Inventory Check: Pillars on Defense
by Bruce Peter on Mar 2, 2010 3:43 PM EST
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In this feature, we’ll examine Montreal’s strengths and weaknesses as a roster going forward. In one sense, this can be viewed as what exactly former General Manager Bob Gainey left behind for his successor, Pierre Gauthier. In a more immediate sense, it examines what Gauthier might do at the NHL trading deadline. This article will focus on Montreal’s defensemen. In stark contrast to the group of centres and wingers, Montreal’s defensemen have size, limited mobility, and are generally an older group. Perhaps that is why "pillars" is a fitting description. Not surprisingly, the team’s younger legs have stepped up this year, and a youth movement seems imminent. But how can a youth movement be set in motion? Six of the team’s top seven defensemen are signed through this off-season.
Go long, guys! You know it's going to be the Hail Mary! via www.mikelynaugh.com
Name Cap Hit FA L/R GP G A P PIM P/- TOI/G SPCT ESP PPP CORSI QCOMP $5,750,000 2011 L 26 3 15 18 12 1 24:22 5.8% 7 11 4.9 0.153 $5,500,000 2011 L 56 6 19 25 46 -5 23:39 7.3% 15 9 4.1 0.075 $3,833,333 2012 L 58 3 16 19 44 6 22:03 3.8% 13 5 3.3 0.067 $1,100,000 2011 L 63 3 5 8 37 3 21:16 7.3% 6 2 -4.8 0.034 $1,600,000 2010 L 42 0 8 8 48 -16 18:43 0.0% 4 4 -9.4 -0.079 $2,250,000 2011 L 49 2 5 7 55 -6 18:34 5.7% 7 0 -8.6 -0.043 Ryan O'Byrne $941,667 2011 R 36 0 2 2 57 -6 15:21 0.0% 2 0 -1.5 -0.035 Marc-André Bergeron $750,000 2010 L 51 10 18 28 14 -11 14:45 10.3% 8 20 3.6 -0.092 $875,000 2012 R 2 0 2 2 2 1 20:06 0.0% 1 1 30.5 -0.236 $850,000 2010 R 3 0 0 0 4 1 14:28 0.0% 0 0 9.8 -0.199 $875,000 2011 R 5 0 0 0 4 -5 13:52 0.0% 0 0 7.8 -0.006 $600,000 2010 L 2 0 0 0 0 -2 10:38 0.0% 0 0 -26.0 -0.258
And how exactly does this help cover my bald spot? via habsinsideout.com
Two veterans who may not have as long as Markov are Roman Hamrlik and Jaroslav Spacek. Both come with substantial contracts, and both are on the wrong side of 35, but both have shown the ability to play quality minutes in a supporting role, even taking on added responsibility this year when Andrei Markov went down. The case to trade one of them is simple: to clear cap room to keep the team’s younger forwards and goaltenders in a Habs jersey. That being said, with the team’s immediate goal to make the playoffs, it seems highly doubtful either of them would be moved while they play such a lead role for this current team. Josh Gorges, meanwhile, has continued to grow under Jacques Martin’s tutelage. He provides over 21 minutes of quality defensive hockey, somehow managing to stay healthy despite always taking hits to make plays, blocking shots and trying to keep opposing forwards out of the goal crease. His play is in sharp contrast to Paul Mara, a veteran who was brought in to stabilize the bottom pairing and potentially contribute on the power play. Mara, who was thankfully only signed to a one year deal, will be hard pressed to crack a fully healthy Montreal lineup down the stretch.
Look Zach, I was returning that purse to your mom, I swear! via nimg.sulekha.com
Hal Gill and Ryan O’Byrne play very different games, despite being of similar size. Gill is an oddity: a PK specialist who has been known to struggle 5 on 5. He uses his 6’7" frame more for his long reach than physical play, although he can still outmuscle players along the boards. O’Byrne has performed reasonably well, especially recently when paired with Andrei Markov. He is the team’s top physical defenseman, and could find a niche role on the team going forward. Marc-André Bergeron was an emergency signing who dominated the power play in Markov’s absence, but has been limited to playing forward for the most part once the regular d-men got healthy. While his PP production has been valuable, his 5 on 5 play has been awful, be it as a forward or defenseman.
Subban: "I'd rather wear the CH on my chest." via cdn.nhl.com
|
AHL Stats |
Cap Hit |
FA |
L/R |
GP |
G |
A |
P |
PIM |
P/- |
ESG |
PPG |
|
P.K. Subban |
$875,000 |
2012 |
R |
55 |
11 |
29 |
40 |
66 |
31 |
3 |
7 |
|
Mathieu Carle |
$850,000 |
2010 |
R |
31 |
5 |
10 |
15 |
26 |
4 |
4 |
1 |
|
Yannick Weber |
$875,000 |
2011 |
R |
45 |
2 |
21 |
23 |
44 |
11 |
1 |
1 |
|
Shawn Belle |
$600,000 |
2010 |
L |
52 |
3 |
11 |
14 |
51 |
11 |
3 |
0 |
|
André Benoit |
$500,000 |
2010 |
L |
56 |
5 |
21 |
26 |
51 |
11 |
1 |
3 |
|
$500,000 |
2010 |
L |
46 |
0 |
8 |
8 |
90 |
11 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Marc-André Bergeron |
$750,000 |
2010 |
L |
3 |
0 |
6 |
6 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
There’s a lot of reason to be excited about P.K. Subban’s potential, and fans got a taste of that when he was called up in an emergency situation for the final two games before the Olympics. He would be the Canadiens’ primary rushing defenseman right now, as even Andrei Markov prefers to pass off the puck before leaving his own defensive zone. His strong presence on the PP would also help alleviate for the loss of Bergeron to unrestricted free agency. If Hamrlik or Spacek are traded, Subban will certainly be the beneficiary next season. Subban is not alone, however. Mathieu Carle seems likely to crack the Canadiens’ roster next season, though season ending shoulder surgery may set him back. He was Hamilton’s top defenseman before the injury, and he didn’t look out of his depth at the NHL level in his brief time there. Yannick Weber has had an interesting sophomore season, as he has been asked to refine his defensive game. His offensive numbers seem to have suffered as a result, and he will likely spend another season in Hamilton hoping to put it all together.
When Yannick Weber retires from hockey, he plans on becoming a world famous botanist. via www.tsr.ch
What is interesting about Montreal’s D corps is not just their age, but the fact that 7 of the team’s 8 NHL d-men shoot left-handed. The team’s top three prospects at D, however, all shoot right-handed and seem ready to step in almost immediately. Clearly, the Habs have the makings of a good defensive unit, but have to move some bodies out of the way and suffer through some growing pains to accomplish this. An interesting bargaining chip for Pierre Gauthier lies in the amateur ranks. David Fischer, the team’s 2006 first rounder, has underperformed at the NCAA level and has provided little incentive to being signed by the Canadiens. As a result, he can be treated as being a 50th overall draft pick, or a mid-second rounder. The Canadiens would get that pick in compensation if they did not sign him this summer, so despite the Dominic Moore trade, the Canadiens are still in possession of a 2011 2nd rounder.
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Missing Komisarek?
Anyone else believe that the Habs really do miss Komisarek, even though the Leafs over paid for him?
Deadline day the Habs should be sellers. They just don’t have it this year.
David Fischer
the Habs only get a compensatory pick if they offer Fischer a bona fide deal first and he refuses… but if he’s such a bust, he’ll jump at any offer the Habs make… so, no, it’s very unlikely the Habs will have a 2011 2nd rd pick…
in Fischer’s case, the deal would have to be for 2 years at a minimum of US$500k for 2010-11 and $525k for 2011-12 and for the AHL portion of the deal, the greater of: (i) $35,000 (Native Currency) or (ii) the minimum Minor League salary
Wayne, would you have a source link on this. The CBA potion I quoted awhile back in regards to Fischer had nothing at all on qualifying offers whatsoever. I just want to be certain if it was something I missed.
8.3 Compensatory Draft Selections.
(b) In the event a Club loses its draft rights to an Unsigned Draft Choice drafted in the first round of the Entry Draft (except as a result of failing to tender a required Bona Fide Offer (as defined below)), who is again eligible for the Entry Draft or becomes an Unrestricted Free Agent, a Compensatory Draft Selection shall automatically be granted to that Club, which Compensatory Draft Selection shall be the same numerical choice in the second round in the Entry Draft immediately following the date the Club loses such rights. By way of example, if a Club cannot sign the third pick in the first round, it will receive the third pick in the second round as compensation.
Wayne, I require the link from which you gathered this information. If I am to refererence it in the future, I have to have the NHLPA.com source.
basically, it has to be an NHL SPC offer that if accepted conforms to the CBA…
for Fischer, it will be an entry-level deal and has to be for at least the minimum amount (see the amounts above) and term (for his age, 2 years)… so the Habs couldn’t offer him a one-year deal, or an amount below the minimum he’s entitled to…
The Rangers got one for Cherapanov (died before an offer was ever made) and the Wild got one for Thelen (who they wnated NO part of and made no offer after he was kicked out of college). Maybe under the old CBA that was the case, but I don’t see any precedent under the new CBA where it is.
Hockey blogging can't get any flatter.
if you recall, the Rangers had to appeal to the league for their pick because of the unfortunate circumstances…
and I believe you are correct that Thelan did not receive an offer from the Wild but apparently his case was not so straightforward — I’m not sure what it was, leaving college early and then going to the WHL (usually when a player leaves college early, he turns pro), getting kicked out of college, or a combination of the two… there was also an issue as to his FA status because of the two CBAs being in effect…
it is yet another of those things that seemingly doesn’t follow the CBA 100%… so maybe I should say it doesn’t appear as though the Habs would get the pick unless they make a bona fide offer to Fischer first :-) some lawyers could have gotten together and ‘massaged’ parts of the CBA so things could happen that apparently shouldn’t…
a possible solution to get the compensatory pick
assuming I’m correct and Fischer does need to be given an offer in order to get the compensatory pick for not signing, a solution would be to offer him the minimum for both the NHL and AHL salaries and make it clear to him that if he accepts it, the Habs will bury him in Cincinnati and he’d basically waste the next two years…
tell him if he refuses to sign, he becomes an UFA and can look for a better deal, but if he can’t get one, the Bulldogs will sign him to a ‘reasonable’ AHL offer and give him a legitimate chance to make their club…
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