Montreal Canadiens: Enemy's Insight - Issues in Development

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LAVAL, QC – Montreal Canadiens (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /

The theme of this week’s Enemy’s Insight and an area of concern within Montreal Canadiens fans is how the organization is developing their youth.

Development is about to become one of the most important and frequently used words for the Montreal Canadiens. With the team locking in four points by defeating both Anaheim and Ottawa, interest in the second wild-card spot is starting to peak again. However, and I’m sorry for being that guy, you can’t be swayed by a little short-term success.

The Habs are still sixth last in the league and could fall even lower if Edmonton or Vancouver pick up wins in the next few days. There’s also a piece of information from Jimmy Murphy that could solidify what management’s goal is.

Obviously, coaching is under the same umbrella as management. Even though Claude Julien may want to, or at least give the impression that he wants to win every night, the front office may have a different thought process. According to an NHL source (via Murphy), we know what the direction from management may be.

Per NHL source with direct knowledge of situation: "During last few weeks #Habs owner #GeoffMolson made it clear to everyone, future is now priority. How it is handled at deadline will play major role in future of management. If it means moving a big name will help future do it!"
— MurphysLaw74 (@MurphysLaw74) February 3, 2018

There it is folks. Trading the likes of Max Pacioretty and Tomas Plekanec was already a flowing thought, but that tweet is as close as a confirmation to a retooling situation as we’ll ever get.

It only fits that the next edition of Enemy’s Insight with Editor in Leaf have questions that address the Habs’ development. Last week’s went fairly well, so it only fits that myself and Mike Stephens would give it another try.

LAVAL, QC – (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /

1. I just watched the Toronto Marlies trounce the Laval Rocket 7-1. What the heck is going on with them?

That’s the question of the year (well, at least one of them). There was a lot of optimism about the Laval Rocket in their inaugural season. They made the playoffs for the first time as the St. Johns IceCaps last season after the second last game of the year but unfortunately lost to the Syracuse Crunch.

Their main problem is defence and special teams which have cost them a lot of goals against and a lot of games. Laval has given up the second most goals in the AHL with 166 and are currently 3-7-0-0 in their last ten. You see a stat like that and think what’s going on with the goaltending, but they’re far from the problem even though none of them are north of a .900 save percentage.

The team gives up too many chances in dangerous areas around the net and take too many penalties without having the ability to kill them off. That same game you’re talking about is a prime example of the team’s faults. Granted, we’ll have to cut them some slack because they were without Matt Taormina who has been their best defenceman all season.

Concerning issues away from the team specifically, they’ve lost a lot of their best players to call-ups. Captain Byron Froese, Daniel Carr, and most recently Nikita Scherbak are with the Habs right now and there goes a lot of the team’s offence and defensive responsibility.

Either way, it’s disappointing to see the season go the way it’s been going for Laval. You have to take a strong look at Sylvain Lefebvre, the team’s head coach, and think about whether he’s the right person to continue to lead the bench, especially if the goal is to focus on development. Mind you, some of the players he’s had in the AHL have looked good especially Scherbak and Charles Hudon, but it’s still a change the organization may want to make to improve things long-term.

It’s definitely not a good look if the struggles are both at the NHL and AHL level.

MONTREAL, QC – (Photo by Francois Lacasse/NHLI via Getty Images) /

2. What is the public perception within the Habs fan base of the Sergachev for Drouin trade?

It’s been a back and forth battle all season when it comes to that topic. Obviously, fans are frustrated seeing how well Michael Sergachev is doing with Tampa, and it’s a bit of a knife twist when GIFs or tweets detailing his point totals this season come around. At the same time, Marc Bergevin didn’t do himself any favours with the perception of the move after admitting in a press conference that Jonathan Drouin wouldn’t play centre if the team already have a number one.

Related Story: A Controversial Presser

Another thing I’ve seen from a few people is that their not upset about the acquisition, but the price. The Habs have some future defensive options in junior and Victor Mete has stepped up to be a real player for them. However, Sergachev was a lock to make the team out of camp and could’ve easily been Shea Weber‘s defence partner on the top pair. If they gave up something else for Drouin, the overall perception might be lighter, but they may not have had any other pieces to make the deal.

That being said, Drouin has become a fan favourite in Montreal, and I think there’s an understanding that it doesn’t take three months to become a true centre. Is Drouin still playing down the middle if the Habs manage to acquire a centre? That’s a whole other question. Julien flirted with that idea where he had a line of Drouin, Jacob de La Rose and Alex Galchenyuk rolling but that didn’t last long.

I think the feelings around the trade are a little more evened out, but just like most marquee trades in the NHL, Drouin and Sergachev will be compared for a long time.

3. Wasn’t McCarron a highly touted prospect? What happened to him?

I mean, he kind of still is, but the hopes of what he will become have fallen. Being a first-round pick in 2013, you would think that Michael McCarron would be up playing with the Habs full time right now. The 22-year-old has had his moments to be in the NHL, but he’s struggled to try to keep up. Speed, conditioning, and awareness have been the three main things that have gotten him sent back down after a few games here and there with the Habs.