Former Montreal Canadiens scout Grant McCagg examines the video from Alex Zharovsky’s Oct. 29 KHL game and breaks down his NHL potential. #zharovsky #hage #habs
This kid looks like he could be our “Malkin”. If he stays at C he could very well develop into our 2C for the next 2 decades. Very impressive for an 18 year old, almost unprecedented if he keeps up the pace.
22:33 Esa Tikkanen (a defensively responsible pest) also played on the first line with Kurri & Gretzky, which further proves your point about the necessity of balancing lines (no one would say Esa was better than 2nd liners Messier or Glenn Anderson).
23:04 Grant started talking about first and second lines not mattering who’s on them and it was maybe 4 minutes before this time stamp, I 100% agree. If Demidov stays on the second line for the rest of his career I’m totally fine with that… Because he will be on the first power play, and once we do get a 2C they will probably split ice time like I’m sure both lines will get 17-18 minutes or more for each line.
I can’t agree with this more, and the people who complain about Demidov not being on the first line, or continue to complain they need to wake up and use their brains for 10 minutes you’ll figure it out I promise…
The guy who commented about furthering the development for Zharovsky getting him to Laval, Well, This is not the case for KHL players in my opinion… KHL players can stay in the KHL for 2-3 years dominate, Come to the NHL and dominate in the NHL, There’s something about KhL players that makes them ready even if they stay there longer… If this was Sweden, Finland, Etc I would want him here as soon as possible… You look at guys like Panarin, Kaprizov, Marchenko, Voronkov, etc these guys stay in the KHL until they’re 20 up until 24 years old sometimes, And they come over and dominate right away… So honestly let him cook in the KHL for this season and the next after that, and then bring him over he will probably be NHL ready 2 seasons from now.
Habs have all the time in the world to wait for Zharovsky… Habs have our first line, We have Demidov, Kapanen, Hage likely comes over at the end of the season, The Habs might make a move for a 2C, I mean like Grant said let’s chill lmao… More than enough time, and if we wait it may be well worth the wait.
Hage is going to stay with Montreal, He is a massive fan of the team since childhood, the story with his father, Habs management really likes the kid, I just don’t see him going anywhere unless they know for sure he isn’t going to reach a top 6 role… even if he’s not a Centre I don’t really care about that because we still need another winger to play with Demoff and then this allows Montreal to go out and get a second line Centre and it gives Zharovsky more time as well… I don’t see them moving Hage for a RHD lmao we don’t need one, I think Hage, Fowler, Zharovsky are 3 guys in the pool who are basically untouchable, Habs will deal anyone else in the pool, I don’t see them moving any of those 3 until they see what this guys can give.
We have to remember that Hughes and Gorton are still not going to mortgage the future, Yea this team has taken big steps forward but i believe Hughes and Gorton still will not sell future players until this team is fully built, Hage, Zharovsky, Fowler I believe are in their future plans, and they won’t move away from their plan, They have not yet and will not. They will trade picks and prospects but not prospects they deem to be apart of their future. If they trade for a 2C this gives time for Zharovsky and Hage, Personally I think Hage will be ready to play in the top 6 as a winger next season.
Love your work Grant!! Question: would trading Owen Beck & Roy for Philip Danault be enough? He's an excellent face-off winner Left shooting Center and only 1 year left at 5.5M… thanks
Good job Grant. I really like Zharovsky's anticipation. Even with so-so skating, he still always finds himself around the puck. Not to nitpick but he has 37 games left until he turns 19 on Feb. 22. Still plenty of games to make it to the top of the list at his current pace.
In the late 1950's Claude Provost was on Montreal in an offensive role. Toe Blake converted him into a defensive specialist, often shadowing the best offensive players on opponents. His work on Bobby Hull was amazing.
He came before Bob Gainey and Gainey took that position to a new level.
Players who ppl thought would never get traded
Orr, Esposito from Boston Brad Park, Jean Ratelle from Rangers Gretzky Marcel Dionne JAGR
I read hes more suited to play wing and is only playing center cause ufa is thin at C. Do you see him potentially playing center long term or likely to shift to the wing in north america?
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Didn't make it in time to ask anything, but I joined.
You've been killing it lately with the amount of content.
Great work Grant! Love your show with the snake. 🐍 the Habs are beyond promising. Tony doesn’t invite you on his show anymore? ☮️
Amazing stuff, thank you ! Big big steal by the Habs
This kid looks like he could be our “Malkin”. If he stays at C he could very well develop into our 2C for the next 2 decades. Very impressive for an 18 year old, almost unprecedented if he keeps up the pace.
Who do you start in goal?
22:33 Esa Tikkanen (a defensively responsible pest) also played on the first line with Kurri & Gretzky, which further proves your point about the necessity of balancing lines (no one would say Esa was better than 2nd liners Messier or Glenn Anderson).
Sam Bennett & Matt Thachuk were 2nd line last yr Messier & Anderson were 2nd line. Petr Forsberg Adam Deadmarsh & Valerie Kemensky were 2nd line
I’m okay with a guy who is not a great skater but has elite hands and a great/elite IQ. I’ll take that any day of the week.
23:04 Grant started talking about first and second lines not mattering who’s on them and it was maybe 4 minutes before this time stamp, I 100% agree. If Demidov stays on the second line for the rest of his career I’m totally fine with that… Because he will be on the first power play, and once we do get a 2C they will probably split ice time like I’m sure both lines will get 17-18 minutes or more for each line.
I can’t agree with this more, and the people who complain about Demidov not being on the first line, or continue to complain they need to wake up and use their brains for 10 minutes you’ll figure it out I promise…
The guy who commented about furthering the development for Zharovsky getting him to Laval, Well, This is not the case for KHL players in my opinion… KHL players can stay in the KHL for 2-3 years dominate, Come to the NHL and dominate in the NHL, There’s something about KhL players that makes them ready even if they stay there longer… If this was Sweden, Finland, Etc I would want him here as soon as possible… You look at guys like Panarin, Kaprizov, Marchenko, Voronkov, etc these guys stay in the KHL until they’re 20 up until 24 years old sometimes, And they come over and dominate right away… So honestly let him cook in the KHL for this season and the next after that, and then bring him over he will probably be NHL ready 2 seasons from now.
Habs have all the time in the world to wait for Zharovsky… Habs have our first line, We have Demidov, Kapanen, Hage likely comes over at the end of the season, The Habs might make a move for a 2C, I mean like Grant said let’s chill lmao… More than enough time, and if we wait it may be well worth the wait.
Top quality content Grant!!!
Hage is going to stay with Montreal, He is a massive fan of the team since childhood, the story with his father, Habs management really likes the kid, I just don’t see him going anywhere unless they know for sure he isn’t going to reach a top 6 role… even if he’s not a Centre I don’t really care about that because we still need another winger to play with Demoff and then this allows Montreal to go out and get a second line Centre and it gives Zharovsky more time as well… I don’t see them moving Hage for a RHD lmao we don’t need one, I think Hage, Fowler, Zharovsky are 3 guys in the pool who are basically untouchable, Habs will deal anyone else in the pool, I don’t see them moving any of those 3 until they see what this guys can give.
We have to remember that Hughes and Gorton are still not going to mortgage the future, Yea this team has taken big steps forward but i believe Hughes and Gorton still will not sell future players until this team is fully built, Hage, Zharovsky, Fowler I believe are in their future plans, and they won’t move away from their plan, They have not yet and will not. They will trade picks and prospects but not prospects they deem to be apart of their future. If they trade for a 2C this gives time for Zharovsky and Hage, Personally I think Hage will be ready to play in the top 6 as a winger next season.
grant reading wdym lmao
The Habs draft team Lapointe and Bobrov have had an incredible run in recent years.
How much I HATE Grant's take on Hage!!!!
Great podcast Grant,keep er up.
Imagine: Suzuky-Hague-Zharovsky at centre.
Btw, why was he drafted so "low"?
What is this thing about adding "lol" after a comment??
Love your work Grant!! Question: would trading Owen Beck & Roy for Philip Danault be enough? He's an excellent face-off winner Left shooting Center and only 1 year left at 5.5M… thanks
Good job Grant. I really like Zharovsky's anticipation. Even with so-so skating, he still always finds himself around the puck.
Not to nitpick but he has 37 games left until he turns 19 on Feb. 22. Still plenty of games to make it to the top of the list at his current pace.
Dach snd Reinbacher are injuring prône
They can't protect themself
In the late 1950's Claude Provost was on Montreal in an offensive role. Toe Blake converted him into a defensive specialist, often shadowing the best offensive players on opponents. His work on Bobby Hull was amazing.
He came before Bob Gainey and Gainey took that position to a new level.
Players who ppl thought would never get traded
Orr, Esposito from Boston
Brad Park, Jean Ratelle from Rangers
Gretzky
Marcel Dionne
JAGR
All Hall of Fame players
No one is untradable
You're right about the Habs windows begins now
They won Cup in
1946, 56, 66, 76, 86
2026????? Continuing the tradition.
I could be wrong but I have the feeling that Zharovsky is going to be a beast and that Hage is going to be an asset to get the veteran we need.
Hage is not close to the NHL imo.
Zharovky is.
I read hes more suited to play wing and is only playing center cause ufa is thin at C. Do you see him potentially playing center long term or likely to shift to the wing in north america?
Too soon to tell, but so, it looks fricking good.
He's got 14 points in 13 games now.