MONTREAL, QC — A few weeks ago on morning sports talk radio, the hosts were preparing for the 2010 NHL amateur draft by offering their own thoughts on the Taylor (Hall) or Tyler (Seguin) choice. But discussion quickly moved to a fond look back at the recent draft in Montreal.
“Lou-eee, Lou-eee, Lou-eee” they chanted as they did their best to re-create the atmosphere in the Bell Centre only one year ago.
There’s no question that Louis Leblanc was a popular choice by the Canadiens when they selected him with the eighteenth pick overall in the 2009 draft. I recall Habs’ fans around me jumping to their feet when Leblanc’s name was called and the arena delivered a thunderous standing ovation and several choruses of “O-le, O-le”.
The Canadiens’ marketing department must have been thrilled. The hockey department? Well, that’s more unclear.
The Team 990 guys finished their Leblanc tribute with round of self-congratulatory high-fives as if they had a role in selecting him. The media (and fans) helping Canadiens’ management to decide their draft pick? Perhaps it’s not so far-fetched.
A few minutes later, the radio hosts moved to the unrelated (in their minds) topic of the Habs’ needing to pursue a big center in free agency or via trade. They bemoaned the fact that this was a perennial conversation and a gaping hole on the Habs’ roster.
For me, the contradiction of the two discussions screamed through the radio speakers. Apparently not for the boys who had failed to connect the dots.
Let’s help them.
Most hockey experts agree that size is best added through the draft. So, why would the Canadiens add another smallish center in 2009 when they had other options?
President Pierre Boivin provided a clue when he said that Canadiens’ mission was to ensure that members of the home province were represented at every level of the organization. Selecting a potential Francophone hero on the stage of the Bell Centre with a new local owner waiting in the wings was a seductive script that Boivin couldn’t resist.
You may recall that All Habs advocated Chris Kreider as the Habs’ pick in 2009. Kreider is a big-bodied offensive forward with explosive speed and a big shot. One pick after Leblanc was taken by the Canadiens, the New York Rangers glady scooped up Kreider.
Understandably chanting “Chris, Chris, Chris” doesn’t have the same cache on morning radio in Montreal. Choosing a player born in Boxford, Massachusetts and bypassing one from Kirkland would have sent Boivin (and possibly the new owners) into a snit fit.
But what about from a hockey perspective?
For now, Leblanc continues to shun the QMHJL and will continue his hockey career in the ECAC. For a guy who prioritizes education first and hockey second, Harvard is the place to be. But is Leblanc’s hockey development being best advanced by playing 30 games a year? Wouldn’t the competitive level of the ‘Q’ be a a better place for a player who has been criticized for shying-away from physical contact?
Unfortunately we didn’t get to see a head-to-head matchup of the two players at the 2010 World Junior Hockey Championships in Saskatoon. Kreider was dominant for the gold-medal winning Americans with six goals and an assist in seven games. Leblanc failed to make the Team Canada roster.
A recent issue of The Hockey News listed the top 50 NHL prospects. Leblanc was ranked No. 41 being bested by fellow Canadiens’ prospects, Danny Kristo at No. 35 and P.K. Subban at No. 17 overall. Incidentally, the newly-acquired Lars Eller (via the Jaroslav Halak trade) came in just behind Leblanc at No. 46.
Where was Kreider in THN’s rankings? He was well ahead of Leblanc at No. 22. So how many years will it be until the Habs can acquire the Eric Staal-like player through free agency?
Listen, these are two young players and there’s a lot of hockey to be played. Who knows what will happen? Will Leblanc turn into the Canadiens’ superstar he had already been tagged to be? Will Kreider be the more impactful NHL player?
One thing is clear. No matter how Leblanc progresses, he is never going to fill the role of the big center that so many people say is missing from the Canadiens’ organization.
I have to say that I’m getting weary of the discussion regarding the Canadiens’ lack of size. Many of the people who are moaning about it now are the same ones who would have been trashing Kreider’s selection.
Time will tell but how long until my favorite morning radio guys are coveting Kreider, Carter Ashton and Peter Holland as the big, strong forwards that got away from the Canadiens in the 2009 draft? And if things don’t go as expected, we can thank the Canadiens’ brass for that momentary bit of excitement when the Ivy-league economics major was selected.
When the Canadiens make their first selection at the 2010 NHL draft, it is unlikely that they will be choosing a power forward with the same potential impact as those who were available to them the year before. But in Los Angeles, unshackled from their own desire to make a splash with the next home-town superstar, let’s hope that the Habs make a hockey decision.
(photo credit: Getty)
Chris Kreider had 15G, 8A in 38GP for Boston College, a powerhouse hockey program in the NCAA. Louis Leblanc would score 12G, 11A in 31 games for Harvard and led his team in scoring and Harvard is a pretty weak hockey team by comparison. I'd say it's a little early to call Kreider a better choice.
Also, Leblanc partly missed the WJC team because he was dealing with a wrist injury at the time of the final camp for WJ, it wasn't just because of his play and his American counterpart had far less competition at his WJ camp it should be mentioned.
I remember sitting at the draft last year; happy for Leblanc (who looked like a deer in the headlights as he seemingly realized the weight of a hockey loving province's expectations fell on his slight shoulders) but really shaking my head at the Canadiens decision to go the PR route instead of thinking about what's best for their on-ice product.
As we bore witness to on twitter some months ago, some already believe that Leblanc in fact IS the big center the Canadiens need. Yikes.
As you said, there's a lot of hockey to be played and we don't know where these kids will eventually end up, but I am concerned that Leblanc continues to opt for Harvard over the Q. Don't get me wrong; if that's what he wants, that's what he can do. But as a Habs fan, I can't help but think that hockey isn't his top priority, and you get the sense that he would prefer to stay as far away from Montreal's limelight as possible. Even the limelight he would be under as a member of the Juniors.
Thanks for your comment Serious Fan.
Perhaps there is a grain of truth in the notion that the USA camp was less competitive. But let's not disparage the American team too much. You may recall who won the gold in the tournament.
Leblanc had the cast off his wrist for a week before the final WJ camp. I think it's a stretch to use that as an excuse for his unimpressive play at the camp. He wasn't exactly blowing coaches away with his skating either.
Truth is that Leblanc had a very slow start to the camp probably due to playing less than 10 games at that point in his hockey season. His competition had more than twice the number of games under their belts. Perhaps that's another indictment of his choice to be at Harvard.
Some experts say that Kreider is further along on his readiness for the NHL. I tend to agree.
As you say, its too early to declare a "winner." But that's not exactly the point of this article anyway.
Even when setting aside the 'who is better' argument, the point is simply that when the Canadiens had a chance to fill the hole of getting a big forward, they passed. The Habs chose someone they knew would be a crowd-pleaser and not necessarily for hockey reasons.
You're right Kyle. Following the draft I was amused that some Habs fans began inflating Leblanc's weight and height measurements. I suppose they are only fooling those who have never seen Leblanc play. After-all, saying that the Habs need a big strong forward comes with some style-of-play requirements and Leblanc's play has been labelled as 'soft' by many.
It's a good point Kyle. It should not be misconstrued that I am being critical of Leblanc pursuing an education. Quite the opposite. If I look at the best interests of Leblanc the person, my advice is probably consistent with what he is doing now.
But when I look at what's best for the Canadiens, I want a player whose first priority is hockey.
Actually the Habs wanted Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson but, well, the Oilers got to him first. Still, Louis' a good choice and from what I've seen of him he ain't soft at all… I find he has that deceptive toughness like Plekanec, though it sometimes ends up in a penalty but he always tries to make up for it. Frankly Team Canada could have used him (could have used Calvin Pickard too but I won't get into their goalie pick as what's done is done). Already grew an inch more too heeheehee. (I also hope he stays in Harvard, mostly because he's playing with men instead of the elbows of the Q).
This year I'd love a McIlrath (though Ian Schultz is pretty much the same thing so that would be redundant). I'd do cartwheels for Niederreiter but there's no way in hell he'll be around at 27…
Never meant to disparage the US WJC team, they did win of course but Kreider did have a straighter road to his team.
I see your point about wanting the bigger player but a lot can happen in a year in terms of ability and Kreider's 2 extra inches don't blow me away. Luke Schenn was more "NHL Ready" than Tyler Myers when they were both drafted, but now Myers looks like the superior player. P.K. Subban has now leapfrogged a dozen defencemen in his draft year to look like a potential star above all of them. Sometimes players with a wider skill set or lacking some physical development need more time to improve all elements of themselves before reaching the next level. It will be likely at least 2 more years before either of them plays an NHL game and years after that we'll know who won on draft day. The best defencemen of the 1998 draft was our own Andrei Markov out of the 6th round after all. It takes half a decade or more usually to call these things.
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