January 21, 2024
It was a busy week for the Montreal Canadiens with four games on the schedule. On Monday night they claimed a 4-3 regulation win at home over the Colorado Avalanche. The Habs were in New Jersey on Wednesday and left town with another regulation win, this one a 3-2 final. They didn’t fare as well in Ottawa on Thursday, losing 6-2 to the Senators. Then on Saturday night, the Canadiens were in Boston to face the Bruins and the result was an embarrassing 9-4 loss. Here are my thoughts on the Habs after 46 games.
“It’s still the same plan.” ~ Kent Hughes
GM Kent Hughes faced the media on Monday to give his mid-season presser. With the Habs still competing for a wild card spot, it was timely to hear from Hughes and get a sense of his intentions with the trade deadline approaching. Several things stood out for me.
The first is that the plan has not changed. Hughes referred to the team being in a building process, and he used present tense language when doing so. The GM recognizes the growth of his young team, but insists that everything they do will be to improve the team for the future, and they will not go against that plan. That does not mean they won’t target moves for the present and future, but buying short term help – like prototypical deadline buyers – is not on the agenda.
The second thing that stood out is that trading Sean Monahan is probably a question of when, not if. According to Hughes, “… Sean was to come here, play, let’s see where we are when we get to the deadline. And that’s still the case.” Monahan is probably not as torn about his future as the Montreal fanbase. No doubt, Monahan is hoping to sign one more lucrative contract, and he wants to win, and he knows neither of those things is likely to happen in Montreal. Hughes will be true to his word, and Monahan is surely doing his part to make himself attractive to a contender, racking up seven assists this week.
The third is that we should not be surprised to see another Dach/Newhook-type deal, at any time the opportunity presents itself. Hughes knows he is flush with picks and prospects, but he also said he feels no rush to balance the defense/forwards ledger. What we know is this – Hughes will be ready to make the deal when the time is right. The last two deals of this nature came in the draft window, but it won’t surprise me to see one before the deadline.
If you’re looking for examples, the Habs and Kings are currently very good trade partners. I wonder if a kid like Arthur Kaliyev might be attractive and available to Kent Hughes.
The Suzuki line continues to hold its own against the top teams in the league.
After an overtime loss to Edmonton last Saturday, where they contained McDavid et. al., they won in regulation on Monday after containing MacKinnon et. al. The Habs top line is going up against the best lines in the league, with little support behind them on many nights, and they’re holding their own. They didn’t fare as well against the Bruins, but the sample size is growing, and there is every reason to believe that the Habs have found their top line.
Slafkovsky fared well in another 2022 draft showdown.
Whether it’s Shane Wright or Logan Cooley, whenever Juraj Slafkovsky is facing another player drafted at the front end of the 2022 draft, that becomes the storyline. This week in New Jersey he was up against defenseman Simon Nemec, his fellow countryman who was drafted right after him at number two in 2022. Once again, Slaf fared just fine. While Nemec was a -3 on the night, Slaf played 17:29 and scored to make it goals in consecutive games.
The kid is coming into his own, one game at a time. If nothing else is accomplished in this developmental season, Slafkovsky developing into a top line impact player is enough.
The tendency to shine against contenders and stink against bottom feeders is maddening, but not shocking.
Fans talk about it like it’s the Caramilk secret, but is it really such a mystery? Teams find a higher level for the bigger games, and not so much in the others. The human body is literally made to produce different hormones in different quantities as the situation warrants.
That said, winning teams – read mature teams – find a way to dig in and pull from the killer instinct regardless of the situation. The way the Boston Bruins did on Saturday night in the third period.
The Habs are not there yet. Coach Martin St. Louis described the game as humbling. Yes, it is humbling to get a close up look at how much maturation remains. One of the ways we will know they are close is when they find that killer instinct to claim the easier points.
Patrick Roy has been given another shot at coaching in the NHL, and it’s far away from the Montreal Canadiens.
The decision by New York Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello to fire Coach Lane Lambert was about as surprising as the daily sunrise. But what was not as predictable was his call to hire former Montreal Canadiens star netminder, Patrick Roy, as the next Head Coach. Good for St. Patrick! How very timely that the Islanders are due to be at the Bell Centre on Thursday to face the Habs. There won’t be any drama around that at all.
Rumours of Cole Caufield’s decline were greatly exaggerated.
A power play goal and an assist on a Salfkovsky goal on Monday. Another goal and a highlight reel assist on another Slafkovsky goal on Wednesday. A goal on Thursday and another power play goal on Saturday. He’s scored in five straight games. Let’s not write him off as an elite goal scorer just yet.
Is Joel Armia boosting his trade value at the perfect time?
In recent weeks, the big man has been earning his contract. After a start in Laval, Armia has put his game back together since being recalled due to injuries. A couple of goals this week, including a game winner against the Avs. He’s also defending and killing penalties like a boss, and that combination is a dream for playoff teams. Can it happen? Even if a trade does not materialize, Armia is finding some chemistry with the young Joshua Roy in his early days with the Habs. That’s valuable too.
A top line emerging, a first overall pick developing, veterans boosting their trade value, and an elite prospect in Lane Hutson ready to sign in the Spring. Can you ask for more in the middle of a build? It’s all coming into focus and will only continue to do so over the next few weeks.
Hab At Her 
Our Habs are making great strides and a stinker where Boston were ready to take advantage of all mistakes doesn’t change that. We really need to hear your message. Hughes is still building a team for the long term. Many of the pieces are showing progress but there is much more to come. Patience is required while we wait for more Hughes Magic.
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The Boston game really, really frustrated me. I couldn’t watch the third. I’ll watch it today, but I’ll hate every minute of it. The way most (if not all) Montreal fans hold Boston as the most hated NHL rival, I hated that game. Such promise out of the gate, flying, trading goals back and forth, and then the Boston coach said something to his team between the second and third, and they remembered who they were.
I’ll never respect the general attitude the Bruins seem to carry into every game, and I’ll certainly never respect Brad Marchand’s game, even though I’m a Nova Scotia-born hockey fan who will always hold players like Crosby and McKinnon in higher regard than most – but the Boston Bruins still reminded us all that this is so far from the 1971,1979 or even the 2004 Montreal Canadiens, and how much more has to change and grow to get there. And it was painful.
I needed your positive article to give me the courage to go start the tape, and watch the third.
On a separate note, they sure could have used Arber the Jackhammer last night.
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I think they’re more concerned about making Xhekaj the best he can be in 3 years from now rather than having him for a relatively meaningless game against the Bruins.
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I agree. People may forget how scary Larry Robinson was when you got him angry. Just have to check with the Flyers’ Dave Schultz to be reminded that Robinson was as complete a defenceman as you could hope for. Offensively, defensively, and with the gloves off. AND he played almost 130 games with the AHL Nova Scotia Voyageurs before getting called up to permanent spot on Montreal.
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Great coverage. Your points about the HuGo Team are excellent. For me I see Allen, Armia and Monahan being traded. Catching a Dach/Newhook player more likely at the July Draft. “It’s still the same plan.” ~ Kent Hughes.. Cheers
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