Montreal Canadiens: Challenged in identity and direction
By Omar L
Two things that have affected the Montreal Canadiens have been a lack of identity and a lack of direction, and it’s cost them games and possibly the season.
Who are the Montreal Canadiens? That’s been a question many have tried to answer all year considering the player turnover that happened over the summer. Sometimes the Habs would play with speed while a lot of time they would be hard on the forecheck and try to grind teams out of games. Unfortunately, there’s hasn’t been a level of consistency in either department that has given the Habs a clear mark as to who they are as a club.
However, Tony Marinaro of TSN 690 sparked another key question to the fan base yesterday: Where are they going? That’s been something we’ve been debating all year, but now that the Habs are in the position their in, it’s an important topic.
Where the team chooses to go from here will have major effects in the years to come. We know what they should do and probably where they will end up when the season is over. On the other hand, that still may not be where Habs management thinks they’ll be.
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I’m going to give Marc Bergevin the benefit of the doubt and assume he knows the year is lost and is thinking towards selling some of the pieces on the team. If Habs fans have to endure what seems to be a painful rest of the season, at least make it worth it.
It’s not just about acquiring assets, but take a look at players you have hopes for in different positions. Perhaps Jacob de La Rose centring Jonathan Drouin and Alex Galchenyuk was a way to determine what the plan will be for him long-term. Keep in mind, de La Rose is an RFA at the end of the season, and the Habs could choose to part ways from him.
It’ll be interesting to see what other experiments the Montreal Canadiens try. Just as long as what they do is out of the ‘Deadline Buyer’ category.
Morning Links
Jerabek Enjoying Transition to the NHL
When the Montreal Canadiens signed Jakub Jerabek out of the KHL last summer, fans were excited to see what he could bring to the NHL, and after being called up from Laval, he hasn’t disappointed.
Analyze This: Jonathan Drouin, Alex Galchenyuk hit same wall at centre
Alex Galchenyuk’s season as the Habs’ top centre isn’t that much different than how Jonathan Drouin’s season is going now. However, both can use this year to improve and possibly become the options that Habs will need in the future.
Anderson: Is it a rivalry if one of the teams is a total disaster?
It stings, but it’s a valid question. The Boston Bruins are on the up and up this year while the Montreal Canadiens…aren’t.