Posts Tagged ‘Hamilton Bulldogs’

Game day with PK!

P.K. Subban has been recalled from the Hamilton Bulldogs for this all important game 6 in the first round of the 2010 NHL playoffs.

Habs face elimination tonight against Ovechkin’s Washington Capitals. The game is in Montreal.

The Bell Center will likely exploded with energy. Habs weren’t really expected to win the Capitals but in the course of this series they’ve shown some good things against the Caps… and that the Caps can certainly be beaten.

P.K. Subban has become a fan favorite without barely scratching the ice in Montreal. He’s a great young prospect who’s had an incredible year in Hamilton. Always enthusiastic and upbeat P.K. will certainly bring lot’s of energy in the lineup. I expect that the crowd will show him some love tonight…. think we’ll hear some “PK” chants? I do.

Subban has 18 goals and 35 assists in 77 games with the Hamilton Bulldogs this year. He’s got great skating and puck moving skills and can play a physical game.

In my opinion, the Canadiens have nothing to loose in bringing him up being that they’re down 3 games to 2 and had a sub par performance by MA Bergeron in the last game. Although I don’t think Subban will be the savior for the series I think this is a great opportunity for him to get a taste of the pressure cooker in a Montreal Canadien’s playoff game… facing elimination.

Here’s the official press release!

Alexander Avtsin wants to play in Montreal – My Comments

According to this article on RDS’s website, Alexander Avtsin would like to hop over the pond and make the Canadiens roster as early as next season.

I think it’s great if a young player shows that the desire and if he shows the skill to do it…. then even better.

But the road ahead for Avtsin will likely not be that smooth unless he manages to knock the socks off of many in the organization.

Personally I believe that Avtsin coming to play in North America next season is a great idea. But as to the route he takes when he gets here, that may depend.

I think there’s something here for him to gain from. If it’s with the Junior de Montréal who current hold his rights in “the Q” or if he was able to jump to Hamilton…. there’s some experience for him here that would help him make the jump to the NHL in a couple of years (hypothetically).
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Cedrick Desjardins is the AHL’s Goaltender of the Month for December 2009

I wrote a little piece on PK Subban being named to the AHL all-star squad and how much confidence that might give him moving into the second half of the season… well, one of his team mates has also been playing some amazing hockey in Hamilton.

Cedrick Desjardins has been lights out this year.

In 21 games this year he’s got a Goal’s against average of 1.66 and a save percentage of .932. In the month of december Desjardins went 8-0-0 (8 wins, no losses!), he had a goals against average of 1.16 and a save percentage of .949.

Just a few years back we saw Halak playing some strong hockey in Hamilton with the Bulldogs and now Canadiens fans should be happy that there’s another prospect making a strong show.

His strong play in Hamilton might be another factor in making it a little bit easier to move a goaltender in Montreal. He would be a possibility as backup.

PK Subban is an All-Star

At the start of the year, coming out of camp we saw a few young guys leave an impression. One of those guys is young defenseman PK Subban.

Many voiced their desire to see Subban play in Montreal. Especially after all the early season injuries to both Andrei Markov and Ryan O’Byrne. I could certainly relate with the enthusiasm around PK and the desire to see him play in Montreal. A really strong skater with a good hard shot and a player who seems to examplify the very word enthusiasm, he would have certainly looked good in the eyes of many as a call up.

I was certainly tempted by the possibilities myself.

One of the debates around the prospects was to give them time in the minors so they can play at the pro level and not throw them in the fire that it can be in Montreal.

So PK has played half a season in Hamilton and by all accounts he’s really playing well.

PK Subban was recently named to the AHL all-star game.

This is probably the best case scenario if you’re Bob Gainey… and many Habs fans.

Subban has gone down, worked hard under a great coach in Guy Boucher and is performing at a high level. He currently leads the Hamilton Bulldogs defensemen with 20 points.

And what a confidence booster for him this will be going into the second half of the Bulldogs season!

PK is one of the AHL’s stars and this experience will certainly be in his favor as he continues to play this season in Hamilton and then comes into next year’s camp.

Congrats PK!

Habs call up Benoit Pouliot

We’ll be seeing Benoit Pouliot soon. He was the player who came to Montreal in the Latendresse trade with the Minnesota Wild. It was announced today that he’s been called up from the Hamilton Bulldogs. Pouliot had 3 pts in his last game in Hamilton, 1 goal and 2 assists.

Pouilot was a high pick (4th overall) in the 2005 draft… just ahead of our own Carey Price. He has talent to burn and I think the hope is that the new surroundings, closer to home along with the new coaching staff might be just what the doctor ordered for Benoit.

Here’s the official press release that can be found here:
http://canadiens.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=510684

Canadiens recall Benoit Pouliot from the Hamilton Bulldogs
Monday, 21.12.2009 / 10:47 AM / News
Montreal Canadiens
PRESS RELEASE

MONTREAL – The Montreal Canadiens announced today that left winger Benoit Pouliot has been called up from the AHL Hamilton Bulldogs. Pouliot will join the Canadiens today in Atlanta for tonight’s game against the Thrashers.

Pouliot recorded three points (1 goal, 2 assists) in three games with the Bulldogs. He also maintained a +1 plus/minus rating, registered 11 shots on goal and served four penalty minutes.

Pouliot, 23, was assigned to the Bulldogs on December 10 for conditioning purposes. The 6’03’’, 199 lbs forward has yet to play a game with the Canadiens due to an injury. Pouliot played 14 games with the Wild this season, recording four points (2 goals, 2 assists), serving 12 penalty minutes with a plus/minus rating of 0 and averaging 11:56 minutes of ice time per game.

Ryan White gets another shot

Things seem to happen pretty fast at times…. and with all of the injuries in the NHL this year guys like Ryan White are getting ample opportunity to make an impact in the big leagues.

According to the Habs official website, Ryan White has been called up from the Hamilton Bulldogs.

Ryan White currently has 2 assists, 40 hits and 12 blocked shots in 13 games.

Welcome back!

Ryan White returns to the Hamilton Bulldogs

Today the Montreal Canadiens have announced that forward Ryan White has been assigned to the Hamilton Bulldogs.

White certainly made a good impression in his time in Montreal… taking the opportunity to play 13 games since November 4th. Ryan has 2 assists in those games.

With the return of Georges Laraques and the recent experiment to put Marc-André Bergeron at forward… there isn’t much room for him at the moment.

The M.A. Bergeron experiement at forward last night….. I didn’t mind that one bit.

Defensive juggle before the home opener

According to the Montreal Canadiens website Yannick Weber has been assigned to the Hamilton Bulldogs. This doesn’t really come as much of a surprise.

With the home opener a few days away it would seem likely that the Canadiens will likely call up the recently signed Marc-Andre Bergeron.

There was a time that I looked at the defensive core and thought to myself that it could look promising. It really seems like it was long ago but in reality we’re talking a couple of weeks. Back in the days when the anticipation for that first game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the team that was gonna intimidate and push us around.

Today I’m slightly confused. I’ll explain myself a bit further on my confusion… but first about Bergeron.
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Kyle Chipchura returns to Hamilton

After playing his first game of the year in Montreal, Kyle Chipchura has been sent back down to the Hamilton Bulldogs.

Matt D’Agostini nets 2 goals and Denis plays solid

While not directly related to the Habs…. the Hamilton Bulldogs are about as related a topic as can…

Matt D’Agostini scored 2 goals as did Mike Glumac and the dogs beat the Nofolk Admirals.

Checking the player stats for the dogs… there are some really pleasant surprises.

1. Matt D’Agostini who was making a case to stay in Montreal is playing well… 2 goals 3 assists.
2. Ben Maxwell – 3 goals, 1 assist +2
3. Mike Glumac – 3 goals, 1 assist +1
4. Denis is playing well

Chipchura has played 2 games…. has 1 assist and is +1…. Gregory Stewart has 1 goal 2 assists +1 and has 16 penalty minutes…

Pacioretty has yet to have the quick start offensively some thought he would… but we’re only 4 games in.

My eyes are on the farm team…. I love hockey!!!

Go Dogs!
Go Habs!

(Bulldogs news article)
(Bulldogs stat sheet)