Knightfall
World of Kulan DM
Enthusiastic Canadiens going with youth
Canadian Press
9/29/2005 2:31:01 PM
MONTREAL (CP) - Some fans groaned as big name free agents signed with new teams around the NHL this summer, apparently without a bid from the Montreal Canadiens.
General manager Bob Gainey filled some holes with lower-profile free agents, like defenceman Mathieu Dandenault and enforcer Peter Vandermeer, but mostly, the Canadiens will be going with youth in the 2005-06 season.
That suits veteran defenceman Craig Rivet.
"Our young guys from two years ago, like Mike Ribeiro, Mike Komisarek and Michael Ryder, are two years older now but they're still young," said Rivet. "And there are opportunities for more young players.
"Instead of going that (free agent) way, we're bringing in younger guys who are capable of playing now. That's a good sign for us in the long run."
Between four and six rookies may be on the roster when the Canadiens open the season Oct. 5 in Boston, most of them drafted over the past five years.
A lively battle has been waged in camp for as many as three jobs open at forward between rookies Chris Higgins, Alexander Perezhogin, Tomas Plekanec and 18-year-old Guillaume Latendresse, as well as 23-year-old Marcel Hossa, who no longer counts as a rookie.
All have had strong camps and all look ready to make the jump to the NHL.
Vandermeer, who has been up against Latvian giant Raitis Ivanans in camp, is 29 and has spent a decade in the minors, but his one-way NHL contract suggests he'll make his NHL debut next week.
And Yann Danis, a 24-year-old goaltender signed out of Brown University last year, is likely to see his first NHL action as back-up to Jose Theodore until veteran Cristobal Huet returns from a knee injury in late November or December.
Another newcomer is veteran centre Radek Bonk, obtained with Huet in a 2004 deal that sent goalie Mathieu Garon to the Los Angeles Kings. He gives coach Claude Julien a big centre to face opponents' top pivots - a shortcoming on recent Montreal teams.
Gainey elected to use his payroll budget to sign Theodore and right winger Alex Kovalev to long-term deals, then let young players fill the gaps. The team payroll is just over $32 million, leaving what Gainey calls "wiggle room" for later additions.
The 32-year-old Kovalev is the team's oldest player, one year senior to Rivet and captain Saku Koivu.
Picking up Kovalev from the New York Rangers late in the 2003-04 season helped Montreal upset Boston in the first round of playoffs before they were swept by eventual Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay.
Kovalev's size and skill boost the top line with playmaker Koivu and sniper Richard Zednik. He has also shown in camp to be excellent on penalty shots, which will be useful with ties now decided by shoot-outs.
Ribeiro led the team in scoring in 2003-04 at centre on the second line with 2004 rookie-of-the-year candidate Ryder. The incumbent on right wing is Pierre Dagenais, although he may get bumped by a youngster.
Bonk is likely to centre Jan Bulis, another strong two-way player, with perhaps another young player on right wing.
Banger Steve Begin centres the fourth line, perhaps with veteran Niklas Sundstrom and a rookie.
"We have a lot of speed and with the new rules, I think it's going to help us a lot," said Theodore. "I'm really confident and happy with the players we've got."
The defence has Rivet with Andrei Markov, who excelled on the Russian team at the world championships, along with veteran Sheldon Souray and the slick-skating Dandenault.
The hulking Komisarek and diminutive Francis Bouillon are likely to start and Ron Hainsey, a skilled if thus-far inconsistent 2000 first-round draft pick, is expected to be the seventh defenceman.
Hainsey is being pushed by Swiss national team captain Mark Streit, who is gradually adapting to the NHL game.
Theodore, the 2002 Hart and Vezina trophy winner, will probably see plenty of action, at least until Huet comes back.
"I have to be ready to play a lot of games," said Theodore, who played 67 in 2003-04.
Ten players are gone from the 2003-04 squad, most notably defenceman Patrice Brisebois and forwards Joe Juneau, Yanic Perreault, Andreas Dackell and enforcer Darren Langdon.
Canadian Press
9/29/2005 2:31:01 PM
MONTREAL (CP) - Some fans groaned as big name free agents signed with new teams around the NHL this summer, apparently without a bid from the Montreal Canadiens.
General manager Bob Gainey filled some holes with lower-profile free agents, like defenceman Mathieu Dandenault and enforcer Peter Vandermeer, but mostly, the Canadiens will be going with youth in the 2005-06 season.
That suits veteran defenceman Craig Rivet.
"Our young guys from two years ago, like Mike Ribeiro, Mike Komisarek and Michael Ryder, are two years older now but they're still young," said Rivet. "And there are opportunities for more young players.
"Instead of going that (free agent) way, we're bringing in younger guys who are capable of playing now. That's a good sign for us in the long run."
Between four and six rookies may be on the roster when the Canadiens open the season Oct. 5 in Boston, most of them drafted over the past five years.
A lively battle has been waged in camp for as many as three jobs open at forward between rookies Chris Higgins, Alexander Perezhogin, Tomas Plekanec and 18-year-old Guillaume Latendresse, as well as 23-year-old Marcel Hossa, who no longer counts as a rookie.
All have had strong camps and all look ready to make the jump to the NHL.
Vandermeer, who has been up against Latvian giant Raitis Ivanans in camp, is 29 and has spent a decade in the minors, but his one-way NHL contract suggests he'll make his NHL debut next week.
And Yann Danis, a 24-year-old goaltender signed out of Brown University last year, is likely to see his first NHL action as back-up to Jose Theodore until veteran Cristobal Huet returns from a knee injury in late November or December.
Another newcomer is veteran centre Radek Bonk, obtained with Huet in a 2004 deal that sent goalie Mathieu Garon to the Los Angeles Kings. He gives coach Claude Julien a big centre to face opponents' top pivots - a shortcoming on recent Montreal teams.
Gainey elected to use his payroll budget to sign Theodore and right winger Alex Kovalev to long-term deals, then let young players fill the gaps. The team payroll is just over $32 million, leaving what Gainey calls "wiggle room" for later additions.
The 32-year-old Kovalev is the team's oldest player, one year senior to Rivet and captain Saku Koivu.
Picking up Kovalev from the New York Rangers late in the 2003-04 season helped Montreal upset Boston in the first round of playoffs before they were swept by eventual Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay.
Kovalev's size and skill boost the top line with playmaker Koivu and sniper Richard Zednik. He has also shown in camp to be excellent on penalty shots, which will be useful with ties now decided by shoot-outs.
Ribeiro led the team in scoring in 2003-04 at centre on the second line with 2004 rookie-of-the-year candidate Ryder. The incumbent on right wing is Pierre Dagenais, although he may get bumped by a youngster.
Bonk is likely to centre Jan Bulis, another strong two-way player, with perhaps another young player on right wing.
Banger Steve Begin centres the fourth line, perhaps with veteran Niklas Sundstrom and a rookie.
"We have a lot of speed and with the new rules, I think it's going to help us a lot," said Theodore. "I'm really confident and happy with the players we've got."
The defence has Rivet with Andrei Markov, who excelled on the Russian team at the world championships, along with veteran Sheldon Souray and the slick-skating Dandenault.
The hulking Komisarek and diminutive Francis Bouillon are likely to start and Ron Hainsey, a skilled if thus-far inconsistent 2000 first-round draft pick, is expected to be the seventh defenceman.
Hainsey is being pushed by Swiss national team captain Mark Streit, who is gradually adapting to the NHL game.
Theodore, the 2002 Hart and Vezina trophy winner, will probably see plenty of action, at least until Huet comes back.
"I have to be ready to play a lot of games," said Theodore, who played 67 in 2003-04.
Ten players are gone from the 2003-04 squad, most notably defenceman Patrice Brisebois and forwards Joe Juneau, Yanic Perreault, Andreas Dackell and enforcer Darren Langdon.
Noooo! Tighter, more streamlind jerseys? Great! Different color? Where's my gun at?
