Montreal Canadiens Need to Stop Relying on David Desharnais

The Montreal Canadiens made a mistake when they signed David Desharnais to a long-term contract four years ago. It’s finally time they stop trying to make him look good and admit he isn’t a top six player in the NHL.

The Montreal Canadiens found a bit of a diamond in the rough when David Desharnais scored 60 points in 2011-12. It was an impressive season for a diminutive center who was never drafted by a National Hockey League team.

However, for the past four plus seasons, the Canadiens have been rewarding him with ice time, and not getting the same results. The Quebec native’s next best season came in 2013-14 when he scored 52 points. Not a bad season by any means, but not excellent when you consider his role.

Desharnais centered Max Pacioretty and Erik Cole in 2011-12 when he set career highs with 16 goals and 60 points. He has been attached at the hip to Pacioretty ever since. The Canadiens captain developed into an elite goal scorer, and Desharnais was along for the ride.

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The two were finally pried apart for much of last season, and though Pacioretty continued to score, Desharnais’ production predictably dipped. He finished the season with just 29 points in 68 games.

Even in 2012-13, a year after his breakout campaign, Desharnais potted just over half a point per game. It was the lockout shortened year so he played just 48 games, and scored 28 points. This while playing with Pacioretty, who was just under a point per game with 39 in 44 games.

Desharnais has played different roles during lucrative contract, none worked

Desharnais was rewarded anyway, mostly for his 2011-12 season. He signed a four-year contract at $3.5 million per season. That contract will finally expire at the end of this season, though Desharnais’ time as a top six center should expire long before then.

Desharnais started last season and this season as the team’s third line center. This appeared to be working well early last year when he was between Tomas Fleischmann and Dale Weise. It wasn’t a powerhouse line by any means, but they got the job done and scored at a respectable rate for a third trio.

However, this production was rewarded greatly and once again Desharnais found himself on the first line with Pacioretty. Weise joined them and since Pacioretty continued to score goals, Michel Therrien decided to keep the three together long past their best before date.

Again this season, Desharnais has been rewarded and moved up the lineup. This can only be attributed to his productive season five years ago as there is no recent play that warrants a top six role.

Desharnais in length pointless skid and needs to be held accountable

Desharnais has just four points in 11 games and has exactly zero points in his last seven. I guess his four points in the team’s first four games was enough reason for Therrien to make him a top six player again. So there he is, centering Pacioretty once again.

However, the problem this time is Pacioretty isn’t scoring any goals. Therefore the line is coming up with absolutely no offensive contributions. Desharnais is pointless in seven games and only has three shots on goal in the team’s last five games. This while playing a role on the power play, and playing with Pacioretty and Andrew Shaw.

It’s clearly time for the Canadiens to move on from Desharnais. It would be nearly impossible to trade him, as his cap hit is three times what it should be for a player of his caliber. The least the Canadiens can do is move him off the second line.

Desharnais hasn’t even played well on the third line this season, and needs to be taken out of the lineup altogether. Make him a healthy scratch, put him on waivers or just send him home and wish him the best in his future career with the Hershey Bears. Whatever it takes to get him out of the lineup and away from a struggling Pacioretty.

Canadiens don’t have obvious solution, but have options to replace Desharnais

The Canadiens don’t have a ton of options down the middle. However, anything but waiting for Desharnais to live up to his contract for the fourth straight year would be the right idea.

Shaw could move to center and play with Pacioretty and Gallagher or Alexander Radulov. Maybe Tomas Plekanec goes back to his old line with Pacioretty and Gallagher. I know Plekanec has been dreadful offensively this year as well, but perhaps this line gets him going.

The Canadiens also have a few players in the minors who are performing well. Charles Hudon would be worth a look on a line with Pacioretty instead of Desharnais. Nikita Scherbak is a highly skilled winger and could fill a role with Plekanec or Shaw at center and Pacioretty on the left side.

Not all of these options will work extremely well. The fact is we have no idea how any of them will work because they haven’t been attempted. What has been attempted time and time again is Desharnais playing with Pacioretty.

Next: A Look at How Canadiens Prospects Are Performing

It doesn’t work. It hasn’t worked for three years. Yet it is one of the few constants in the Canadiens lineup. It’s finally time to put an end to it and stop hoping for offence from Desharnais.