Canadiens 2009 draft review

MONTREAL – Habs fans were hoping to see Vincent Lecavalier being traded to their team but sadly, it did not happened. Still it was a very good draft. Director of Player Recruitment and Development Trevor Timmins gave Habs fans what they wanted the most, French Canadians players. By selecting Louis Leblanc in the first round and Gabriel Dumont in the fourth, Habs fans left the Bell Center with a smile on their face. Let’s take a look at Timmins’ work. 2009 Montreal Canadians NHL Entry Draft selections

Round 1, 18^th overall: Louis Leblanc – C – 6’ 178 – Omaha USHL GP:60 G:28 A:31 Pts:59 Pim:78 Analysis: After leading the Omaha Lancers in points, Louis was named the United States Hockey League’s Rookie of the Year was named his team’s MVP. He has committed to attend Harvard University in the fall of 2009 which will show us just how smart he is. He should play for Harvard for the next 2 years. His QJMHL rights belong to the Chicoutimi Sagueniens but it would be a huge surprise if he decides to join them. Leblanc is a highly skilled two-way player with very good hockey sense. He is the type of player that Montreal fans will fall in love with. Excellent skater, excellent hockey sense, plays with grits, good defensively, great hands, will play physical when he needs to. One thing is sure about Louis Leblanc, you win with player like him Style compares to: Mike Richards Round 3, 65^th overall: Joonas Nattinen – C – 6’ 2″ 183 – Blues Jr Finland Jr GP: 30 G:9 A: 29 Pts:38 Pim: 6 Analysis: This pick was acquired via trade. Nattinen has a lot to offer, good skater, excellent playmaker, good two-way player, strong. He might be the type of big center the Habs have been looking for. He is not projected as a first line center but he has all the tools to become a very solid third line player. Last year, he played in the Finland junior league and due to his excellent season, he graduated to the senior league. He also played for team Finland at the WJC in Ottawa. Style compares to: Jordan Stall Round 3, 79^th overall: Mac Bennett – C – 6′ 170 – Hotchkiss Ct HS GP: 15 G:2 A: 9 Pts:11 Pim: 10 Analysis: Bennett was sidelined most of the season due to injuries and he might be a gamble in some scouts’ eyes. Bennett might have been the best skater available in this years draft. Some scouts even compared his skating to that of Paul Coffey. His USHL rights belong to the Cedar Rapids Roughriders and his QJMHL rights belong to the Gatineau Olympics. He is committed to the University of Michigan for 2010-11. This is what his coach at Hotchkiss, Damon White, has to say about him in an interview with NHL.COM’s Mike Morreale. “He’s a kid who has excellent vision with the puck, passes really well, and who always competes,” said White. What separates Bennett from other players White said is “his offensive sense, his hockey sense. He knows where to go and when to be there. I didn’t have to teach it to him, he just has it.” Round 4, 109^th overall: Alexander Avtsin – C – 6’ 2″ 198 – Dynamo 2 Rus 3  GP: 76 G:56 A: 54 Pts:110 Pim: 130 Analysis: When you look at his stats, you may wonder why he was selected so late. The answer: He played in the weakest league in Russia. Avtsin has everything your are looking for in a prospect: Good hands, good skater, and strong. Still, the question remains. Just how good is he? The best thing that could happen to Avtsin is to come to North America and play against legit competition. Who knows, he could be the next Evgeny Grachev. Round 4, 139^th overall: Gabriel Dumont – C – 5’ 9″ 170 – Drummondville QJMHL  GP: 51 G:28 A: 21 Pts:49 Pim: 63 Analysis: One of the best kept secrets in junior hockey. If he was 6’ 2″, 200 pounds he would have been selected before Jordan Caron and Philippe Paradis. Dumont is the definition of passion, intensity and competitiveness. Everyone felt in love with him during the last Memorial cup, even if he was seriously hurt. He was hitting everything in sight, scoring important goals and killing off penalties. His greatest admirer might be his coach, Guy Boucher: “I have been in this league for 11 years and I never saw a player like him. He is a real warrior, he is the toughest kid I have seen.” People in Montreal will love him. Style compares to: Maxim Talbot. Round 6, 169^th overall: Dustin Walsh – C- 6’ 2″ 175 – Kingston OJHL GP: 68 G:45 A: 45 Pts:90 Pim: 36 Analysis: A tall and lanky center, Walsh has very good passing ability and has good hands. He will play for the Dartmouth Big Green next season and will join his older brother Nick who also plays for Dartmouth. He should spend the next 4 years there giving him time to build up and refine his game. Round 7, 199^th: Mike Cichy – C- 5’11 195 – Indiana Ice USHL GP: 56 G:34 A: 42 Pts:76 Pim: 23 Analysis: Finished second in the USHL’s regular season scoring race and finished first during the playoff. It was Cichy’s second year of eligibility. The Habs should find themselves lucky to have grabbed him in the last round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. Cichy has a lot to offer considering he was one of the best players in the USHL. He will play for the University of North Dakota next year. A very good offensive player, he should have an immediate impact at North Dakota. So the 2009 NHL Entry Draft is finally over. The Habs did great during that draft. Timmins should be proud of himself. Overalll grade: A Contact the author at Michel.Claveau@prohockeynews.com