The Rookie Camp – The Final Tally

We wait all year for Christmas and then when it finally arrives – it’s over before the rum in your eggnog is out of your system…

That is how the kids at The Montreal Canadiens Rookie Camp must feel.

The three day event has come and gone and it gave the ‘ powers that be ‘ in the organization a pretty solid view of what the near future may hold for Les Habitants.

P. K Subban continued his ‘ tour de force ‘ and showed why it will be a no brainer for him to start the season in Montreal. Subban is heads and tails above the rest of the Habs kids and if that wasn’t enough – he’s showing a tough side as he got into an altercation with Ben Maxwell. It’s a great sign when tempers and competition becomes so intense that a scrimmage becomes the stage for what may be the difference between a career in the NHL or a career in a town where the population consists of 100 people – 75 of which are cousins.

Aaron Palushaj scored four goals in a 7 – 1 White victory over the Reds while first round pick – Louis Leblanc added two goals and two assists. It appears that Palushaj will make the name of Matt D’Agostini something that only the most diehard fans will recognize as Aaron makes a name for himself and puts once skate closer to Martin Brodeur’s crease.

Some of the others to follow in Hamilton this season are…

Gabriel Dumont

Just how many guys can an organization have that are 5′ 10″ or smaller? Oh well – you cannot have Team Smurf without…well, Smurfs…!

Dumont is entering his second year with Hamilton after a prolific period with Drummondville in the QMJHL netting 169 points in 180 games. Gabrielle has very quick feet and good hands and his size enables him the freedom to out maneuver some of the bigger, slower defencemen. Unfortunately for him – the defense in the NHL are faster so he must learn to stay ahead of the play if he wants to become another Daniel Briere and make millions of dollars.

Olivier Fortier

What was I saying about Smurfs…? Okay – he is border line Smurf at 5′ 11 ” and is a clone of Dumont with more experience. Fortier is on the fence this year as far as his future is concerned, it will be a pivotal year for the Quebec City- born player. He must take this opportunity to showcase his talents or risk being just another small player who put up great numbers in junior but has difficulty transforming that productivity into the NHL. Olivier is an asset defensively and this will give him an edge over other more one dimensional players.

Ben Maxwell

Not a smurf…I repeat not a Smurf.

If you Google Ben Maxwell you will discover that he is a 6′ 0 – 185 pound center or a guy who does voice overs – depending on which Ben Maxwell you click on. Let’s hope that the Hamilton Bulldogs need the voice over fellow because the Habs are in dire need of a big center. Judging by his play in Brossard the last couple of days, it seems that Maxwell would also like his skates to do the talking. He was one of the more animated players on the ice and after being hit by a high stick, courtesy of P. K Subban, he used his cut lip as an excuse to display an honorable trait, he does not like to lose.