Which Montreal Canadiens Defender Sits For Jeff Petry?
The Montreal Canadiens welcome Jeff Petry back into the lineup tonight. This is great news for the Habs, but it will be and news for someone who played well in game one.
The Montreal Canadiens will have a healthy Jeff Petry ready to step into the lineup. The Habs take on the Ottawa Senators in game two of the season tonight. Montreal placed winger Sven Andrighetto on waivers yesterday in order to clear up a roster spot for Petry.
There is no question Petry will step into the lineup now that he is healthy. After an impressive 4-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres on opening night, who will be taken out to make room for the American defender?
Montreal started the season off on the right foot with a big win. This makes it difficult to make roster moves. Had the Habs lost 4-1 instead of winning, it would be easier to find a player who didn’t play well and put him in the press box for today’s contest.
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Obviously Shea Weber’s spot is secure. Aside from the behemoth defenseman, an argument could be made for every Habs blue liner to take a seat tonight.
Nathan Beaulieu played with Weber on opening night. His skating and puck-moving skills should ensure his days as an observer of Habs games are behind him. However, Head Coach Michel Therrien has been hesitant to put full faith into the 23-year-old defender.
Beaulieu started game one paired with Weber, but somehow managed just 17:46 of ice time. This was the fifth most time on ice of a Habs defender. So is it possible Therrien parks him in the press box for a night?
Could Markov Get Maintenance Days This Season?
I wouldn’t, but I also wouldn’t put it past Therrien to sit a good, young player with little reason.
After playing in the World Cup, and finding himself inching closer to 40, it would make sense for the Canadiens to give Andrei Markov the odd night off this season. Markov is a mainstay as a Montreal Canadiens blue liner. However, he has struggled late in seasons in the past which can be linked directly to him playing so many minutes in his late thirties.
I could see a scenario where Markov gets some maintenance days this year. However, game two of the season might be a little early for that kind of intervention. The Russian defender skated more than 22 minutes in game one. This makes it clear that Therrien will lean on the aging vet again this season.
Pateryn Did Enough In Game One To Keep Roster Spot
Greg Pateryn is a name that jumps out as someone who could sit to make room for Petry. The 26-year-old defender skated alongside Markov (presumably in Petry’s spot). Also, Pateryn was a healthy scratch for more than half of the season last year.
However, Pateryn played extremely well in game one. He even earned the second most ice time among Habs defenders. If Petry was healthy for game one, I could have seen Pateryn sitting out. His strong play against the Sabres changed my mind, and I think him and Markov make an excellent pairing and should be kept together.
Russian Pairing Of Sergachev-Emelin Likely To Be Split Up
That leaves the third pairing of Russian defenders, and one of them is going to have to sit down to make room for Petry.
Alexei Emelin has become a fixture on the Habs blue line. He played a solid game against the Sabres, throwing a few big hits and forcing the opposition to keep its collective head up and play it safe when Emelin is on the ice.
Emelin played 21:07 in game one, fourth among Habs defenders. He didn’t get any power play time, as is to be expected, but he played a ton on the penalty kill. He’s physical, he blocks shots, he can make the highlight reel with a big hit.
However, Montreal has that physical element in Weber, Pateryn and Beaulieu and don’t need to keep Emelin in the lineup every night just because he is physical. His puck-moving skills leave a lot to be desired. Emelin would be my choice to take a seat, but this is Therrien’s decision, so let’s be realistic.
It’s going to be the 18 year old who has to watch from the press box.
Therrien Is Tough On His Young Players
Mikhail Sergachev played very well all preseason to earn himself a spot in the opening night lineup. He played fine in game one, but was only trusted with 11:48 in ice time. This was a full six minutes less than any other blue liner on the team.
Sergachev is a great skater and passer, but it is tough to earn the trust of this coach as a teenager. The ninth overall pick in last June’s draft wasn’t jaw-droppingly phenomenal in game one, so it won’t be good enough for Therrien to keep him in the lineup for game two.
Again, I would sit Emelin and rotate the defenders around in each game. Not every defenseman would take a turn sitting, but Pateryn, Sergachev and Emelin would take turns with Zach Redmond in the press box if all eight defenders are healthy.
That would be my choice. But Michel Therrien is calling the shots for the Montreal Candiens. This is why I would fully expect Sergachev to be sitting out when the puck drops in Ottawa tonight.