Hughes has just signed a player who has been compared directly to Brad Marchand: it bodes well for the young Xavier Simoneau
This morning, General Manager Kent Hughes announced an exciting signing.
Through an official statement, the Montreal Canadiens organization announced that they have signed Quebec native Xavier Simoneau to a two-season entry-level contract.
In his first season playing professionally, Simoneau has accumulated 29 points in 45 games with the Laval Rocket, impressing many.
A Controversial Comparison
As you know, advanced statistics are becoming increasingly prevalent in the hockey world, and even the Habs' management has mentioned wanting to use them more in their decision-making.
According to a model developed by advanced statistics expert Byron Bader, Saint-André-Avellin native Xavier Simoneau is compared to none other than Brad Marchand.
This is not to say that Simoneau is the next Marchand, but according to this analytical model, Simoneau's progression is identical to that of Marchand.
The numbers are almost identical:
This comparison has sparked many reactions, especially considering Simoneau's tendency to talk and disrupt his opponents on the ice.
In summary, this is a great signing for the Habs and a strong move by Kent Hughes. The potential is there, and the risk is negligible.
Credits: GoNordiques
| POLL | ||
Which one are you most excited about for the future? | ||
| Xavier Simoneau | 64 | 18.6 % |
| Jesse Ylonen | 53 | 15.4 % |
| Anthony Richard | 42 | 12.2 % |
| Riley Kidney | 185 | 53.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
