Rather than a full on 24 Cups = 24 Thoughts blog, I have split it up into 12 thoughts & 12 Holiday Wishes. Enjoy!
1) Before the season started, if anyone told a Habs fan that at Christmas time the Montreal Canadiens would be in 1st place in the Atlantic division with a 20-13-3 record after 36 games, most would have been pretty pleased with that news. However, with the Canadiens December woes it has been a challenging time for the fans and players alike.
2) The Canadiens were fortunate last season when they were relatively injury free. Unfortunately since November karma has caught up and the Canadiens have had to endure through injuries that have hit the heart of the team. Who have the Canadiens missed more in the lineup, Carey Price or Brendan Gallagher? My vote goes to Gallagher. The Canadiens offense has been getting chances, high quality ones at that but nothing seems to be going their way. They are missing their sparkplug in the lineup and have been unable to find the back of the net on a consistent basis.
3) On the pre-Christmas road trip defencemen Jeff Petry and Tom Gilbert suffered injuries. While Petry practiced he did not dress against Nashville or Minnesota and so hopefully he will be ready to go post-Christmas. Tom Gilbert left the Minnesota game with a lower body injury, forcing the Canadiens to play with 5 defencemen for the rest of the game. His status will only be known once the Canadiens get back to practice after the holiday break. Will the depth of the defence be tested now as well?
4) Had the Canadiens been playing .500 hockey throughout December, there would be a lot less concern. Wins and timely goals have been difficult to come by. What has been encouraging has been the play of players called up from the St. John’s Ice Caps and the way they have been contributing. Sven Andrighetto, Daniel Carr and Charles Hudon do not look out of place in the NHL. Andrighetto found early success playing with Alex Galchenyuk and Lars Eller and made Alex Semin expandable. Him being a healthy scratch over the past few games has been a head scratcher as the Canadiens need goal scorers. Daniel Carr has stepped up and has slowly moved his way up the lineup. Charles Hudon only played 2 games but had 2 assists and played smartly in limited action.
5) Rookie Michael McCarron was rewarded with a call-up and dressing for 2 games on the pre-Christmas trip. His play has surpassed all expectations in the AHL and he is not far off from being an everyday NHLer. While he experienced highs and lows in his two games, it is better for his development to keep playing more minutes in the AHL. I would not be surprised to see him back by the end of the season, perhaps similar to Jacob de la Rose last season. Also, why keep him around a losing atmosphere?
6) Rumours have been flying about the Canadiens and their potential activity on the trade market. I won’t address individual rumours but based on general Marc Bergevin’s history, he will not make a panic move. Gallagher will most likely accompany the Canadiens as they continue on their road trip post Christmas. I have no doubt that Bergevin is constantly looking at ways to make the Canadiens a better team but he has shown that he will not overpay and will wait until his price is met. Yes having another top 6 player would be a big boost to the team but not if it means mortgaging the future.
7) Nathan Beaulieu has arrived and he will only continue to get better. With each passing game it becomes more evident that he is the heir apparent to Andrei Markov. The Canadiens have no other prospect on the left side of defence with his puck-handling abilities and offensive instincts which have made him a valuable commodity. The Canadiens cannot afford to trade him. Yes he will still have lapses of defensive mistakes and while he has been playing well with P.K. Subban on the first pairing, there is no guarantee that he will be able to maintain this level of play throughout the season. However, the Canadiens have to be more than pleased with his progression over the past 12 months.
8) Andrei Markov started the season on fire recording 15 points in the first 20 games. Unfortunately though, he was being counted on too often to play tough minutes against the opponent’s best and it has taken a toll on him. The Canadiens need Andrei Markov to succeed, but he cannot be overworked as at 37 years old, father time is catching up. With the recent injuries to Petry and Gilbert he has been forced to step up again but at least he has this holiday break to recuperate and rest the body.
9) There is no doubt that P.K. Subban is one of the most talented defencemen in the NHL today. His generosity off the ice this season has been extra-ordinary and he should be absolutely commended for his efforts with the Montreal Children’s Hospital. However, on the ice he has played well, but not well enough on a consistent basis. Certainly not to the high level of play that we have grown accustomed to seeing from him. Subban has the ability to take control of the game on both ends of the ice. I strongly suspect that post Christmas and in the New Year we will see Subban at his best again.
10) Mike Condon and to a lesser extent Dustin Tokarski have played admirably for the most part in Price’s absence. Unfortunately his teammates have not been providing the same offensive support that they did during Price’s first stint on the injured reserve and the backup goalies have had no room for error. A very tough position for them to be in…
11) It has been a trying month for Captain Max Pacioretty. His leadership has been tested on and off the ice. He has faced the media after each practice and game and has not shied away or made excuses. This is a learning experience for him from which he will grow and make him an even better captain.
12) Alex Galchenyuk has proven that he is a true NHL centerman. Is he ready for top line minutes of 18-20 a game? Perhaps not. However, he will not develop into that role if he is not given a greater chance and more responsibilities. One way to get him more minutes is for him to consistently be on the 1st powerplay unit. The powerplay always looks more dangerous when he is on the ice... Anyone who thinks that he and Max Pacioretty do not have chemistry because of one game is simply not giving them a chance and do not believe in either player’s abilities.
Now for A Christmas wishlist:
1) Goals 2) More goals 3) Health 4) Speedy recoveries, especially for Price, Gallagher & Petry 5) Renewed powerplay success 6) A stop to the lines blender 7) A stand on your head performance from either Condon or Tokarski that can give the Canadiens a much needed lift 8) Points - unfortunately just playing well is not getting the job done. The Canadiens need points badly as teams are catching up in the standings 9) Puck luck - the Canadiens had help last game against Minnesota when two Wild goals were disallowed as it could not be proven that the puck crossed the line behind Condon. Now they need some luck in the offensive zone… 10) Did I say goals? Specifically they are needed from Pacioretty, Subban and Plekanec 11) Some Easton S19’s for Subban. Get the man his favorite stick. If anyone deserves to be on Santa’s good list it’s Subban…
12) Finally, I want to wish everyone a very happy holidays filled with lots of smiles, laughter and good health!
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