Actually, what he said was that, Leblanc was 160, and therefore would "get pushed around more easily than Grabovski in his rookie season". And if he, or Roulin for that matter, knew anything about Leblanc other than his height and weight, they wouldn't have said that. The sentence "He got pushed around at the WJC" is the farthest thing from the truth, he was one of Canada's best players on the forecheck and in the corners.
In the games against USA and Russia, he was one of Canada's weaker players on the boards. Howden, Schenn, Johansen, even Eakin were stronger on the puck.
BTW, I am fully aware that height and weight don't tell much of the story, when it comes to strength and balance. For example, Eller is harder to push off the puck than Pouliot - there are many examples like this. I wouldn't have made the comment about Leblanc if I had not seen him play plenty of times.
Edit: Anyway, the games are still up on TSN's website if folks want to judge for themselves. The final is a classic, worth re-watching.
You never know, back in the time Plek was behing Balef (don't remember how to spell it) and a other one, Perezhogin or Higgins don't remember.
Yes and I also see him as a guy who could develop into the same kind of player also. A complete player who's not a force offensively but could become a solid player player due to his instincts and a good two-way game. The guy looks like a gamer but I guess it's too early to tell. I'm also scared that they only play him 5 minutes per game on the 4th line but I think they'll give him a shot at proving what he can do.
It makes perfect sense indeed. Throwing the kid in the NHL for the first time without him even practicing with the team would be a recipe for failure. He'd end up not getting more than a couple of shifts and play 3 minutes.
i think he should play with Moen (for being protected a bit by our toughest player + he's a good pro who knows what it takes to get to the nhl) and D.D or Eller to actually have a decent chance of putting up some points on the scoresheet, and get at least 10 mins. per game ideally between 10 and 12 minutes
4th line = career-ruining, 3rd line = recipe for success?
Waste of time. Leblanc on the 4th line will help him how?
"Come on over to Montreal and play 4 minutes with a couple of sub-par grinders and see how comfortable our bench is for the other 56 minutes." J. Martin
As Pacioretty so eloquently stated, it would be better to play on the top 6 in Hamilton to work on his game than to come to Montreal and play junk minutes with junk players on the 4th line.
If Leblanc is only brought here for precautionary reasons, why take him away from ice time in Hamilton? Move up Willsie as he is having a decent year and he is used to sitting in press boxes.
Gauthier and Martin never cease to amaze me with their strategic moves. They are too smart by half compared with any other NHL combination.
Waste of time. Leblanc on the 4th line will help him how?
"Come on over to Montreal and play 4 minutes with a couple of sub-par grinders and see how comfortable our bench is for the other 56 minutes." J. Martin
As Pacioretty so eloquently stated, it would be better to play on the top 6 in Hamilton to work on his game than to come to Montreal and play junk minutes with junk players on the 4th line.
If Leblanc is only brought here for precautionary reasons, why take him away from ice time in Hamilton? Move up Willsie as he is having a decent year and he is used to sitting in press boxes.
Gauthier and Martin never cease to amaze me with their strategic moves. They are too smart by half compared with any other NHL combination.
Or it could be just to give him a taste of the NHL life so he has something compare it too and be more ready when they expect him to play a full season. You know learn NHL practices, how players train in the NHL, the travel. Maybe also to see where he stands physically against NHLers, his speed. Give him a bit of taste of the speed of the game of the NHL with players in mid season form.
If you think a three game mini test is going to adversely affect him, you might as well write him off now as a bust.
Or it could be just to give him a taste of the NHL life so he has something compare it too and be more ready when they expect him to play a full season. You know learn NHL practices, how players train in the NHL, the travel. Maybe also to see where he stands physically against NHLers, his speed. Give him a bit of taste of the speed of the game of the NHL with players in mid season form.
If you think a three game mini test is going to adversely affect him, you might as well write him off now as a bust.
Sorry if I didnt make myself more clear.
I dont mind Leblanc getting a 3 game experience in the NHL. I would prefer him to play some minutes with some talented players and stay off of the dreaded Martin 4th line. If he is simply here to sit on the bench, keep him in Hamilton.
