February 24, 2024
The Montreal Canadiens had three games on the docket this week. On Wednesday, the Buffalo Sabres were in town and they left having handed the hometown team a 3-2 loss. The Habs headed to Pittsburgh for a game on Thursday where they suffered a 4-1 loss. Then on Saturday the Canadiens were in New Jersey for a matinee and the result was a 4-3 loss.
Here are my thoughts on the Habs after 58 games.
The Sabres are a lesson for the Canadiens about how not to rebuild.
The Buffalo Sabres are about to miss the playoffs again, for the 13th straight year. Before that there were two seasons where they were ousted in the first round, and two more seasons where they did not qualify. The last season they had any meaningful success was the 2006-07 season when they lost in the conference final. 17 years with nothing to show but two first-round exits.
You can criticize the Habs during the Bergevin era for being too middling for too long, but can you imagine how that Sabres record would go over in Montreal?
I’m not sure what all of the lessons are from this, but one thing is certain. Drafting high, in and of itself, is not the big fix some fans think it is. The Sabres have done a lot of it, and so far that approach has not reaped any rewards.
In the last decade of drafting, the Sabres have made 16 first round picks. Ristolainen (8), Zadorov (16), Reinhart (2), Eichel (2), Nylander (8), Mittelstadt (8), Dahlin (1), Cozens (7), Johnson (31), Quinn (8), Power (1), Rosen (14), Savoie (9), Ostlund (16), Kulich (28), and Benson (13). Twice they drafted first overall, twice at second overall, and had ten top-10 picks in a decade.
I’m sure volumes have been written about where the Sabres went wrong. They’re on their seventh coach in that decade – apparently they’ve had a tough time finding the right guy to coach and develop their kids. What was the quality of the developmental program? A couple of very good players are now playing elsewhere. How did they manage their veteran support over the years?
I have no answers where the Buffalo Sabres are concerned – I just ask the questions to make a point. The draft is important, but managing the kids you draft is just as important in building a winner.
We can all relax – the stint in Laval did not extinguish Arber Xhekaj.
What a game for the big man against Buffalo. He was physical, scored a goal, and was solid in his own end. All in the same game. As it turns out, he can be the player the Montreal leadership is trying to develop without losing himself.
This quote from Martin St. Louis got a lot of attention. The media may be obsessed with Xhekaj the Enforcer, and have convinced themselves that AX is in the coach’s doghouse. Marty prefers to develop Xhekaj the Complete Defender – he knows what he can do. This nickname doesn’t jive with that goal.
Colin White wasn’t a sexy pick-up, but he serves a purpose.
Following the trade of Sean Monahan, Kent Hughes rewarded Brandon Gignac with an NHL contract. He had been highly effective in Laval and the Habs were down a centreman. Gignac got his cup of coffee in Montreal, but the Rocket desperately needed him. White is a seasoned NHLer who can fill the roster hole, and was able to do it on Thursday night with a short walk down the hallway.
The other benefit? Should a playoff team come looking for Jake Evans and present the right offer, Hughes doesn’t have to hesitate. And I’ll say this where Evans is concerned. If pro scouts aren’t identifying him as a target for teams heading into the post-season, they aren’t doing their jobs.
The top line came down to earth.
They were back to making noise on Saturday, but the Suzuki line was kept off the scoresheet in the first two games this week. It was inevitable. Playing against the best every night with nothing coming behind them. That’s not an insult to Alex Newhook since his return, or Jake Evans being asked to play over his head. It’s just reality. The kids are still growing and the veteran depth is in steep decline. One line can carry a team for only so long. It’s not likely to get any easier for the rest of this season.
The Jake Allen contract wasn’t an error just because you’re ready to see him moved.
I didn’t love the deal. I thought it was too much for too long based on where the Habs were at. I also knew what HuGo was up to. They didn’t see a starting goaltender in the organization and they wanted a stable veteran who could be a mentor and wouldn’t freak out when the losses piled up. No one would have predicted the path that Sam Montembeault would take, and Allen has been exactly what they signed him to be.
The three goalie system is less than ideal – it wasn’t supposed to last this long. But it’s not the big deal I thought it might be earlier this season. Allen’s numbers are much the same as they were last year when he played 42 games. Monty will likely finish the season with nearly as many games as he played last season, and similar numbers. Cayden Primeau certainly isn’t complaining, and has been able to acclimate to the NHL with precious little pressure.
I hope Allen is moved by March 8th too, and I hope he has a long and happy run with a contender. He had a solid game on Saturday if any scouts were watching. But if it doesn’t happen until the summer, no one will spontaneously combust.
Three losses this week and the Habs are dropping in the standings. That’s good for lottery odds, and if things go as hoped there will be more change coming. It’s less than two weeks to the deadline now. I expect to be adding to this baby soon.
Hab At Her 
Another rational article in a business full of hype – always a pleasure to read one. I like your comparison with Buffalo and would also include that HuGo are better at managing fan expectation. Buffalo seems like a town desperate for any kind of championship, as are many cities, and seem to jump into “win now” mode a bit too soon. I’m betting HuGo’s steady transparent focus on development and drafting will help the franchise in the long run.
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Easier to do in some cities for sure – in Montreal tickets sell well regardless.
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