While St. John’s wasn’t in the win column as much in the second quarter of the season, there were still some forwards who put forth some strong performances. Those are highlighted as we conclude our grades.
Players must have played in at least 5/19 games to receive a grade.
Forwards
Gabriel Dumont: A-: After a slow start to the season, the captain has found his point-producing stride. He has been a major threat shorthanded while being his usual feisty self. In terms of earning a recall to the Canadiens, Dumont has done enough to get one. With other (younger) players in the mix though, that may not happen.
Stats: 19 GP, 7 goals, 7 assists, 14 points, -7 rating, 19 PIMS, 49 shots
Charles Hudon: B+: Hudon continues to be a go-to player offensively while he also played with more of an edge than we saw last season. He also jumped back and forth between centre and the wing as the team incorporated some of their injured players back into the lineup. He only has had the one small stint with Montreal but that seems likely to change before too long.
Stats: 15 GP, 5 goals, 5 assists, 10 points, +2 rating, 26 PIMS, 41 shots
Bud Holloway: B+: He wasn’t able to maintain the point-per-game pace he had over the first six weeks of the year but Holloway is still one of St. John’s most consistent and reliable forwards. They’re paying him big money to lead the team offensively and at the halfway mark, he’s leading the team in scoring.
Stats: 18 GP, 6 goals, 8 assists, 14 points, -3 rating, 4 PIMS, 48 shots
Jacob de la Rose: B: Nothing went his way early on but things were starting to look up for de la Rose prior to his call-up to the Habs. He was put into an offensive role and held his own, something that wasn’t the case at the beginning of the year before eventually getting hurt. It’s a step in the right direction for sure.
Stats: 11 GP, 2 goals, 5 assists, 7 points, -1 rating, 2 PIMS, 16 shots
Lucas Lessio: B: While he has tailed off lately, Lessio had a great start to his time with St. John’s, picking up five points in his first six games. His speed is a real weapon even though the goals have yet to arise from it. He has been moved up and down the lineup as Sylvain Lefebvre tries to find the best fit for him but when everyone is healthy and available, he has been on the outside looking when it comes to the top six.
Stats: 11 GP, 2 goals, 5 assists, 7 points, -5 rating, 8 PIMS, 32 shots
Michael McCarron: B-: Realistically, everyone had to know his start was unsustainable and lo and behold, it wasn’t. McCarron only scored in two games (though one of those was a hat trick) and has had some ups and downs as he adjusts to the daily grind of his first pro season. It’s nothing to worry about though as it’s all part of the development process.
Stats: 17 GP, 4 goals, 3 assists, 7 points, -5 rating, 26 PIMS, 42 shots
Markus Eisenschmid: C+: I thought he’d be ECHL-bound when he came back from his injury but he has played in every game since and is the first player tapped to move up the lineup when other injuries/recalls arise. Montreal gave serious consideration to drafting him last June and playing well enough to be a regular in the lineup makes me wonder if he may get an NHL deal at some point.
Stats: 10 GP, 0 goals, 2 assists, 2 points, -2 rating, 0 PIMS, 11 shots
Jeremy Gregoire: C: At the beginning of this stretch of games, Gregoire was seeing some time in the top six due to injuries. Lately, with some players returning and the acquisition of John Scott, Gregoire has been on the outside looking in for a couple of games. I thought he’d be able to move up the lineup quickly but it looks like he’ll be in a fourth line role at best for the foreseeable future.
Stats: 18 GP, 1 goal, 3 assists, 4 points, even rating, 19 PIMS, 21 shots
Angelo Miceli: C: He was the first to be sent down as the injured players returned but up to that point, Miceli had done a decent job of providing some production from the bottom six. He has done well in an offensive role in the ECHL and will probably get another look from St. John’ at some point this season.
Stats: 9 GP, 2 goals, 1 assist, 3 points, +1 rating, 6 PIMS, 11 shots
Mark MacMillan: C: MacMillan looked overwhelmed at times at the beginning of the season but has settled in nicely as he is now back in game shape (having been injured to start the year). He has shuffled between the third and fourth lines and has been particularly noticeable on the penalty kill. The next step for him will be making more of an impact offensively as he’s 24 years old – even though he’s a rookie, someone that age shouldn’t be a depth guy in a perfect world.
Stats: 19 GP, 4 goals, 0 assists, 4 points, -4 rating, 10 PIMS, 17 shots
Michael Bournival: C-: In his first few games after coming back, Bournival was an impact player. Since that time though, he really hasn’t played as well as expected. In his time with Hamilton last year, he showed signs of being an above average producer in the minors but that hasn’t been the case here. Now, Bournival finds himself on the third line more often than not; it’s quite a decline for someone who was a regular on the NHL roster for the last two years.
Stats: 14 GP, 1 goal, 5 assists, 6 points, -7 rating, 8 PIMS, 35 shots
Brandon McNally: D+: McNally impressed enough with the Bulldogs late last year to get a minor league pact this season but that hasn’t carried over to his time with St. John’s. When he did play, he was a non-factor most nights and as a result, there have been some games where he was simply scratched. He’s back in the ECHL now – it may be a while before he gets another chance.
Stats: 14 GP, 1 goal, 2 assists, 3 points, +4 rating, 8 PIMS, 10 shots
Tim Bozon: D: I was hesitant to go this low for him considering Bozon was coming back from an injury and seldom played in offensive situations. But in his limited appearances, he just didn’t look like he belonged. He’s starting to find a groove now with Brampton which is a good step in the right direction. Once his timing and confidence are back, he could still make an impact for the IceCaps before the season ends.
Stats: 10 GP, 0 goals, 1 assist, 1 point, +2 rating, 0 PIMS, 16 shots
N/A: Sven Andrighetto (2 GP), Daniel Carr (3 GP), Max Friberg (4 GP with St. John’s), Nikita Scherbak (1 GP), Luc-Olivier Blain/Luke Pither/Eric Neilson (all released), Stefan Fournier/Christian Thomas (both traded)