The Montreal Canadiens still do not know who or what they are
By Omar L
The same question marks arise on the blueline. It looked as if Noah Juulsen or Cale Fleury would be getting the final spot on defence with Victor Mete. However, it’s Mete on the right with Xavier Ouellet on the left.
Ouellet spent the majority of the season in the AHL as captain of the Laval Rocket and was called up when the injuries on defence were running rampant. Juulsen and Fleury are young defencemen who were having a good camp, and they still can’t get into the lineup.
We won’t know for sure what the final decisions are going to be until games begin, but some of these aren’t telling of a retool. Those young players should be getting opportunities to show their worth in the lineup instead of relying on the same veterans who you hope those young players supersede one day. It’s not as if it’s year one of the retool, the Montreal Canadiens were heading into year three.
Are they are an older experienced team who are willing to part ways with young players for improvements, or are they a growing team continuously putting young players in for ageing ones to fill roles? Who knows at this point as there still isn’t a clear answer.
Next. Habs who are likely to be selected by Seattle. dark
Each of these four players has had their shortcomings. Poehling was sent down after an underwhelming showing, Fleury was sent down when it looked like he was starting to get overwhelmed, while Juulsen hasn’t played that many games in the last calendar year.
That said, they need a chance to prove they are part of the solution. That’s an aspect of development that is irreplaceable.