Maxime Boisclair, Oliver Labelle, Derick Brassard, Angelo Esposito
I'm a Habs fan who has a sudden craving for more French Canadian talent in Montreal (after seeing the Maurice Richard movie, you might have guessed). Suddenly, I can't wait for Guillaume Latendresse to make the team next year or the year after that. I don't know much about the "Q" and I just began exploring the QMJHL stats lists for the first time. A few names caught my eye and I have a few questions.
First, why has neither Maxime Boisclair nor Olivier Labelle been drafted by an NHL team? What's wrong with them? Would they be interesting invitees to the Habs camp?
Second, when will Derick Brassard be eligible for the NHL draft? In what round is he expected to go? How does he project as an NHLer?
Third, when will Angelo Esposito be eligible for the NHL draft? How does he project as an NHLer?
Fourth, in your opinion, would any one of Esposito, Brassard, Boisclair or Labelle be interesting additions to a Habs team?
I'm a Habs fan who has a sudden craving for more French Canadian talent in Montreal (after seeing the Maurice Richard movie, you might have guessed). Suddenly, I can't wait for Guillaume Latendresse to make the team next year or the year after that. I don't know much about the "Q" and I just began exploring the QMJHL stats lists for the first time. A few names caught my eye and I have a few questions.
First, why has neither Maxime Boisclair nor Olivier Labelle been drafted by an NHL team? What's wrong with them? Would they be interesting invitees to the Habs camp?
Second, when will Derick Brassard be eligible for the NHL draft? In what round is he expected to go? How does he project as an NHLer?
Third, when will Angelo Esposito be eligible for the NHL draft? How does he project as an NHLer?
Fourth, in your opinion, would any one of Esposito, Brassard, Boisclair or Labelle be interesting additions to a Habs team?
Thanks for playing.
Boisclair's skating is below average, although I wouldn't mind giving him a PTO contract with Hamilton.
Labelle was at the Habs camp two years ago along when he was with Gatineau. Out of all the guys at the development camp, I thought he would get a contract cause he was always working hard and showed he can take the body. Don't know why they didn't sign him, perhaps they felt his skill level wasn't up to par.
Brassard is an '06, very very likely to go in the 1st round, imo top 15 or so. I personally think it's hard to guage will guys from the Q will go cause to me some get overlooked. Last draft I thought for sure someone would take Mathieu Roy but for whatever reason he wasn't even picked.
Espo is an '07, should be a skilled NHLer I would guess.
Yes I think Brassard would be a good addition if the Habs could land him. Espo I'm sure they could use a guy with his skills. Labelle I wonder if they would try and pick him up to give him a shot in Hamilton next year. Boisclair would be an interesting pick up for sure, don't know if the Habs would take the chance or not but I wouldn't mind seeing it.
Labelle was at the Habs camp two years ago along when he was with Gatineau. Out of all the guys at the development camp, I thought he would get a contract cause he was always working hard and showed he can take the body. Don't know why they didn't sign him, perhaps they felt his skill level wasn't up to par.
Having watched Labelle for a few years in Hull, I think it comes down to skill. IIRC, he was a former first round pick, so there were high hopes. He gives his all out there, with great energy and a strong work ethic, but never seemed like the most gifted player. He wasn't a bum obviously, but he never looked like an NHL prospect. Maybe he just didn't get enough opportunity. The few times I saw him last year, Krejci, Labrecque and Pohl would play together a lot, and he'd be on his own line, with lesser skilled guys.
This year he's clearly busted out offensively, but I haven't seen him play, so I don't know what the difference is. Maybe he's had a breakthrough. Other Ottawa area junior players like Zenon Konopka and Michael Ryder have far exceeded my expectations, so who knows.
Boisclair's skating is below average, although I wouldn't mind giving him a PTO contract with Hamilton.
Labelle was at the Habs camp two years ago along when he was with Gatineau. Out of all the guys at the development camp, I thought he would get a contract cause he was always working hard and showed he can take the body. Don't know why they didn't sign him, perhaps they felt his skill level wasn't up to par.
Brassard is an '06, very very likely to go in the 1st round, imo top 15 or so. I personally think it's hard to guage will guys from the Q will go cause to me some get overlooked. Last draft I thought for sure someone would take Mathieu Roy but for whatever reason he wasn't even picked.
Espo is an '07, should be a skilled NHLer I would guess.
Yes I think Brassard would be a good addition if the Habs could land him. Espo I'm sure they could use a guy with his skills. Labelle I wonder if they would try and pick him up to give him a shot in Hamilton next year. Boisclair would be an interesting pick up for sure, don't know if the Habs would take the chance or not but I wouldn't mind seeing it.
in defense of maxime his skating could always get better nothing a great power skating coach can't improve he can (maxime definetly get better with hard work but that aside he puts the puck in the net and is a playmaker/sniper
he was invited to bolts rookie camp but they played him as center when he's a natural winger...hopefully he'll get a second chance with a team that let's him play his game and has a great power skating staff he'd be great on the habs
I cannot comment on Olivier Labelle in Gatineau, but I have watched him extensively in Bathurst this year.
He is much better than I was expecting as a scorer...
He also is a great leader and a never quitting worker.
I would think some pro team will be looking at him before season end as he is performing in great fashion this year.
Also another player who could interest the Habs would be Mathieu Roy from the Acadie-Bathurst Titan...he is a sniper and he is draft eligible this year at 19 YO...
I've only seen Boisclair once in Saint John. His skating was average, his shot was awesome, but I'd say his biggest weakness is his lack of toughness. The Dogs assigned Charles Bergeron to cover him. He pounded Max practically every shift and won a first star in the process. From the opening drop he was running scared, and never fought back. There was even a 5 on 3 with Charles in the box that he was afraid to handle the puck.
I agree, Boisclair skating leaves a lot to be desired.
Exactly. And anybody wondering why he hasn't been drafted can take that statement as the reason.
There's no more time to work on skating at 20 years old. You can either skate or work on it. If he really wanted to play pro hockey at a high level, he would have already brought his skating to the next level. He hasn't. I'd guess that scouts wouldn't bother taking a chance on him because of it. No drive, no chance.
