HabsCast Hockey Blog

First, a hello to all the HabsCast Blog readers out there. My personal blog titled Drive to 25 follows the team on their quest for a twenty-fifth Stanley Cup.

In coercion with this theme, I will be contributing a weekly column here which will look at some of the players and/or situations regarding the Montreal Canadiens that have a positive or negative effect on the team’s hopes to reunite with Lord Stanley.

This week I’ve decided to take a look at a few of the prospects who could very well factor into the Habs’ next Cup run.

It would be impossible for one to focus on the Habs’ youth without talking about Carey Price - thus it’s only fitting that I start with him.

Many, including myself, penned Price in as a likely starter for the Canadiens in the upcoming season. We were wrong. Though, that doesn’t mean that Price’s value or potential has fallen.

The 20-year-old netminder will likely find himself starting the season in Hamilton where he’ll see lots of action.

In my mind, there’s not really a lot left for Price to learn in the AHL after stepping in to win the Calder with the Bulldogs last season. However, with Cristobal Huet and Jaroslav Halak ahead of him on the depth chart with regards to experience, he’ll need to sit back and await an opportunity to present itself.

So what does the future hold for Price? If you ask me, Price will be starting in goal the next time Montreal wins a Stanley Cup. Let’s just hope that comes sooner rather than later.

Another player with a bright future in Montreal is Kyle Chipchura. The defensive minded center is no slouch at 6′2, 204 pounds and has leadership qualities to boot.

We’ve witnessed Christopher Higgins and Michael Komisarek grow with the team over the past few seasons and each now fill a serious role in the organization both on and off the ice. I expect Chipchura to follow in their footsteps beginning this season.

While the 21-year-old is known for his defensively play, I don’t feel his offensive game gets the respect it deserves. In 22 playoff games with the ‘Dogs last season, Chipchura posted 13 points including six goals while remaining a plus-10 in the +/- department.

While it doesn’t seem like much, those stats actually ranked him third on the team for points during their Calder Cup winning post-season.

I hope to see the Alberta native stick around with the Canadiens this season as the club’s forth line center, but he has his work cut out for him with Maxim Lapierre looking for a spot on that line as well.

If he doesn’t survive the final cuts, expect Chips to make his way back up to the NHL this season with a good chance to be this team’s third line center in 2008-2009.

The final player I’ll focus on here is Ryan O’Byrne. The towering defenseman (6′5, 228 pounds) certainly won’t be knocked around the rink very often.

At 23 years of age, O’Byrne has a full AHL season behind him and is likely headed back to start another with Carbonneau opting to play his veterans such as Patrice Brisebois, Mathieu Dandenault, and Francis Bouillon.

Given his size, Ryan is a physical defenseman and matched with a controlled mean streak could really hold down a sixth defenseman role with this club for years to come - a perfect role player for any team on a Cup run.

With a team stacked with talented, prosperous players, the future ñ which may not be all that far away ñ definitely looks bright.

Honorable mention: Matt D’Agostini, Sergei Kostitsyn, & Mikhail Grabovski.

Note from the author: I’d like to thank those who took the time to read the first edition of what I hope will be a successful weekly column here at HabsCast. I look forward to the new season as the team gets a fresh start where anything can happen. Enjoy the ride!

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