AHL: Hamilton’s Stable Stable

With all of the uncertainty in Montreal regarding ownership, the playoffs, the coaching staff, players' potential links to organized crime, and Carey Price's recent play in net, the certainty in Hamilton is a bright spot Canadiens fans can look to and take solace in. The Bulldogs look poised to make the AHL Calder Cup Playoffs on the strength of a strong road record, plenty of offense, an experienced goaltender, and the considerable prospect talent they've received from the parent club. Rookie-pro Ben Maxwell is toward the top of the AHL-rookie-scoring race, Brock Trotter isn't too far behind, and 2007-08 ECHL MVP, Leading Scorer, and Rookie of the Year David Desharnais is also looking quite impressive in his rookie AHL season. Add in one of the top threats in the AHL from the point in rookie Yannick Weber, a fine collection of young forwards with an attention to defense, and captain Kyle Chipchura, you certainly have a talented corps of prospects.

McKeen's correspondent Kevin Wey recently had the opportunity to catch the Hamilton Bulldogs in action and files notes on several prospects enjoying fine seasons, including Weber, Maxwell Trotter and Desharnais. Kyle Chipchura, Sergei Kostitsyn, and a few other Montreal prospects are also featured.

Yannick Weber (Mtl), D, Hamilton

Machine gun from the point .. not too particular if the puck is settled, he gets the shot off quickly .. has a hard-one timer from the point, a hard slapshot from the point, and a hard snapshot from the point .. double-shifted on the powerplay .. makes hard, accurate passes .. sees some time on the penalty kill, but must improve defensive play .. loses defensive positioning at times .. definitely a powerplay weapon, but needs to improve defensive game to overcome 5-foot-10, 192-pound frame to receive regular icetime in the NHL .. played for PlanetUSA at AHL All-Star Game .. as of March 22, he had 14 goals and 25 assists in 63 games for Hamilton, 8th in AHL-defenseman scoring, 2nd in AHL rookie-defenseman scoring, and 18th in AHL-rookie scoring .. had 181 shots in those 63 games, almost three shots per game as a defenseman .. recalled by Canadiens Jan. 1 and sent back down Jan. 14 .. held pointless in his one game with Montreal.

Sergei Kostitsyn (Mtl), RW, Hamilton

More of an NHLer than a prospect at this point, but interesting to compare to Hamilton's prospects .. played the point on the powerplay and double-shifted .. however if penalty killers gained possession from a turnover at the point, Kostitsyn's backchecking effort was horrible.. makes hard, crisp, accurate passes fitting of an NHL offensive player .. has a quick, hard snapshot and a fairly hard slapshot .. confident stickhandler who can undress opponents with slick moves .. has good cruising speed with the puck .. patient with the puck and a heads-up playmaker able to assess his options .. adept one-touch passer .. definitely has NHL-caliber skill .. saw a little time on the penalty kill .. as of March 22, he had 5 goals and 9 assists in 16 games with Hamilton .. spent most of the season with the Canadiens, assigned to Hamilton Feb. 17, and recalled to Montreal March 22 .. had 8 goals and 15 assists in 52 games with Montreal prior to recent recall.

Kyle Chipchura (Mtl), C, Hamilton

Yet, another season in the AHL .. 6-foot-2, 205-pound pivot still plays his physical checking game with an attention to defense .. played on the penalty kill .. willing to drop the gloves .. centered the third line on this night and was not a regular on the powerplay, but still has strong numbers for the season in the AHL .. displays some of the skill commensurate with those numbers, such as drawing the puck around opponents .. as written about, one of the main tasks for Chipchura is to become more proficient in the faceoff circle .. has NHL third-line center written all over him if he does improve on the draw .. as of March 22, he had 14 goals and 17 assists in 44 games with Hamilton and a team-leading plus-23 rating .. had 3 assists in 13 games with Montreal.

Ben Maxwell (Mtl), C, Hamilton

Having a strong rookie-pro season .. on the first powerplay unit and sees some time on the penalty kill .. has decent speed with good stride extension .. has quick hands and can protect the puck with his stickhandling and through swivels .. not really big at 6-foot-0, 185 pounds, but still able to battle through the opposition and drive the net .. an offensive threat around the net who creates chances .. makes crisp, accurate passes .. has a hard snapshot .. shows attention to the defensive game, too .. may potentially develop into a second-line NHL center, but easy to see him slotting in as a skilled third-line center .. as of March 22, he had 17 goals and 32 assists in 65 games with Hamilton for second in team scoring, and third in AHL-rookie scoring .. spent second half of December with the Canadiens and was pointless in seven games with Montreal.

Brock Trotter (Mtl), C/LW, Hamilton

Very poised with the puck .. heads-up stickhandler who has patience with the puck, assesses his options, and creates plays .. dangerous opening up to the play and making centering passes .. able to draw the opposition toward him and make a fancy pass to an open or trailing teammate .. a slightly upright skater who has good speed and typically has long strides .. does start running on his skates at times .. played on the second powerplay unit .. at 5-foot-10, 180 pounds, he is a bit undersized, but he may overcome it .. as of March 22, he had 14 goals and 27 assists in 68 games with Hamilton, fifth in team scoring and 17th in AHL-rookie scoring.

David Desharnais (Mtl), C, Hamilton

An ECHL success story whose tale should only grow grander .. was the 2007-08 ECHL MVP, Rookie of the Year, and Leading Scorer (68-29-77-106) playing for Cincinnati .. named to ECHL First Team, ECHL All-Rookie Team, and led the Cyclones to the Kelly Cup leading the ECHL playoffs in scoring (22-9-24-33).. signed NHL contract Nov. 4, and is certainly deserving .. 5-foot-6, 177-pound forward is small in stature but big on effort .. has quick strides but produces decent power in them and has good speed .. plays on both the powerplay and the penalty kill .. showed excellent hustle changing assignments on the penalty kill .. quick to loose pucks .. puts in a good effort on the forecheck and the backcheck .. makes crisp passes and can execute seeing-eye passes through traffic .. has good offensive vision .. puts himself in a position to score .. looking forward to when he gets a shot at the NHL, as it will come .. as of March 22, he had 19 goals and 29 assists in 69 games with Hamilton for third in team scoring and sixth in AHL-rookie scoring.

Ryan White (Mtl), LW/C, Hamilton

Always finishes his checks .. plays a tenacious and physical forechecking game that makes it difficult for the opponent to break out .. battles along the boards and can strip defensemen of the puck down low .. a threat to lay out a hit in all three zones .. a regular on the penalty kill .. not without some offensive ability, and demonstrated decent patience with the puck .. adequate size at 6-foot-0, 200 pounds .. possible future fourth-liner for Montreal .. as of March 22, he had 11 goals and 17 assists in 72 games for Hamilton.

Ryan Russell (Mtl), C, Hamilton

Most notes in this viewing were defensive in nature .. displayed good speed pressuring on the forecheck .. hustled and was F1 on the forecheck often .. regular penalty killer.. at 5-foot-10 and 176 pounds, he is a bit undersized for the NHL, but Russell may still have a future as a defensive center in the NHL .. as of March 22, he had 15 goals and 18 assists in 71 games for Hamilton, with a team second-best plus-22 rating.

Mathieu Carle (Mtl), D, Hamilton

Didn't stand out, either in a good way or a bad way .. not particularly fast with the puck and is easy to angle off .. speed seemed average in all directions .. wide-tracked skater whose recovery phase of his stride could come in more .. engaged physically down low and at the blueline, but not aggressively physical ..adequate AHL defenseman, but not NHL-caliber at this point .. as of March 22, he had 6 goals and 16 assists in 51 games for Hamilton.

J.T. Wyman (Mtl), RW, Hamilton

Played in a defensive role and looked good doing it .. put in a good effort on the forecheck and made it difficult for the opponent to break out .. also put in a strong effort backchecking .. put himself in a position to intercept passes .. utilized stops and starts where many players get lazy and circle .. played on the penalty kill .. at 6-foot-2, 212 pounds, he definitely has NHL size .. 23-year-old has a chance at developing into a fourth-line NHLer or at the least provides strong AHL depth .. as of March 22, he had 5 goals and 4 assists in 44 games for Hamilton .. had 8 assists in 15 games with Cincinnati of ECHL.

Mathieu Aubin (Mtl), C/LW, Hamilton

6-foot-3, 204-pound forward has a decently powerful stride and can build some speed without the puck .. speed with the puck is hit and miss, sometimes showing a little speed, others seeming a tad slow .. a lack of acceleration hurts his separation .. played on the second powerplay unit .. third-year pro is a long shot to play in the NHL, but has emerged from primarily skating in the ECHL .. as of March 22, he had 7 goals and 5 assists in 24 games for Hamilton.