Unless Leblanc is playing half injured, he should be given top-six minutes.
If you have ever had a high ankle sprain then you know it is one of the worst injuries to recover from for a hockey player because it takes a good 6 months before the ankle is really right again. You can skate on it but it doesn't have the strength and will still bug you turning, stopping, cutting and even shooting because you drive off with the plant leg and ankle to fire any forehand shot. Leblanc injured his right ankle which is his plant leg. The plant leg is the stronger leg that a player will use most often to stop, lean, turn and start his push to accelerate when skating. With a lefthanded shot the plant leg is the left leg, a righthanded shot is the right leg. Most pros are pretty close to equal as a player can get unless he shoots with his opposite dominate hand (Right handed person shooting right handed and vice versa).
LL's skating isn't as fast as before the injury and he will be playing the wing for the rest of the year as the Canadiens wish to convert him to a winger. The ankle might feel better by the end of April at best because he will continue to play on it. Crosby struggled with the same ankle injury in the 2007-08 but his was the right leg which isn't his plant leg(he's a lefthanded shot). That was the year the Penguins lost to Detroit in the Stanley Cup finals. LL is not Crosby either.
LL could gradually be worked into the top-six forwards as his skating speed improves and he feels more comfortable with the ankle. Blunden is doing what he needs to do, stepping up and playing better with Geoffrion and Palushaj hurt. He's been one of the better veterans forwards along with Nattinen and Dumont on the Bulldogs this year and seems to love playing with the hardworking Gallagher but who wouldn't? The coach has to play the hot hand no matter who it is. The second half of the year will see better play from the young pros and the Bulldogs should have a second half push even if the NHL lockout isn't settled. They are improving but there will be setbacks as they learn how to be more consistent.
Thanks for read the articles and there should be one coming out about the AHL & ECHL players soon!
Last edited by David Thicke: 12-23-2012 at 02:14 PM.
I think worrying about prospects that haven't even played one season of pro hockey yet is inane,zany,whacko and just girly talk.Give our prospects time to learn their trade before pronouncing them dead!PS Merry Christmas everybody!
So, is he hurt? How can this guy be in the doghouse this much? I cant believe he's still in North America.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Analyzer
Probably don't like Russians. It's really all I can say as to why he hasn't played in such a long time.
That's just like the Habs,feigning woes like a bad Scotsman I know,hold thus new born Habs back oh yeah women playing in the future.Okay back to reality Bulldogs playing the Miracle on Ice in the AHL losing worse than last year.Thank God for word smell.
So, is he hurt? How can this guy be in the doghouse this much? I cant believe he's still in North America.
Especially with all these injuries. It seems like they'll call up Schultz before they'd play Avtsin. I know he just had the kid but how long would he need to take off?
At least give him a chance to fail otherwise just cut him loose.
For people who saw him play this year, was his D that bad that he had to be benched indefinitely?
Im officially fed up with Lefevbre. I tried for the past 3 months to go along with his coaching style and use of players and i just cant take it anymore.
Im officially fed up with Lefevbre. I tried for the past 3 months to go along with his coaching style and use of players and i just cant take it anymore.
I know it's the closest thing we can follow to Habs' hockey, but people really have to separate the two. The Bulldogs are a development team, the main goal of Lefebvre, Dufresne, Wilson, Riendeau, Brisebois and Lapointe is to develop the young prospects, not necessarily win.
The Bulldogs have no vets who can lead the way offensively and the lockout strengthens the level of the AHL, let's just say it's a bad mix for them to have such a young lineup this year. At the same time, the kids play against improved opponents and certainly learn more from that than a usual year.
All in all, Lefebvre's job should be evaluated down the road, not rightaway. It should also be based on the kids' evolution as players, not in the standings. For example, if one of Beaulieu and Tinordi is ready for Duty next year.
This is my humble opinion though, you can feel free to continue complaining on the wins and losses and on the way he reinserts players into the lineup.
Last edited by QuebecPride: 12-25-2012 at 05:10 PM.
I know it's the closest thing we can follow to Habs' hockey, but people really have to separate the two. The Bulldogs are a development team, the main goal of Lefebvre, Dufresne, Wilson, Riendeau, Brisebois and Lapointe is to develop the young prospects, not necessarily win.
The Bulldogs have no vets who can lead the way offensively and the lockout strengthens the level of the AHL, let's just say it's a bad mix for them to have such a young lineup this year. At the same time, the kids play against improved opponents and certainly learn more from that than a usual year.
All in all, Lefebvre's job should be evaluated down the road, not rightaway. It should also be based on the kids' evolution as players, not in the standings. For example, if one of Beaulieu and Tinordi is ready for Duty next year.
This is my humble opinion though, you can feel free to continue complaining on the wins and losses and on the way he reinserts players into the lineup.
The Bulldogs are a development team, the main goal of Lefebvre, Dufresne, Wilson, Riendeau, Brisebois and Lapointe is to develop the young prospects, not necessarily win.
I guess that's why Sortini & Hagel are getting regular shifts and Avtsin is not. They're young prospects and he's a washed up, over the hill goon.
Lines aren't made like it's a development team. I disagree with that hole spiel. You don't develop a player or a student by restricting his role to a few specific facets, that makes a really poor development curve in any domain. In fact if it was a development line up some players would find themselves in roles they aren't used to be holding, which isn't what I've seen up to date.
One of Stortini/Hagel should be in the lineup regularly just incase a game turns nasty.
However, should Fortier, or Chaput really be in the lineup over Avtsin ?
In the 3 years I have seen Avtsin, he is they typical Russian enigma. His big mistake was coming over here looking for the paycheck and believing the hype his agent fed him.
He would have been better served stayin in Russia or playing in the CHL getting quality minutes.
He is very one dimensional and needs to have his head in the game which he cannot do if he isn't on the ice. He is prone to make bad decisiopns or take dumb penalties because of it.
Lots of potential, just needs to know how to best utilize it.
Yes however one of the goons should be on the bench.
You do need vets sprinkled in. The main problem for the dogs is they don't have veterans who they can lean on, especially up front. I mean how many 20 year old rookies are getting regular shifts with the Bulldogs these days? 8? If anything their is way too much youth on the team in regards to them struggling to win. But I guess the hope is the group can grow together...
You do need vets sprinkled in. The main problem for the dogs is they don't have veterans who they can lean on, especially up front. I mean how many 20 year old rookies are getting regular shifts with the Bulldogs these days? 8? If anything their is way too much youth on the team in regards to them struggling to win. But I guess the hope is the group can grow together...
Well none of these are reliable so your point is moot. One should sit per game.
You do need vets sprinkled in. The main problem for the dogs is they don't have veterans who they can lean on, especially up front. I mean how many 20 year old rookies are getting regular shifts with the Bulldogs these days? 8? If anything their is way too much youth on the team in regards to them struggling to win. But I guess the hope is the group can grow together...
This is my main problem with the Stortini/Hagel issue as well. We do need some veterans. And arguably having a toughguy to slot in is good too. But I think once we got one veteran toughguy, it was a waste of resources/roster space to add another. The team needed scoring even before Palushaj/Geoffrion issues. Part of development includes winning, making the playoffs, getting playoff experience. I just think it would have helped at least somewhat towards that goal to really chase a big veteran AHL scoring star with the same roster spot that Stortini currently occupies. It still leaves a kid not playing as much, or not in as big a role. So there is a counter to the development philosophy inherent in that. But just potentially giving a better winning atmosphere, or possibly sneaking out a playoff spot would have been a reasonable tradeoff IMHO. Stortini is not a reasonable tradeoff.
This is my main problem with the Stortini/Hagel issue as well. We do need some veterans. And arguably having a toughguy to slot in is good too. But I think once we got one veteran toughguy, it was a waste of resources/roster space to add another. The team needed scoring even before Palushaj/Geoffrion issues. Part of development includes winning, making the playoffs, getting playoff experience. I just think it would have helped at least somewhat towards that goal to really chase a big veteran AHL scoring star with the same roster spot that Stortini currently occupies. It still leaves a kid not playing as much, or not in as big a role. So there is a counter to the development philosophy inherent in that. But just potentially giving a better winning atmosphere, or possibly sneaking out a playoff spot would have been a reasonable tradeoff IMHO. Stortini is not a reasonable tradeoff.
I don't disagree with your POV but let me present another perspective.
If you look at the Marlies, their top players are a mixture of veteran AHL players (Aucoin, Hamilton, Zigomanis, Kositka, Fraser) and established NHL'ers (Ranger, Gardiner, Frattin and to some extent Kadri). They get all the top minutes, all the important situations. Meanwhile the prospects (Colborne, Deschamps, Ashton, Holzer, Blaker) play less.
I much prefer that we have all our significant players being the top players of the team. I'm sure the organization and the players recognize this and are not adversely affected by negativity (unlike many posters on this board). I also don't mind the presence of Stortini, if only if his role is to protect the youngsters. If we wouldn't have one, people would be criticizing the organization for not providing protection to the young players. Also the injuries to Geoffrion, Palushaj and Leblanc, possible our top three forwards heading into the season, should not be discounted.
The true test will be if the NHL starts up and teams like the Marlies lose 4-5 players to the NHL and then we can properly assess the progression of our players.
The Bulldogs will be adding Kristo and Walsh this summer both seniors from the College ranks,they could make a very good 2nd line with Quailer on the LW.Speed and talent with size in Walsh and Quailer,Kristo providing playmaking skills with top-end speed to enter and force the defencemen back.The Bulldogs are going to be hard to beat next season with offence coming from the College ranks and Europe with Collberg & Pribyl making the jump.Deitz,Thrower and possibly PP specialist Magnus Nygren to join the backend more speed,talent & toughness a quality that will be appreciated by all of the fans sooner than later.
PS Merry Christmas everybody!
hold thus new born Habs back oh yeah women playing in the future.Okay back to reality Bulldogs playing the Miracle on Ice in the AHL losing worse than last year.Thank God for word smell.
