Recrutes: Hockey scouting from a professional perspective from Grant McCagg and Habs coverage from a 33 year veteran covering the NHL from Brian Wilde.
February 20, 2018
By Brian Wilde
Three losses in three games for the Habs on their road trip with the final stop in Philadelphia. The Flyers in the playoff picture in the East had to be hungry for this one, while what makes the Habs hungry at the moment remains a mystery.
Sorry, but you must be a subscriber to view this content. Click here to sign in
Let me add one more ‘fan’s’ scouting report. Keeping Joe Morrow would rank right up with the signing of Karl Alzner. The man has the defensive hockey IQ of an amoeba. Not to mention the intensity of a 15 watt incandescent bulb. I’m perfectly fine with your other choices, Brian. Weber, Mete and Petry are a decent starting point. Why Jerabek isn’t playing is only something Julien and Bergevin can answer, but from what I’ve seen, he’s better than the other 3 guys dressed ahead of him who are being low cased.
I’m also in agreement with you on Galchenyuk. Alex seems to have connected with Julien and is playing some of the best hockey of his career. If he is traded now, it better be for an amazing return. But who knows if it’s just the same stuff that’s been around forever. One thing….Bergevin has a habit of moving out people who have given him contract issues, and guys who displease him. Alex has both those strikes ‘against him’, so it wouldn’t surprise me if he was traded.
I’m opting for a trade deadline wait and see approach as well and the Habs are probably one of the only teams where I tend to believe the opposite of what rumours are being reported. Most of their trades over the last few years have come out of nowhere. If word on the street is Chucky might be available and Shaw is staying put, I’m leaning towards the reverse being true. Heck, Shaw is a classic type of player that gets moved at the trade deadline – ie support piece with Stanley cup pedigree.
Recurring faces in the Wilde Goats once more. I didn’t see any of the game as I was out checking out the hometown Kelowna Rockets last night. What a fun team. Calgary should have a good future winger in Dillon Dube, who was Captain Canada at the World Juniors this year and who popped 2G and 1A last night. He’s not the biggest kid, but he’s got good hustle and he’ll be fighting to crack the roster next year but will likely end up in Stockton. Tampa prospect Cal Foote didn’t have the greatest night, as he got beat on one of the Cougars’ goals in garbage time. But he did have 2A in a team-dominant first period.
Only two games between now and the trade deadline. I suspect it may be a different looking lineup Monday night when the Habs host the Flyers.
Bergy will most likely be cautious,if he makes a big trade thats unfavourable,thats a fireable offence. I see him whimping out. Hope not.shake the tree and start brand new.
Back in the mid 70s my dad worked as a manager at westinghouse in st,laurent. One of his contacts was bill clements father,bill clement was #10 for the broad street bullys in those glory days.bill clements folks would come over to our house once a year in pointe claire when the flyers were in town.one time when i was 10 my bro was 8 both of us each got a signed sherwood pmp bill clement stick,autographed,and a bill clement 8×10 pic of bill on the ice in his flyers jersey,signed and a paper (copy) of the entire flyers teams autographs,ed van imp,rick mcleish,bobby clark,bernie parent,hound dog kelly,gary dornauffer,etc..i still have the pics,the sticks me and my brother played with and broke as kids at the local outdoor rink. Kids eh. Good ol daze.