Canadiens In Carolina Tonight, Mete Player Of The Game In Team Canada Win (pacioretty)

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Canadiens In Carolina Tonight, Mete Player Of The Game In Team Canada Win

By Brandon Smillie

Dec 27, 2017 • 7:15 am

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The Montreal Canadiens come off of the Christmas break tonight as they visit the Carolina Hurricanes for a game at 7 pm EST. The Habs lost their last game before the break by a score of 4-1 over the Edmonton Oilers and the loss was a large one for the Habs as they now sit 6 points back of the NYI's for the 8th Wild Card position and 7 points back of the occupants of 3rd in the Atlantic, the Boston Bruins (who have 2 games in hand, and keep winning).

Playoff hopes are almost completely gone at this point. The required points for playoffs are typically 94-96 points and for the Habs to achieve that they need to put up 60 points in 46 games. Roughly, they need to win 30 games out of 46.... Is it reasonable to believe this team will go 30-16-ish?

Uh..... No.

The Canadiens are likely to be the subject of non stop rumors from now until the draft which is great for websites like HockeyBuzz, not so great for fans that are sick of seeing their favorite team disappoint year after year with early playoff exits or not qualifying altogether.

The focus of the Canadiens now should be on maximizing trade values of guys like Plekanec, Benn, Pacioretty, and Niemi.

As of today the Habs would be picking at #7 in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft in Dallas this summer. That means they have a pretty good shot of vaulting into the top 3, if last years draft was any indication, but if they were to stay in 7th the pick could be huge to the Canadiens future. They may end up walking away with an elite offensive talent like O Wahlstrom or F Zadina. Couple that with the progression of Drouin, Danault, Lehkonen, Hudon, Carr, Scherbak, Poehling, Ikonen, Evans, Mete, and Juulsen and the team isn't so devoid of potential. In fact, they are facing a youth movement and this years failings give the team a chance to make some moves that can set them up for the next 7+ years.

It will take patience for sure, something that is wearing thin with many fans, but reinforcements are on the way and they have skill. The best thing to do this year is to not over work guys like Weber and Price, keep Drouin in a position to learn to be a NHL Center, and give the young players a chance to play and gain extremely valuable experience for next season.

Clearly, I'm kind of alluding to the fact that this losing this game tonight would be better off for the Canadiens moving forward but they are still important in that they need to get Pacioretty scoring so that they can increase his trade value, same with Plekanec. Benn is having a career year at 30, this is the time to deal him too. Lot's of work ahead for Habs management and they should be looking at jumping into the top 5, or higher, this draft. The addition of Dahlen, Svechnikov, Zadina, Wahlstrom, or Tkachuk would be massive for the Canadiens offseason as all of these players may be able to step in next season.

SCHLEMKO AND WEBER OUT TONIGHT, LERNOUT RECALLED

Weber is still shut down, and will be for a while, and Schlemko won't play tonight due to a virus according to Canadiens official website. Lernout was recalled again as a result in what must feel like a belated Christmas gift. Experience for a player like Lernout is so important right now, especially if the Canadiens enact a trading plan as I have discussed. He could be a young, cheap, effective bottom 4 defensemen but we just won't know until he plays NHL games consistently.

Getting Lehkonen back in is huge for the Canadiens, and his own development, but the team is having one of those seasons where nothing seems to be going right. I hope he is fully healthy and not forcing himself into a lineup where losing may be worth more than winning. Best to get healthy completely at this point, no point risking reinjury. Just my thoughts.

4TH LINE SHOWING PROMISE

Like I mentioned above, the Canadiens have to get the young players playing now to see what kind of progress they make the rest of the season. Something similar to what they have accomplished with the 4th line lately.

Deslauriers has surpassed my very low expectations and is slowly becoming one of my favorite Canadiens. Love his work ethic and he is doing better at staying disciplined now as opposed to when he was first brought up. Carr has been incredible with 3G and 7A in 10 games. Froese has shown a pretty solid hockey IQ and has given himself a lot of great opportunities. He only has 1G and 6A in 19 games, but he has been much better than that. Some are saying they are the best 4th line in the NHL at the moment and it would be hard to argue against it. These players are here to stay and are slowly earning themselves permanent residence on the roster for not only this year, but beyond

TEAM CANADA WINS, METE NAMED CANADIAN PLAYER OF THE GAME

Canada played a fantastic game against a good squad from Finland yesterday afternoon to kick off their tournament. Canada won 4-2 and were led by B Katchouk (1G 1A), T Raddysh (1G 1A), and V Mete (2A, +3). There has been a lot of talk about Canada's defense group this year being the best in years, and it is completely true. Their D squad looks amazing. For Mete to be name player of the game for the Canadians really should reassure Habs fans about how good this kid is and could be.

Can't wait to watch todays game against Slovakia at 7 pm EST! Go Canada Go!

HOCKEY LEGEND JOHNNY BOWER PASSES AWAY

My condolences the the Bower family, his friends, and his fans. I met Bower at a signing event in my hometown of Windsor, ON when I was just a little guy. He was signing auto's for a calendar release and I remember how nice he was to me (despite my Habs jersey). I remember thinking he had the biggest hands I had ever seen after he shook my hand. A great, pioneering goaltender and a great ambassador of the game.

Habs next face off tomorrow against the Tampa Bay Lightning, before heading to Florida for a game on the 30th against the Panthers.

Go Habs Go!

COLLECT THE BEST! COLLECT UPPER DECK!

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Don't forget to check out Upper Deck products at your local hobby shops and online! This seasons Black Diamond is now available with the possibility of finding actual diamonds embedded in the cards! It’s a high end product for serious collectors so if you’re a big collector, or a new one, make sure you stop by your local shop and see if you can get yourself a box (or case).

Follow Upper Deck and Upper Deck Hockey on Twitter for breaking info and cool giveaways like this. They asked on Monday to submit your favorite memorabilia embedded card for a chance to win a Upper Deck #Mailday where you could receive a box from Upper Deck loaded with packs, swag, box, auto, who knows! Be sure to check them out!

Here’s a first look at the upcoming 17 18 UD Ice product!

Follow me on Twitter @BrandonSmillie where I mostly stick to hockey stuff.

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