Were Montreal Canadiens Trying to Make Sven Andrighetto Look Bad?
Sven Andrighetto had a fantastic start to his NHL career with the Montreal Canadiens which began against the Dallas Stars on December 7th. He scored in that game, and continued to pick up a point in each of his next two games.
Andrighetto played 11:35 in his NHL debut, and played 14:41 against the Vancouver Canucks while assisting on the game winning goal. The 21 year old winger played 10:39 against the defending Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings and scored a third period goal.
Dec 6, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Montreal Canadiens right winger Sven Andrighetto (58) controls the puck in the third period against the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center. Dallas won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Three points in three career games heading into last night’s contest with the Caronlina Hurricanes. All of this came while playing on a line with the ever-reliable Tomas Plekanec and emerging rookie winger Jiri Sekac.
On the heels of this very successful start to his NHL career, Andrighetto was demoted to the fourth line in last night’s game, playing alongside Manny Malhotra and Michael Bournival. Instead of the skilled rookie who had a point in each of his three games, it was Dale Weise who was on the right side of Tomas Plekanec last night.
When I saw this, I immediately could not understand it. Of course, Weise had played on the top line with David Desharnais and Max Pacioretty for stretches earlier in the year, so it wasn’t the first mind-boggling decision by the Canadiens bench boss.
But why demote Andrighetto? Why break up that line that combined for three goals in a 6-2 win over the L.A. Kings in the Habs most recent contest?
Sep 15, 2013; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens right wing Sven Andrighetto (58) shoots against Buffalo Sabres goalie Jhonas Enroth (1) during the second period at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports
Well, the only conclusion I could seem to land on was the Habs wanted Andrighetto to have an “off” game because they are going to send him back to the Hamilton Bulldogs today or tomorrow.
Lars Eller is inching closer to a return to the Habs lineup from his upper body injury, and could play as early as tomorrow night against the Anaheim Ducks. If he does, someone has to come out of the lineup, and someone has to come off the top three lines.
That someone is almost certainly going to be Sven Andrighetto, and after playing a measly 9:06 last night, mostly with Malhotra who has exactly one point in 32 games this season. Don’t get me wrong, Malhotra plays his role to perfection, but that is simply to win faceoffs and kill penalties. The last place Andrighetto fits in the lineup is on Malhotra’s wing.
Dec 12, 2014; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens right wing Sven Andrighetto (58) celebrates his goal against Los Angeles Kings with teammates during the third period at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports
But that is where we saw him last night. The only reason for that seems to be the Canadiens wanted to make it easier to send Andrighetto to the AHL. Had he played with Plekanec again last night, and had another assist, the Habs would have to demote a guy who had four points in four games.
Instead, they will now likely send down a guy who had three points in three games, and was then fairly invisible last night against the weak Carolina Hurricanes.
Perhaps I am wrong, but why else would Andrighetto get the least amount of ice time in his NHL stint and be sent to play on the fourth line when he had a point in three straight games?
The Canadiens don’t have much choice but to send Andrighetto back to Hamilton when Eller returns to the lineup. I don’t mind the idea of sending the kid back to the minors, but I certainly don’t like the way they are going about it.