Montreal Canadiens: Jacob de La Rose’s hidden potential
By Omar L
Jacob de La Rose may be getting the chance to center Alex Galchenyuk, and Jonathan Drouin in a move the Montreal Canadiens hope will bring out his potential.
The word potential can be a dangerous thing. Potential gives people hope for something and at the same time creates expectations which could lead to disappointments. Now that’s the more pessimistic way of thinking about things, seeing as how many players in the NHL, including on the Montreal Canadiens, have the potential to be key pieces on a nightly basis.
Potential has been associated with Alex Galchenyuk most of all as the Habs have tried to make it clear that they want to grow his game. Victor Mete is another option as he’s given us things to talk about all season.
The latest name in the potential conversation is Jacob de La Rose. After 44 games, it looks like Jonathan Drouin will start his first game on the wing with de La Rose as his center. Claude Julien told Habs media after practice on Tuesday that the reason for the move had to do with the team not getting last change since they’re the away team.
Additionally, he believes de La Rose has some offence in him that could be brought out by playing with Drouin and Galchenyuk. A lot of the fan base scoffed at that suggestion, but it could be a possibility.
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The 22-year-old picked up some points earlier in the season playing the Galchenyuk over the course of two games against the Detroit Red Wings. Granted they were all assists, but Julien could be on to something.
Unfortunately, the past doesn’t work in his favour either as his highest point total in the AHL was 14 goals and 17 assists in 62 games in the 2016-17 season. On the other hand, it’s possible de La Rose is a late bloomer and that there is something there itching to be brought out. Let’s give Julien’s latest experiment a chance; if the 2012 second round pick can’t put the puck in the net himself, maybe he can play well enough to give Drouin and Galchenyuk space to work some magic.
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