Montreal Canadiens Offseason Moves Lead The Way in Habs Hot Start
For a team that had just made a lengthy run in the National Hockey League postseason, the Montreal Canadiens had a busy summer in 2014. After falling in the Eastern Conference Final in six games, Habs management were not satisfied with an impressive playoff, and they began to overhaul their roster.
First, on June 30th, the Canadiens dealt veteran Daniel Briere who had a strong postseason, but at 37 years of age could not find a permanent role on the team. He was moved to the Colorado Avalanche for P.A. Parenteau, who had a down season and came with the same 4 million dollar cap hit as Briere.
May 3, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Montreal Canadiens right wing Brian Gionta (21) talks with defenseman Josh Gorges (26) during the second period against the Boston Bruins in game two of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Banknorth Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
The next day, free agent frenzy day, the Canadiens kicked things off early by trading Josh Gorges to the Buffalo Sabres for a 2nd round pick in 2016. Gorges was most often used as P.K. Subban’s defense partner, and is an exceptional shot blocker who helped out tremendously on the penalty kill.
Later that day, the Canadiens would see Thomas Vanek and captain Brian Gionta sign with the Minnesota Wild and Buffalo Sabres respectively. Later in the summer, veterans Douglass Murray, Ryan White, George Parros and Francis Bouillon would leave, although each of them had a minimal impact on the team a year ago.
However, several veteran players had left in a very short time after the team made it to the third round of the postseason, and many questions remained unanswered until the puck dropped to start the 2014-15 season.
To fill in for the outgoing talent, the Canadiens had added Parenteau, also signed Tom Gilbert and Manny Malhotra on July 1st, brought in Jiri Sekac from the Czech Republic and promoting young players in Nathan Beaulieu and Jarred Tinordi.
Oct 18, 2014; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban (76) celebrates his goal against Colorado Avalanche with teammate defenseman Tom Gilbert (77) during the second period at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports
Early signed indicate the newcomers have more than replaced talent that left since Montreal dropped a 1-0 Game 6 loss to the Rangers at Madison Square Garden last May.
Parenteau opened his Canadiens career with a pair of assists in a 4-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs in the season opener, and scored twice in a big 6-4 victory over the Boston Bruins in the Habs home opener.
Parenteau has settled in nicely on a second scoring line with young phenom Alex Galchenyuk and Tomas Plekanec, giving the Canadiens a very strong top six at even strength. He fills a role that Gionta struggled to live up to in his final two seasons with the Habs, and was temporarily filled by the trade to acquire Thomas Vanek at the trade deadline last season.
Gilbert was signed to a two year deal when free agency opened on July 1st, and he brings another puck moving presence to the Habs blue line. He is almost the complete opposite player to the outgoing Gorges who he replaces in the top four, but his offensive ability is something that was sorely lacking on the Canadiens blue line last season.
Instead of having Alexei Emelin and Francis Bouillon on the second wave of the power play, the Habs now have Gilbert who has been consistently around the 30 point mark in his career.
Oct 18, 2014; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Colorado Avalanche goalie Calvin Pickard (31) makes a save against Montreal Canadiens left wing Jiri Sekac (26) as left wing Cody McLeod (55) defends during the third period at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports
Jiri Sekac was able to hold off Jacob De la Rose, Christian Thomas and Charles Hudon among others for the spot on Lars Eller wing. Though his offensive game has not exploded immediately, Sekac has played well in his third line role, winning battles for pucks and playing a safe two way game for the Habs.
Sekac scored his first career NHL goal against the Boston Bruins in the Habs home opener, and looks to be a great two way presence alongside Eller when he gets more comfortable at the NHL level.
Malhotra came to the Habs with the reputation as the best faceoff man in the league, and so far this season has been exactly as advertised. Though Malhotra is yet to register a point, the lowest faceoff percentage he has had in a game thus far with the Habs was 57.89%, and in seven games he was twice over 70% in the circle, and in five games he has won more than two thirds of his draws.
Sep 25, 2014; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens center Manny Malhotra (20) before the game against Colorado Avalanche at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports
Malhotra is not just a faceoff ace though, he is also a sound defensive player which allows Michel Therrien to use his fourth line often. Malhotra is averaging 11:34 in ice time per game this season, and plays a prominent role on the Canadiens penalty killing unit.
Thanks to the Malhotra signing, the Habs have a lot of depth at the bottom of their lineup, and no one of the team is averaging less than 10 minutes of ice time per game. This allows the Canadiens to roll four lines every game, and has helped the team come back from third period deficits and win the game three times already this season.
With all due respect to Ryan White, the Canadiens did not have a fourth line they could rely on as much as they do now for many years.
This is not the same team that we saw make a run to the Eastern Conference Final a year ago. In fact, by all accounts it looks like a much better team right now.