Montreal Canadiens: Brett Lernout is quietly having a solid end to the season

There have been a handful of names on the Montreal Canadiens receiving prays for improved play, and Brett Lernout is one who should get some recognition.

All you can ask for the players on your team is to better every year. However, in-season improvements are equally as positive. Alex Galchenyuk is probably the one on the Montreal Canadiens who has seen the most growth this season, and Noah Juulsen‘s progression since being called up from the Laval Rocket is extraordinary. That being said, Brett Lernout has quietly been a much better defenceman for the Habs.

A pair of equipment malfunctions started Lernout’s season with the Montreal Canadiens in a game against the Edmonton Oilers. But the thing fans couldn’t take their eyes off of was how slow Lernout looked. It’s not that he lacks the skating or speed to play in the NHL. However, his decision-making was clearly off and he was easily exposed.

The 22-year-old had a better outing against Carolina and Tampa Bay before being sent back to play for the Laval Rocket. It took an injury to Rinat Valiev to have Lernout back with the Habs on an emergency recall, but he understood that it was another opportunity to prove himself. How has he been? Quiet.

Some may consider that a negative, but for a defenceman looking to establish himself in the NHL, it’s the best thing he could do. Lernout has had a steady 14 games since then playing well enough to stay with the Montreal Canadiens despite Valiev’s recovery. The 2014 third-round pick is showing that he’s improved defensively making better and faster decisions. He’s also brought that effective aggressiveness back to his game that was on display in the preseason.

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There was one game that Lernout looked especially bad and that was against the Washington Capitals. He and defence partner Jordie Benn were on the ice for three goals against. A definite eyesore among the other set of games, but a representation of this latest stint with the Habs as a whole.

Lernout needs to continue to keep things simple. He isn’t a lock to make the team out of camp and should a high-energy summer of training to ensure he’s ready September. Claude Julien‘s usage of Lernout on the penalty kill is a decent indication of trust for the young defenceman, but he needs to continue to push the boundaries.

If you merely look at the stats, it proves that are still things he needs to improve. Averaging approximately 16 minutes a night while being a combined -4 isn’t painstakingly awful.  As far as the scoring chances go, Lernout has been on the ice for 89 for and 101 against in this stretch (via naturalstattrick.com). The difference isn’t too much in the high-danger areas either (34 for and 25 against).

You’d like for Lernout to have more than the single shorthanded assist from Nikita Scherbak’s goal against Pittsburgh, but it’s a start. Taking more shots and getting more pucks to the net will change that.

Next: Hope and Opportunity to the Undrafted

The Winnipeg native hasn’t hit his ceiling yet, but with his play this year, some hights on the ladder have been reached.