The team announcement:
General manager Pierre Gauthier announced today the signing of free agent defenseman Brendon Nash to a two-year contract (2010-11 and 2011-12).
Nash, who is currently completing his studies at Cornell University, plays with the Cornell Big Red in the ECAC of the NCAA.
Brendon Nash, who will turn 23 on Wednesday, March 31, is a 6’, 3’’, 206 lbs defenseman who hails from Kamloops, BC. In his last season at Cornell University in 2009-10 (team also includes his brother Riley), Nash led all team defensemen in scoring with 19 points in 33 games (2 goals, 17 assists).
He also served 48 penalty minutes. Nash recorded a total of 67 points (8 goals, 59 assists) and 173 penalty minutes in four full seasons with the Big Red. He also led all team defensemen in points in each the past three seasons.
From 2004 to 2006, Nash registered 60 points (9 goals, 51 assists) in 112 regular season games with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks of the BCHL (British Columbia Hockey League).
Nash participated in the Canadiens’ development camp in 2009.
From Hockey’s Future:
Nash is a smart, offensive-minded defenseman who possesses a nice
combination of size, mobility and puck skills. He uses his 6’3 frame and
long reach to great advantage, particularly in protecting or stripping
the puck. He’s also not afraid to join the offensive play. Defensively,
he is solid and keeps things pretty simple. Nash has great poise and
patience with the puck, but what sets him apart from many young
defensemen is in his timely passing ability, particularly on power
plays. Though he skates quite well for a big man, Nash needs to work on
having quicker feet. Developing speed and strength are two areas that
will be paramount to his future success.
Cornell head coach Mike Schafer’s comments on Nash: “With
Sasha Pokulok
and Ryan O’Byrne
signing pro contracts last summer, Brendan had a lot of responsibilities
as a freshman and he did a tremendous job. He logged as much ice time
as we could possibly give him and played in all situations. It’s just a
matter of Brendan continuing to excel. We expect big things from him
next year and I think he’ll be one of the top defensemen in our league.”
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Considering the brain surgeons that have been roster players since ’93 and the Habs’ rate of success, perhaps it’s worth a try!
Poor Mike Schafer. Just like Red Berenson, he has a tough time holding on to talent.
Question — Are the Habs signing Hockey Players or Scholars?
Is that really true? I never knew that. I am right-handed and shoot right and never thought twice about it.
I believe the picture answers your question. And, yes, since most people are right-handed, they also shoot left. Sound about right?
So, dads, don’t force your left-handed kids to write with their right, but at least nurture their right-handed shot.
He’s a LH shot unfortunately, but only 3 of 10 NHL defencemen are RH so they’re not exactly easy to track down. If he’s had to play right D before for his team, it will likely be a better deal for us than Spacek playing right D. Gorges handles it well enough.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu.
http://habsandhockey.blogspot.com/
lefty
not sure if this will help because I’m replying 12 hours later to your post.
the answer to your question is quite ironic, in fact.
the sports scholarships to attend canadian universities are available – but do you know who is paying for them?
are you sitting down?
Canadian Major Junior Hockey teams.
That’s right Major Junior.
If you check out the web sites for the Q, Ohl, WHL, you will be able to read about the programs.
The leagues themselves are paying the players a certain amount of money in scholarships if they go on to university, and many of the teams are topping up that number.
I know the Montreal Juniors quite well.
Part of their plan – when they target a kid who wants to go play US College hockey - is to offer to pay the entire tuition of any Canadian university.
check it out.
not many people are aware of this program and people assume that Major Junior and Canadian universities are world’s apart.
The Canadian university teams are FULL of major junior players that did not go pro.
In fact, a kid these days has little or no chance to walk on and make a Canadian Univeristy hockey team – because almost all of spots are taken by major junior players attending the university on their major junior team’s scholarship money.
Way to go PG, time to stop your theory of whether small shrimp size players including defensemen can win NHL hockey games, concentrate on hockey instead. Sign big, play big, lose small.
There is a reason college FAs go mostly undrafted. With modern scouting, unfair or not they can pretty much size these kids potential to be NHL players by the time they’re 18, or even before that. Some guys beat the system and prove to be late bloomers, after all the best active college free agent is Martin St. Louis.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu.
http://habsandhockey.blogspot.com/
Only one question. Is this guy right handed? or left. Too many lefties in the pros, righties are in desperate need.
Andy McDonald, Chris Kunitz, and Mason Raymond come to mind. There hasn’t been a very high success rate with college free agents.
Carolina would have to lose tonight as well.
Good signing…Now we got a matching set of big Cornell boys…While I am a loyal Black Bear it’s been slim years for us as of late…
“Vive le col roulé! Le système, C’est le col roulé!”
Ed Belfour and Adam Oates were unsigned players out of NCAA hockey.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu.
http://habsandhockey.blogspot.com/
You can see all players stats at http://www.hockeydb.com and prospect rankings at http://www.hockeysfuture.com
Seems like now it’s time of NCAA signings.. does anyone have a link for a comprehensive summary of all NCAA signings? I would like to compare what other teams are doing..
And another question – from this kind of signings, are there any good NHL players that came out in the past? (and I don’t mean future Leafs stars Bozak ‘n’ Hanson but someone else). Cheers
D’uh … Maybe it’s because (most) Canadian universities want to attract smart/intelligent students and no dumb low lives who can’t do anything in life besides playing hoop or hockey? Trust me, the Canadian system is way better off the way it is. There are some things in the US that we’d better not emulate …
See my post re my experience teaching NCAA athletes below. I can’t speak for UNC, but I am willing to bet that they are if anything more stringent than the state school where I taught. So with due respect, you’re full of hot air.
that is called a joke, my friend. by your response, i dont know if you got that. sorry
I got tossed in my first interview for Harvard on a layup. The iterviewer asked my what I would major in if I was accepted at Harvard College? I answered, Economics, not something useless ike Latin. Poop me, that was her major! I tried to recover that she could have a great conversation with St. Thomas More if they were to ever meet on the streets of Boston! Done as I was, I tried to pull the keeper and tie it up!
…I know there are quasi-scolarships, bursaries and incentives across Canada here and there
…WHAT I am saying though is too many quality Canadian kids are thinking American universities AND hockey scholarship programmes BEFORE They are Canadian
…it’s rare You will see a high-end player make the NHL out of a Canadian university program
…OBVIOUSLY the Canadian scholarship programs are not as sophisticated or comprehensive as their American and NCAA counterparts
…I am not saying hockey scolarships don’t exist in Canada for Canadian kids …WHAT I am saying is they are Mickey Mouse and half-assed and uncoordinated, unlike in the United States
…the US universities make this work financially …WHY can’t also the Canadian universities in a financially-viable business way ? …why shouldn’t athletics be complimentary to Canadian universities’ business plans as well as academic ?
…the number of smart young Canadian kids who also are elite-hockey talent ARE as We speak crossing the border in growing exponential numbers …all We have to do is note where an increasingly growing number of top-end Canadian players being signed by NHL teams are coming from …NCAA/American university programs …doesn’t THAT say Canadian universities should start being a little more imaginative and aggressive trying to keep the majority of these kids in Our own elite-development programs ?
Habitant means PASSIONATE HOCKEY
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=423049
We’re on the same page. The real thing is providing a future for all the guys who don’t go pro. That is the real litmus test for success!
“face palms”, fully clothed? Thats where i went wrong.
To be fair, personal computers didn’t exist in his time but his campus did have a computer. It took up three rooms and had a total of 16 bits of memory.
…We apparently agree and think the same on this Brian
…it is hopefully something the boards of Canadian universities start to figure-out and implement asap
Habitant means PASSIONATE HOCKEY
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=423049
It’s all your fault, it’s all your fault…..
In Guy Boucher I trust.
Bill, you’re out there on this one in general, but when it comes to hockey, you are not even close. The ECAC where O’Byrne and today’s signing came from don’t even grant athletic scholarships. Hate to break it to you, but these are real schools, especially when it comes to hockey programs. Considering that I went to Columbia, all I would have to do to get into your most selective universities would have merely been to show up fully clothed for the interview.
I hate to ever, ever hold the NCAA up as a model — it actually works in ice hockey though — but I really think the future is to somehow develop the Canadian University league so they are on par with their USA counterparts. The CHL scholarship system has only a fuzzy link to real college educations in Canada from what I can discern. The Canadian universities that feel that developing athletics negatively effect their reputations should reflect upon how many of your nationals come down here for their college educations. I am biased toward NCAA D-1, but I long for the day when McGill or the U of T would go for all the marbles against Wisconsin or Boston College. Anything that expands our sport makes it better!
…unlike the average basketball player in the States, the average Canadian kid wanting to be educated at the same time as chasing His hockey dream is more intellectually capable to carry a reasonable academic load at the same time
…those that can’t can opt for the CHL
…I would say MOST of the kids playing today in the CHL, when pushed, would handle the academics as well as hockey
…the ‘Real Joke’ is when some of these kids put all Their youth and heart into making an NHL career …and finding Their skills or fate is not on Their side
…at some point the Canadian hockey system will have to wake-up to the realization these kids’ overall life without hockey options and needs must be the first priority
…kids and parents are much smarter and savvy today than when I was growing up …either We develop/provide those hockey/educational options HERE in Canada, or the American development path will be so far ahead We will find it difficult down-the-road to catch-up
Habitant means PASSIONATE HOCKEY
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=423049
Well we will soon see if the Habs can win the important games and who on the team can raise their game a couple of notches. Wow the Bruins,Rangers and Atlanta sure raised their games did last night.
Athletic scholarships are a joke, and I’m glad that Canadian universities aren’t run like their American counterparts in this regard. It would be one thing if the scholarships went to people who actually ALSO BELONGED at a university, but they don’t in most cases. Universities like North Carolina must have to be pretty creative in creating courses that their basketball rosters can pass …
Full Breezer 4 Life
Not his fault, computers didn’t exist when he attended university.
…Brian I believe BOTH the CHL and a Canadian university scholarship system would be completely compatible and viable in Canada
…it’s only the shortsighted false-elitist Canadian academics controlling Our universities whom condescend on athletics that are getting in the way
Habitant means PASSIONATE HOCKEY
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=423049
ROFLMAO!!!
We got to win at least 4 of 6, and it will not be easy. Those injured Bruins just beat those friggin Devils on their home ice! They will not quit just like Atlanta.
“We will win the Cup one day only with ? in the nets “
I know you have your reasons, but its hard to not like a trade when a drft pick is involved when we have no idea who that player will be, A better assessment should be made next year
“It’s not an obsession, It’s a way of life..”
The Normal 0 false false false argument.
Great
post! Unfortunately, the biggest
impediment to developing Canadian college hockey is major junior hockey, or the
CHL. As long as that system exists,
university hockey will be a backwater and players wanting more than hockey in
their lives will go south to the NCAA.
Major junior might work for maybe 1% of those that want to pursue
professional careers, but for the remaining 99%, they leave with absolutely
nothing. They are ready for nothing but to drive the local Molson truck. Fewer guys might get a shot at the show from
D-1, but their careers prospects are much better away from hockey.
Just for the record, I still don’t like the Moore trade.
Full Breezer 4 Life
great……Boston and Atlanta won….we better win in Carolina
Oh, well OKAY then, he sucks.
Full Breezer 4 Life
No help tonight, so if this team is going to make it, they won’t be backing in. They are going to have to win to make it.
“It’s not an obsession, It’s a way of life..”
…more on topic: sure wish I was drinking my coffee while reading this thread, and it told Me We have just signed RICK Nash
…would have put a real spring in my step this mornin’
…a talent like Rick Nash is such a ‘waste’ in a hockey wasteland like Columbus Ohio
Habitant means PASSIONATE HOCKEY
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=423049
…I have never understood why Canadian universities have not embraced sport scholarship programs like in the United States
…I understand only certain universities likely have relative resources and our universities want to uphold academic integrity …but especially development of Canadian kids in American universities seems so wasteful and ironic
…there must be a way for Canadian universities to provide Canadian (and American) kids an academic/athletic program here in Canada at least as good or better than the NCAA
…at some point in the future Canada will lose the opportunity, and it will be reflected in American hockey progressing through a more overall more well-rounded alternative for Our elite-athletes
…Canadian universities have long resisted sport scholorship programs, but especially relevent to hockey They must look more realistically especially at integrating hockey scholarships for Canadian kids to stay in Canada
Habitant means PASSIONATE HOCKEY
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=423049
The Devils can never be useful can they? They’re at the very least handing the Ruins a loser point tonight.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu.
http://habsandhockey.blogspot.com/
are you saying you hope he gets fired? if so i agree, Don cherry takes away all the credibility of hockey night in canada. Not that it had much, but yeah. at least TSN has some actual hockey analysis and actual discussion. Don cherry talks about his new favourite prospect from kingston, then switches to some reference of bobby orr, and finds a way to diss visors. Then when Ron maclean makes a pitiful attempt to speak, he just gets cut off by don anyways.
HNIC has become a farce and a drama anyways, and the worst part is they dont even have good announcers to at least make the actual game part worth watching on that channel.
All six remaining.
Not gonna happen.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
Say you were trying to intercept a pass with only one hand on the stick, or reaching in the corner for a puck – probably using your strong hand, top of stick, no?
And the retarded Cherry-Milbury “Partnership of Failure” the Canadian Bonehead Corporation employs for reasons unbeknownst to anyone…
—Hope Springs Eternal—
Habitant means PASSIONATE HOCKEY
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=423049
…DUH Boy …that is so ignorant, elitist and condescending it doesn’t deserve a response
Six straight?
I hope the bruins lose tonight and dont make the playoffs. maybe that will shut up the cocky bruins fans
Someone asked why the Habs seemed to go after the educated. I don’t know. If they are looking for a reason, I would say Ken Dryden is a pretty good reason!
Did you think his name was Cornellov?
God, in most walks of life this guy would be on the dole. Only in the NHL could a guy like him be employed.
Yep, if they lose, they’re out.
I did the math today, and if the Leafs won all their remaining 6 games, and Boston lost all of their 7 remaining, and the Thrashers only won one, and the Rangers 2, etc, the Leafs would make it into the playoffs.
To quote Lloyd Christmas: “So you’re saying there’s a chance!!”
—Hope Springs Eternal—
Lee has a copy of the soon to be released NHL rulebook which has the clear penalty for goaltending:
the violation of interfering with the puck when it is on its way to the net and it is (a) in the air, (b) entirely between the posts and below the crossbar and has the possibility of entering the net, and (c) is not touching the posts or crossbar.
i believe that if the leafs lose tonight they are mathematically eliminated. (please someone correct me if i am wrong). but i am still nervous about atlanta catching the habs even though i know their schedule for the last 5 games is very rough!
My thoughts exactly. I have been following the games online – not looking overly promising right now. Scoreless in New Jersey and Thrashers are up 2-0.
Perhaps, but moving forwards we might have the opposite problem. Subban, Weber and Carle are the top 3 defence prospects for the Habs and all shoot right. Of the Habs young defencemen, O’Byrne is a right-handed shot. I’d say they are potentially alright in that department moving forwards.
just heard that he showed up after the olympic break out of shape – according to nick kipreos – he has been asked to lose 7 or 8 lbs before he gets back into the lineup.
They’ve already begun negotiations, but both sides agreed to put it off until after the season was over to minimize distractions during the stretch drive and playoffs. So don’t hold your breath waiting for anything to happen until May (or even better, June!).
Yeah, cause Gainey never showed any interest in big university defencemen, right?
Last night, it was Mike Ribeiro who was a healthy scratch for missing a team meeting. Dallas isn’t playoff bound so understandable.
However, today, it’s Shane O’Brien’s turn. And he will miss three games and all the practices up until Sunday for being late for practice. A little bit much no? Alain Vigneault should maybe run the league and everyone will get suspended.
“I gotta feeling…that tonight’s gonna be a good night!”
the russian big man, artyukhin, who a few here covet, just scored on the leafs. 2-0
good sighning, one that gainey would never do. I saw him play in B.C. a good play maker. And good to quaterback the powerplay, plus he will go in the corners and pick a fight.
Good job!
thank you. in fact, my son has applied to Stanstead College for grade 11. its a great school and they have an excellent athletic program – especially hockey.
the school was just in the news because their new arena will be named the Pat Burns Arena – very cool.
again – thanks for the encouragement.
Judge the man by his results. Lots of people bagged on him for picking up Dominic Moore for a second rounder, but have since changed their minds. Grabbing this kid from Cornell was like picking up a fiver off the sidewalk.
Oh, I can see it happening. He has called just four playoff games total in his decade-long career as a member of the NHLOA. But, the improvement that he has shown this year merits him calling all Hab playoff games. (We are as doomed as doomed can be!)
yes, but against mostly non-playoff teams.
come on devils,islanders and not thrashers (sorry i just can’t say the alternative to thrashers)
Oh if it was only true. If we can pull this thing off and get into a playoff spot we both know damn well chris lee will be doing at least 2 of our games. Going to the last game on the 10th against the leafs. It would be a nightmare if the game actually meant something and if lee was doingthe game.
I heard Chris Lee is off to South Africa to do a few World Cup games. Some guys at FIFA saw him call a Habs game and thought he would be a big improvement!
at least the officiating will be better.
I hope he got his degree. Not Timmins’s best moment as head scout, eh?
Hey, you can never have too many Minnesota Mr. Hockey winners in your system!
Ah, ya never know. The kid’s still as skinny as a ’70′s roller derby girl. He could put on some weight and turn into a useful element on the D. I agree we can likely forget about top pairing potential, but we might have the next Hall Gill, with the bonus of some solid skating ability.
If we don’t sign him,don’t we get some sort of compensation 2nd round pick or something?
I have no clue about that, Showey.
I thought i had read that about a month ago,not sure if it was here or somewhere else.
Believe it applies to only those that we CAN’T sign.
Hey Frank!
Good to see you. Long time.
Never heard of this, but it sure seems to take a little risk out of signing college bound kids.
Wha- you pickin’ on the kid cos he’s built like an asparagus spear?
Eric, always watching in the shadows but it gets a little mad here at times during the season so.
Believe it applies only to not being able to sign your first round pick as Phoenix with Blake Wheeler. The Rangers asked for this to also apply to the Russian kid who died.The NHL agreed last draft.
Nice, PG is adding some size to our back end, almost all our realistic prospects on defence are at least 3 inches shorter, signing Nash is a nice move to have more big guys in the pipeline.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu.
http://habsandhockey.blogspot.com/
like Gauthier, my wife has also added some size to her back end….but that’s another story
You know what they say, you throw enough s**t at the wall, something would be bound to stick..lol
I like that they’re active in the junior/lower leagues. Looking ahead.
“love cannot drown truth, Nefertiti”
You better hope she doesn’t check browser history.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu.
http://habsandhockey.blogspot.com/
lol
LOL!
I hooe she doesn’t see this comment.
Browser history? She won’t see the comment from browser history!
“love cannot drown truth, Nefertiti”
I hope for your sake Tony, that she doesn’t frequent this blog or else it’s the doghouse!
“Hey Richard, two minutes for looking so good!”
My wife too. Time for a trade!
If she’s not afraid to score by going down low and into the dirty zones, a lot of GMs would sign her long term…
by size do you mean you hanging to the back of her ? sorry couldnt help it.
thats how britanny spears got her first recording deal.
Yup, all the scouts said she had great stick-work…
lol !!
I’m always in the doghouse, that’s why I spend all my time on HIO
He ain’t a shrimp, he ain’t on old age pension and he plays D. I’m willing to give the kid a break before turning on the old Timo Charm, aren’t you? פסח שמח
agreed- chug sameach!
Yes, it’s been an hour, lets wait some more
If he’s not in the Hall of Fame by 7:30, they need to fire everyone.
7:30 atlantic time, anything else is too much time to prove himself. I mean,he isn’t even ambidextrous. Time to run him out of town,regardless of what town he’s in right now. He needs to be run out of it.
I cant read without the vowels!!!
What, what, what??? A big western Canadian boy? What happened to all the short Europeans and Mr. Minnesotas?
PG and Timmins are just toying with you before selecting a series of Minnesota kids and Latvians at the 2010 draft.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu.
http://habsandhockey.blogspot.com/
Good signing, although I would imagine this doesn’t bode well for David Fischer’s future with the Habs
What future?
Haha, Gauthier went after the wrong Nash.
Nice signing,always good when you can add an asset without giving anything up. Good size,seems to have a pretty good upside when it comes to both his offensive and defensive game
Would anything feel more natural to you than not cheering for the blue and white?
I hear there are two brothers from Estonia that the Habs are targetting. The younger one is a late rounder but might be even better than his brother. If they can pick the older one early, like in the 1st round they might nab the younger one later and pull the wool over everybody’s eyes. Hahaha. Take that you idiots who pick big Western Canadian centres who score lots of goals.
If it doesn’t work, will you complain about it 7 years after the fact?
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu.
http://habsandhockey.blogspot.com/