Will Guy Boucher sign with the HABS?

June 21, 2024June 21, 2024 ~ faamtl ~ Leave a comment

Will Guy Boucher sign with the HABS?

Written by Fred Arshoff

Edited by Judy Pitcher

First of all I would like to thank my editor Judy Pitcher very much for her excellent editing of my articles. A tip of my hat to you, Judy.

As many of you probably know on Monday June 17, 2024 the Toronto Maple Leafs relieved Guy Boucher of his duties as assistant coach in charge of their Power Play. Some peope are thinking the HABS may wish to sign him. I don’t see that happening for several reasons and I will expand on those.

First of all, before anything can happen GM Kent Hughes would have to ask permission from the Leafs organization to speak to Boucher and to sign him.

The last former Toronto Maple Leaf to work in the HABS Hockey Operations was Richard (Rick) Dudley, who was hired by the HABS former GM Marc Bergevin. Dudley was hired by the HABS on May 25, 2012. At the time of the hiring there was a clause that Dudley couldn’t be at the HABS draft table, as he already knew the Leafs plans for the draft.

The HABS now have three holes to fill in their coaching staff. Number one need would have to be a Power Play coach, but if the Leafs let him go it’s because they weren’t happy with their Power Play, why would the HABS hire him? The other two openings in the HABS organization are with the Laval Rocket. On May 17, 2024 Rocket Assistant Coach Kelly Buchberger left to join the Devon Xtreme of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. Today, June 21, 2024 it was announced that Head Coach Jean-Francois Houle and the Laval Rocket have mutually agreed to part ways.

Although, JFH only signed an extension on May 29, 2024, He is leaving to pursue a professional opportunity at the the f his Alma Mater Clarkson University in the NCAA. For more information please see my article at https://montrealsportsblog.wordpress.com/2024/05/29/laval-rockets-extends-coaching-staff/

Would Boucher want either jobs as coach or assistant coach in the AHL, if his ultimate goal is to coach in the NHL?Boucher previously worked for the HABS in the 2009-10 season as coach of the then AHL Hamilton Bulldogs, the HABS affiliate at the time.He left the organization when he was passed over to be the Head Coach of the HABS after former GM Bob Gainey fired then coach Jacques Martin.

Justin Barron RFA

May 8, 2024 ~ faamtl ~ Leave a comment

Justin Barron RFA

Written by Fred Arshoff

Edited by Marlene Wall

First of all I would like to thank Marlene Wall very much for editing my articles as Judy Pitcher takes some time off for personal reasons. I would also like to thank Martine McGuire for her help in researching this article.

I decided to write this article as there was discussion on X (formerly Twitter) about Justin Barron and I would like to give my thoughts and I’ll do it the way I normally do an article.

I’m very sure most of you know that come July 1st, 2024 , Barron will be RFA.

If I were Kent Hughes the first thing I would do is to make a qualifying offer just in case some team decides to give Barron an offer sheet , like what happened to the HABS team when Jesperi Kotkaniemi was given and accepted an offer sheet from the Carolina Hurricanes back in July 2021. For more information on this, please see my article at http:// montrealsportsblog.wordpress.com/2021/08/30/jesperi-kotkaniemi-gets-offer-sheet-for-carolina-hurricanes

We also know full well that Kent Hughes doesn’t like losing a player for nothing , this way he will get a draft pick and Kent can use it the way he feels is better for the HABS, perhaps trading it for a player he feels that is a better route like Marc Bergevin did .

Now don’t think for a minute that I don’t want Barron on the HABS, I see him open the HABS current defenseman at the very bottom of the totem pole .I also place Laval Rockets defenseman David Reinbacher, Logan Mailloux , Jayden Struble and recently signed Lane Hutson as well as Adam Engstròm ahead of Barron.

What I would do is try to trade Barron before or at the NHL draft for a 3rd to 5th round draft pick although Barron was the 1st round 2nd overall player drafted in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft by the Colorado Avalanche

The reason I am saying lower round draft picks has two reasons, first to be sent back to the AHL he will have to clear waivers and there are NHL teams that may claim Barron as they are short right-handed defenseman. If claimed on waivers he can’t be sent down to the AHL but be returned to the HABS. Secondly I haven’t improvement in his defensive game and that’s what a defenseman is supposed to do.

Barron has been playing professionally since the 2021-22 thus three years and by that time you should be fully developed. The HABS do have several offensive minded defenseman who play better defensively than Barron, so why not keep the best for us and trade off what we feel we don’t need for something we do need .

There are several NHL teams that are looking for an offensive defenseman and that Barron is .

I will admit Kent Hughes may wish to keep him on the HABS roster as Barron was the first player acquired by Hughes when he became the HABS GM , he insisted that Barron be included in the Artturi Lehkonen trade , until Barron was included Hughes didn’t make the trade. Also Hughes was Barron’s agent before becoming the HABS GM .

Sources

Barron’s being drafted

http://www.capfriendly.com/players/justin-barron

HABS acquire Barron

Canadiens acquire J. Barron from Colorado

Videos below

Dick Duff

January 3, 2024 ~ faamtl ~ Leave a comment

Dick Duff

Written by Fred Arshoff

Edited by Judy Pitcher

First of all I’d like to thank Judy Pitcher for her excellent editing of this and previous articles. A tip of my hat to you, Judy.

I decided to write this article about a hockey player who not only played for my HABS but also played for the Leafs who are Marlene Wall’s favourite team. Marlene does the photo merging for these articles. As an added coincidence, Duff’s initials are the last letter of my given name. Duff not only played for the Leafs and HABS, but also for the New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings and ended his NHL playing career with the Buffalo Sabres.

Dick Duff was born on February 18, 1936(87 years old) in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada. Duff had an older brother Les Duff who also played professional hockey. Duff has a great-nephew Cody Goloubef who has played in the NHL but is currently playing in Switzerland. Duff was 5’9″(175cm), weighed 165lbs(75kg) but was considered one of the best small players at the time. Duff pursued hockey full-time at the age of 15, moving to Toronto to attend St Michael’s College School. He played for the school’s affiliated team, now known as the St Michael’s Majors. After establishing himself as a scorer during his first 2 years at the school 1953-1955, he was invited to play his first NHL game in 1955 with the Toronto Maple Leafs. It was a scoreless game against the Montreal Canadiens. Duff surrendered his final year of junior eligibility to sign with the Leafs for the 1956-57 season.

Duff won the Stanley Cup 6 times, twice with Toronto and 4 times with Montreal. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on November 13, 2006 and was inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 2014.

The trade that brought Duff to the HABS was orchestrated by the then first year HABS GM Sam Pollock in the 1964-65 season. Sam Pollock showed us all he was a crafty negotiator and certainly knew his hockey, Faced with the prospect of being without left winger Gilles Tremblay for the rest of the 1964-65 season. Making the trade with the New York Rangers that brought Duff to Montreal, sent disappointing winger Billy Hicke, then with Cleveland of the AHL, and a minor league goaltender Guy Morrisette to the Rangers. Montreal also picked up minor league forward Dave McComb.

Duff was sold to the Los Angeles Kings in January 1970 but by December 1970 was sent along with Eddie Shack to the expansion Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Mike McMahon. In Buffalo, Duff and Shack would join their former Leafs’ coach Punch Imlach.

Dick Duff returned to the Toronto Maple Leaf Organization in the 1979-80 season. Before his retirement, he served as a scout and an assistant coach. In the 1980-81 season he was one of three men to coach the Toronto Maple Leaf’s OHA junior team.

DICK DUFF’S ACHIEVEMENTS

1962 Stanley Cup-Toronto

1963 Stanley Cup-Toronto

1965 Stanley Cup-Montreal

1966 Stanley Cup-Montreal

1968 Stanley Cup-Montreal

1969 Stanley Cup-Montreal

Inducted in to the Hockey Hall of Fame on November 13, 2006

Inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 2014

Videos of Dick Duff