Episode 38 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast April 4 2023

Episode 38 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast include discussion about-

#1. Just in case anyone thought that there were not quite enough Injuries in Montreal, Not only has Christian Dvorak been added to that long list of season ending injuries, but you can now also add Kaiden Guhle and Josh Anderson to that list as well. There is no signs indicating that Injuries will even remotely slow down with this team this year. This is just nuts or insane, pick your preference on how to describe it.

#2. On a positive note Brendan Gallagher and Kirby Dach have returned to the line up. Brendan Gallagher seems extremely excited and chomping at the bit to contribute and make as much of a difference as he can for the remainder of this season, which is great, and Kirby Dach did not look out of place at all, or like he had missed any games and showed zero signs of needing to knock off any rust at all, which was fantastic to see.

#3. May every single injured player of the Montreal Canadiens return from their injuries with no negative impacts or lingering effects on them in any way.

#5. Let’s talk about the position of goal within the organization, where is the panic of there is a need and the next one has to be found right now? How about promising prospect is Jakub Dobes, who is 6’ 05, 200 plus pounds and was drafted in the 5^th round and was the 136^th overall in the 2020 NHL entry draft and has put up 2 consecutive lights out seasons at Ohio State in the Big-10 U.S. College program in which he has posted amazing save percentages, has played a solid amount of games in each season and his movement as well as his on ice positioning have all be outstanding.

The other bright goaltending prospect is Emmett Croteau, who is 6’ 03 and is also 200 lbs plus, and he has also posted a very respectable 3^rd season after being drafted in the 6^th round at the 162^nd position in the 2022 draft by the Montreal Canadiens playing for the Waterloo Blackhawks of the United States Hockey League.

#6. Does anyone else see the similarities  between the position of goaltender on a hockey and the  quarterback on a football team, these 2 positions are significantly and drastically more effected by the other players and their skillsets that are on the team than any other position is.

#7. So, where else can Montreal look to obtain and fill there talent pool with additional prospects regarding this key position. Well, Montreal can look at undrafted free agent college prospects such as Ludvid Perrson who plays for Miami of Ohio University, Ian Shane at Cornell “Did anyone have an immediate flash back to Ken Dryden here”, who also played at Cornell, Luke Pavicich out of UMass-Amherst and not to be left out, not mentioned or forgotten is Yaniv Perets out of the University of Quinnipiac who has put the numbers of a 929% save percentage with a 1.52 goals against average followed up with 939% save percentage with 1.17 goals against average. Was ECAC Goaltender of the year in 2022 and is a Hobey Baker Finalist this year. He is better than likely anything in the upcoming 2023 draft? Many of these college free agent could very well be better than what’s available in the 2023 draft and potentially best the next best throughout the NHL moving forward.

#8. However, if that’s not exciting, or there’s anyone who  just can’t bring themselves to get on board with those options, the next option would be at the 2023 NHL draft, which Montreal has already amassed lots picks for and have at the ready, and can obtain more picks by trading the litany of got to go players that’s been relentlessly discussed prior to, as well as through the entire 2022/2023 regular season and can thereby address this need at the 2023 NHL entry draft if preferred.

#9And after all of that, there will be the option of discovering undrafted prospects that have somehow been overlooked, 2^nd guessed or that have slipped through the cracks to grab and secure the nets in Montreal for years. I can’t wait to see what talents Montreal obtains with these options, as the organization possesses an incredibly talented internal staff top to bottom to find and fill this organizational need.

#10. But the filling of, or finding the next one, if you will to play in goal, is not the immediate oh my god we have to figure this out or fill this need right this very second issue that some want to make it out to be. In reality it’s the last piece of the puzzle issue.

#11. Nobody wants to see what Carey Price has been, and continues to go through now, happen again in the future, because it wasn’t learned from the first time.

#12. What’s with the ridiculous view of small players can’t make it. Here are 4 fantastic and beloved player of Montreal’s past by the name of Yvan Cournoyer was 5’ 07 and a 165lbs, Doug Jarvis was       5’ 09 and 165lbs, Jacques Lemire was only 5’ 10 and 175lbs and Rejean Houle who weighed only 165lbs, what was that about small players can’t succeed? can’t contribute? That there can’t be too many of them on your roster? Ironically, here are the 4 fantastic smaller players of today that Montreal has, Cole Caufield, Sean Farrell, Lane Hutson and Raphael Harvey Pinard. All have very special skill sets and will all be very key pieces of the team.

#13. Sean Farrell’s season came to a decisive conclusion when Harvard got blown out 8 to 1 by Ohio State. It should mentioned again here that the netminder for Ohio State was none other than Canadiens Goaltending prospect Jakob Dobbes. The time has arrived for everyone to take him far more seriously than they have previously have, and really look at his numbers, and what he’s accomplished before continuing on with the there’s no hope and coming prospect within Montreal’s talent pool for the goalie position moving forward.

#14. Kent Hughes is the man once again with the touch of gold. Sean Farrell has been signed to a 3-year entry level contract by Kent Hughes in less than 48 hours after his season at Harvard concluded.

#15. Jeff Gorton, Kent Hughes and Martin St. Louis are the best since Sam Pollick and Scotty Bowman. Montreal hit the lottery 3 times when these 3 were hired .