All aboard the Subban Train

McKeen's Director of Scouting David Burstyn looks at a trio of prospects from the Hamilton Bulldogs including P.K. Subban, who has been nothing short of spectacular in his rookie-pro season. Ben Maxwell and Brock Trotter are also featured.

P.K. Subban (Mtl), D, Hamilton

Subban has been outstanding in his debut season, as he currently leads the team in points for defensemen and is a staggering plus-15 through 30-plus games .. Subban's confidence has not taken a backseat at the AHL level and while his offensive rushes up the ice are not as dynamic as they were in Belleville, he still does a formidable job handling the puck and advancing it up ice .. is smart enough to dump the puck and not skate into dead ends, as he has adopted a level of patience in his game .. he has a good centre of gravity and a wide stance, which makes it difficult for the opposition to strip him off the puck .. coupled with his size and strong, thick frame, he is effective down low or on the line .. employs many moves at the line, including a 180-spin to shake off forecheckers .. the degree in which he can execute moves at top speeds and still handle/control the puck is NHL ready .. his shot and release at the point is very reminiscent of a former Canadien Sheldon Souray .. many of Subban's assists have come as a direct result of shots he has taken and the rebounds his linemates are cashing in on .. Subban loves to score and be part of the offence, even when games are one sided in the Bulldogs favour he loves to be involved and have his name on the score sheet .. the knock (in the past) on Subban has been his defensive game and being partnered up with Belle (a former first rounder), it has actually been Subban who has recognized changes in the play quicker and has had to recover on his behalf .. Subban looks ready for prime time and it appears that only a trade will open up a roster spot for him .. the Canadiens would be wise to keep him hungry and have him finish his first full season with the Bulldogs allowing Subban to enjoy a healthy playoff run.

Ben Maxwell (Mtl), C, Hamilton

Maxwell has laboured through this season and does not appear to be playing with the same gusto and jam as he did last year as a rookie .. he has had a difficult time finding the back of the net and his confidence has suffered as a result .. has been given ample PP time to develop and kick start his offensive game .. he can manufacture offense on the half boards with the man advantage, as he usually drops down to the wing in those situations .. improving puck skills, however his skating has not seen much of an upgrade .. a digger along the boards, his production is the result of hard work and not necessarily creativity .. Maxwell played a handful of games last season but does not look close to being an NHL regular at this point.

Brock Trotter (Mtl), C, Hamilton

The free agent signing of three years ago (University of Denver) is starting to pay dividends, as last season the Manitoba-born centre posted 49 points in 76 games .. this season, he is nearly a point-a-game-player and currently leads the team in scoring .. not a flashy player but very intelligent and makes mature plays with the puck in the offensive zone .. decent straight-ahead speed, but lacks agility to make quick turns or twists .. does not have a secondary gear, but usually gets the jump on many defenders due to his positioning .. at times, he can be stationary and needs to remind himself to move his feet in the neutral zone .. not a physical player, he does take a hit and will not back down to make a play .. Trotter is a healthy late bloomer and continues to develop his two-way game .. he will make a very serviceable AHL player but his NHL aspirations are questionable considering the depth up front for the Canadiens.