Canadiens sign Brendon Nash to 2-Year Deal

[cbuckser]

According to The Fourth Period, Brendon Nash has signed an entry-level contract with Montreal.

[CowbellGuy]

Guess that means Montreal's scouts don't know what they're doing either, right? Anyone? Didn't think so.

[Ronald '09]

According to The Fourth Period, Brendon Nash has signed an entry-level contract with Montreal.

The Fourth Period's not exactly a reputable source, but this is: http://canadiens.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=523169

[profudge]

Congrats to  Brendon  -   May he find fun and success, both, in his future hockey endeavors.

[Jeff Hopkins '82]

Congrats to  Brendon  -   May he find fun and success, both, in his future hockey endeavors.

"Unless he's playing my team."

[jkahn]

Maybe (wishful thinking) this will give Riley even more incentive to stay in school, so that he can then sign with the Canadiens next summer after his draft rights expire.  I'm sure having Brendon here helped get Riley to Cornell - perhaps the Habs are thinking this might help them in that regard also.

[ajh258]

Maybe (wishful thinking) this will give Riley even more incentive to stay in school, so that he can then sign with the Canadiens next summer after his draft rights expire.  I'm sure having Brendon here helped get Riley to Cornell - perhaps the Habs are thinking this might help them in that regard also.

I don't think it would be that much of a surprise of Riley returns next year. This is off "E-Town's Greatest", an Oilers fan blog:

After a slightly better junior year, the Oilers once again return to have some dialogue with Riley Nash. Although the result of this hasn't been determined, all signs point to Nash going back for a senior season with the Big Red, a team playing in a weaker division with a poor history of generating NHL players. But now there's a different indication. Nash stops talking about himself wanting to be an "Oiler" but instead starts talking about an "NHL player". He points to the Oilers' current situation and talks about their "other problems", and deflects any questions asking about a potential conflict between him and the Oilers' brass. In summary, he basically announces that he's most likely going back for a senior season, and after that probably not signing with the Oilers.

There's a lot of hate in there for Cornell, but he correctly points out that we don't have a lot of NHL talent going through the pipeline and the incentive for him to sign right now is not as great if he just waits for next August. If there's really that much conflict between Nash and the Oilers, the better thing would be to stay with us and search for more compatible teams.

[ebilmes]

Still on the topic of Riley, you can listen to the interview with him here:

http://www.thepipelineshow.com/media.php?s=2010-01-01&e=2010-08-31&sn=5

[Robb]

There's a lot of hate in there for Cornell, but he correctly points out that we don't have a lot of NHL talent going through the pipeline and the incentive for him to sign right now is not as great if he just waits for next August. If there's really that much conflict between Nash and the Oilers, the better thing would be to stay with us and search for more compatible teams.

I think the hate is directed at the ECAC, which is a "division with a poor history of generating NHL players" rather than at Cornell specifically.

[BigRedHockeyFan]

Thanks for the link eblimes.  Based on what Riley said during the interview, he sounds like he would like to come back to Cornell.  He definitely isn't eager to move on to Edmonton.  He mentioned wanting to learn more about leadership, which would fit with him being captain next year at Cornell.

Things could be pretty good:

Jillson - Nash - Kennedy
Esposito - Roeszler - J Devin
Miller -  Collins - Moulson
Kary - Axel - Nicholls

Birch - M. Devin
D'Agostino - Ross
Whitney - Seymour

Garman
Kanji

Freshman

Cole
Craig
De Swardt
Mowrey

Gotovets
Brisson

Iles

[cu722001]

Brisson is supposed to be a very good puck handler, which is what the D desperately needed against UNH. I don't see a lot of O in those four lines so the freshmen better be able to produce some.  Either that or Iles better be as good as advertised, and right away.

[Jacob '06]

There's a lot of hate in there for Cornell, but he correctly points out that we don't have a lot of NHL talent going through the pipeline and the incentive for him to sign right now is not as great if he just waits for next August. If there's really that much conflict between Nash and the Oilers, the better thing would be to stay with us and search for more compatible teams.

I think the hate is directed at the ECAC, which is a "division with a poor history of generating NHL players" rather than at Cornell specifically.

I'm too lazy to do any actual research, but I'd like to see a list of players who graduated in the last 5 years who are playing in the NHL broken down by conference. I know the WCHA is probably way ahead, but I don't think the ECAC is doing too poorly.

[Robb]

Guess that means Montreal's scouts don't know what they're doing either, right? Anyone? Didn't think so.

Well, yeah, but don't forget this is the Canadiens we're talking about.  What would they know about Cornell defensemen who are sometimes accused of untimely turnovers, bad penalties, and poor skating ability?

They'll never hang onto a player like that long enough to develop into a solid NHL contributor...  ::whistle::

[amerks127]

Let's be honest, the Oilers have sucked a lot since 2005-2006, when they still finished 3rd in their division.  They are the worst team in the league by a mile and unlike the Penguins, Capitals and Blackhawks of the earlier part of the decade, they don't show any promise of improving soon.  The Falcons, meanwhile, sit in last in the AHL and haven't finished above .500 since 1997-1998 (though the affiliation only began in 2007-2008).  Simply put, this organization is the worst in all of hockey by a good five miles.  If I'm Riley Nash, I wait that extra year, become a free agent and sign with a team who actually might win 30 games.

[RatushnyFan]

I'd want to play........and the Oilers might afford him that opportunity sooner than a better team.  There's more than one way to look at it.  Look at Matt Moulson thriving now on the Islanders, he was buried on the depth chart at LA.