General Habs Archives
Montreal Acquire Shawn Belle
By pitbull12
July 11, 2008 in General Habs Archives
pitbull12
http://canadiens.nhl.com/team/app/?service...rticleid=368246
For Corey Locke...
roy_133
Interests:Forum Trolling
I haven't paid much attention to what he's been doing lately, he was a first round pick though I know that, and I'm pretty sure he played on the Canadian world junior team one year.
Interesting move.
Michael19Cammalleri67
Lol. An average prospect for a average prospect thats a defensemen and Price's friend.
habsfever7
I don't get this move, is BG trying to make this team bigger???
By "this team" do you mean the Bulldogs? I'm not sure this was an NHL move, especially not in the short term. Belle is still young, probably 22-23, and I mean I guess it's POSSIBLE he is an NHLer one day, but I don't think it will be this season.
koreysecord1992
I guess I saw it coming. not this trade in particular, but Locke being moved out of the MTL system, as he clearly wasn't going to make it to the bigs here.
Rocket-1
Of course he is, but i think he is getting ready for a transaction too.
Hoyle00cdn
Corey Locke wanted out of Montreal. He felt that the organisation was playing him and didn't see any serious shot to make the Habs lineup any time in the near future.
Simply put, in Minnesota he'll probably see 30-40 games this year, in Montreal he'd see 10 if he was lucky.
Possible that BG will not offer Biron a contract,( i think hes a free agent?) so he's replacing him on the Dogs defence with another big body.
Charon1
This is interesting. Locke probably wasn't going to see much of any NHL ice time this year. He seems to be a career AHLer. He's small but he can't skate well enough to compensate.
Belle is still young at 23, and he's got 3 season of AHL under his belt. Anybody think he might see NHL ice time this year?
animerules1x3
Hmmm. A new defenseman for the Bulldogs, maybe it's a sign that one of Carle of Valentenko will be called up often during the year ?
I don't Know the situation in Hamilton or Cincinatti, but does it seem that Bob is getting a wierd amount of minor- pro Defensmen this season ?
Could this be signaling a future trade involving some of our Dmen, or our coveted young prospects on the blueline ?
Anyhow, welcome to the club Mr. Belle
Just another mundane piece of work... I like this trade on the AHL level.
habfanforlife-85
I have always liked this guy since I saw him play for Team Canada at the WJHC.
This guy skates very well for a man his size and makes great first passes. Not to sure why he has not yet made the jump, but I see him as being the next Josh Gorges. Former WJHC star defenceman who flies under the radar until given the chance to play.
Great Move Bob!!!
Valentenko isn't ready. Belle or Carle could possible be 6th or 7th defencmen this season. I could see him to a thing like gorges tho.
10 in Montreal? did you think a wicked flu strain was going to hit Montreal this winter?
30+ in Minnesota? I can't see Jacques Lemaire appreciating for that many games Locke taking penalties in his attempt to play defense against far superior skaters...
but I could be wrong... I doubted anyone would have even traded for him considering they could have had him for nothing last year...
Valenrhino was the Bulldogs' best D-man last season when he wasn't injured. He's ready for being a callup.
Brisebois
No offense to Locke but the Habs didn't lose much in that trade. Locke was likely to have no impact with the Habs anytime soon. Belle seems also on the edge of making it in the NHL or staying a career AHL d-man. Well he was drafted in the first round of that great 2003 draft which has been the best in the last few years when it comes to talent depth.
I personaly would rather see him in the top pairing for defencmen in the AHL then as a 7th defencmen.
There were a lot of good players drafted that year ( Habs picked AK 1st round that year). We also took O'Byrne in the 3rd round that year and he's on the verge of making our team full time so this could turn out to be an excellent move on BG's part.
mcdonald19
I think this is a good move. Locke was going nowhere in the Canadiens system and is not a loss IMO. It also leads me to believe that Bob is indeed planning a trade/making room for a centre in the HABS as he has just moved one out. This could Chips could be with the Dogs again next year??
Bob can now get a centre and trade young D-men to get him and still have enough left to have a good squad of talented defensive prospects
romy22
I figure the way Timmons and his crew run the scouting...any young player that the Habs bring in, was probably someone they looked heavily at on Draft day before making another decision.
He'll be good for Hamilton. More veteran (AHL) presence for them. D looks good. Carle, Tank, Belle, Weber, Subban...that's a good start.
Good Luck Corey. He was a great Bulldog. I still think he has a shot at the NHL. He just needs the write fit, and Montreal is not it.
That's why I only spoke of callups.
DanfromTheHammer
I think we all just need to look at Belle's numbers to see that this was a good trade. He was a +4 over the 9 NHL games he played in 06/07 ... Meaning, he was on pace for a +36 year .. That's pretty darn good! HAHA
.. I can find a silver lining in anything :-)
Location:Hamilton, ON
This is just a replacement for many Bulldogs that won't be back.