
Dallas gets their missing center behind modano, and become an elite contender winning a cup and making 2 finals in that era.
Iginla graduates from being a strong prospect, to a hall of fame career in Calgary.
Did Dallas get equal talent? I would argue no in retrospect. But would Dallas do that trade again if they could go back in time? I'd argue yes, because it met their ultimate objective.
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Gillings
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- Jan 19, 2013
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Harris isn’t a top 4 Dman. Sure he can fill it but he’s a top 6 at best. Overhyped.
JadedRandom
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- Aug 14, 2008
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At this moment, you're right. Harris isn't top-4 D material.
But the nice thing with prospects and young players is that they can still improve. You watch them play, they improve before your eyes as rookies, and if they look the part of true NHLers after 30-40 games, then you keep playing them, giving them opportunity in the hopes that your rookies show continuous progress.
Generally it takes about 200/250 NHL games before you can start really making definitive arguments about a young defenseman's career going forward. Until then you can see clues here and there as to what a young D will eventually become, but those are still incomplete, inconclusive given the lack of sample size.
And Harris was overhyped by/for whom? No one expected him to be a savior, or star player from the get-go, so I genuinely don't understand where you're coming from on this front.
The only angle which might be viable on this is us Habs fans' enthusiasm concerning our own prospects, and in that sense, EVERYBODY gets a tad overhyped. It's just the nature of the game and fandom in general. So, again, while your statement might be true in a wide, at-large kind of way, it also doesn't hold much (or any really) sway when it comes to Harris in particular.
Then you add in the fact that Harris has showed a lot of quality play thus far for a rookie, though he has had some issues handling NHL physicality and clearing the net/breaking the cycle that I will readily admit, and it puts the final nail in the coffin of your statement.
Here are some (small-ish players just like Harris) examples of growth leading to good/great careers in the NHL, taken amongst MANY potential recent-ish outcomes to choose from;
1) Brian Rafalski didn't look like a potential NHLer until the 1996/1997 season in Liiga, at 23 years of age. While he only made it to the NHL at 26 years of age and it took him half a season or so to earn top-4 icetime, he was ready, overripe and in his prime, with more than three seasons of pro, Liiga play (a time where it also was a higher level of competition than today) under his belt at that time in 1999-2000.
2) Ryan Ellis looked like a stretch to ever be able to play competent 5-on-5 defense until he was 23, in his third season with Nashville in '13-14. He improved his positioning, learned to defend the cycle better, as well as got stronger over the years. And this constant progression eventually saw him become a good top-4 defenseman for Nashville.
3) Matt Grzelcyk had to improve in various facets until he was 25 before getting the opportunity to play top-4 defense for Boston. He earned his chops through years of performing when it matters and improving in key facets including strength and defensive reads.
4) Nate Schmidt had to improve his defense and his decision-making with the puck before finally getting top-4 minutes and succeeding in his third year in the NHL with Washington, at 24.
Now, I'm not saying Harris will for sure, 100%, also dramatically improve and become a true top-4 guy for us like those guys became (and more in Rafalski's case). But we should still exercise patience when it comes to our young guys, and only move defensemen if we can fill-out areas of weakness elsewhere in our roster/prospect pipeline.
The last thing we want is to have another Eric Desjardins on our hands.
And Lane Hutson won't be ready next year, try 2024/2025 at the earliest, so we've got time still. Same thing for Mailloux, his defense needs AHL conditioning/training in a bad way (unless he improves like crazy in the summer).
So yeah, keep Harris unless we get an offer we can't/that would be stupid to refuse.
Oh, and as far as Farrell goes, you know, the one whom we really should be discussing here instead of Harris, I've loved his improved combativity along the boards this year, and the increased quickness with which he makes decisions in the offensive zone (also including how directly he now attacks the net on pass/offensive attempts).
Those are the two areas where I think he's improved the most this year (improved in every facet really, but those are the highlights of his season for me), and it could mean the difference between a middle-6 type of career in the NHL (ala Kerfoot), and one where he ends up being a top-6 option at wing for us.
Anyways, rant over. Cheers, and have a good day.
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Habs Halifax
Loyal Habs Fan
I've been hard on Harris as a undersized D man but he keeps making me take notice. Kid can play and he is smart. I'm going to hold back on where I think he tops out at. It's early and I think the key is what partner he fits best with.
Adam Michaels
Registered User
The earliest Farrell will likely be available to be signed is March 14th.
Harvard has 6 more regular season games. The last one is on February 25. After that, the ECAC Tournament starts on the weekend of March 4th-6th.
However, the Top-4 teams in the standings get a bye to the second round. Harvard currently sit in 2nd place and they're 10 points ahead of the 5th placed team. So no chance of them falling out of a Top-4 spot unless they completely shit the bed in their remaining games.
The second round of the ECAC Tournament takes place the weekend of March 11th-13th. So if Harvard is upset in their Best-of-3 series that weekend, they'll be eliminated, and Farrell will be available to be signed.
It will be unlikely he'll be available since Harvard is one of the best teams of the conference. However, it wouldn't be the first time a team expected to go far is upset.
Last year, Harvard made it to the NCAA Tournament and lost in the 1st round to Minnesota State.
Harvard has 6 more regular season games. The last one is on February 25. After that, the ECAC Tournament starts on the weekend of March 4th-6th.
However, the Top-4 teams in the standings get a bye to the second round. Harvard currently sit in 2nd place and they're 10 points ahead of the 5th placed team. So no chance of them falling out of a Top-4 spot unless they completely shit the bed in their remaining games.
The second round of the ECAC Tournament takes place the weekend of March 11th-13th. So if Harvard is upset in their Best-of-3 series that weekend, they'll be eliminated, and Farrell will be available to be signed.
It will be unlikely he'll be available since Harvard is one of the best teams of the conference. However, it wouldn't be the first time a team expected to go far is upset.
Last year, Harvard made it to the NCAA Tournament and lost in the 1st round to Minnesota State.
Nico Cauzuki
Registered User
thank you i thought i opened a Jordan Harris thread for a second lol
bryan1966
Time for some fast & skilled hockey!
I look forward to Farrell joining the team to end this season, maybe a skilled winger for Dach.
Another Smith-Naslund duo in our dreams.
KevSkillz4
Registered User
- Apr 11, 2016
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I think they will complete each other perfectly. They have high offensive talent, that will be fun to watch!!
WeThreeKings
Demidov is a HAB
I actually think Farrell is better suited for Suzuki since Suzuki is more of a dual-threat.
I'd prefer Farrell-Suzuki and Dach-Caufield as duos next year.
I'd prefer Farrell-Suzuki and Dach-Caufield as duos next year.
SlafySZN
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- May 21, 2022
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Nico Cauzuki
Registered User
WeThreeKings
Demidov is a HAB
Full time with the Habs.
Hins77
Registered User
- Apr 2, 2013
- 4,132
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Full time NHL. 1st reason, there is plenty of injury.
2nd reason, He is 21 years old, he already dominate the NCAA, and guys coming from college are older, more mature vs CHL guys, so I think the NHL is appropriate. Jordan Harris didnt look out of place when he came here.
If he is struggling big time (wich I don’t believe), we could send him down.
As exemple, when Alex Killhorn played in the AHL his first year at 21, he was already a good player.
I couldnt see a problem to have Farrell in the AHL, but I don’t think this sill happen. Drouin, dadonov, monahan are leaving… there will be many holes
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