Montreal Canadiens Tomas Plekanec Losing Offensive Touch
The Montreal Canadiens have long relied on Tomas Plekanec to be a great two-way center. His defensive abilities remain sound, but his offensive game is all but gone.
Montreal Canadiens center Tomas Plekanec has been one of the Habs most consistent players for the past decade. Drafted in the third round of the 2001 draft, Plekanec worked his way up the organizational depth chart. He has long been considered the team’s best two-way center.
Plekanec broke out offensively in 2006-07 when he scored 20 goals and 47 points. Since then, he has reached the 20 goal plateau in all but two full seasons. He also scored more than 50 points on five occasions and reached a career high of 70 points in 2009-10.
The Czech Republic native achieved these feats while playing with spotty linemates at times. He was also always trusted in a defensive role and counted on to play against the opponent’s best players.
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Consistently scoring 20 goals and 50 points while shutting down the top line of the opposition made Plekanec a very valuable player for the Canadiens over the years. Last season, Plekanec inked a two-year contract extension that will pay him $6.0 million this season and next.
Plekanec’s production dipping, though linemates are better than ever
However, Plekanec saw his offensive production dip to 14 goals. He managed an impressive 40 assists, but went long stretches of games without scoring a goal. Not exactly what you want to get from your second line center.
For most of Plekanec’s career, the team counted on him to be a number two center. He played that role tremendously well, even as the team struggled to find a first line center.
Now, the Canadiens are getting great production from Alex Galchenyuk as the top center. Plekanec however, is off to a miserable offensive start while playing with some of the most offensively talented linemates he has ever had in Montreal.
Plekanec started the year on a second line with Alex Radulov and Artturi Lehkonen. Lehkonen is a 21 year old from Finland with a great shot and excellent offensive instincts. Radulov has been among the best players in the KHL for the past five seasons and has brought a big dose of offense to the Canadiens lineup.
Though his linemates are great offensive players, Plekanec has been unable to find the scoresheet with much regularity this season.
Yet to score after nine games, Plekanec moved to more defensive role
After nine games, in which the Canadiens boast an NHL best 8-0-1 record, Plekanec has three points. He is yet to score a goal, and is pointless in his last five games. he had one assists in the Habs second game of the season against the Ottawa Senators and picked up a pair of assists in a win over the Arizona Coyotes.
This means he has been shut out in seven of the Canadiens nine games. Plekanec has been moved off a line with Radulov. The Russian winger has been moved up to play with Galchenyuk and Brendan Gallagher. Plekanec is left with Lehkonen and Paul Byron.
This puts Plekanec in a more defensive role, and one that he can surely handle. The problem is, he is being paid to be a second line center, not a third line center. This also increases David Desharnais role to second line center.
Canadiens could find themselves looking for a second line center
Desharnais has four points on the season and has been centering Max Pacioretty and Andrew Shaw. It’s a decent line, but mostly because of Pacioretty’s influence. With Plekanec taking a step back offensively, the Canadiens find themselves without an ideal second line center.
If Plekanec’s offensive struggles continue, the Habs are a team with a large hole in their lineup. Plekanec was off to a hot start last season, scoring five goals in his first six games. Since then, he has just nine goals in 85 regular season games.
Not exactly the type of production one looks for in their top six. Also, not a good indication that a turnaround is coming soon. Plekanec turns 34 tomorrow, and the Canadiens are going to have to deal with the fact he is no longer a 20 goal scorer or 55 point player.
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Montreal made some offensive upgrades this summer with Radulov and Lehkonen. It may not be enough, and Plekanec should be moved into a third line role. If Desharnais can’t step up and handle the second line role, the Canadiens will be in the market for a scoring center.