A Winning Habit
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Montreal Canadiens: 7 Talking Points From Past 7 Days

By Sebastian High

MONTREAL, QC - MARCH 04: Jeff Petry #26 of the Montreal Canadiens and teammate Joel Armia #40 collide during the overtime period against the Winnipeg Jets at the Bell Centre on March 4, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. The Winnipeg Jets defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - MARCH 04: Jeff Petry #26 of the Montreal Canadiens and teammate Joel Armia #40 collide during the overtime period against the Winnipeg Jets at the Bell Centre on March 4, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. The Winnipeg Jets defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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MONTREAL, QC – FEBRUARY 27: Tomas Tatar #90 of the Montreal Canadiens. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /

7. Tomas Tatar

The “throw-in” and “cap-dump” of the Pacioretty trade has been great for the Canadiens since his arrival, having produced more points than any other Canadien since the trade. Last season, he put up a career-high 61 points – including 22 goals – in just 68 games. This season is a different story entirely; he has potted just 5 goals and 12 points in 21 games.

While he was on pace to produce 26 goals and 73 points over a full 82-game season last year, his pace this season is of just 19 goals and 46 points, which would be his worst output since the season he split between Detroit and Vegas, though he did manage 20 goals that year. Tatar has simply been uninvolved in play so far this year; he has held his stick a little bit too tightly in this contract year, at least since the third game of the season, as he scored 3 goals in the first 2 contests.

Tatar turned 30 in December and is likely looking at the final possibility of a big payday this offseason. He will likely get a raise from the $5.3 he is currently making; he is just a year removed from his best-ever season, after all. He also has a very good shot and has been a component of one of the league’s best 5v5 lines over the past 3 years. The issue is, he and Danault can’t both be signed.

This is certainly a less significant problem than it was two months ago before their levels of production took nosedive. They will get less money than they otherwise would have and the probability of their respective stays in Montreal being prolonged is decreasing. It is possible that Marc Bergevin gets one or both of them on bargain deals following a down year, but the likelihood of that occurring is rather low.

While fans are rightfully complaining about Danault’s lack of offensive output, and frankly his lack of effort, this season, he would be the ideal 3rd-line centre moving forward. His 22 games of poor play do not erase the fact that his two previous seasons were Selke-nominee-calibre. It should also not be forgotten that his status as a Quebecois will put pressure on management to retain his services.

All of this is to say that Tatar, who has struggled just as much as his linemate to start the season is not only playing himself out of his ideal payday but out of the team’s future as well. Cole Caufield could join the team in April, which may warm Bergevin up to the idea of trading Tatar for assets at the deadline rather than losing him for nothing.

I’m just spitballing, of course, but the Tatar we have seen this season is replaceable and won’t be the deciding factor between making and missing the playoffs. I sure hope he steps his play up, but he might not, and if he doesn’t his days as a Hab are over, whether he leaves via trade or free agency.

All statistics sourced from NaturalStatTrick unless indicated otherwise.

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