They're Better

Through 28 games, the Montreal Canadiens have demonstrated a remarkable resurgence, both as a competitive team on the ice and as an overall franchise, reversing a reputation that had become used to flying south for the winter.

With only 5 regulation losses to show for their efforts thus far, only the Penguins and Bruins have been able to maintain pace with the Canadiens in the Eastern Conference, certainly not a sentence most fans would have been confident saying prior to the start of the season.

As a matter of fact, if it weren't for the Blackhawks and Ducks in the Western Conference, the spotlight on the Habs would likely be even brighter than it already it is.

Yet no matter how bright the lights that fall on their backs, the brightest spot of them all remains the product these Habs are delivering on the ice.

Scoring goals and putting up points as a committee, the Canadiens are one of the higher scoring teams in the NHL.

At the other end of the ice, a deep and balanced blue line has allowed star netminder Carey Price to backstop his way to the league lead in wins while his counterpart, Peter Budaj, has rediscovered the touch and confidence that brought him to the NHL in the first place.

Though this season and the development of this team are certainly still a work in progress, new management and coaching have already painted some master strokes.

Shipping out a forlorn and dispassionate Erik Cole for a familiar face in Michael Ryder, plus a 3rd round pick, was a quietly powerful move that sent a message that not only would new GM, Marc Bergevin, be forceful and demanding in how he valued his assets, but also that he would not back down on his demands.

I have referred to this as "patience."

Not the kind that infers that new management are going to be slow on pulling the trigger or that they might be prone to be missing the boat, rather that they have a precise methodology when it comes to building this club and that they will not waver from it. If you can meet the requirements on Bergevin's checklist, he will entertain offers. If you can't, he has no reason to listen to you.

And with that mentality, Montreal's general manager has regained a form of power among his peers that eluded most of his predecessors.

In that same vein, old but new again coach, Michel Therrien, has delivered a mature demeanour that has reinforced his reputation as being good with young players. His coaching thus far has shown a noticeable sense that he has learned from his past experiences and that he is using that education positively with his new roster.

His staff can also share some of the limelight as Daigneault and Gallant have brought an equal standard to their duties.

What remains most exciting of all, though, is the fact that the roster and on-ice product are more exciting and watchable than they have been in years.

Hats off to Trevor Timmins as the final boost that has put the Habs in the position they're currently in, is the progression, development and arrival of so many young prospects to the team.

I mean, c'mon, when was the last time you remember a 19 year old playing in every game for the CH?

Beyond Galchenyuk, who has developed nicely after being drafted only last June, the emergence of Brendan Gallagher has been one of the biggest and most beneficial surprises. Gallagher's tenacious play and unrelenting will to push hard on each and every shift has earned him a spot in the race for rookie of the year, but also embodies the new identity this club is striving for.

Up and down the lineup, the inspiration has flowed like a two-way street with rookies and veterans inspiring the like.

Most amazing is the fact that this version of the Canadiens bears no resemblance to any of the rosters that have achieved succes in the past five years.

This club boasts a core that is young and only beginning to find its stride.

Of course I'd be remiss if I didn't point out that injuries have also played a part this season, yet they haven't negatively affected the Canadiens. If anything, it's further solidified the reality that this team is for real as they have survived numerous absences yet remain among the top trio of teams in the Eastern Conference.

Brandon Prust, Francis Bouillion and a 4th line that, despite the want for more - have provided stability for the top 9, have all played big roles, but so too have Alexei Emelin and Josh Gorges.

PK Subban and Andrei Markov have been nothing short of sensational and, even more exciting for fans, have made Tomas Kaberle a non-factor, whether in the lineup or not.

Health up front has allowed Plekanec and Gionta to produce, providing Therrien with two veteran duos (including Pacioretty and freshly inked David Desharnais) to buoy the offense.

The development of Montreal's young players coupled with the health of some vets and the fresh, new image brought by new management and coaching have allowed the Montreal Canadiens to become a balanced, competitive and dynamic team. The advancement of a new generation has yielded depth the Habs haven't seen in ages and it has even opened the door for the franchise to expose future players such as Jarred Tinordi, Greg Pateryn and potential Gabriel Dumont to seamlessly fit in and gain confidence in a positive and winning environment.

Insulating the future has been a cause for concern in years past, but with a drastically elevated talent level coming up the pipeline, the worry over this year's version of the Montreal Canadiens being a one-time thing are fast evaporating.

The hope was once that this team would do well and make the playoffs. Forgoing building for occasional quick fixes due to the need to push for whatever opportunity the team had, the last decade was exasperating for fans as they watched their franchise brush against potential glory.

But today is a different story.

Regular headlines about winning incite a positive vibe among the fan base and have infected the team itself with a winning confidence that has opposing teams grasping at straws in an effort to come up with ways to beat the bleu, blanc et rouge. Something most veteran Habs fans would tell you is "the way things should be."

There is plenty of hockey to be played this season, and the Canadiens are a far cry from the team they are set to become over the years to come, but they are a good team now, perhaps building into something great.

What's been your most enjoyable moment of this season so far?



I am happy to say that I am back on the job as I can once again devote an appropriate amount of time to covering the team. It's ashame to have missed so much of the action so far, but I am excited to return with my take on a winning team.

I am also pleased to say that I am the host of the Habs pre game show on montrealhockeytalk.com and that you can catch me live one hour prior to each and every game. Check it out and listen in!

www.twitter.com/StevenHindle

Join the Discussion: » 104 Comments » Post New Comment

» Unfrozen Assets: Habs Buyout Kaberle

» 6 Picks, 3 Rounds, 1 Future

» Hockey and Diabetes

» Tools, Assets and Needs

» The Subban Effect