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Canadiens Youth Showing Fight In Battles With Stars and Penguins |
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***NOTE: Blogs are a bit infrequent as we are in the middle of selling our home and we have had a lot of showings this week which requires me to pack up two young boys and a dog and take them out for the day only to find out I have another showing just scheduled so I have to stay out of the home even longer. I apologize to all for the lack of work this week.***
The Montreal Canadiens are mired in a nightmare season where the injured list is currently overflowing with core member and key role players. The list currently includes: Price, Weber, Pacioretty, Danault, Shaw, Mete, and the recently acquired Vailev.
This should mean the team is a likely candidate for helping teams pad their stats and while the Canadiens haven’t been beating many teams lately (1-4-2) they haven’t been rolling over either. The kids have shown jam and desire and young players like Gallagher, Galchenyuk, and Drouin are showing they can lead by example and have shown no signs of packing it in with 11 games to go.
Lehkonen and Hudon are players that aren’t quitting on plays and working hard to improve despite the team being on the path to a Draft Lottery instead of a Playoff Matchup. Lehkonen has 4 goals in his last 4 games to show that he may finally be shaking off the rust from his early season injury that cost him significant time, and while Hudon isn’t hitting the score sheet he has been playing pretty good hockey for the Canadiens and showing that he has a place in the NHL. Hudon has a good CF% (53) and FF% (52.7) relative to the team so his ability to handle the NHL is apparent in his first real NHL campaign and gives a very good indication that he can improve next season.
The two players that have recently been recalled/added that have been showing the possibility of having impact potential are Scherbak and Reilly.
Scherbak appears to be learning how to use his large frame to his advantage and is working to take pucks to the net. A kid like him making plays like that all but assures his spot on the team next year in a likely top 9 role. With his PDO at 100.2 it’s clear he isn’t seeing favorable “luck” either way so the key for him going forward will simply be to remain consistent and to keep his play trending the right way.
Reilly has been injected into a top 4 role and handed 20+ minutes a night immediately upon his addition to the Canadiens and while he’s clearly a work in progress defensively, its his speed and passing that is turning Habs fans heads currently. While he has been held pointless the last 3 games it shouldn’t be ignored that this rookie with a great college resume is showing that he could be a future top 4 PMD that most teams covet…. And he only cost a 5th round pick.
Factor in that Juulsen has been very impressive as an all round defencemen and the likely progression of Mete next season and the Canadiens have completely rebuilt their D core with youth and speed heading into next season. I see the potential and I hope you can too.
There is a segment of the fanbase that has been begging for a complete tear down, yet can’t handle the team losing currently. There are segments that are still angry about Markov being allowed to leave to the KHL 39 years old (and who’s slowed down significantly, literally) yet saying Weber is done have his foot repaired through surgery.
There just isn’t much logic tossed around by some lately regarding the Canadiens.
They want Markov, who would be grossly exposed in the NHL’s current youth and speed movement, but think Weber is done.
Some want Price traded and to try to get 3 straight 1st overall picks, but hate losing and want the Habs to sign Tavares.
Pierre McGuire as GM?!!??! I enjoy McGuire’s passion for hockey but he’s not a logical GM candidate.
I’ve come to accept that this lack of sense won’t change and everyone is entitled to their opinions, I certainly respect my own. But there’s a lot of nonsense out there from fans and paid professionals alike (Trade Price for Darling and Bean in Carolina??? Jeebus…). The Canadiens are giving some of these “tear it down” types their wish currently, albeit due to injuries, and the kids are showing promise and work ethic. Are any coming out like Barzal, Boeser, or Keller? Nope, but sometimes teams catch lightning in a bottle and sometimes a blind dog finds a bone like GM G Snow did with Barzal.
Stuff Happens.
The Habs are likely to get an impact potential blue chip this summer and depending on how high they get in the lotto said player may be able to jump in next season. The Canadiens will remain a younger team next year as well except they will have healthy, elite pro’s like Weber, Price, and possibly Pacioretty (can’t count anything out) to support the cause and they will likely have a fairly large chip on their shoulder.
If you’re still tuning in to games, or even me for that matter, try to look for the potential some of these young guys are showing because they will be the one’s counted on to continue their development and should even half of them do so the team will be better. Add a typical Carey Price and healthy Weber to that and we are likely seeing playoffs next spring in Montreal and at this point, that’s all that really matters anymore.
Watch the games and decide for yourselves who the future is.
Go Habs Go!
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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