Montreal Canadiens: What Habs Fans Should Give Thanks For

It’s Thanksgiving in Canada and despite all the negativity, there are some things that fans can give thanks for when thinking about the Montreal Canadiens.

First off, Happy Thanksgiving. It’s the last day of the long weekend as a lot of people will most likely be getting ready to return to normal life come Tuesday. On Thanksgiving we all give thanks for the things we have, which is a very underrated thing. When looking at the Montreal Canadiens specifically, there are things to appreciate there as well.

The feel around the team isn’t at its happiest at the moment. Even though you could try to write off Sunday’s game, the goal-scoring issue is still front and center. However, what positives can we take from where the Habs are right now? You may be on the car ride back to your town or even just sitting at home, but I’m going to give you things Canadiens fans should be thankful for.

1. The Season Just Started

As easy as it is to panic because they’ve scored three goals in three games, it’s also only been 3/82 games. There is still another six-and-a-half more months left of the regular season. Sure it would be a lot better to start hot out of the gate, but imagine if this was happening in March?

If the Habs have anything they need to work out as a unit, it’s better that it’s going on now while there is still time to fix it.

2. Carey Price

3. A great Montreal Canadiens blog called A Winning Habit (shameless plug)

4. The Struggles ARE Happening

Hear me out for a second. There are still a handful of maybes on the team. Claude Julien mentioned in the preseason that some players were making his decisions easier than expected. The same thing is happening now. There are players that are allowing Julien to freely make moves in terms of the starting line-up.

Ales Hemsky and Mark Streit have not looked good so far and because of continuous mistakes, were left out Sunday. That gave Torrey Mitchell and Brandon Davidson a shot, and neither of them looked bad.

As terrible as it sounds, a belief you hear some NHL analysts say is that a coach learns more about his team in a loss than a win. Unfortunately, the losses have become more frequent, but that’s allowing Julien to make the proper adjustments to change that.

5. Victor Mete

This kid has been such a delight to have on the team. From all the errors being made on the Habs blue line, Victor Mete has rarely been included in them. Well there was the own goal against Washington but we’ll set that aside for now.

Mete has answered in flourished in any challenge he’s been thrown. Giving him the opportunity to play in the NHL has benefited both him and the team itself. His skating, speed, and vision stand out every night, and his impact on the power play has been great as well.

Related Story: The Mete Effect

If he’s this good now, just imagine how well he’ll be playing in April.

6. The Laval Rocket

The new Montreal Canadiens affiliate has gone off to a great start. Regardless of the record (which is 2-0 by the way), the players on the team have come together to play some great hockey. Michael McCarron and Nikita Scherbak have been on fire which is exactly what the organization has wanted to see from them.

Jakub Jerabek made his professional debut in their second of two games against the Belleville Senators. What kind of debut was it? Well for one, he finished with two assists, but the way he looked out there was spectacular. Jerabek was very poised and confident. He definitely looks like a call up option for the Habs down the line.

Next: Seven Games Habs Fans Need to Watch

It’s easy to forget the positive things surrounding this team. Just keep in mind that there is still a lot of hockey to play.

What are you thankful for? Let us know in the comments below.

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