Montreal Canadiens: The depth is becoming the key

All the injuries the Montreal Canadiens have sustained in the last few weeks are continuing to give more of the team’s younger players with opportunity.

The Montreal Canadiens injury bug has been one of the most active things all season. It started with Shea Weber who felt it’s wrath during game number one. Jonathan Drouin and Artturi Lehkonen had a taste as well missing games in the first half of the season. However, the injury bug has never been as strong as it is now. Weber was shut down, Carey Price is out with a concussion, Max Pacioretty and Victor Mete are out long-term, and most recently, Antti Niemi.

After a handful of starts that is increasing the odds of the Habs circling back to him in the summer, it looks like Niemi will miss the New Jersey Devils game. The 34-year-old had a therapy day but many, included Sportsnet’s Eric Engels, believed that it would be more serious than that. Zachary Fucale getting called up from the Laval Rocket on emergency basis confirms that.

Luckily, the Habs have Charlie Lindgren who will get the start. If you ask any fan or even the coaching staff, there wouldn’t be anyone upset or concerned with that decision. It’s been one of the smaller and more positive stories this season, but the organization’s depth has been a shining light. ‘Depth’ is a word that’s made fans roll their eyes and it hasn’t had much of an effect until most recently.

It started with Lindgren getting called up from the AHL and having an immediate impact on the team when Price and Al Montoya were down. Then Daniel Carr joined the team putting up two goals and four assists in his first five games. Nikita Scherbak is continuing to be the dynamic forward the Habs hoped he would become after taking in the first-round in 2014.

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Noah Juulsen and Mike Reilly are brought on board and stabilize the blue line despite injuries to both Weber and Mete. Now it’s Rinat Valiev who is set to make his debut with the Habs against New Jersey.

Many are praising the coaching staff for allowing the younger players to play, but it’s more than that. Management has been able to identify talent and add it to the organization properly. Age has nothing to do with it if they can’t effectively use their skills and execute on the ice. Each of them has earned the right to play on this team. What at first was organizational depth is now players stealing jobs for next season.

This is why a retool can be sped up. It all depends on what players you have to work with, and the Montreal Canadiens have some special ones in the fold. Valiev is next in line to get tested, and it wouldn’t be surprising if the Habs finally give Fucale a start.

The 22-year-old has been getting recalled to the team for the past three seasons but has yet to make his debut officially. Lindgren is a prime example that stats in the minors can be misleading and the coaching staff may want to see what they have in him firsthand.

If Fucale can have a solid performance as well, he can join a long list of Habs depth who have the tools to make an impact in the NHL.

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Who else are you looking forward to seeing? Will Fucale get a start? How will Valiev play? Let us know in the comments below.