............................ Mikhail Grabovsky and Mathieu Aubin seem to have come out of nowhere , according to HF's depth chart Grabber is the top ranked prospect at left wing and Aubin is top ranked prospect at centre ahead of some more notable prospects ......
HF really missed the boat when they changed their analyst of the Canadiens prospects. Sure the new guy is a better writer than the old guy but he doesn't know as much about hockey.
Now that said, Grabovsky and Aubin have been pleasant surprises, but I would not be ready to move Aubin ahead of Chipchura and Lapierre at this point in time. It doesn't make sense because they had productive seasons too, and also look good for the future, and will almost certainly be with the habs sooner than Aubin. Aubin will likely be either in Hamilton or the ECHL next year depending on his camp. As far as Grabovsky goes, his play in the Euro Cup and World Cup following a very good season for Dynamo has really rocketed him up the charts. He is now a darkhorse to make the team out of training camp next year and could really contribute, where previously he was all but off the radar. Familiarity and chemistry with fellow Belarussian and national team linemate Andrei Kostitsyn is a bonus for both men. Gainey is apparently trying very hard to ensure he will be in North America next season, and if he doesn't make the team will definetely be in the top 6 in Hamilton. While Grabovsky can play LW and is listed as a LW on the HF site, he is really a natural centreman as well.