Habs Final Roster Cuts Coming Soon

by Robert L on Sep 27, 2009 1:57 PM EDT

Update, Sept. 27, 8:00 p.m.: The Canadiens have announced that Sergei Kostitsyn has been sent to the Hamilton Bulldogs.

In the coming days, the Canadiens roster will be pared down to a maximum 23 player limit. There are currently 31 players on the Habs preseason roster, including regulars, prospects, and injured players, meaning a minimum eight players will be assigned to the Hamilton Bulldogs by Wednesday.

There are 19 regulars on the club who will start the season in Montreal and they include goalies Carey Price and Jaroslav Halak, defensemen Ryan O' Byrne, Jaroslav Spacek, Paul Mara, Josh Gorges, Roman Hamrlik, Hal Gill, Andrei Markov, forwards Mike Cammalleri, Tomas Plekanec, Glen Metropolit, Georges Laraque, Brian Gionta, Travis Moen, Maxim Lapierre, Andrei Kostitsyn, Guillaume Latendresse and Scott Gomez.

Twelve players yet to be assured of a roster spot include goalie Curtis Sanford, defensemen Yannick Weber, Mathieu Carle, and Alex Henry, and forwards Kyle Chipchura, Matt D' Agostini, Ben Maxwell, Max Pacioretty, Gregory Stewart, Sergei Kostitsyn, Tom Pyatt, and Olivier Fortier.

Of this dozen, Chipchura, Fortier, Pyatt and Henry are currently injured with Henry actually with the Bulldogs oranization in Scotland.

Of the eight left, it is assumed that Sanford, Weber, Carle and Maxwell will be returned to Hamilton with D' Agostini, Pacioretty, Stewart and Kostitsyn likely sticking with the team. If that is the case, the team would be opting to carry 3 additional forwards rather than eight defensemen, a luxury it might not afford itself, seeing as rearguards Paul Mara and Roman Hamrlik have been injured during camp and are yet to be declared 100% healthy.

Should the team opt to keep Weber on the roster come Thursday, one of the four forwards would be sent to Hamilton unless a player is placed on the injured list. The sticking point could be forward Georges Laraque, who, despite not appearing in preseason games is said to be ready to go on October 1. If Laraque is deemed unfit by then, all four remaining forwards are safe. If he is set to dress, one of Pacioretty or Kostitsyn would be demoted, as both Stewart and D' Agostini would have to clear waivers in the event they are sent down.

By all appearances, Pacioretty will stick with the big club, as he has seemed to have earned his spot. Kostitsyn's performances have been less convincing, and he has (according to Habs World) 39 NHL games left before his status become exempt. Unfortunately for the younger sibling, that fact does not work in his favor at this point, and unless a transaction to clear the logjam at forward is envisioned, he may be Hamilton bound to start the season.

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Further complicating issues regarding defensemen has been the play of rearguard Ryan O'Byrne, initially seen as the club's seventh D-man. O' Byrne has been surprisingly solid this camp, and has outperformed both Gill and Mara. As the only right handed shot among the seven, O'Byrne chances of becoming a regular a very good. Weber and Carle are also right handed shots.

Chipchura's scenario also represents a hurdle for the club. No longer on an entry level contract, he would have to clear waivers to pass to Hamilton. He is safe should his return from injury coincide with another injury on the club, but if all players are heathy decisions will have to be made. He can be assigned to Hamilton on injury rehab for up to two weeks if such a scenario arises.

Photos courtesy Dave Sideway / Habs Inside Out

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Chipchura might get one of those conditioning assignments in Hamilton if he’s still injured by the time their season starts. That would give the Habs a little more time to decide on the actual 23. Whatever the case, apparently the Bulldogs have given the captaincy to Mike Glumac… Chipchura was their captain last year. I guess they probably know that if Chipchura is waived someone would pick him up.

I still don’t think it’s a smart move to rush Pacioretty. His offensive instincts just aren’t there yet. His skating and work ethic can’t be questioned, though.

One has to wonder with Sergei how he’d take a demotion. Will he start to think the management/coaching staff hates him and start looking for a job in the KHL? I’m really wondering about his attitude right now, and whether he has committed to a team concept.

Good on O’Byrne for making the decision on D difficult.

Stewart is a question mark as well, but I think there will be enough injured bodies to start the year with the team and give him a longer look.

Hockey blogging can't get any flatter.

by saskhab on Sep 27, 2009 4:39 PM EDT reply actions

Hmmmmmm.... interesting predicaments

Chipchura has been touted as “the slowest NHL forward ever” if he actually makes the big squad. I was pleased when they drafted him, but his development didn’t seem to progress in a timely fashion, when seeing who jumped from the Bulldogs to the big club before him.
Waivers would see him going somewhere else. I think they ought to see if they can trade him. I know that sounds harsh but when you have the guys we have coming up soon, chip doesn’t seem to fit.

Pacioretty is sound. He put on a few pounds and is beginning to see the ice better. I think that in order to keep a good eye on his talent development he is better to be on the club than in the farm.

As for Sergei, he needs to take the sledge hammer to that boulder of a chip on his shoulder and shake his head. I don’t know where I heard this, however, it has been said that young Russian’s coming to NA believe that because they are coming they are to be starting material. I fear this is the attitude SK has taken. He’s quick, shows good handsm but also has a hot temper and lacks positional skill. (Pointed out to him by Martin in practice). Some time on the farm did him well last year, he tore up the AHL and then came back to the big show playing fairly well. though his up and down attitude takes away from him really becoming the player he can be. He’s definitely one of the most frustrating talents to watch.

Speaking of frustrating to watch… Ryan O’Byrne. Conditioning, skating are the two areas he needs to get with. It wouldn’t hurt him to join up with an NFL Running Back for part of the summer to get stronger legs and core. Might actually help him skate faster. But to say that he’s already outplayed Gill and Mara and that’s what should get him to stick around…. a little on the optimistic side. When you see Carle, Weber and Subban with a ton of upside, and you take into consideration O’Byrne has been here for what (2-3 yrs) and still hasn’t played well enough to secure a 6th D spot. we can look at the roster and say its not his fault, but when it comes down to it, he hasn’t pushed anyone for that spot either. The more I think about him the more I see him as an AHLer and not an NHLer.

by Cruisin4aBruisin on Sep 28, 2009 2:00 PM EDT reply actions