CHL 97-98 Preview - Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
Oct 13, 2020 18:08:48 GMT -5
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Post by xx - Former Calgary Flames on Oct 13, 2020 18:08:48 GMT -5
Season Preview - Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
Over the next few days, I will be scouring through the rosters of the CHL, trying to find strengths and weaknesses of the team, not only for my strategic advantage (which all of you know, I don't use strategy at all), and for anyone who doesn't know some schmoe from Europe. The goal is to have a team done per day, starting on October 10th.
The Team
Forwards
What else can be said about Henrik and Daniel Sedin, other than 'Woah...'? They're proven leaders, an excellent combination of no-look playmaking, along with a vital scoring touch. I think the one thing that people forget about them is their defensive ability. It's actually not even that bad, it's pretty average for any forward, really. They can lift a stick and cause turnovers if necessary. My best guess is that whoever is going to line up with them, being Pascal Dupuis or Mikael Samuelsson, will defenitely benefit in the scoring sheet. Alongside the Sedins are lower-known names, but still decent defensive forwards in Manny Malholtra, Steve Ott and Chris Neil, who could be in contention for most penalty minutes per line in the CHL. If they can stay out of the penalty box, there is a good shot this threesome could be a fantastic puck stopping line.
The main issue is the bottom six. Milan Kraft is a great two-way forward, probably more underrated than most, but aside from him, there isn't too many else I could trust in that lineup. Tomas Kopecky isn't great on the offensive end, and how much can we rely on guys like Eloranta, Svoboda and Schastlivy. This could potentially be another case of overly relying on one line.
Defense
The Huskies will have a very much underrated set of defensemen this season, with Niklas Kronwall leading the way. Now, he was never a leader of sorts, having more prominent figures ahead of him, but he has always had that elite defensive talent to keep him in the league for a long time. Such is the case for Jaroslav Spacek, who might not have the same ability as Kronwall, but still had himself a lengthy career. This GM decided to draft on length and reliability, which could come out smarter than most. Behind them we'll see more longevity in Brooks Orpik and Ron Hainsey, both very good defensive-minded defensemen. If you need a puck stopped at a crucial time, they are the guys that can do it the majority of the time. But we can't forget about Rob Scuderi as well, another great puck stopping talent. The main question on the blue line will be determining which of Christian Backman or Jeff Jillson will round out the six defensemen. Both not household names, but are competent on their end.
Goaltending
A lot of media pundits ask the question of what if Rick DiPietro wasn't limited by injuries. Would he have been an uber-elite talent that could have helped the Islanders during their times of woe? It's so hard to say now, years after his retirement. But one thing was certain - he wasn't a future 1st overall pick for nothing. He showed flashes of brilliance with the US National Development Team, and then some more in his lone year with Boston University. The big question mark will be whether or not they will get that version of Rick DiPietro, or the injury-hobbled shell of a goaltender.
Behind him is a much more stable backup in Michael Leighton, who at one point, was a relied goalie for Philadelphia in the heat of their playoff run. However, he seemed to have all the tools himself after his final year in Windsor, just like DiPietro, but he couldn't find a stable spot in the NHL, and it led him to be a career journeyman, both on the Major and American level. As much as there is potential for the tandem to be successful, there is just as much, if not more, bust for them. This could be the sole cause of a make or break year for Rouyn-Noranda.
The 'Real Season' of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
The Huskies were only introduced to the league a year prior, but only after a multitude of movements throughout the province in Quebec. Starting in Montreal in 1933, then to Verdun in 1982, Saint-Hyacinthe in 1989, then finally settling down in Rouyn-Noranda in 1996. With all that being established, we can't look at this season as just another struggling year for a new junior team, because in reality, they've been in the league for well over 60 years. And it really shows with the talent they had on the roster. Being led by Pierre Dagenais and Mike Ribeiro, finishing 2nd and 3rd in league scoring, with 133 and 125 points respectively. At the beginning of the season, they also had Pascal Dupuis before trading him to Shawinigan. This Rouyn-Noranda team was very top heavy, despite leading the QMJHL in goals, and had their troubles finding stable goaltending. Rouyn-Noranda went through seven(!) different goaltenders, none of them having a save percentage over 90%, and a goals against average under 3.00.
But, that didn't stop them finishing tops in their division, finishing 43-23-4, but burning out well into the playoffs, losing in six games to Hull. This was also the final season that involved round-robin action in the division semi-finals.
The Cieling
Rouyn-Noranda is supported by a very underrated and very good defense, while Henrik no-look passes to Daniel for highlight reel goals that will be remembered for ages to come. And the goalie tandem find their potential, and backstop their way to success. A very underrated Rouyn-Noranda suprise many and raise the Memorial Cup.
The Floor
The Huskies one-line tandem find themselves just like the real life Rouyn-Noranda, having massive success, but struggling on the defensive end. DiPietro and Leighton don't find their best selves in critical time, and the Huskies find themselves lost in the shuffle, with a forgettable start to their NHL90 CHL season.
The Team
Forwards
What else can be said about Henrik and Daniel Sedin, other than 'Woah...'? They're proven leaders, an excellent combination of no-look playmaking, along with a vital scoring touch. I think the one thing that people forget about them is their defensive ability. It's actually not even that bad, it's pretty average for any forward, really. They can lift a stick and cause turnovers if necessary. My best guess is that whoever is going to line up with them, being Pascal Dupuis or Mikael Samuelsson, will defenitely benefit in the scoring sheet. Alongside the Sedins are lower-known names, but still decent defensive forwards in Manny Malholtra, Steve Ott and Chris Neil, who could be in contention for most penalty minutes per line in the CHL. If they can stay out of the penalty box, there is a good shot this threesome could be a fantastic puck stopping line.
The main issue is the bottom six. Milan Kraft is a great two-way forward, probably more underrated than most, but aside from him, there isn't too many else I could trust in that lineup. Tomas Kopecky isn't great on the offensive end, and how much can we rely on guys like Eloranta, Svoboda and Schastlivy. This could potentially be another case of overly relying on one line.
Defense
The Huskies will have a very much underrated set of defensemen this season, with Niklas Kronwall leading the way. Now, he was never a leader of sorts, having more prominent figures ahead of him, but he has always had that elite defensive talent to keep him in the league for a long time. Such is the case for Jaroslav Spacek, who might not have the same ability as Kronwall, but still had himself a lengthy career. This GM decided to draft on length and reliability, which could come out smarter than most. Behind them we'll see more longevity in Brooks Orpik and Ron Hainsey, both very good defensive-minded defensemen. If you need a puck stopped at a crucial time, they are the guys that can do it the majority of the time. But we can't forget about Rob Scuderi as well, another great puck stopping talent. The main question on the blue line will be determining which of Christian Backman or Jeff Jillson will round out the six defensemen. Both not household names, but are competent on their end.
Goaltending
A lot of media pundits ask the question of what if Rick DiPietro wasn't limited by injuries. Would he have been an uber-elite talent that could have helped the Islanders during their times of woe? It's so hard to say now, years after his retirement. But one thing was certain - he wasn't a future 1st overall pick for nothing. He showed flashes of brilliance with the US National Development Team, and then some more in his lone year with Boston University. The big question mark will be whether or not they will get that version of Rick DiPietro, or the injury-hobbled shell of a goaltender.
Behind him is a much more stable backup in Michael Leighton, who at one point, was a relied goalie for Philadelphia in the heat of their playoff run. However, he seemed to have all the tools himself after his final year in Windsor, just like DiPietro, but he couldn't find a stable spot in the NHL, and it led him to be a career journeyman, both on the Major and American level. As much as there is potential for the tandem to be successful, there is just as much, if not more, bust for them. This could be the sole cause of a make or break year for Rouyn-Noranda.
The 'Real Season' of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
The Huskies were only introduced to the league a year prior, but only after a multitude of movements throughout the province in Quebec. Starting in Montreal in 1933, then to Verdun in 1982, Saint-Hyacinthe in 1989, then finally settling down in Rouyn-Noranda in 1996. With all that being established, we can't look at this season as just another struggling year for a new junior team, because in reality, they've been in the league for well over 60 years. And it really shows with the talent they had on the roster. Being led by Pierre Dagenais and Mike Ribeiro, finishing 2nd and 3rd in league scoring, with 133 and 125 points respectively. At the beginning of the season, they also had Pascal Dupuis before trading him to Shawinigan. This Rouyn-Noranda team was very top heavy, despite leading the QMJHL in goals, and had their troubles finding stable goaltending. Rouyn-Noranda went through seven(!) different goaltenders, none of them having a save percentage over 90%, and a goals against average under 3.00.
But, that didn't stop them finishing tops in their division, finishing 43-23-4, but burning out well into the playoffs, losing in six games to Hull. This was also the final season that involved round-robin action in the division semi-finals.
The Cieling
Rouyn-Noranda is supported by a very underrated and very good defense, while Henrik no-look passes to Daniel for highlight reel goals that will be remembered for ages to come. And the goalie tandem find their potential, and backstop their way to success. A very underrated Rouyn-Noranda suprise many and raise the Memorial Cup.
The Floor
The Huskies one-line tandem find themselves just like the real life Rouyn-Noranda, having massive success, but struggling on the defensive end. DiPietro and Leighton don't find their best selves in critical time, and the Huskies find themselves lost in the shuffle, with a forgettable start to their NHL90 CHL season.
