Montreal Canadiens: Top 10 Reasons to Give Thanks

You have to admit that Habs fans have been pretty spoiled of late. After all, they finished last season atop the Atlantic division with 110 points, made it to the conference finals vs the Lightning, and have a 2-0 start to begin this season. The team is healthy, the coaching seems to be improved, and it looks like the Habs are poised for another playoff run.

With all of these things in mind, here are the top 10 reasons to give thanks during this Thanksgiving weekend.

#10. A New Captain Leading Way

I know it doesn’t seem like it should mean much, but I think it makes a huge difference when the team has one individual leading the way overall, with the help of some assistants. It changes things. It focuses players on who the example is, who should speak up when required, and who has the right to tell you to shut up if you’re taking things too far. There are many reasons a team needs a Captain, and it’s great to say we – and the players – have found ours.

#9. Strong Depth in the AHL

The St-John’s IceCaps won their first game of the season last night 3-1 over Hartford. That team is loaded with players who are simply sharpening their game to prepare themselves for an opportunity to step in if and when required. Need some offensive help? Charles Hudon, who scored his first goal in this one, is ready to go. Need help on D? Mark Barberio is ready to roll, he had an assist and was +2 last night. Goaltending help? Dustin Tokarski stopped 31 of 32 shots for the win yesterday and he’s got NHL regular season and playoff experience. Nikita Scherbak, Sven Andrighetto, Christian Thomas, Jacob De La Rose, Mike McCaron, Jeremy Gregoire, Brett Lernout, Darren Dietz, and Angelo Miceli are all names that could get the call at some point this season. When’s the last time the Habs had such extensive depth in the AHL? It’s like a warm blanket waiting to be thrown out there if things get chilly.

#8. Coach That Has Come To Senses

There’s no telling whether he was forced to put in place what new voices like Craig Ramsay had to say or whether he did it on his own accord, but what I do know is that there are changes to the team that make more sense than they did last season. The PP units make more sense, the lines make more sense, and the right defensemen have begun the season on the three pairings. There isn’t much to complain about at this point on the coaching side of things. I’m truly hopeful those things will continue throughout the season, but for now, it’s something Habs fans have to be thankful for.

#7. Alex Galchenyuk at Centre

One of the biggest changes by Michel Therrien is the permanent move of Galchenyuk to Centre, and boy-oh-boy is it ever paying dividends early. Through 2 games the youngster is tied for 5th in NHL scoring with 4 points and seems poised for a true breakout season. In fact, if he keeps up his current play, there’s little doubt he’ll end the season as the top centre in Montreal and will be counted on to centre its top line for the foreseeable future.

Finding a true #1 centre who is ready to assume the role at only 21 years old, now that’s something to be thankful for.

#6. P.K. Subban and his Skill as well as his Humanity

When you hear of a Montreal Canadiens player breaking records in donation amounts, you have to feel pride in your team and its character. Subban brings a level of skating ability to the team that is out of this world and plays long and hard minutes every single game. However, it’s how he handles himself that makes his value to the Habs even greater overall. His $10 million donation to the Montreal Children’s Hospital is outstanding and something we – and all who will ever benefit from it – should be thankful for.

#5. Playoff Experience

Let’s face it, you don’t usually get a team to go through the playoffs and win the Stanley Cup during the first run for the majority of its players. More often than not, many of their players have been through the ringer a few times before they successfully pull it all together. Well, the Habs have that experience now. They know the pain they need to go through, the pain of losing, and they’re hungry to take things to the next level before it’s too late. Having that playoff experience is invaluable, and should allow them to play a better overall game in front of their goaltender, something that should yield results if they also play up to their capabilities.

#4. Strong Defensive Pairings

The Habs are truly spoiled when it comes to defensive depth and skill. When you watch them play against teams that have younger inexperienced defensemen, you get to see just how crisp and smooth their zone exits are, something that relieves pressure on the entire team defensively speaking. With Greg Pateryn and Jarred Tinordi still waiting to play a game and forced to watch from the press box, the Habs have a depth that many teams envy. You’ve got the top tandem of Markov and Subban, the tough and smooth pairing of Emelin and Petry, and finally the emerging Beaulieu with the more experienced Gilbert. There are many teams in the NHL that would trade Ds with the Habs if they could, something to be thankful for.

#3. A Second Scoring Line

If you’re like me, you’ve been waiting for the Habs to have two scoring lines for over a decade. It’s sad that we’ve had to wait this long to get there, but for the first time in a very long time we truly have 2 scoring lines. The top 2 lines are so effective that it’s really hard at this point to say one is the top line and the other is the second line. What’s nicest about it is that when one line struggles, the other usually takes up the slack. That was evident in the first game and the second game, when the top two lines work turns leading the way. If the Habs and Carey Price are going to go all of the way, this is a crucial thing to maintain through the playoffs.

#2. An Overall Healthy and Competitive Team

Injuries and underwhelming performances can quickly dash even the most competitive team’s season hopes. So far, the Habs have been able to avoid any significant issues and look poised for another fairly healthy season overall (knock on wood). Not only does this allow the team to compete well and get itself into a playoff position, but it also allows their young players more time to get the experience and confidence they need while playing in the minors. There are countless examples of players getting rushed to the NHL and having their confidence shaken as a result. This is something the Habs should be able to avoid this season. Health also allows for continuity of lines and pairings as they get used to playing alongside one another. There’s nothing better in the NHL than a team filled with skilled players that have chemistry throughout. Call me naive, but currently the Habs have both brewing very effectively, and that’s something to be thankful for.

#1. Carey Price

You know when you hear Toronto Blue Jays fans shout M.V.P. every time Josh Donaldson comes up to bat? Well, the same should hold true for Habs fans and Carey Price. Just as fans were lucky, no spoiled, in watching past greats like Patrick Roy, Ken Dryden, and Jacques Plante in a Habs jersey, we are spoiled once again in getting the chance to witness the play of Carey Price every single time he’s out there. True professionalism, a great human being who heightens every community he’s even been a part of, and the best goaltender in the league, he’s an outstanding role model for every fan. There are few accolades that have yet to be thrown his way, but all are for good reason. His humility makes him easy to cheer for, and all we can do is continue to support him while he fights for the right to call himself a Stanley Cup champion.

If that’s not something to be thankful for, I don’t know what is.

What about all of you? What are you thankful for this thanksgiving when it comes to your team and its makeup? Let us know in the comments or by message on Twitter!

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