by Robert Rice, Senior Writer, All Habs Hockey Magazine
TORONTO, ON — This week in review (November 19 – 25), the most popular name in the farm system is back at the top of the honours list.
Your comments are most welcome. If you have a question about any of the prospects email me, and perhaps it will be answered in the weekly All Habs mailbag feature that appears on these pages on Thursdays.
The Three Stars
1. C Alex Galchenyuk
While the Sarnia Sting themselves are an up and down team this season, it’s difficult to lay any blame on Alex Galchenyuk, who continues to shoot the lights out in November. Galchenyuk would continue his scoring campaign by marking a goal and assist for Sarnia on Thursday against the London Knights, but unfortunately his efforts fell short in a 5-3 loss. Galchenyuk would end up being held off the scoresheet on Friday as Sarnia found themselves blanked 5-0 by the Kitchener Rangers, but would soon make up for it. Galchenyuk would mark a goal and three assists as the Sting hammered the Peterborough Petes 8-2 on Saturday. Galchenyuk has been scoring at a pace of two points per game for the month of November with 7 goals and 13 assists over ten contests. Galchenyuk is currently tied for 5th overall in league scoring in the Ontario Hockey League with 15 goals and 26 assists. Galchenyuk was drafted in the 1st round, 3rd overall in the 2012 NHL Draft.
2. LW Charles Hudon
Charles Hudon is trending up these days as he maintains a consistent pace with the Chicoutimi Saguenéens. Hudon began his week by scoring a pair of goals, including an empty-net marker in a 4-2 win over the Shawinigan Cataractes. Hudon would continue his contributions on Friday, marking an assist and scoring a shootout goal to edge a 5-4 victory over the Victoriaville Tigres. Hudon would finish his week by picking up another assist in 2-1 shootout victory over the Quebec Remparts. Hudon is currently enjoying an 8-game points streak, with 5 goals and 8 assists over that period. Hudon was drafted in the 5th round, 122th overall in the 2012 NHL Draft.
3. RW Brendan Gallagher
It’s not been an easy season for the Hamilton Bulldogs, but Brendan Gallagher continues to try and make the best of things. Gallagher would score his 6th goal of the season in a 3-1 loss to the St. John’s IceCaps on Tuesday night. Gallagher would add an assist the following night in a rematch with St. John’s in a 2-1 victory. Gallagher would be held off the scoresheet on Sunday in a 4-1 loss to the Lake Erie Monsters. Gallagher’s 6 goals and 4 assists have him at present as the team scoring leader. Gallagher was drafted in the 5th round, 147th overall in the 2010 NHL Draft.
On The Radar: 
- LW Tim Bozon scored a goal and assist.
- RW Danny Kristo scored a goal and assist.
Question Marks:
- LW Blake Geoffrion is out indefinitely while recovering from a depressed skull fracture.
- D Greg Pateryn is out indefinitely with a fractured elbow.
- D Dalton Thrower is out with a lower body injury.
Complete Statistics for the week of November 19, 2012
Legend
Skaters: Games Played, Goals, Assists, +/-, Penalty Minutes
Goalies: Wins, Losses, Overtime Losses, Shootout Losses, Goals Against Average, Save Percentage
Teams: Wins, Losses, Overtime Losses, Shootout Losses. For NCAA, Wins, Losses, Ties. For Elitserien/Allsvenskan/Extraliga, Wins, Losses, Overtime Losses.
Season Stats: Season scoring prior to the past week.
The AHL Report: The Hamilton Bulldogs have been the AHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens since 2002. It is the most common route for developing Montreal Canadiens prospects into full-time members of the organization. There are currently 15 members of the Hamilton Bulldogs that can be thought to have future consideration for an NHL position. The Hamilton Bulldogs are 6-8-1-1 this season, 5th in the North Division, 28th overall in the AHL.
D Nathan Beaulieu: 19 years old, 6’2”, 194 pounds, LH shot.
| Season Stats | 12GP | 0G | 1A | -3 | 15 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 0G | 1A | -2 | 4 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 15GP | 0G | 2A | -5 | 19 PIM |
C Michaël Bournival: 20 years old, 5’11, 191 pounds, LH shot.
| Season Stats | 13GP | 1G | 5A | -2 | 10 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 0G | 0A | 0 | 2 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 16GP | 1G | 5A | -2 | 12 PIM |
C Gabriel Dumont: 22 years old, 5’10”, 189 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 13GP | 2G | 4A | +1 | 22 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 0G | 1A | +1 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 16GP | 2G | 5A | +2 | 22 PIM |
D Morgan Ellis: 20 years old, 6’1″, 202 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 10GP | 1G | 1A | -7 | 16 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 0G | 1A | +1 | 9 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 13GP | 1G | 2A | -6 | 25 PIM |
RW Brendan Gallagher: 20 years old, 5’9″, 182 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 13GP | 5G | 3A | -3 | 31 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 1G | 1A | 0 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 16GP | 6G | 4A | -3 | 31 PIM |
LW Blake Geoffrion: 24 years old, 6’1”, 190 pounds, LH shot.
| Season Stats | 10GP | 4G | 2A | -3 | 9 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 0GP | 0G | 0A | 0 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 10GP | 4G | 2A | -3 | 9 PIM |
RW Patrick Holland: 20 years old, 6’, 175 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 13GP | 1G | 4A | -6 | 2 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 0G | 0A | -2 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 16GP | 1G | 4A | -8 | 2 PIM |
C Louis Leblanc: 21 years old, 6’, 190 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 3GP | 2G | 0A | +1 | 9 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 1GP | 0G | 0A | -1 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 4GP | 2G | 0A | 0 | 9 PIM |
D Brendon Nash: 23 years old, 6’3″, 206 pounds, LH shot.
| Season Stats | 9GP | 0G | 4A | +3 | 17 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 0G | 0A | -1 | 2 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 12GP | 0G | 4A | +2 | 19 PIM |
C Joonas Nattinen: 21 years old, 6’2”, 187 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 10GP | 2G | 2A | +2 | 2 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 0G | 0A | +1 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 12GP | 2G | 2A | +3 | 2 PIM |
RW Aaron Palushaj: 22 years old, 6′, 188 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 13GP | 5G | 3A | -4 | 14 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 1G | 0A | -3 | 4 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 16GP | 6G | 3A | -7 | 18 PIM |
D Greg Pateryn: 21 years old, 6’2”, 219 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 7GP | 0G | 1A | -3 | 0 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 0GP | 0G | 0A | 0 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 7GP | 0G | 1A | -3 | 0 PIM |
LW Steve Quailer: 22 years old, 6’4”, 209 pounds, LH shot.
| Season Stats | 13GP | 1G | 3A | +1 | 13 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 1G | 0A | 0 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 16GP | 2G | 3A | +1 | 13 PIM |
D Jarred Tinordi: 20 years old, 6’6″, 218 pounds, LH shot
| Season Stats | 13GP | 0G | 2A | -7 | 13 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 0G | 0A | 0 | 2 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 16GP | 0G | 2A | -7 | 15 PIM |
The Juniors Report: The Canadiens currently feature prospects playing in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and the Western Hockey League (WHL). These leagues can be considered the primary conduit towards professional hockey in North America.
QMJHL:
LW Olivier Archambault: 19 years old, 5’11”, 184 pounds. LH shot.
Junior Club: Drummondville Voltigeurs
Team Record: 14-12-0-0
| Season Stats | 24GP | 13G | 13A | -1 | 16 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 0G | 1A | -2 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 26GP | 13G | 14A | -3 | 16 PIM |
LW Charles Hudon: 18 years old, 5’10”, 171 pounds, LH shot.
Junior Club: Chicoutimi Saguenéens – Alternate Captain
Team Record: 13-11-2-1
| Season Stats | 18GP | 12G | 13A | +11 | 26 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 2G | 2A | +2 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 21GP | 14G | 15A | +13 | 26 PIM |
OHL:
C Alex Galchenyuk: 18 years old, 6’0”, 194 pounds, LH shot.
Junior Club: Sarnia Sting – Team Captain
Team Record: 13-11-0-2
| Season Stats | 22GP | 13G | 22A | +7 | 16 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 2G | 4A | 0 | 2 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 25GP | 15G | 26A | +7 | 18 PIM |
C Brady Vail: 18 years old, 6’, 195 pounds, LH shot.
Junior Club: Windsor Spitfires – Alternate Captain
Team Record: 10-11-1-4
| Season Stats | 23GP | 10G | 15A | -1 | 18 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 0G | 0A | -1 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 26GP | 10G | 15A | -2 | 18 PIM |
WHL:
LW Tim Bozon: 18 years old, 6’0”, 183 pounds, LH shot.
Junior Club: Kamloops Blazers
Team Record: 20-6-1-1
| Season Stats | 24GP | 15G | 21A | +19 | 22 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 1G | 1A | +2 | 2 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 27GP | 16G | 22A | +21 | 24 PIM |
D Darren Dietz: 19 years old, 6’1”, 195 pounds, RH shot.
Junior Club: Saskatoon Blades – Alternate Captain
Team Record: 11-12-0-1
| Season Stats | 21GP | 6G | 6A | -10 | 33 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 0G | 1A | -8 | 2 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 24GP | 6G | 7A | -18 | 35 PIM |
D Dalton Thrower: 18 years old, 5’11”, 200 pounds, RH shot.
Junior Club: Saskatoon Blades
Team Record: 11-12-0-1
| Season Stats | 13GP | 2G | 4A | +1 | 25 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 0GP | 0G | 0A | 0 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 13GP | 2G | 4A | +1 | 25 PIM |
US College Hockey (NCAA) Report: The Canadiens have drafted a number of college players in recent years, these are generally ‘project players’ who benefit from additional years in lower level hockey to develop their skills.
D Mac Bennett: 21 years old, 6′, 180 pounds, LH shot.
NCAA Team: University of Michigan Wolverines – Alternate Captain
Team Record: 5-7-1
| Season Stats | 11GP | 3G | 7A | +6 | 4 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 1G | 0A | +1 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 13GP | 4G | 7A | +7 | 4 PIM |
RW Danny Kristo: 22 years old, 5’11”, 188 pounds, RH shot.
NCAA Team: University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux – Alternate Captain
Team Record: 6-4-2
| Season Stats | 8GP | 4G | 8A | +3 | 4 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 1G | 1A | +1 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 10GP | 5G | 9A | +4 | 4 PIM |
C Mark MacMillan: 20 years old, 6’, 183 pounds, LH shot.
NCAA Team: University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux
Team Record: 6-4-2
| Season Stats | 10GP | 5G | 4A | +3 | 4 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 1G | 0A | +1 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 12GP | 6G | 4A | +4 | 4 PIM |
Czech Extraliga Report: The Extraliga is the top professional league in the Czech Republic.
C Daniel Pribyl: 19 years old, 6’3”, 193 pounds, RH shot.
Extraliga Team: HC Sparta Praha
Team Record: 11-13-0
| Season Stats | 11GP | 2G | 4A | +5 | 4 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 0G | 1A | 0 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 14GP | 2G | 5A | +5 | 4 PIM |
European Trophy Tournament:
| Tournament Stats | 6GP | 2G | 1A | +1 | 0 PIM |
Elitserien Report: The Elitserien or Swedish Elite League is the top professional league of Sweden. A prospect playing well in this league is a typical indication they may be ready for the NHL. The Allsvenskan is the secondary professional league of Sweden, playing directly under the Elitserien.
RW Sebastian Collberg: 18 years old, 5’11”, 180 pounds, RH shot.
Elitserien Team: Frölunda HC
Team Record: 10-12-3
| Season Stats | 16GP | 0G | 2A | +2 | 2 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 0GP | 0G | 0A | 0 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 16GP | 0G | 2A | +2 | 2 PIM |
Allsvenskan Team: Örebro HK
Team Record: 13-8-3
| Season Stats | 9GP | 4G | 1A | +2 | 2 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 0G | 0A | -1 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 11GP | 4G | 1A | +1 | 2 PIM |
D Magnus Nygren: 22 years old, 6’1”, 191 pounds, RH shot.
Elitserien Team: Färjestads BK
Team Record: 15-7-4
| Season Stats | 23GP | 6G | 9A | +6 | 16 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 0G | 1A | +1 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 26GP | 6G | 10A | +7 | 16 PIM |
European Trophy Tournament:
| Tournament Stats | 8GP | 4G | 0A | 0 | 6 PIM |
Well hopefully, Hudon, Vail and Nystrom all will at least be invited to their world junior camps?
Dietz must be concentrating on offense too much and his last game was a -6 and they say he is bottom of league in that department, not a good sign (he is going the oposite of Nygren, who seems to be picking up his defensive play this year).
Galchenyuk must be anxious to play with team USA and have some more skilled players to play with, for a change.
Will Galchenyuk be traded from Sarnia to a contender? Would be better for his development i think?
I would say with Dietz, it’s more of just an unlucky night during that 9-2 pasting and was on the ice often as he’s an older guy and Thrower is still out injured. Plus, Saskatoon just isn’t having a good year. Read criticisms more than once that the GM/HC isn’t the right guy to be in charge.
I’m sure Galchenyuk won’t mind mingling with some more skilled players certainly. But he’ll also be facing some tough quality of competition at the WJC since everyone can bring their best guys to the show. It will be interesting to see how he does in that environment.
If you don’t mind, I’ll be pirating the rest of your questions to the Mailbag as my submissions box is empty this week.