Apart from the fact that it is a bad idea to rush players onto NHL rosters before they're ready (Fantendresse, anyone?), a point I haven't seen mentioned yet is that it also results in players being eligible to become unrestricted free agents early. In general, players can become UFA when they're 27, or after seven years of service (i.e. as early as 25 if they play 10 or more NHL games when they are 18). So for the more delusional among you (and I realise that this is a very small minority), I ask: If Beaulieu is going to be as good as we all hope that he will, do you want him as an 18 and 19 year old, or as a 26 and 27 year old? (Especially when the Habs already have decent defensive depth?)
Unless a player is going to be a Crosby-level difference maker at 18 and 19, there is no good reason to start the UFA clock early. It is bad asset management.
Beaulieu may look NHL ready but this guy fell into our lap, may become the steal of the 2011 NHL draft and we ARE NOT rushing him! So no, he is NOT NHL ready at this point from a development standpoint.
I would give him one full season in Junior and at least half a season in Hamilton before calling him up, wait until he is 20 years old at least.
On a side note, I don't see Gorges around much longer, either he will be traded at the 2012 NHL draft or not re-signed at all.
Beaulieu may look NHL ready but this guy fell into our lap, may become the steal of the 2011 NHL draft and we ARE NOT rushing him! So no, he is NOT NHL ready at this point from a development standpoint.
I would give him one full season in Junior and at least half a season in Hamilton before calling him up, wait until he is 20 years old at least.
On a side note, I don't see Gorges around much longer, either he will be traded at the 2012 NHL draft or not re-signed at all.
So in the future I see the following top four:
Markov - Tinordi
Subban - Beaulieu
The future...Markov will be injured (as usual) but still happily collecting
$6mil/year paychecks from our Habs. He needs his $6mil/year for the financial security of his family (he's already made over $40mil with our Habs...he may need another 40mil).
Beaulieu could probably be playing for at least 3-4 NHL teams...right now.
That said/written...Beaulieu should make Team Canada (WJC).
Maybe Beaulieu is only 1 yr and a half away from being a Hab (or 2yrs max).
The present and near future looks so darn bright. Nathan Beaulieu is maybe the best prospect our Habs scouts drafted since Price and PK Subban.
Beaulieu
Gallagher
p.s.: where is Bennett? Kristo? Haven't really heard anything about them...
One thing this camp has confirmed for me: HF is way off grading the Habs prospects 20th in the league. What a great mix of youngsters ranging from the most recent draft picks to NHL ready players.
I'd place the Habs in top 6 or top 8 (honestly). Beaulieu, Gallagher, LeBlanc, Tinordi, Bournival, Kristo...all solid prospects.
Recent graduates or close:
Subban, Pacioretty, Weber, Desharnais, White, Yemelin...
Beaulieu may look NHL ready but this guy fell into our lap, may become the steal of the 2011 NHL draft and we ARE NOT rushing him! So no, he is NOT NHL ready at this point from a development standpoint.
I would give him one full season in Junior and at least half a season in Hamilton before calling him up, wait until he is 20 years old at least.
On a side note, I don't see Gorges around much longer, either he will be traded at the 2012 NHL draft or not re-signed at all.
So in the future I see the following top four:
Markov - Tinordi
Subban - Beaulieu
Your crystal ball is probably broken cause Markov has been signed for 3 years while Tinordi looks at least 3 years away from Montreal, he is a project at this point.. I would rather replace him with Yemelin, would make much more sense..
I'd place the Habs in top 6 or top 8 (honestly). Beaulieu, Gallagher, LeBlanc, Tinordi, Bournival, Kristo...all solid prospects.
Recent graduates or close:
Subban, Pacioretty, Weber, Desharnais, White, Yemelin...
Florida as no.1
I like our group of prospects. It's not as star studded as when Price and Subban were listed, but I find it a lot deeper, lots of these kids will be NHLers wethere here or somewhere else...Beaulieu LeBlanc Tinordi Kristo Gallagher Bournival Dumont Pateryn Conboy Palushaj Yemelin Diaz Nash Ellis Bennett Nygren plus high upside guys like Avtsyn MacMillan Walsh Prybil Didier Sullivan Quailer.
I am sure that without seeing the game you would be convinced that the guy is ready for the NHL, others direct comparisons to PK Subban being accurate.
Those that watched the game should realize he isn't close (just look at him physically) , but it's good to have people like you who don't watch discrediting the observations of those that do.
Of course he isn't close. He's a junior player. Latendresse wasn't close either. But sometimes developing in junior another year isn't much development at all. That being said I think in Nathan's case he actually could develop more in junior. I just think it's silly he can't go to the AHL as I think he would develop just fine there. (Not that I necessarily think he should go there but the option should be available)
PS: I don't know if you realize this but that line was 100% sarcasm, hence the ....
not dissing the player, but I have to wonder what game some people were watching. Beaulieu was exactly like he should be - a boy playing with men - tentative, out of position and not at the same speed as most around him. Even the assist on the Subban goal was the result of 2 Buffalo players jumping out of position thinking that Beaulieu had handed them a 2 man breakaway. He got away with it but that's not a pass that an NHL'er attempts. Just saying give the guy some time but let's not get crazy.
Based on what I've read here, I'll likely be the only one agreeing with this somewhat.
I think Beaulieu showed some really really great things tonight. You could tell he has great vision and skates well. That slap pass on the PK to send someone on a 1-on-1 really impressed me. We've got a real gem here.
However, he has a lot of work to do defensively. He made a couple weak passes that got intercepted (and on the goal, almost got intercepted for a 2-0) and he was often caught pinching resulting in an odd-man rush. His coverage in the defensive zone was also pretty poor on quite a few plays, leaving guys alone in front of the net.
Don't get me wrong, I'm really excited for this kid. I was really really impressed with his vision and poise with the puck, but I thought it was fairly clear that he has a lot of room to grow still.
If we weren't so deep at D, we'd have to give him a NHL spot. But with everyone we have and every young guys who ALSO deserve a chance and considering the fact that it'S LHJMQ or NHL (can't go to AHL right now as per CHL rules), we can't afford to sign him to let him fight for icetime with ALL those guys (Spacek, Yemelin, Weber, Diaz, name it)
Beaulieu needs to go back to Junior and make the WJC team. There is no reason to rush him.
I hate it when people say that. Yes he needs to go back down to the Juniors but really ? Make the WJC? Do you realize that NO one else cares about that tournament except the Canadians. Guys like Kassian made it.... The WJC does not mean a thing.
I hate it when people say that. Yes he needs to go back down to the Juniors but really ? Make the WJC? Do you realize that NO one else cares about that tournament except the Canadians. Guys like Kassian made it.... The WJC does not mean a thing.
Lots of players break out in that tournament. It means more than you think. Those guys have it easy in their respective junior leagues. The WJC humbles players that believe they are stars. It's an NHL atmosphere with all of that talent. They also spend time with world class developmental coaches.
I don't know if Subban becomes the player he is today without being benched that first WJC and learning to settle his game down from Pat Quinn the next.
Lots of players break out in that tournament. It means more than you think. Those guys have it easy in their respective junior leagues. The WJC humbles players that believe they are stars. It's an NHL atmosphere with all of that talent. They also spend time with world class developmental coaches.
I don't know if Subban becomes the player he is today without being benched that first WJC and learning to settle his game down from Pat Quinn the next.
Don't sell it short.
Same for Price being cut and then coming back the year after and win the gold.
dont get me wrong he played a good game for a rookie specially since he was playing against mostly NHL players but it was pre-season
look at Subban right now.....amazing huh ? guess what he did hes time in the juniors,Nathan will return to the Q being a major part of the team and logging top minutes and he will be invited to Team Canada's trainning Camp,From there will see what happens but theres no rush to bring him in this year.
Doesnt mean giving him bottom-pairing duties on the Habs is optimal route to take. If we were rebuilding and we could promise him at least 2 PP duty/night, then yhea.
But it's not the case. We have a good stack of NHLers and other players who reached the maximum capacity they could outside of the NHL. So let's not us Beaulieu right away.
Doesnt mean giving him bottom-pairing duties on the Habs is optimal route to take. If we were rebuilding and we could promise him at least 2 PP duty/night, then yhea.
But it's not the case. We have a good stack of NHLers and other players who reached the maximum capacity they could outside of the NHL. So let's not us Beaulieu right away.
+1
He looked so much more promising that Diaz, Weber, Tinordi and all the other prospects.
Yemelin I put into another category, because of the potenial of him adding the phyiscal element to the defensive corps. That is the differentiator between him and all the other prospects. That....we need.
The future...Markov will be injured (as usual) but still happily collecting
$6mil/year paychecks from our Habs. He needs his $6mil/year for the financial security of his family (he's already made over $40mil with our Habs...he may need another 40mil).
Beaulieu could probably be playing for at least 3-4 NHL teams...right now.
That said/written...Beaulieu should make Team Canada (WJC).
Maybe Beaulieu is only 1 yr and a half away from being a Hab (or 2yrs max).
The present and near future looks so darn bright. Nathan Beaulieu is maybe the best prospect our Habs scouts drafted since Price and PK Subban.
Beaulieu
Gallagher
p.s.: where is Bennett? Kristo? Haven't really heard anything about them...
Can I borrow your crystal ball which tells you that Markov will be injured?
You've probably only been watching the Canadiens for a year or two, but before that he was a star and he was a solid player. He had a couple of really unfortunate accidents, it doesn't mean he's an injury prone player who's been on LTIR his whole career. He's the type of player who will make this team better, and if he plays for the next 5 years we'd be stupid to let him play elsewhere.
Can I borrow your crystal ball which tells you that Markov will be injured?
You've probably only been watching the Canadiens for a year or two, but before that he was a star and he was a solid player. He had a couple of really unfortunate accidents, it doesn't mean he's an injury prone player who's been on LTIR his whole career. He's the type of player who will make this team better, and if he plays for the next 5 years we'd be stupid to let him play elsewhere.
It's pretty simple. He's gonna be happy if Markov reinjures again because it will prove he was right all along. It's an ego thing.
If were not so stacked on defense, you could make a strong argument the kid is on the cusp of being NHL ready and warrants an immediate shot, but such is not the case. We have plenty of guys to fill out the defense and I would rather give Beaulieu top minutes in junior/minors verse maybe ten a night with the Habs. We have no need to rush him unless injuries pop up.
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