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Does Beaulieu Have The Inside Track To Play With Weber? |
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With less than a month to go until NHL training camps opens, forecasting the Montreal Canadiens lines and defence pairings has become a popular activity. Especially when it comes to anticipating which player will get the pleasure and honour of being paired up with newcomer Shea Weber on the back end. At the recent golf tournaments of head coach Michel Therrien and captain Max Pacioretty, there seemed to be a number of hints that Nathan Beaulieu has the inside track on getting the first chance to play on the left side of Weber, at least according to the Canadiens marketing department:
The night before Therrien’s golf tournament, Pacioretty revealed in an interview with Dave Stubbs of the NHL.com that he had gone for dinner with Weber, Beaulieu and Andrew Shaw. The fact that he was included says a lot about Beaulieu’s place on the team. Was part of the reason he was there to get know his future defence partner? Beaulieu is certainly part of the core and has endeared himself to many by his willingness to drop the gloves and stand up for his teammates. He has also been linked in a number of trade rumours by the simple fact that the Canadiens do not have a lot of other young desirables on the back end.
Even Pacioretty has high expectations of Beaulieu coming into the new season. Perhaps he has an idea of whom Beaulieu might play with...
A 1st round draft pick in 2011, Beaulieu certainly also has the potential to be a difference maker on the Canadiens. When he is on his game, Beaulieu sees the game well, skates like wind and has excellent crisp passes. Consistency has been his achilles heel and at times communication can be lacking with his defensive partners. Weber will need a smooth skating player on his left side with excellent break out skills to compliment his own strengths and balance his weaknesses. Despite losing his friend as a teammate, Beaulieu is certainly thrilled to have Weber on the Canadiens:
And Beaulieu was not shy to share his hopes of playing alongside and perhaps the feeling is mutual:
“Last night, we were just talking and hoping that we get the chance to play with each other. I think we’d complement each other really well. A guy like that scares a lot of people. He’s got so many threats. He’ll kill you on both sides of the puck,” stressed Beaulieu. “Just the opportunity to play on a unit with him would definitely be special and definitely beneficial for me.”
On the flip side, it would also be understandable if Beaulieu were to be paired up with Jeff Petry considering their success playing together last season:
Beaulieu really started to shine once he filled in on the second pairing in place of the injured Alexei Emelin. They play a similar style and Petry is a player that Beaulieu can model himself after. When veteran Markov struggled at the end of December, it was Beaulieu who was called upon to play with P.K. Subban on the first pairing. With the World Cup of Hockey taking place during training camp, I would not be surprised to see Beaulieu and Petry reunited, especially considering Weber, Markov and Emelin will all be participating for their respective countries. The real test will begin once the tournament is over.
Given Therrien’s history of depending on his veterans, it would not be surprising though if he gives the first opportunity to play alongside Weber to Markov. He has been the Canadiens #1 or #2 defenceman for well over a decade. Three to five years ago he would have been the obvious choice. Unfortunately, Markov has lost a step and would not compliment Weber as well as the younger and faster Beaulieu over the long term. Do not get me wrong. Markov has proved that he is certainly capable of still being an effective NHL defenceman despite his age. However, his minutes will have to monitored especially considering the hard minutes he will play for Russia at the World Cup. A 1st powerplay unit of Markov and Weber would be a realistic expectation.
Of course, perhaps whoever plays alongside Weber this season may just be the temporary stand in until 2016 1st round pick Mikhail Sergachev is ready for the NHL...
Cheers & follow along!
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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