Habs Future for the Week of February 28th

The Three Stars of the Week

1. G Karri Ramo continues to build on his excellent KHL season, the league leader in regular season wins had a long, tough week but rallied to ensure his season was not over. Ramo spent the week backstopping his team Avangard Omsk to victory in their initial playoff round and collected his first-ever KHL playoff series win. Ramo posted a 3-1-0 record in the final four games of the playoff series, with a 2.25 Goals Against Average and .902 save percentage. Ramo’s steady presence in nets was crucial as his team battled back from 2-1 and 3-2 series deficits to finally win the decisive Game 7 after a lack of scoring in the first five games of the series. Ramo’s total playoff statistics stand at 1.98 for Goals Against Average and a .916 save percentage with one shutout. Karri Ramo was received in a trade that that sent undrafted free agent goaltender Cedrick Desjardins to the Tampa Bay Lightning, and was drafted in the 6^th round, 191^st overall in the 2004 Entry Draft.

2. RW Aaron Palushaj has struggled through the season with finding consistency, but his contributions have become key in the Hamilton Bulldog’s victories of late. Palushaj collected two assists on Wednesday night contributing to a 5-4 victory, went without a point as his team was shut out on Saturday and then scored a goal in an eventual 3-2 overtime victory on Sunday afternoon to help his team collect four of a possible six points for the week. Palushaj’s two assists raised him to 25 on his season, surpassing his previous season mark of 24 assists in eleven fewer games. Aaron Palushaj was acquired in the trade that sent Matt D’Agostini to St. Louis and was drafted in the 2^nd round, 44^th overall in the 2007 Entry Draft.

3. D Brendon Nash spent the week building on his strong rookie season with the Hamilton Bulldogs that has made him their leading scorer from the blue line. Nash had a single assist on Wednesday night in a 5-4 win by the Bulldogs, was held without a point on Saturday but in dramatic fashion in overtime on Sunday, scored his first overtime goal in the AHL which was also his first game-winning goal of the season. It was Nash’s fifth goal of the season, which is more than double his goals output from his last two seasons of NCAA hockey, he also leads the team with a +15 rating on his season. Brendon Nash was signed as an undrafted free agent on March 30^th, 2010.

Worthy Mentions: D Morgan Ellis added an assist on his week to reach consecutive 25-assist seasons in the QMJHL. Bubble prospect LW John Westin has scored 6 goals in 9 games in Swedish Under-20 Hockey since returning from injury this season.

Question Marks: RW Alexander Avtsin has not scored a goal since December 14^th. C Michaël Bournival has an undisclosed injury, he is expected to be out for at least another week. RW Brendan Gallagher suffered a head injury on Saturday, there is no update on when he will be able to return to play. RW Danny Kristo is recovering from frostbite on his right foot. RW Maxim Trunev’s season has ended in the KHL, his team was eliminated in the first round of the KHL playoffs, he had no points in 6 playoff games and was -3.

Complete Statistics for the week of February 28^th:
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, Ties (for NCAA teams only)
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 12 members of the Hamilton Bulldogs that can be considered NHL-viable prospects, four of which, David Desharnais, Max Pacioretty, Yannick Weber and Ryan White have been called up to Montreal. The Hamilton Bulldogs have a record of 34-22-1-5, are 1^st in the North Division, 5^th overall in the Western Conference, 11^th overall in the AHL.

RW Alexander Avtsin: 19 years old, 6'3", 199 pounds, RH shot.

Season Stats	41GP	4G	13A	+3	12 PIM
Weekly Stats	3GP	0G	0A	-1	6 PIM
Complete Stats	44GP	4G	13A	+2	18 PIM

D Mathieu Carle: 23 years old, 6', 203 pounds, RH shot.

Alternate Captain

Season Stats	51GP	10G	12A	+10	32 PIM
Weekly Stats	3GP	0G	1A	+1	0 PIM
Complete Stats	54GP	10G	13A	+11	32 PIM

LW Andrew Conboy: 22 years old, 6’4”, 192 pounds, LH shot.

Season Stats	45GP	9G	8A	+4	57 PIM
Weekly Stats	2GP	0G	0A	-1	0 PIM
Complete Stats	47GP	9G	8A	+3	57 PIM

C Gabriel Dumont: 19 years old, 5'10", 180 pounds, RH shot.

Season Stats	53GP	5G	10A	-8	65 PIM
Weekly Stats	3GP	0G	1A	+2	7 PIM
Complete Stats	56GP	5G	11A	-6	72 PIM

C Andreas Engqvist: 22 years old, 6'4", 191 pounds, RH shot.

Season Stats	52GP	8G	10A	+7	14 PIM
Weekly Stats	3GP	0G	1A	0	0 PIM
Season Stats	55GP	8G	11A	+7	14 PIM

G Robert Mayer: 22 years old, 6'1", 209 pounds, catches left.

Season Stats:	20GP	9-9-1-1	3.06GAA	.891%
Weekly Stats:	0GP	0-0-0-0	GAA	%
Complete Stats:	20GP	9-9-1-1	3.06GAA	.891%

D Brendon Nash: 23 years old, 6'3", 218 pounds, LH shot.

Season Stats	54GP	4G	21A	+15	39 PIM
Weekly Stats	3GP	0G	1A	-1	2 PIM
Complete Stats	57GP	4G	22A	+14	41 PIM

RW Aaron Palushaj: 21 years old, 6', 183 pounds, RH shot.

Season Stats	50GP	13G	23A	+11	24 PIM
Weekly Stats	3GP	1G	2A	+2	0 PIM
Complete Stats	53GP	14G	25A	+13	24 PIM

Called up to play for Montreal

C David Desharnais: 24 years old, 5'6", 177 pounds, LH shot.

Alternate Captain

Season Stats

35GP

10G

35A

+14

24 PIM

LW Max Pacioretty: 21 years old, 6'2", 210 pounds, LH shot.

Season Stats

27GP

17G

15A

+4

20 PIM

D Yannick Weber: 22 years old, 5'11", 196 pounds, RH shot.

Season Stats

15GP

8G

4A

-5

10 PIM

C Ryan White: 22 years old, 6', 198 pounds, RH shot.

Alternate Captain

Season Stats

33GP

3G

9A

-5

77 PIM

The Juniors Report: The Canadiens currentlyfeature 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:

C Michael Bournival: 18 years old, 6’, 190 pounds, LH shot.

Junior Club: Shawinigan Cataractes – Team Captain (38W, 22L, 2OTL, 1 SOL)

Season Stats	56GP	28G	36A	+4	28 PIM
Weekly Stats	0GP	0G	0A	0	0 PIM
Complete Stats	56GP	28G	36A	+4	28 PIM

D Morgan Ellis: 18 years old, 6'2", 196 pounds, RH shot.
Junior Club: Cape Breton Screaming Eagles - Team Captain (17W, 42L, 1 OTL, 4 SOL)

Season Stats	58GP	8G	24A	-24	61 PIM
Weekly Stats	3GP	0G	1A	-2	2 PIM
Complete Stats	61GP	8G	25A	-26	63 PIM

C Louis Leblanc: 20 years old, 6'1", 184 pounds, RH shot.
Junior Club: Montreal Juniors - Alternate Captain. (43W, 11L, 4 OTL, 5 SOL)

Season Stats	45GP	24G	29A	+16	82 PIM
Weekly Stats	2GP	0G	1A	+1	6 PIM
Complete Stats	47GP	24G	30A	+17	88 PIM

LW Phillippe Lefebvre: 20 years old, 6', 200 pounds, LH shot.

Junior Club: Montreal Juniors (43W, 11L, 4OTL, 5 SOL)

Season Stats	55GP	17G	26A	+25	36 PIM
Weekly Stats	2GP	0G	1A	-1	0 PIM
Complete Stats	57GP	17G	27A	+24	36 PIM

OHL:

D Jarred Tinordi: 19 years old, 6'7", 212 pounds, LH shot.
Junior Club: London Knights (32W, 26L, 4 OTL, 1 SOL)

Season Stats	55GP	1G	10A	-6	121 PIM
Weekly Stats	3GP	0G	0A	-4	9 PIM
Complete Stats	58GP	1G	10A	-10	130 PIM

WHL:

RW Brendan Gallagher: 18 years old, 5'8", 170 pounds, RH shot.
Junior Club: Vancouver Giants (33W, 26L, 1 OTL, 4 SOL)

Season Stats	61GP	43G	44A	+29	98 PIM
Weekly Stats	2GP	0G	1A	0	2 PIM
Complete Stats	63GP	43G	45A	+29	100 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: 19 years old, 6', 180 pounds, LH shot.
NCAA Team: University of Michigan Wolverines (23W, 9L, 4T)

Season Stats	24GP	2G	7A	+12	17 PIM
Weekly Stats	0GP	0G	0A	0	0 PIM
Complete Stats	24GP	2G	7A	+12	17 PIM

RW Danny Kristo: 20 years old, 5'11”, 188 pounds, RH shot.
NCAA Team: University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux (24W, 8L, 3T)

Season Stats	29GP	5G	17A	+1	16 PIM
Weekly Stats	0GP	0G	0A	0	0 PIM
Complete Stats	29GP	5G	17A	+1	16 PIM

D Greg Pateryn: 21 years old, 6’3”, 222 pounds, RH shot.

NCAA Team: University of Michigan Wolverines (23W, 9L, 4T)

Season Stats	34GP	3G	11A	+12	22 PIM
Weekly Stats	0GP	0G	0A	0	0 PIM
Complete Stats	34GP	3G	11A	+12	22 PIM

C Dustin Walsh: 19 years old, 6’3”, 190 pounds, LH shot.

NCAA Team: Dartmouth College Big Green (16W, 10L, 3T)

Season Stats	29GP	9G	6A	0	6 PIM
Weekly Stats	0GP	0G	0A	0	0 PIM
Complete Stats	29GP	9G	6A	0	6 PIM

Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) Report: The Kontinental Hockey League is the professional hockey league of Russia, many Russian players first play professionally there before joining the NHL. Due to a lack of a transfer agreement between the NHL and the KHL it can be very difficult for NHL clubs to attract their drafted Russian prospects.

G Karri Ramo: 24 years old, 6'3", 207 pounds, catches left.

KHL Club: Avangard Omsk (42W, 9L, 1 OTL, 2 SOL) (4-3 Playoff record)

Season Stats:

44GP

33-6-2-1

1.97GAA

.925%

Playoff Stats	3GP	1-1-1	1.62 GAA	.933%
Weekly Stats	4GP	3-1-0	2.25GAA	.902%
Complete Stats	7GP	4-2-1	1.98 GAA	.916%

RW Maxim Trunev: 20 years old, 5'11", 189 pounds, RH shot.
KHL Club: Severstal Cherepovets (30W, 20L, 4 OTL, O SOL) (2-4 Playoff record)

Season Stats

39GP

1G

6A

+3

20 PIM

Playoff Stats	4GP	0G	0A	-3	0 PIM
Weekly Stats	2GP	0G	0A	0	0 PIM
Complete Stats	6GP	0G	0A	-3	2 PIM

D Alexei Yemelin: 24 years old, 6'1", 221 pounds, LH shot.
KHL Club: Ak Bars Kazan (34W, 12L, 3 OTL, 4 SOL) (4-0 Playoff record)

Season Stats

52GP

11G

15A

+16

117 PIM

Playoff Stats	3GP	0G	0A	0	0 PIM
Weekly Stats	1GP	0G	0A	+2	0 PIM
Complete Stats	4GP	0G	0A	+2	0 PIM