Belarus

Is Belarus the new Sweden ?


Asked your's truly  to then Belarus National team coach  Glen Hanlon in 2008.


Hanlon smiled and diplomatically answered '' We're not there yet ''


I sometimes wonder though , if, looking back on it now, Glen's perspective has shifted on the program he left in 2009 to now head the Slovakia National team.


Especially considering the way he left.


In 2009 the BHF ( Belarus Hockey Federation ) decided to part ways with Hanlon in what was considered '' internal matters '', Hanlon simply announced to the press he had resigned .
Hanlon had raised a team from the obscurity of bottom divisional rankings to 8th worlwide. A rise that fans, players and media largely attributed to Hanlon's chemistry with the National Team's veteran core.


A resignation they all took as a sign that Hanlon had had enough of the internal politics within the federation.


Hanlon was replaced by Mikhail Zakharov who also left the program after an injury riddled team underperformed in Vancouver.


Zakharov said to the press at the time.


'' Despite the fact we had allot of injuries, our defence didn't play up to par and we looked lost out there ''




One thing is for sure, it hasn't been an easy road to the NHL for the Belorussian exports.


Following the public spat that trailed the relationship the Kostitsyn's had with Mikhail Grabovski, the headlines inevitably followed prospect Mikhail Stefanovich, highly touted with the Maple Leafs who eventually left North America to a lucrative contract in the KHL after ending up in the ECHL despite a prolific junior career in the Q.


The stories look the same for Sergei Kukushin, Konstantin Zakharov and players like Konstantin Koltsov and Vladimir Denisov, all picks who saw mild interest from their draft teams before falling through to the KHL.


An ex Montreal scout.


'' People often don't understand the mentality of players from poor Russian sphere countries like Belarus.
These guys know that they'll make money from about 21 to 35 years old if they are lucky, and spending 3 years in the AHL is almost like throwing a million or 2 out the window for them they estimate they can make in the KHL. In a country where a doctors monthly salary is 400 to 1000$ A mill is allot of money. ''


'' Take the example of Konstantin Koltsov, even Andrei Kostitsyn threatened to leave Montreal if they decided to send him to the minors in 2007 ''


'' When you evaluate the contract situation of Andrei Kostitsyn, Sergei Kostitsyn and players like Ruslan Salei who will be 39 come 2012. Maybe the Belarus thing was more of a temporary swell, the way Latvia was with Irbe and Ozolinsh. ''




Definitly not Sweden.

Oleg Petrov Interview

Q - When you left the NHL I assumed you would be one of the first guys on the KHL bandwagon, It's actually your second year in the Moscow area after an almost 20 year exile, that's allot of time !

A - (Laughing) Mytishchi is a bit like Laval so can I call it the Moscow area ? Actually there had been allot of change since I left, my first years back in the KHL were in Kazan and since I didn't renew my association with them last year we decided to move into a more ''multi-national'' area. My wife is Canadian so the fact we're in a more english -friendly environment now is important.

Q - Second season for Atlant, how are you meshing with the club ?

A - They have World-Class installations and a fantastic coaching staff, you could say it was an easy transition from my previous clubs, but the fact I'm closer to home I think magnifies all the good aspects of playing here. But don't get me wrong, when it comes to professional hockey in Europe, whether you're in Switzerland or Russia the teams go out of their way to make you feel at home.

Q - You had a taste of both, how do you gauge the KHL's progress vs the NHL ?

A - It's still another game here compared to North America, the differences go beyond the product that both leagues put on the ice. The format is different at every level not just the width of the rink. I think that the KHL offers a great product and that fans, players as well as owners are happy with what we're offering.

Q - When you left the NHL, you were in your early 30s, would finishing your playing career so close to where it began something you've considered ?


A - We have a pretty young team, and I think that being part of this veteran core is great because the roles are well defined. I doubt I would ever go back to Switzerland or anywhere else, especially closing in on 40. I mean there are always offers and different opportunities in this game, but I think I'm done moving the family from one spot to another.

Q - You're putting up fantastic numbers this year for someone closing in on 40


A - I think that beyond age, the most important thing for an athlete in today's game is the amount of preparation and motivation that goes in your play. I've kept in shape and most importantly, I've kept my motivation .

Q - The KHL has some good caliber stars who had an impact in the NHL like Jagr, Yashin, Radulov and a few others, last year's top scorer was Marcel Hossa who had difficulty in North America but adapted very well to the KHL how do you explain this ?


A - My opinion is that to have success in the KHL, you need a good skillset and Marcel, like his brother has dominant hockey skills. It can be maturity too, maybe Marcel would be putting up good numbers in the NHL if teams had been more patient.

Q - There is still a sense of disbelief over the Radulov situation back in the NHL

A - People forget the amount of players even until recently who left to go play in North America, there was allot of controversy when Malkin left, but like the NHL is happy to have Malkin, we are happy to have Radulov

Q - You and Jan Bulis still talk about Montreal ?


A - The NHL is still a recent memory for Jan, we have players like Bykov, Zyuzin, Obsut who also played in North America. There are only good memories of course.

Q - Back to the NHL, I remember you and Andrei Markov being very close playing in Montreal, do you guys still keep in touch ?


A - It has been hard for Andrei the last two years as he is recovering from a serious injury, we've never really lost touch. I hope he gets better. Of course now that he speaks English and has the Canadian citizenship he might not make Team Canada in Sochi. I will be sad for him(laughs).

Niederreiter is not a dirty player but ...

Preseason will always be preseason.

You'll see a fair bit of rookies overachieve and of course you'll have a fair bit of underachievers.

Anyone remember those famous training camps where the Habs kept hoping Ron Hainsey would prove to them he was a better investment on Bell Center ice than Francis Bouillon ?

Well don't worry, after signing for 5 years with the Thrashers a few seasons ago, you would've been relieved the Habs never got on the Hainsey bandwagon. Hainsey is having a horrendous camp this year.

But then again, did you expect the Thrashers would ice a contender ?

Back to Nino. And to Habs fans who had the chance of seeing him the preseason, I have a feeling this kid not only overachieved, he might be a better investment than Tavares if you assume that this kid is for real.

Easy to say Niederreiter's attempt at a blind side hit on Cammalleri was enough to make the Habs forward blow a gasket, and of course we've all seen the countless replays of what Cammalleri  did.

But I don't blame these guys for what happened.

It was clear from the start of the whole sequence that referee Michel Cormier had front court seats to the entire sequence.

Was it a perfect opportunity to apply the new rules when it comes to the NHL's new found weariness to blindside hits ?

Sure it was !

But refereeing will never be the NHL's strength.

Try controversy

Lost Prospect Tracker

Cameron Cepek

Born Jan 12 1988 -- Huntington Beach, CA / Height 6.02 -- Weight 181 -- Shoots R

199th Overall / 7th Round in 2006

Prospected to be : California born, Rugged defenceman with passable skillset

Ended up being : Bounced around a few NHL camps including the Canadiens and Red Wings

Last Google Trace : Prince George Cougars, Lake Erie AHL in 2009

Loic Lacasse

Born Apr 23 1986 -- Granby, PQ / Height 6.02 -- Weight 175 -- Shoots L

181st Overall / 6th Round in 2004

Prospected to be : Back-Up goaltender, Good speed and reflexes

Ended up being : Ignored despite good statistics

Last Google Trace : Playing in France, doing well

Oskari Korpikari

Born Apr 5 1984 -- Oolu, Fin / Height 6.02 -- Weight 205 -- Shoots L

217th Overall / 7th Round in 2003

Prospected to be : Big Defenceman with stellar puck presence

Ended up being : Unwilling to move from home

Last Google Trace : After a long stint with Karpat ( Finnish elite league ) ended up signing last summer with Blues Espoo ( Also Finnish Elite League ).

Mark Flood

Born Sep 29 1984 -- Charlottetown, PEI / Height 6.01 -- Weight 190 -- Shoots R

199th Overall / 7th Round in 2003

Prospected to be : Size and some offensive skills

Ended up being : Signed to an entry level deal by the Blue Jackets in 2004

Last Google Trace : Brief NHL stint with the Islanders, on roster with the AHL's Manitoba Moose so far this year.

Why did Fischer fail ?

Standing on the podium in Vancouver, draft day 2006 ready to call the name of their first round pick, they knew.

The Habs knew that the name they had written down on their selection sheet was going to be a long term project, one of those high risk, high reward players.

Fischer had arrived there with quite a pedigree, '' Mr. Hockey '', First team All-State, and a few other honors.

'' Drafting American kids high in the States High School system was a bit of an off the chart things to do at the time, Toews and Kessel were playing in a great system and scouts had been following them for years, but most scouts did their heavy picking in the WHL and OHL, the kids coming out of those leagues were more in line with what the coaches wanted, they were tough, big and fast. ''

A Colombus Blue Jacket scout at the time looked on perplexed, as the kid who was making his way down the isle at pick number 20 was definitely one of those guys you're surprised to see get up this early.

'' The interview with this kid left you with a feeling he was seeing the whole combine as a joke, but at that time some scouts interpreted that as bravado, we didn't. We take our job seriously. ''

Inevitably, Fischer arrived at the podium and following a few handshakes and cap fitting, left for his family and friends who were waiting for him, now a Hab.

Timmins at the time said ( to Hockey's Future ) :


We would have happily taken Fischer at 16, but we took a calculated risk. We looked at the teams that would be picking before us and we didn’t think they would choose him. Throughout the year, you get an idea of who people like. You take notice of who is in the rink.”

His first season with the Gophers would also include a quick stint with the National development program where he was evaluated for a stint with the Junior National team. An evaluation that would not see him selected but at that time, team USA was considered deep on defence.

This scenario would be a precursor to the rest of Fischer's career

An important part, when it comes to understanding Fischer's drop off, is Gopher's coach Don Lucia, who would mentor Fischer throughout his entire stint in the NCAA. Hockey observers as soon as 2007 would start questioning Lucia's methods and development abilities.

Garth Snow ( Islanders GM ) :

Okposo was an important player for us, and we quickly realized that the program there was an absolute mess. Kyle wasn't getting better, to many of our guys, he was regressing. We were angry, the whole point of putting these kids through US Colleges is to take advantage of the schedule there to help them improve and develop, and quite frankly the coach bears a huge part of that responsibility.

It didn't help that his teams would perform poorly during the collegiate schedule,  Fischer's appearances at Habs development camps would raise questions on how by 2009 Fischer had not only failed to fill up his impressive frame, but start to even regress when it came to the availability of his offensive arsenal.

An ex-Hab scout : 

Development camps always end with a meeting where we have the coaching staff explain to the rookie what we want him to work on for the year ahead. I remember someone from conditioning coming out and telling me that he just photocopied last year's notes and gave them to David, 

Fischer would continue his run with the Gopher's, making appearances at Habs rookie development camps along the way.

But come the summer of 2010, it was clear to Habs brass that Fischer had not panned out according to plan.

He was released only to make a brief appearance at the Canucks rookie development tournament that pitted the Canucks rookies against those of other teams.

To one Canuck broadcast observer :

He looks lost out there.

Only the future knows what's in store for David Fischer going forward, one thing is clear, for now it won't be in a Habs jersey.

Training Camp 2010-2011

Going into the rookie evaluation camps and training camp this year has been an intrinsically educational experience for me as I can really get a feel for doctrine variations between the 3 coaches I have had a chance to observe over the last few years.


Claude Julien's approach to training camp was one deeply rooted in execution and speed, Guy Carbonneau didn't give his camps a real rhythm  until you hit the exhibition schedule and Jacques Martin on his side seems to put an emphasis on '' On-Ice '' scenarios and strengths.


Needless to say I haven't seen guys skate so fast this early on in a long long while.


The rookie conditioning camps were a bit of a bore overall, with youngsters Avitsin and Leblanc the real focus for Habs brass. Leblanc was coming off a great season in the US Collegiate system and an electric start to his career in the QJMHL, arriving in camp you could quickly see that although a few of his gauges indicated NHL ready when it came to work habits, hockey Smarts and grit, his speed and overall strength are far from NHL ready.


Avtsin was another thing altogether. Big, fast, strong on the puck with almost Kovalevian flashes of greatness at times, but if you expect this kid to back-check on a regular basis, you haven't sold the idea to him yet, which is definitely something that Jacques Martin will be pitching to the Hamilton staff once Avtsin starts skating at Copps Coliseum.


Other youngsters like Subban, Pacioretty, Palushaj, Weber and Schultz have been participating with a more evaluative mindset, you could feel they were observing roster-spot rivals, mainly gauging and comparing their summer conditioning and readiness to others.


Once real camp started conditioning was the main talk on the press-bench.


Lapierre is faster, actually, they all look faster ! Plekanec's already stellar speed was complimented by improved action on the backcheck with wider and stabler strides, a trend I've seen with a few players this year. Summer training puts an emphasis on reinforcing the groin, hamstring and a few other areas when it comes to skating but skating coaches have also taught players to adapt their skating to enhance natural fluidity which puts players less often in a vulnerable position.


'' These are pro-Athletes, they've been strengthening their bodies all their lives. There has been an evolution in training over the last ten years and it's easier for us to detect weaknesses in ligaments and muscles and not only correct the issue, but also act on a more preventative basis by correcting and minimizing stress in their motions. ''


My Evaluations so far ( Will add more as camp continues ) :


David Desharnais :


I won't bore you with the obvious size discrepancy we've all noticed when Desharnais skates to the bench and happens to stop right next to Ryan O'byrne, we get it, he's small, the issue here is how small, the answer, you've got it ... VERY small. at 5'6 ( generously on skates ) Desharnais's speed is so important to his game that once a shift over-extends or  a few hits happen to complicate his shift you're sitting there wondering if this guy really has a fighting chance on a Habs team already littered with forwards on the petite size.


+ : Speed, skillset and mindset
- : Durability over a grinding NHL season ?


PK Subban :


So how do you call him ? Subbanator, Subbie, Subbs, Subbomb ? PK Subban inaugurated rookie camp with enough grit, speed and confidence to make you believe that ... well ... that he shouldn't be in rookie camp. As the physical evaluations went on, PK once again dominated the result sheet under Andrei Kostitsyn's uncomfortable stare ( That's right PK beat Andrei at the vertical straight line jump among other things ) PK still has his shortfalls when it comes to choosing his moments to join the rush and when to hover around the blue line.  PK is listed at 5'11' on the Press kit, but some websites have him at 6'0, which is the same height as Jaroslav Spacek. He looked a fair bit smaller than Spacek from where I stood but then again, Is Spacek really 6'0 or 6'1 ... I should have walked around with a measuring tape ...


+ : Speed, Offensive instincts and solid grit
- : Defensive decision making, hate saying it but needs to be a bit less selfish with the puck


Louis Leblanc :


Louis Leblanc is one of those guys that the coach spends very little time repeating stuff to ex : 


Muller : Hard ahead, skate around the net, take the puck, rush, deke shoot, GO
Leblanc : ( Woooosh, he's gone does the drill effortlessly ... )


Muller : Hard ahead, skate around the net, take the puck, rush, deke shoot, GO
Pacioretty : Around the net ? ( pointing with his stick )
Muller : GO !!!! GO !!!! GO !!!!


Louis is fast and one of those guys that just doesn't stop working, he's a player who will own whatever part of the ice he's working in, give him the front of the net, he's not going to budge, give him the corner, sorry guy, the puck is his. One of my main worry when watching this kid ( and he's still very much physically a kid ) respond to the fanbase and media-circles around him. The pressure is high and very much palpable. In one episode, Leblanc was talking to me about his summer training regimen right after a relatively quiet and relaxed 15 minute  Pacioretty interview, it was made clear to me from the start I had exactly 3 minutes to do this before he'd be whisked away to his next appointment. Leblanc felt a bit overwhelmed, let's hope this doesn't take Latendressian proportions ... Who am I kidding, you all know it will ... 


+ : Relentless grit, skills, mindset and on-ice leadership qualities
- : Size makes you wonder how Louis spent his summer, in 1 year since his draft year, he doesn't look that different weight-wise.


Gabriel Dumont : 


Gabriel Dumont has been a revelation for me this training camp, at 5'9 and a tad over 180 pounds Dumont is one of those guys who will pick and chose the way he uses his speed and make it count. There is nothing about Dumont that spells quit, he won't stop to see what's happening around him, as far as he's concerned, he is what is happening out there and that makes him a player impossible to hate. Unfortunately like allot of the diminutive forwards this camp, you tend to clump them in the same category of small guys with speed that can't really match up against big defenceman on the forecheck and big forwards on the backcheck.


+ : Pure scoring forward, fearless grit, an uncanny nose for the finishing move that takes 0.0001 second to make.
- : You can already imagine Zdeno Chara's mouth watering at seeing this guy going for the puck near the boards

Andreas Engqvist :

I wonder sometimes what the discussion was in Gainey / Gauthier's office when the name Andreas Engqvist came up.

Gauthier : Tell me about Engqvist.

Scout : Well he's not much of a scorer, I mean ... he's not really fast, he's big though.

Gauthier : Ok so can he speak french ?

Scout : A few words, but ....

Gauthier : BRING HIM TO ME !

Ok, I'm probably tired, but yes, I heard him say '' HOHOHO UN PEU '' which qualifies as being bilingual right ? right ...  No seriously Engqvist is one of those rare guys who'll make you look for the Q key on your keyboard when talking about a hockey player, but all grammatical follies aside, it is true, Engqvist is big, very big and to my amazement pretty good on skates, good enough to make you look twice, he will battle where the battle happens and won't back down from physical play, one of those players who has allot of fun making small offensive players miserable. he's got defensive hockey sense and knows how to use it to drive you mad. A Jacques Martin type of player.

+ : Hockey brains, Size and Execution

- : Not the most motivated offensive guy you'll meet, one of those '' good without the puck '' guys. has skills though, but kind of Andreas Dackell like ...

Hope you enjoyed the read ... I'm off !

Weber & Camp

Yannick Weber has never been one for grandstanding predictions when it came to the way he evaluated his future in the NHL. `` I have a job to do every night I’m on the ice, my only concern is doing it well ``

But where does that leave us in pre-camp predictions?

Weber arrived on Habs fans radar at a peculiar moment in the team’s history, former Hab Mark Streit was wowing fans with his thunderous and accurate slap shot, and inevitably comparisons started raining in when scouting reports praised Weber’s quarterbackish qualities on the power play.

`` I understand that people like to compare players especially that Mark is from Switzerland and we both have strengths on the Power play but I want to work hard to move beyond that comparison``

I had time to review a few Trevor Timmins interviews I had done at the end of the 2009 development camps and at that time I came out of it thinking that at 5’9, right handed, fast and an OHL QB scoring machine, it was like I had just asked Trevor what would be the opposite of Ryan O’byrne (who is also right handed).

So in the grand scheme of things where does that put Weber coming out of training camp?

Probably on the prime recall list if another defenseman goes down, but with Hamrlik, O’byrne, Spacek, Gill and Gorges guaranteed a starting spot and the Habs adding Alexandre Picard, count playoff rookie sensation P.K Subban to be a favourite coming out of camp.

Ben Maxwell Q&A

Ben Maxwell has always hovered within the Habs prospect pool from fringe blue chipper to ( if you are to believe the enthusiasm of some ) the second coming of Brad Richards.
When I got the opportunity to bring up this comparison to an NHL scout and ex-coach his exact comments were '' Brad Richard's game has always been centered around passing and positioning, he's a spectacular guy when it comes to situational hockey, hell often start a spectacular play, but rarely be at the finishing end of one ''
So what about Ben Maxwell in all of this ? '' Most of the scouting on Maxwell paints a kid with good speed, hands and work ethic, not tough but he'll get his nose dirty ''
So who knows ... down the line how Maxwell will progress and who he'll morph into, I've met hundreds of pro hockey players from Europe, the AHL, the NHL and the KHL, what makes one a succesful NHL player is a combination of dedication to training and the will to be superior to everyone else, And I definitly sense those traits in Ben Maxwell.

Q - Ben talk to us about growing up how did you decide that Hockey
was the direction for you ?

A - Like allot of kids, I was into allot of sports growing up, you name it, Soccer, Baseball, Skiing, Basketball, but hockey was it, I always wanted to be a hockey player

Q - Not allot of people know this, but skating your junior years with the Kootenay ice, you played under Cory Clouston, tell us a bit about Cory’s coaching style, do you guys still keep in contact ?

A - Here and there, Cory's philosophy when it comes to coaching is very technical , which really suited my style of play within his strategy, I know that going through junior in Kootenay, it gave me tons of opportunities on the ice.

Q - What do you make of the whole Dany Heatley saga? I met Cory about 2 years ago and he doesn’t look the ‘’ scream in your face type ‘‘ ?

A - I've heard very little about the whole Heatley saga, who knows what happened there

Q - This last year you’ve had your first taste of AHL hockey and of course NHL hockey, Now in junior you were often described as a physical guy who can take it (physically), dish it, and of course incorporate that game-breaker factor into your goal scoring, do you think professional hockey has changed you into a different player?

A - That's one of the great things about the WHL, it really does an awesome job getting you ready for Pro Hockey, I mean I feel the general step up in my game no doubt about that, but overall nothing has drastically changed about my style and play, I'm still the same player

Q - How was your first year in the AHL, did you have any objectives going in ?

A - Honestly most of it was to go into it and to stay an entire season injury free while leaving it all on the ice

Q – During your draft year allot of scouts described you as a big physical forward with the ability to score with some consistency, injury prone was a big question mark hovering over your head, how have you addressed your demons on that side ?

A - I think that with all the work I've done to improve my endurance injuries are a thing of the past, I feel stronger, much bigger and most importantly, durable now

Q – How did you feel on your first day at the Bell Centre knowing you would play that night last year ?

A - It all happened so quickly, I mean really quickly, at that point you don't have too much time to worry about nerves you just go for it, I felt really good as the game went on.

Q – As a hockey player you probably have allot of memorable moments in your life, is that by far the most memorable moment of Ben Maxwell’s young career ?

A - Definitely the most memorable one so far !

Q – With Bob Gainey’s big revamp this year, allot of people have been talking about leadership, and what every roster player and prospect can bring to the leadership table, talk to us a bit about what your vibe translates like in a locker room ?

A - I try not to make too much noise in the dressing room, as a leader I'm more of a lead on the ice type of guy

Q – How did you react to all the changes this year ?

A - I mean it's always too bad when you see quality players move on, but at thesame time you look at this new line up and all the new talent that's landed on this team, I think the city is going to have allot of reasons to be excited

Q – Talk to us about your training this summer, did the Habs tell you to put the emphasis on anything in particular ?

A - I've been at it this summer 5 days a week, Monday to Friday skating and working out, obviously power and size are another factor I've been pushing to improve

Q – What are your objectives for 2010 ?

A - 2010 is going to be extremely important as a year and I hope that as the year starts I can make an impact in Montreal

Q - Who was your idol growing up , do you model your game after anyone in particular ?

A - Can't say I really model my game after someone or anyone in particular, but obviously growing up in Vancouver watching Pavel Bure with the Canucks ...

Q – What’s on your Ipod , what do you listen to on the road ? in the locker room ?

I like to listen to a little of anything, rock, rap, classic rock, anything with a good beat !

Loic Lacasse Q&A

Loic Lacasse for the last couple of years has been a staple of rookie evaluation camp, with a style and demeanor that reminded some of Mathieu Garon in some aspects, there seems to be a consensus that Loic has been somewhat the forgotten story of the Habs goalie line with better profiled kids in the system such as Cedric Desjardins and for a bit of time Yann Danis it was easy to completely forget about Lacasse once Missiaen was drafted this year.

But don't count Lacasse out ! after his journeys in the Q, OHL and more recently pro-league IHL, Loic is back in camp this year with allot to prove and a will to shatter any perceptions we've had about him in the past.

Q - Loic, during your draft years there seemed to be a consensus on you being a good fast goalie with well balanced agility and strength, talk to us a bit about the skill and mindset( as well as the evolution ) a goalie goes through when he comes out of draft day, and gets into the mold of a guy like Melanson ?

A - The focus is very quickly put in what is in your head, they go to big extents to figure that out and it's very important because it is 90% of the job, once they are sure you are the mental part is strong, your technique is put to the test and they find every hole you can imagine ! finally of course ... can you stop the puck ?

Q - You've mentioned that Rollie puts a big emphasis on the mental part of things, how do you reinforce that part of your game ?

A - It's so primordial and essential, people can't even start to realise, I mean thats what it's all about, can you get back into the groove after giving up a bad goal ? that is the main difference between a number one guy and well ... an ok goalie, on my side I tried different things but what helped alot was excelling around older players gaining the confidence that you can stop someone who is that much more developed in his game and experienced than you are.

Q - Some analysts say there will be a heck of a battle between you and Cedric Desjardins come camp, what is your perspective on that, how are you approaching this camp ?

A - I've got nothing to lose, everything to win, I hope the others know that coming into camp as I'm going to give everything I have, I want to show them I'm a solid guy in every and all perspectives, leave it all on the table.

Q - Do you agree with some of them sayng it will take a spectacular camp for you to come back in the Habs crosshair ? Do you think they've exagerated the importance of this camp ?

A - Well ... No they're not exagerating, but don't get me wrong, I want to prove myself during camp, but camp is camp and the season will be even more telling on the improvements I've made, I want a good camp to transfer over to the season, thats for sure.

Q - Talk to us about your summer training, did the Habs ask you to work on anything in particular ?

A - Well I definitly have to get there in top shape, I've been non-stop this summer at Allard Training in St. Hilaire so I'm sure I've got that covered.

Q - Talk to us about the IHL Praire Thunder and how you approached these last few months with them, is it a step over the Q to a big extent ?

A - Well it is in many aspects, especially that you have much older guys there, shooting at you all day and a good coaching staff, I was pleased to have a good season with them and that was the bottom line for me, push as hard as I could to have an excellent season.

Q - I don't think I've ever interviewed a goalie who's played in the OHL and Q, did you see a big difference from your end of the ice ?

A - Well the caliber felt similar, but yeah the styles are really different on some aspects.

Q - Well I have to ask you this for all the guys wondering out there, whats on your Ipod here ?

A - Well, a bit of everything, Country, Metal, Rap, I'm all over the place ...

Q - Equipment wise what pads are ou using this year ?

A - Pads are all Nike Bauer One 95, the stick is a Bauer Vapor XXXX

Q&A with Thomas Beauregard

At 5'11 and a nose for the net, it's hard to pinpoint what made Thomas Beauregard an undrafted overager skating for The Acadie Bathurst Titan. Little was known about the Montreal native until the day GM Bob Gainey made him part of the Canadiens family with a minor league contract last year.

Scouted Strengths are : Good hockey sense with well rounded decision making in the offensive zone, when on his game extremely effective and dominant in all three zones.

Scouted Weaknesses: Mitigated play in his zone, skating and speed needs to improve dramatically

Our conclusion: Hardest Habs training prospect ... ever ...

Q - During your draft year I remember the fateful words from one of the Blue Jackets scouts being : Injury prone. However any critics were quickly silenced after your last brilliant year in junior, talk to us about the spark that led you to the Habs organization.

A - I've always been one to shut out that kind of criticism and work as hard as I can. Hockey is in some ways an extreme contact sport and sure I've had my small share of injuries, but I've never given up, I persevered and worked as hard as I could, never considered quitting, and stuff happens when you show your that kind of guy.

Q - I was impressed to find out you have a bit of a following on the internet, some hockey fans see you as a passer but from what I've observed your not that far removed from being a pure sniper how do you see your game ?

A - Well ... I don't really consider myself a spectacular player, I've noticed allot of my goals come from about 15 feet out, I guess I've got a good eye for the net ... do I ?

Q - Most memorable goal ?

A - Oh ... ask some of the Halifax Mooseheads, I remember at my last year I deked about 4 guys to put one in ... that was a good one

Q - Talk to us about your year in Cincinnati, what were your expectations, personal objectives ?

A - Well ... at first dissapointed to be there, I mean it sucks to realise your at the bottom step and the way up is pretty high, it took a while to get used to that city, I really badly wanted to get back to Hamilton and played my heart out to get there, the funny thing is that Cincinnati is forever in m heart now that we've clinched the Kelly cup, thats something that never goes away ...

Q - Questionning some scouts about you the '' plus's '' were unanimous, a great shot, creates his own chances, the minus's were skating a defensive play , how do you describe your own game and progression ?

A - Well there's no doubt I consider myself as an offenisve zone kinda guy, it's been following me around since minor hockey, but ... I've definitly been increasingly aware of my play without the puck, sure it's fun in the minors to score goals but thats not what takes you to the NHL level, I'm pretty confident I've progressed on that aspect and all the others too !

Q - Meeting Timmins, he mirrored your words when talking about the improvement in your game, did the Habs insist ( or put an emphasis ) on you improving one aspect of your game ?

A - Well not really, just gain more confidence in the defensive zone, I definitly want to show them I am a more complete player.

Q - How did your training go this summer ?

A - Wow ! Well I'm at it 5 days a week off and on the ice, I'm being trained by Pierre Allard in St-Hilaire and followed a load of classes with Scott Livingston at the Bell Centre to rehabilitate a bit, everything has been going on brilliantly

Q - Objectives for 2009 ?

A - Well off the bat, Full time member of the Bulldogs, Habs camp is a about to start so I won't set too lofty goals, just work my brains off ...

Q - Who was your idol growing up ? do you model your play after a player in particular ?

A - Funny enough my big brother David-Alexander growing up, everyone thought after his accident his career would be over, and 2-3 months later he's back on the ice, it was so inspiring for me, He is the ultimate warrior ( To read the Sports Illustrated story, click here )
As for a player in particular ... I don't know ... some people have compared me to Michael Ryder
but I disagree, they are who they are, I am who I am.

Q - What sticks are you using ?

A - Heard about Ballistick hockey sticks ? brand new company ! the curbe is ... well a bit of a Joe Sakic curve ...

Q - Skates ?

A - Those new Rbk 9 skates, I like them sharpened very lightly, never liked a deep cut !

Q&A with Danny Kristo

Little was known about Danny Kristo when the Habs made him their first selection in 2008, on the homefront we knew that we could expect big things from Danny this year due to the fact he's always been a go to guy for the USHL, but what kind of player is Danny Kristo, what does he bring to the equation and most importantly how does he fit the Hab's equation.

Danny Kristo is 6 ft tall 180 Lbs right winger, born in Eden Prairie Minnesota

Scouted Strengths are : North\South Speed with Elite level decision making in all three zones, hard worker with puck possession tenacity.

Scouted Weaknesses : East\West mobility overall gritiness needs improvement as well as his ability to stand out from the pack. needs more imposing confidence to his game and toughness.

Puckmania caught up with Danny as he's preparing for a new Season, and got to learn allot from him ( including his love of Waffles ! )

Q - I was surprised to find out you've decided to join the Ranks of the Fighting Sioux of North Dakota instead of heading to your State's University of Minnesota in 2009 , can you give us some insight into your decision ?

A - I never grew up a Minnesota fan. I always wanted to play for Nodak.We have some family ties to North Dakota so i wanted to play there.

Q - What are your personal and team objectives going back to school this year ?

A - Definitly, my goal for this year is to make World Juniors and to play to the best of my ability. somewhere along top 3 scorers in the USHL would be great. As far as team, the Omaha Lancers won it all last year. I don't think anything less than that the team would be happy with.

Q - Talk to us about going to Russia for the U18's how did that experience mesh into the weave of experiences you've had this year ?

A - Going to Russia was very different. the tournament was great and very fun. i wish we would have came out on top but we fell short. as far the travel and everything it was very demanding. i got food poisoning at the start of the medal round.

Q - Prospect camp must have been an interesting experience, the media here was quick to notice your smooth skating and accurate shot, is there anything in particular Hab's brass wants you to work on ?

A - A lot of people say im a good skater but you can always improve there. i still need to get stronger and work on the little parts of my game.

Q - Describe your reaction the first time you saw Missiaen in goal ?

A - When I saw Jason the only thing I said was where the hell do i shoot? five hole?

Q - Allot of fans are curious about a prospect's mindset going into the combine and draft, what did you find the most grueling ? over two dozen interviews or sitting on that bench waiting to hear your name ?

A - The whole process is a good experience. It was stressful and difficult but exciting. I think the hardest part differs per player. for me it was the bike test at the combine and the interviews.

Q - Talk to us about your experience meeting the Habs at the Combine, did Trevor seem to put the emphasis on certain abilities vis a vis others ?

A - The meeting at the combine went well. I remember it and thought that they liked me after. It was pretty mellow and not to stressful.

Q - One of the funnier comments we've had was Timmins telling us : He's like a young buck in the headlights now, but watch his feet ... he's got really quick feet." Was the initial '' wow '' effect a bit overwhelming at first ? It reminded me allot of a comment he made about Chris Higgins several years ago, so your in good company !

A - Glad i could get compared to Chris Higgins ! But everything is overwhelming at first you tend to deal with it.

Q - Who was your idol growing up ? Was Hockey always your sport ? Any favorite teams then ( it's ok we'll forgive you if it isn't the Habs but it can't be the Bruins ... )

A - Growing up I loved hockey, I would have to say my favorite player is TJ Oshie. I now can say that he is my favorite NHL player now that he has signed. Mike richards from Philadelphia also.

Q - Equipment related : What Skates are you presently sporting ? Any prefered sharpening pattern ?

A - I'm using brand new Stuff from Reebok this year ! ( 9K Reebok )

Q - What stick - Curve style do you presently play with ?

A - Right now, the Easton Special Edition 85 flex Iginla Curve !