Comparing Players : Montreal Canadiens vs Detroit Redwings

Nov 11, 2014; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin speaks at a press conference before the game against the Winnipeg Jets at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome back! In the 3rd installment of player comparisons we’re going to compare players from the current Montreal Canadiens with division rival the Detroit Redwings. Before Detroit went off to play in the West, the Habs and Wings faced off for some fearsome battles. Now reunited again in the Atlantic Division they continue to add pages to their long and storied history. Let’s get started.

Always keep in in mind that the purpose of this series isn’t to see what player is better, or even what team is the better squad. We’re taking a look at a particular set of skills from different players and seeing how they stack up in value on their current roster. Consistency is what we’re aiming for, but only in the number of player chosen, not the actual players, as it might get boring to always stack the same five Montreal Canadiens again and again.

The players that we’re going to examine today are the following;

Pavel Datsyuk / Tomas Plekanec

Riley Sheahan / Jiri Sekac

Justin Abdelkader / Brandon Prust

Niklas Kronwall / P.K. Subban

Jimmy Howard / Carey Price

The criteria for this matchup was wily veteran pivot, young promising forward, plug-in forward, stud defenceman, and finally the starting goalie. As always if you have any ideas for the next set of criteria for the upcoming matchup, please leave a comment and I’ll take them into consideration.

Nov 18, 2014; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens left wing Jiri Sekac (26) shots on Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury (29) during the first period at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports

Riley Sheahan vs Jiri Sekac

What do teams look for in young promising forwards? Well if I was a GM I would be looking for speed, scoring touch, the ability to create offense with a healthy mix of grit and determination to make their name known. These two candidates still have a lot to prove to their respective teams, but the upside is there, and frankly it’s easy to see.

I’m not sure how Detroit does it… they seem to be able to find draft gems and Riley Sheahan is no exception. He’s got quick feet and hands that are perfect for playing an up-tempo game, but he’s got some grit in him that makes him potentially a power forward in the making. Averaging just under 15 minutes a game he’s averaging 0.5 points/game at the moment, while hitting the net just under 2 times per game. You would like to see him hit the net more frequently, but that will come once he gets a few more minutes per game as he matures.

Lured by the Montreal Canadiens in what can only be called a wonder coup for their GM, Jiri Sekac instantly filled a hole in their offense schemes. He’s playing just over 14 minutes a game, which isn’t bad considering that Micheal Therrien doesn’t really play his youngsters much. He’s producing at a .48 points/game clip right now, after having missed 7 games while sitting in the pressbox. He has shown some tremendous skill in small samples, able to undress his opponent with ease. Could he be the next big thing? Perhaps, but for now the Habs would sure like him to hit the net a little more frequently, as he’s averaging just over one shot a game. More ice-time would help, but sometimes you have to make it known that you can’t be denied before the coach will give you anything more than you already have.

Here’s a look at their individual stats;

So who do you prefer? The slightly more established power forward in the making or the new to the NHL skilled offensive threat?

Jan 24, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Red Wings left wing Justin Abdelkader (8) skates with the puck against the Montreal Canadiens at Joe Louis Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Justin Abdelkader vs Brandon Prust

There isn’t a single team in the NHL that doesn’t need the influx of grit and energy from their crashers and bangers. These two plug-in guys are able to go up and down a lineup with ease, creating a dream scenario for their respective coaches. What makes a good plug-in player? Simply put, grit with a lot of heart and the ability to sacrifice everything for their teammates at the drop of a hat. Add in a little point production and there you have it.

Justin Abdelkader never turned out to be the 2nd line player the Wings were hoping for when they drafted him, but that doesn’t take away from what he brings to the table every night. He’s not going to drop the gloves, but he’s able to play on any line when called upon and he has the ability to put up points in bunches given the opportunity. He’s also deceptively fast, much faster than I gave him credit for, and fits perfectly with how quick the wings are.

If there was only one word to describe Brandon Prust it would be heart. He puts his teammates above his own personal safety every night, be it by dropping the gloves or blocking shots from the point. He does it all for the team, and he’s able to skate well enough to play on most lines effectively as a checking forward or net crasher. He’s exactly the kind of player the Habs thought they were getting when they signed him and has quickly become a fan favorite for all the little things he does so well.

Here’s a look at their individual stats;

So who do you prefer? The speedster or the pure grinder as your plug-in?

Mar 27, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall (55) battles for the puck with Montreal Canadiens left wing Max Pacioretty (67) in the second period at Joe Louis Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Niklas Kronwall vs P.K. Subban

Any team with a stud defenceman is a competitive team. They eat up big minutes, rack up points, lay devastating checks and basically cause other teams to devise schemes to get around them. When you become such a pain to play against then you know you’ve become a stud D-man. What we’re looking for is a combination of points, ice time, powerplay points, shots, durability and dependability. Both of these two guys have it in spades, and are without a doubt stud D-men.

When Nicolas Lindstrom retired everyone thought that the Detroit Redwings were doomed, and if it wasn’t for Niklas Kronwall those people would have been right. They weren’t the same Wings, but with his steady influence and dependability on the backend they were able to slowly rebuild while never missing the playoffs. He’s their guy on the powerplay netting 9 powerplay points, which is exactly half of his overall points. He’s known for his devastating checks that flatten opposing forwards and make them try to skate up the other side of the ice the next time they visit the Wing’s zone. He’s had some history of injuries, but he’s currently healthy and hasn’t missed a single shift this year.

Is there a defenceman more exciting to watch in all three zones than P.K. Subban? If you can name one or two I would be shocked. P.K. has the rare gift of being able to lay a huge hit with regularity while being at the same time a puck-dangling speedster. His 22 points are impressive but his 8 goals are more so, but his 4 points on the powerplay are a little disappointing this season. Everyone talks about how well P.K. handles the puck or shoots the puck, they completely overlook the fact that he’s improved so much on the defensive side of things, easily making his plays much more reward than risk. What more can we ask of a young defenceman still learning the game?

Here’s a look at their individual stats;

So what would you prefer? The solid dependability of a veteran D-man or the finess and power of a puck moving always improving D-man?

Oct 21, 2014; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher (11) crashes on Detroit Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard (35) as defenseman Kyle Quincey (27) defends during the second period at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports

Jimmy Howard vs Carey Price

There isn’t a more critical role on a team than the starting goaltender. You can score 5 goals a game but if you let in 6, you’ll lose everytime (Just ask the Edmonton Oilers!). When I’m trying to compare starting goalies I look at the shots against, save percentage first. Those are more indicative of a goalie then their GAA or goals against. I think look at games started, wins, losses and OT loses, because those point in OT are more precious than gold at the moment. Finally I like to take a look at the goalie’s body of work, how many games has he stolen, or points has he clawed for when his team has let him down. Shutouts are impressive, but they indicate a team’s strength more than a goalie’s strength for the most part.

The one thought that comes to mind when I think of Jimmy Howard is the term underrated. He’s never going to be considered one of the league’s top 5 goalies, but it’s not from lack of trying or skill. He just plays a game that is simple but reflexive, and rarely needs to have highlight reel saves to make a play. He’ll be the US’s starting goaltender and still won’t get the recognition he deserves… Still his numbers are more than good enough to be considered amongst the elite of the league. Add in the fact that he he’s created points when his team should have settled with a loss on so many nights this season, and you could argue that he’s the Wings MVP.

His counterpart in this comparison is Carey Price, literally one of, if not the best goaltender in the world currently playing in the NHL. Price not only pulls his team kicking and screaming to victory on nights where he team didn’t seem to show up, his ability to not be rattled by a bad goal is something that most goalies never actually achieve. Calm, cool and collected, Price is having a season to remember for the Habs, and could be on pace for the ultimate rare feat of 40 wins.

Here’s a look at their individual stats;

So who do you prefer? The masked man who is underrated but not overwhelmed, or the current star in the spotlight with much larger expectations?

Next: And the Winner is?

Dec 20, 2014; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; A young hockey fan cheers with Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price (31) after the game against Ottawa Senators at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports

My Picks

One day the outcome might be a landslide, but until that day comes, I continue to struggle to be able to create a one-sided debate. Any GM would be happy to have these players on their squad, and there really isn’t a bad answer to most of them. Let’s see how I worked it out.
Pavel Datsyuk / Tomas Plekanec

This was one of two picks that I found easier to make than the others. I love Tomas Plekanec and what he brings to the table. He’s quick, sound defensively and puts up points at times with less than stellar wingers. The problem is that he’s up against Pavel Datsyuk. Datsyuk is basically one of the league’s best players despite being in the last few years of his career. His ability to still be a point per game player, while losing nothing defensively is what sets him apart. Not to mention his game breaking ability that can get any hockey fan out of their seats. Sure we would like him to be a little less frail… but that still isn’t enough of a reason for me not to take him.

Riley Sheahan / Jiri Sekac

I’m honestly torn on this one. Riley Sheahan is becoming a great player, and we’ve been able to see more of him that we have of Jiri Sekac. I can’t really figure out which player has the higher ceiling, so most of their skills become a wash. So I’m selecting Riley Sheahan only because I’ve been able to see more of him and that he didn’t spend seven games in the pressbox as a healthy scratch. Tough one…

Justin Abdelkader / Brandon Prust

When Justin Abdelkader broke into the league with that top flight speed I thought he would be the next big thing for the Wings, and he’s fallen short of that initial vision. While Brandon Prust is exactly what you would think of for the perfect plug-in. He doesn’t have that top flight speed, but he brings more of an all-around game and toughness that I would be hard pressed to find another player who I would pick over him for this kind of role.

Niklas Kronwall / P.K. Subban

Niklas Kronwall is nothing short of a beast for Detroit. He does everything they need and more, but he’s no P.K. Subban. Add in the fact that Subban is years younger and hasn’t yet reached his ceiling, and it becomes a much clearer choice for me. I believe that teams should be built from the backend out, and Subban is my choice for this one.

Jimmy Howard / Carey Price

Carey Price is an all-world goalie, and that takes nothing away from Jimmy Howard. Both have played on huge stages but Howard can at times be rattled, more so than I’ve ever seen Price be rattled. The other underlying fact is that Montreal isn’t a positive possession team and they give up more shots than they take, while Howard is on a slightly superior squad in those particular terms. Price will be tested more often than Howard, which takes nothing away from Howard, but it does prove that when you match totals, Price’s numbers will come out on top.

So for the third time in a row I have the Montreal Canadiens coming out on top, albeit by the slimmest of margins. I think that the Habs and Wings are extremely close in terms of ability and depth, so with a different set of player this could easily have ended up in Detroit’s favor.

How did you score?

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