BROSSARD, QC.– Joonas Nattinen, a 20-year old center, is attending his third development camp — his first while under contract to the Canadiens. In May, Pierre Gauthier signed the young man from Jamsa, Finland to a three-year deal. All signs point to Nattinen joining the Bulldogs in the Fall.
Last season started with an Achilles tendon injury which kept him off the ice for two months. Nattinen also had to deal with a couple of bouts of pnemonia. Yet he managed to play 21 games in the Finnish elite league SM-Liiga.
Nattinen was also a very important player for Team Finland at the World Junior Championships. He scored three goals in six games centering a line with Joel Armia on his right side. Armia, is a 6’3″ sniper, and could be available in a mid-teens slot at the 2011 NHL Entry Draft in a few weeks (Canadiens pick 17th.)
Nattinen is a smooth-skating playmaker. He has good puck-handling skills, excellent hockey sense and is disciplined. Nattinen is very effective on faceoffs and on the penalty-kill.
At 6’2″, 186 lbs., he isn’t afraid to use his size and strength to battle for the puck but is not necessarily a physical player. Think of Lars Eller, with fewer hits.
After an injury-filled season it’s clear that Nattinen is not yet at 100%. In past camps, Nattinen has prided himself on his conditioning and endurance — that seems somewhat lacking this June. That said, there have been flashes of brilliance — his passing skills are superb — and he seems to be improving as the week progresses.
Expect Joonas to be competing for one of the center spots in Hamilton this September.
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Closing out the afternoon drills on Wednesday, skaters were divided into three teams, Blue, White and Red for a 3-on-3 scrimmage. At the end of the mini-tournament Team Blue were declared the winners — including Morgan Ellis, Danny Kristo, Alain Berger, Cameron Schilling, Phillippe Lefebvre, Ian Schultz and Olivier Dame-Malka.
The player that caught my eye most was Brendan Gallagher. The best word to describe him is fearless — he seems to have no idea about his size. Gallagher is tenacious when battling for pucks.
Some have questioned his skating but through short, quick bursts and shiftiness, he is able to elude defenders. Gallagher is smart, physical and has a very quick release on his shot. This combination makes him a tough player to face and an offensive threat — he totalled 91 points in 66 games, 108 penalty minutes, plus-30 this past season in the WHL.
Quick hits
- Michael Bournival (LW) — Has been underwhelming so far. Still waiting to see signs of him being ultra competitive with a strong work ethic as advertised. Seems to play small.
- Ian Schultz (RW) — Has attracted attention for all the wrong reasons: telling jokes, stopping to tie his skates, and is often winded and bent over. Conditioning and work ethic appears to be an issue.
- Olivier Dame-Malka (D) — A four goal, one assist performance in a playoff game against the Montreal Juniors, likely triggered his invitation to camp. His team, Lewiston was disbanded and Malka went unselected in the dispersal draft. At the close of camp he will likely still be looking for work.
- Cameron Schilling (D) — Effective in one-on-one play. He is a stay-at-home defenseman with an edge. He sports a heavy shot.
- Gabriel Dumont (LW) — Could win the ‘Mr. Enthusiasm’ award. Has displayed competitveness through goal celebrations and chasing down loose pucks.
Do you have a player or issue that you would like All Habs to keep an eye on during development camp? Please tell us in the comment section.
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Too bad about Shultz and Bornival.
I have seen Gallagher play lots here in BC and he, like Desharnais is very good around the net, but Gallagher is much more a scorer it seems (which is what Habs need) and less a playmaker than Desharnais.
Armia would be a sweet pick if available at 17, but would prefer a Mark McNeill or Mark Scheifele before a Armia or Jurco, if either is still available (i just have more faith in Canadian prospects and these 2 in particular, all reports seem super).
Don,
Gallagher is more of a scorer with a willingness to go to the net. He will get a fair shot to make the Canadian U20 team. His coach Don Hay always speaks quite highly of his unique talent.
We will have a lengthy discussion when we publish our draft kit, I’m sure, but some quick comments on McNeill, Scheifele and Jurco. All, would be good picks for different reasons. My sense is, that the three you mention can be had with a later pick than 17. Not sure that Armia will still be available by the time it’s the Habs turn to pick.
thanks again
Should see if Gallagher’s game will translate well to AHL in 2012.
i guess unless Gauthier makes a stab for maybe a Couturier at 5 from the Isles (for 17th, Weber and more?), whomever Habs get at 17 should be a quality pick.
Trading up for the big francophone centre would be a PR home run i think and of course, he should be a very good NHLer.
I sincerely hope that the Habs management team selects the best players available instead of trying to appease the francophone media with choices made for PR reasons. That kind of misguided focus is the reason Montreal has struggled to be competitive for the past 25 years.
Sucks about Bournival so far. Whenever I’ve watched him he’s been outstanding. He could be one of those players who needs a real game situation to get going.
Thanks for the comment Andrew. I don’t want my “quick hit” on Bournival to be interpreted that he is having a bad camp. That wouldn’t be true. Perhaps it’s a case of elevated expectations — I just haven’t seen anything exceptional so far in terms of skating, physicality, shot or hockey sense.
Gabriel Dumont is a guy people here will love. Basically he’s Lapierre (always said he was eyeing Yappy’s job and even wears #40), only he really does bring it every night and is a HUGE playoff performer. And he’ll fight anyone anytime regardless of his size. Like Gallagher he really doesn’t realize he’s under 6-feet, and frankly I always thought he was bigger when I saw him play. (Bit like Palushaj in that sense too, they don’t look their size until they actually stand next to someone).
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