Montreal Canadiens: Is Sven Andrighetto The Answer?

It’s mid-July, and there is no movement in the Montreal Canadiens‘ camp these days. Development camp is over, draft and free agency are but a blip behind us, and as we move toward the season, there is still a problem that has not yet been addressed: scoring.

Scoring will only happen when there is a solid core of players who can score on a regular basis. The Habs are blessed with a few talented players but only one power forward, and that’s Max Pacioretty.

However, adding to the concern over the lack of power forwards on the team, the Habs announced that Pacioretty is sidelined for 12 weeks.

Even if he were to return early (which could be a risk, depending on the severity of his injury), he will have lost weeks of precious off-season conditioning. He is already starting the season behind those of his teammates who are training over the summer.

But Pacioretty can’t do it alone.

The team has yet to re-sign RFA Alex Galchenyuk. Galchenyuk scored 20 goals in the 2014-15 season. This is, for a 21-year-old, quite a feat, and only promises to be a beginning next season. That’s why signing him is such a priority.

Habs fans wait eagerly for news of a contract. I’m confident it will happen – but as time passes, impatience of Habs Nation grows.

Brendan Gallagher scored 24 last season, also notable for this 23-year-old spitfire. His performance, in both regular and post-season games, showed his potential only growing.

Tomas Plekanec – turning 33 in the first month of the season, he shows no signs of slowing down. Plekanec is known for his almost-impossible goals, shot from angles that other players may not even attempt. His talented hands, incredible skating skills and break-out speed – especially short-handed – make him invaluable to the team. He scored 26 goals last season.

But we have to face the reality: the Habs don’t have an abundance of hard-to-find, power-scoring forwards who can help the final scoreboard tilt heavily toward the Canadiens’ favor.

How many games did we see last season where the team won by more than one goal? And how many games did we sit back with a definitive confidence that the Habs were going to win?

Not many.

The fact is, the Habs finished first in the division this past season but that was almost entirely thanks to the exceptional goaltending of Carey Price.

What do the Canadiens need?

In my opinion – not the lone voice in this, either – the team needs to sign someone who can take the shots that will hit the back of the net. On a consistent basis. A powerful, reliable talent with the ability to be a second-line power forward.

The team missed out on signings like Patrick Sharp and T.J. Oshie (to the chagrin of many fans), and there is still the possibility that an NHLer will still be signed before the summer is out; but perhaps we’re not looking at the possibilities within the organization.

Sven Andrighetto is a player to watch. He played 12 games with the team in the 2014-15 season, scoring twice, but making the case for a second look. He’s an incredibly fast skater, and is definitely talented enough to make the cut.

I’ve been able to observe him at development camp two years in a row, and was impressed by what I saw. This year, he did not take part in scrimmages (a precaution as he was injured during the season) but in on-ice drills, he was strong and impressive.

He has made an impression on many who have observed his skills. His linemates have praised him, his skating talents have been lauded, his maturity noted.

He will be at training camp come September, and is bound to audition hard for the team. Add preseason games to his opportunities, and we may just see Andrighetto break into the roster come October.

In my opinion, that would be a solid addition.

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