Applying the 'Yanny or Laurel?' debate to the Montreal Canadiens

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MONTREAL, QC – APRIL 03: Montreal Canadiens (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /

Fixing the Montreal Canadiens isn’t about focusing on one aspect of the team but the entire product, similar to the ‘Yanny or Laurel?’ debate.

The last 48 hours or so has had people around the world arguing. Do you hear Yanny or do you hear Laurel? The audio clip made it’s way on the scene first appearing on Reddit creating the next big internet debate since ‘Blue and Black vs. Gold and Yellow.’ What does this have to do with the Montreal Canadiens? Give me a few minutes, and I’ll explain.

If you haven’t heard of this, there’s a computer-generated voice that says a name. Some think it says Yanny, while others believe it says, Laurel. A handful of the debaters have stood on the side of one fence refusing to budge, however, a new camp has come out in the last day.

Personally, I believed the voice was saying Yanny (don’t judge me). I didn’t understand where the ‘Laurel’ was coming from at all, so I did what most of you probably did. After listening to the clip over and over for about 10 minutes, I realized that you could hear both. It depended on what pitch of the voice you were paying attention to.

Focusing on the higher pitch made ‘Yanny’ standout whereas tuning in on the lower frog-like pitch brought out the ‘Laurel.’ The initial intent of this was most likely to set fire to the internet, but the message from it is interesting, especially when you apply it to the NHL.

MONTREAL, QC – APRIL 3: (Photo by Francois Lacasse/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Yanny-Laurel-Montreal Canadiens

Similar to this fun challenge, fixing the issues of a team isn’t about focusing on one thing. A lot of things went wrong for the Montreal Canadiens in the 2017-18 season, and it’s short-sided to zoom in on one area.

Some say goal-scoring was the sole issue, while others pinpoint it on the defence or goaltending. You also can’t forget about the ‘Number One Centre’ problem which is still trying to get figured out via Jonathan Drouin. Marc Bergevin was too deep in the pool of optimism for the team, and it led to a bottom-five finish. Injuries will hurt any team, but to see such a fall right off the bat stings.

Hopefully, the Yanny-Laurel conversation is indirectly at the core of Bergevin’s plan.

The Habs didn’t score as much because they failed to convert on the number of chances generated each game. Some nights there wouldn’t even be any chances to convert on. Why? It can be attested to the danger-level of said chances which were generally of the low variety.

Establishing extended amounts of zone times is something else that needs to be improved which will fall on the Claude Julien and the rest of the coaching staff.

Montreal failed to keep the puck out of their net on a more consistent basis. That comes down to basic defensive coverage that includes limiting turnovers and being aware of assignments. Not just from the defencemen, but from the forwards as well. Many like to ignore the role of a winger during a d-zone breakdown, and they’re usually just as responsible.

Saving goals also fall at the hands of the goaltender. The Habs didn’t do Carey Price, Antti Niemi, and Charlie Lindgren any favours, but the former didn’t have a season of his calibre. Price will be making $10.5 million next year, and he’ll have to look like every penny in net.

WINNIPEG, MB – NOVEMBER 4: (Photo by Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Cumulations Over Options

A lot of those quick fixes are going to come from within. Those players who had all the chances with little to show for it can work on their craft over the summer and come back stronger. Artturi Lehkonen and Charles Hudon had to have been the most frustrated members of the team. They had their moments scoring in bunches through the season, but not as often as they’d like.

Max Pacioretty would agree to that as well. He’s the go-to person on the Montreal Canadiens to be traded, but if Bergevin doesn’t like what’s out there and he returns, he’ll want to get back to his 30-goal status.

If not him, Nikita Scherbak and Filip Zadina (if he’s the one the Habs take at the draft), should help.

Shea Weber returning to the lineup full-time will be huge. Not only is that a massive slice of responsibility on the blueline, but that adds to the team’s offence. The 32-year-old put up 17 goals for the Habs in the 2016-17 season. That doesn’t go away in a single year. Regardless of how old he is, that slap shot from the point is still a threat.

Drouin will improve in his role as a centre. Similarly to what Bergevin said, in an ideal world, he’s a winger. However, with the right growth and insulation, he should be able to improve.

Going back to the defence, it’ll be interesting to see what the likes of Victor Mete, Noah Juulsen, and Mike Reilly do in a full season. Fans are expecting a big move on the backend, but the answer may already be here.

BROSSARD, QC – APRIL 9: (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Preparing for the Worst

Another thing that needs to be taken into consideration is that sometimes, it doesn’t work. Bergevin can do every marque move the fan base hopes for, and they can still end up in the same position next year. That’s the beauty of the NHL and the parity they’ve tried to implement.