Is Labelle done?

[jimmy]

Anyone think Labelle may have played his last game as a Cat? They made quite a production of saying he was going to play all three games two weeks ago, which he did and got some ice time, and while I thought he wasn't bad, he didn't produce. Now he was scratched for all three games this weekend, and Brown and Stephens both looked good (at least at the two home games) ... Brenton played a couple of decent games as well. I don't think we are going to see too much of Labelle between now and the trading period, barring a run of injuries.

[catnut]

Unless he is promised truckloads of icetime after Christmas (following trades), I don't see him wanting to stay here. Flynn obviously has no confidence in him. I figure he is gone at Christmas and will burn us a couple of times in the future.

[SteveUL]

I wouldn't be shocked if he has already gone home.

And on that note ... I'm going to hijack this thread ... ;D

When a player asks to be traded and leaves his team until a trade can be worked out .... the Q rules regarding "student players" should be waived so that the player can catch on with a new team and re-establish himself into educational programs.

Correspondence programs are a decent replacement ... and I know most Q educational programs are fairly mobile ... but nothing replaces face to face tutoring and in person access to teachers. If the player leaves the base of his education (ie Labelle going home to Quebec) ... his education will be disrupted until he can re-establish it elsewhere. I know that this would have a greater affect on some players compared to others ... but I think in the best interest of the student the rule should have the option of being waived ... on a case by case basis.

Perhaps there should be a short waiting period when a request is made for a trade outside the trade period ... to prevent teams from abusing this potential loophole ... but I think waiving this rule would be in the best interest of the player involved.

[jimmy]

Any thoughts on what he would be worth in a trade at this point? He was a promising 17 year old who has turned out to be a flop at 18 ... fairly high draft pick (3rd round?) in 2005 ... I think we could fetch a 4th or 5th for him at the most at this point.

[CatsFan]

Labelle hasn't left the team as of yet.. but he wants out. He'll be traded at Christmas.

[Sébastien]

I also think Labelle is going to be traded, and if I was him I would probably also demand a trade, the reason being that although he started off the year seeming a little more lazy and working less hard then others, he really changed and during that 3 in 3 last weekend and the other games that we saw him play, he played with a lot more heart and determination. Although he did not produce on the scoreboard, he gave a good performance effort wise and has surely more upside then a player like Brenton, even though Brenton keeps getting some icetime and doesn't produce anything.

As for the trade value, I see us getting a at the maximum a 5th round pick. Who would want a player that the team doesn't even deem useful enough to play on the ice when we're a last place team? My guess is that Chicoutimi is going to be very interested, as they're sorely lacking in young offensive players and this is a low risk/high reward kind of trade that could help their bid for the Memorial Cup.

That being said, please trade him to the Telus as I don't want him to burn us too often.

[forrest]

steveul said:

I wouldn't be shocked if he has already gone home.

And on that note ... I'm going to hijack this thread ... ;D

When a player asks to be traded and leaves his team until a trade can be worked out .... the Q rules regarding "student players" should be waived so that the player can catch on with a new team and re-establish himself into educational programs.

Correspondence programs are a decent replacement ... and I know most Q educational programs are fairly mobile ... but nothing replaces face to face tutoring and in person access to teachers. If the player leaves the base of his education (ie Labelle going home to Quebec) ... his education will be disrupted until he can re-establish it elsewhere. I know that this would have a greater affect on some players compared to others ... but I think in the best interest of the student the rule should have the option of being waived ... on a case by case basis.

Perhaps there should be a short waiting period when a request is made for a trade outside the trade period ... to prevent teams from abusing this potential loophole ... but I think waiving this rule would be in the best interest of the player involved.

Still too easy to take advantage of the loophole IMO. I know it sucks because if a player quits the team he's basically quitting the the courses he was currently enrolled in too.

[hockey1981]

Labelle will stick here till Xmas, then you'll probably see him traded to a Telus division team.
You prob won't see him much in Cats lineup unless injuries...

[buckybuckbuck]

You know I find that the posters of this board we're so happy to post Labelle as lazy and stand behind the coaches in letting him sit. Well would anyone like to list the players that performed for the first three ganmes and have done nothing since. The list is long. I've said it one and I'll say it again here hopefully for the last time: We've got a problem this year and will add a year to the rebuild and they stand behind the bench every game. I can't believe it either and I get no pleasure in saying it. Labelle is just the crowning jewel of points proving that fact. He worked so hard for us last year and was the spark plug of the rookie line, it is a slap in his face sitting him.

I have to think they are positioning this team for a very low position so they have the first or second pick in the draft next year and nothing else. There must be a strong draft coming that I don't know about.

[Murph]

steveul said:

I wouldn't be shocked if he has already gone home.

And on that note ... I'm going to hijack this thread ... ;D

When a player asks to be traded and leaves his team until a trade can be worked out .... the Q rules regarding "student players" should be waived so that the player can catch on with a new team and re-establish himself into educational programs.

Correspondence programs are a decent replacement ... and I know most Q educational programs are fairly mobile ... but nothing replaces face to face tutoring and in person access to teachers. If the player leaves the base of his education (ie Labelle going home to Quebec) ... his education will be disrupted until he can re-establish it elsewhere. I know that this would have a greater affect on some players compared to others ... but I think in the best interest of the student the rule should have the option of being waived ... on a case by case basis.

Perhaps there should be a short waiting period when a request is made for a trade outside the trade period ... to prevent teams from abusing this potential loophole ... but I think waiving this rule would be in the best interest of the player involved.

It would be hard to police. Let's say two teams agree on a trade, for example... hypothetically speaking..... say Gabriel O'Connor, David Gilbert and a draft pick to VDO for Brad Marchand.

What's to stop all the players involved from suddenly "asking for a trade" and then magically being traded for one another?

I get what you're saying about having some sort of waiting period, but to me there has to be some sort of extra protection clauses in there. Like the player has to agree to sit out all games until the actual trading period opens up. He can go to his new team. Start a new school, and practise, but can't actually play. That's something that would prevent teams from prematurely making deals.

I also think the rule about players returning to previous teams should be ammended. Right now, I'm under the impression they can't even return via waivers. To me, if a player can clear waivers, and his old team wants to pick him up and give him a place to play, he should be allowed to return.

[lalalaprise]

Labelle will likely be traded to VDO...hes from there and they are hurting for players...hes only 18...has some talent...

[Sébastien]

It wouldn't surprise me. Like I said, any team in the Telus who's in dire need of young offense.

[lirette]

lalalaprise said:

Labelle will likely be traded to VDO...hes from there and they are hurting for players...hes only 18...has some talent...

Labelle for Marchand straight up.

[MikeC]

murph said:

I also think the rule about players returning to previous teams should be ammended. Right now, I'm under the impression they can't even return via waivers. To me, if a player can clear waivers, and his old team wants to pick him up and give him a place to play, he should be allowed to return.

Right now, the rule is this:
A transferred or traded player cannot return, whether through a waiving, transfer or a trade to the team that last transferred or traded him, except for a 16 year-old player returning to his first team once he turns 19 years old or for a 17 year-old player once he turns 20 years old.

So a player can return to his original team as long as there has been a 3rd team. Take Roger Kennedy - he would have to be the property of a 3rd team before Halifax could bring him back.

[Penguins23®]

mikec said:

murph said:

I also think the rule about players returning to previous teams should be ammended. Right now, I'm under the impression they can't even return via waivers. To me, if a player can clear waivers, and his old team wants to pick him up and give him a place to play, he should be allowed to return.

Right now, the rule is this:
A transferred or traded player cannot return, whether through a waiving, transfer or a trade to the team that last transferred or traded him, except for a 16 year-old player returning to his first team once he turns 19 years old or for a 17 year-old player once he turns 20 years old.

So a player can return to his original team as long as there has been a 3rd team. Take Roger Kennedy - he would have to be the property of a 3rd team before Halifax could bring him back.

It's three years not three teams, is it not?