2023-08-26 20:01:58
It’s not really a surprise to anyone: the Montreal market is unique in the NHL. Beyond the French fact and the winter season (two factors that repel some players from coming to town), we are talking regarding a place where the pressure is quite strong.
There is Toronto, which offers a similar reality, but we agree that in many other markets, the pressure has nothing to do with that found in Montreal. In Florida, for example, it’s drastically different.
Inevitably, therefore, the fact that the reality is different in Montreal means that the Canadiens must adapt their ways of doing things accordingly, and this, at all levels.
Amateur scouting is no exception, and Martin Lapointe spoke to Recruits recently regarding it. In a text published todaythe co-director of amateur recruitment affirmed that the reality of the market forces the club to give a lot of importance to big games played by young people.
Marty Lapointe puts a lot of emphasis on how a prospect performs in big games and league playoffs.
You can read his article here: pic.twitter.com/eLjZL5ubsg— Grant McCagg (@grantmccagg) August 26, 2023
Lapointe knows it: players must be able to take it to survive the Montreal market. So, by looking at the performance of youngsters in important games, the CH is able to identify the guys who are able to show up when the stakes are high.
And when we look at the recent choices of the club, we notice that the words of Lapointe are transposed to the selections. Probably the most glaring case is that of Juraj Slafkovský, who was drafted first overall by the Habs in 2022.
Slavs did not necessarily dominate in the regular season during his time in Finland (he had amassed 10 points in 31 games in the League in 2021-22), but when you look at his bigger games, you notice he showed up. Obviously, his seven goals in seven games at the Olympic Games had caused a stir, but his nine points in eight games at the 2022 World Championship are also a good harvest.
And remember that he was a 17-year-old at the Olympics and had just turned 18 at the World Championship. He was playing once morest adults at the time.
But beyond Slafkovský, there are other guys for whom we can transpose Lapointe’s words. The case of Jacob Fowler, for example, is interesting: the young goaltender had been a real wall in the last series in the USHL with a save percentage of .952 in nine starts.
He had led his club to the conquest of the Clark Cup, he who had been named MVP of the final.
USHL Rewind 2022-23 | Youngstown G Jacob Fowler named Clark Cup MVP following Phantoms’ postseason championship run that saw him go 8-1 while leading all goaltenders in Ws, GAA (1.36), Sv% (.952) & saves (273). #StarsRise pic.twitter.com/qhvFXuKYdS
— USHL (@USHL) July 19, 2023
David Reinbacher also performed well in bigger games (at the WJC, the World Championship and in the playoffs with his team in Switzerland) last year, just as Filip Mesar was dominant in the U18s in his draft year ( 12 points in seven games).
I might go on, but I think that gives four good scenarios.
Clearly, therefore, one can understand that important games dictate a lot of amateur scouting in Montreal, while both Lapointe’s comments and the club’s recent choices seem to confirm this reality.
If a guy wants to be drafted in Montreal, then it’s up to him to perform in the important games. Because clearly, it is an important factor.
A lot of
– I would go with Elias Pettersson, personally.
Who will be the top scorer for this cuvée this season? ???? pic.twitter.com/DdnzBfHRt5
— TVA Sports (@TVASports) August 26, 2023
– It was a formality.
GARRIOCH: Michael Andlauer approved by NHL’s executive committee to buy Ottawa Senators, via @ottawasuncom
— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) August 26, 2023
“And despite everything, they went looking for him.
In Minnesota, there was toxicity surrounding Josh Donaldson.
— Passion MLB (@passion_mlb) August 26, 2023
– The Western formation wins the first duel of the LECB at the Videotron Centre, which is a sort of All-Star Game for the league. The Montreal Alliance was well represented among the Eastern squad.
The Western Conference team won the first LECB duel by 107-102.#CEBLClash pic.twitter.com/1fO6R6EoON
— AlleyOop360 (@AlleyOop360) August 26, 2023
– I can’t wait to see it in action.
Milos Raonic almost at home in New York
— Radio-Canada Sports (@RC_Sports) August 26, 2023
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