Maybe the organization thought we needed some big bodies down in our end. Wtv, let's wait and see. Can't be any worse than Weber was defensively. Good luck Belle, play your heart out!
Shawn Belle was once a very, very highly ranked prospect and a key part on Team Canada's WJC team. Give the guy a chance... some defencemen take years to develop like power forwards take longer. He's only waht... 24??
He's a tough SOB also, which is a good thing. He won't score but he can play an O'B type game and once MAB is ready to go, he'll be the 7th D until O'B is back.
not really, Belle has had a longer road to the NHL than both these guys.
Belle has earned this chance, he has played well in Hamilton. Obviously Boucher has told the habs that Belle is ready. I don't see Gainey making this callup if Boucher does not agree.
I also don't understand why MAB has to play at least 3 AHL games while Chipchura was in a similar spot after missing all of camp and was immediately inserted into the lineup once Metro went down.
Maybe Habs management knows something we don't. For example, maybe MAB is nowhere near game shape. At D, that's more critical than it is at 4th line forward.
So, he had a training camp, although limited, and more than likely took part in drills and practices.
MAB had no training camp whatsoever and has now only had a few practices in the AHL and one game. Personally, I think it makes sense to give him a few more before calling him up.
It's amazing how many whiners we have on this board. It's getting beyond pathetic.
Clearly, HF Boards posters should be in control of the Habs. I mean, we all have experience in managing hockey teams and we clearly have more knowledge than Gainey and co.
To be honest I havent seen him play for the dogs these year and I barely saw him in camp so Im not going to comment on why he's coming up. I will say that he's one of those players that IF he ever hit his potential, he'd be a BEAST in the NHL. He's a physical specimen but has little hockey sense from what Ive seen. When thats the case it can take many years before they finally "get" it and become productive NHLer's. Im not saying thats the case, just that he's that type of player imo.
MAB obviously isnt in game shape just yet. Two games this weekend should help him get there. To a certain degree the Habs are sheltering him here.
Also even with MAB's eventual call-up in a few days, we are still left with only 6 d-men for the next month or two. The Habs will want to carry 7 guys, and im guessing they would not want to have MAB and Weber in at the same time, so their preference would be to have a 7th guy with a bit more size. At this point the choice comes down to Carle or Belle, and im sure Gainey got some good feeback from the AHL coaching staff and J.Brisebois before making that call.
Really its not a big deal. If Belle bombs Thursday night, then i'm sure we will see MAB on Saturday.
He's better defensively than MAB, Subban and Weber right now, so it's a good call up IMO.
absolutely YES
Quote:
Originally Posted by Toro
not really, Belle has had a longer road to the NHL than both these guys.
Belle has earned this chance, he has played well in Hamilton. Obviously Boucher has told the habs that Belle is ready. I don't see Gainey making this callup if Boucher does not agree.
and I trust Boucher's opinion more than anybody else here.
Last edited by Habs10Habs: 10-13-2009 at 10:06 PM.
The guy finished +19 last year in the AHL. He's got it defensively. You want pp? I want defense first off. Price looked Shaky these last two games so we must think defense first, I think he'll do alright. Can't wait to see him get a shot here
Shawn Belle was once a very, very highly ranked prospect and a key part on Team Canada's WJC team.
.
False, he was their 7th defenseman unlike P.K. Subban who quite dominated this tournament..
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vinceee
Wow... after reading this thread... I can now say that you guys are on par with the people on the RDS' talkbacks
Belle is an extremly good skater, can hit and isnt that bad defensively like some people are saying who saw him play MAX 1-2 times
give him a chance
Sorry but Belle is really that bad defensively.. doesnt read the play well.. This team has too many 6th defensemen, dressing a marginal AHLer wont help the situation.. Wrong black guy!!
Weber clearly wasn't ready yet, but he is ahead of Carle, Subban, and Benoit in terms of development. Wouldn't make any sense to call any of them up for a 1-2 game stint.
Belle is a player who has all the tools but no toolbox. Defencemen generally take longer to put it all together. Maybe Belle can be a late bloomer...no harm in giving him 1-2 games with the big club. We all know MAB is coming next week anyway.
I don't find this THAT surprising and bad. Now we have what we have. And while they've tried Weber, they might give a chance to Carle but honestly, I feel that we would have just the same question marks as far as those small d-man being able to sustain a rush. And they clearly don't want to rush Subban. So what the advantage it gives Belle is his speed, something most people here have to agree, we don't have a whole lot in the backhand, and he plays physical so whenever he's going to lose some battles, he might be able to make up for it with his physical play.
Now.....it's not like we have a whole lot of options here. We have what we have. Belle is not the best as far as decision making and we'll know about that real soon. But he is the best option out there, as sad as it sounds.
Last edited by Whitesnake: 10-13-2009 at 06:34 PM.
