Canadiens: Grading Some of the New Kids on the Block

Try as they might, everything that could’ve gone wrong, has gone wrong thus far this season, for the Montreal Canadiens. Going into 2021-22, expectations were high for the Habs after an exhilarating run to the Stanley Cup Finals in the 2021 playoffs. While franchise option Carey Price carried the bulk of the load, keeping Montreal in games they had no right being in, GM Marc Bergevin went out and brought in numerous fresh faces over the course of this off-season, to supplement  the loss of key pieces like Shea Weber, Paul Byron, Philip Danault, and eventually, Price himself.

However, as has been oft-discussed thus far this season, the Canadiens have struggled to get themselves going with a less than ideal 2-8 record, following a 4-2 loss on Monday to a young and rebuilding Anaheim Ducks team. Having just passed the 10-game mark of this season, I thought it’s about time to look at how the Canadiens numerous fresh additions have fared thus far this season. As the Canadiens prepare for the second game of their season series against the Detroit Red Wings, on Tuesday, here’s a few player grades for some of the new kids on the block for the Montreal Canadiens, in 2021-22.

Mike Hoffman: 7 Games, 4-0-4 totals: B+

Expectations were high for Hoffman coming into Montreal, and for the most part, he’s served his role and served it well. After a tumultuous 2020-21 season that saw the former Ottawa Senators star remain unsigned for most of the off-season, before inking a one-year deal with the St. Louis Blues off a PTO, the Kitchener native found himself with a four-year deal in Montreal after another solid season. A former fifth round pick of the Senators in 2009, Hoffman has been an emblem of consistency ever since securing a full-time role in the 2014-15 season, with six 20-goal seasons to his name.

While injuries derailed him early on in 2021-22, he’s been solid and reliable since coming into the lineup, contributing with timely offense, putting up four goals over his first seven games. A pure goal scorer with a lethal release and deft hands, Hoffman has been a valuable powerplay asset for the Canadiens with a laser release from the point. Couple that with a number of talented puck movers on the blueline in Sami Niku and Chris Wideman, and Hoffman should continue to produce in Montreal in spite of the lack of offensive support around him.

Christian Dvorak: 10 Games, 1-3-4 totals: B

The main storyline for Dvorak coming into Montreal was directly related to the player who left the Canadiens as he was coming in. Former third overall pick, Jesperi Kotkaniemi. Whilst Dvorak was seen as a replacement for the hole Kotkaniemi left in the lineup, early returns have showed that, whilst Dvorak has brought the consistency Kotkaniemi never truly found with the Habs, his upside on both sides of the puck has left something to be desired. A former first round pick and top prospect for the Arizona Coyotes, Dvorak emerged as an offensive leader on a Coyotes team that has seen noticeable struggles on offense over the past few seasons, which has thus far only continued in a winless start to 2021-22.

With soft hands, a solid frame, and slick passing abilities, Dvorak brings a lot to the table but has thus far struggled to get things going fully in spite of some nice plays here and there. With a beautiful feed to Josh Anderson for the games first goal against Anaheim on Sunday, Dvorak has showcased flashes of the offensive ability he wasn’t fully able to fully utilize in Arizona, but with being tied for team worst with a -5 rating, it’s clear there’s still some growing pains the Illinois Native has to sort out in his new home in Montreal.

Sami Niku: 4 Games, 0-2-2 totals: B-

Niku is a player I’ve been following since his earliest days in the Jets organization, after being taken as a seventh-round pick by the team in 2015. A top offensive defenseman in the AHL with the Manitoba Moose, Niku put up impressive 16-38-54 totals over 76 games in his rookie season in 2017-18, something he’s yet to truly replicate thus far in the NHL. While the Jets gave him half a season as a depth option in 2018-19, his league minimum two-year deal was terminated prior to the start of this season, before being picked up by Montreal not long after.

While he’s seen limited minutes thus far as primarily a power-play option, the Finnish native has looked calm and composed on the backend with solid vision and passing abilities. While it remains to be seen how he’s utilized by Montreal going forward, NIku should continue to serve a depth role and serve it well, being a nice offensive option above all else should he be able to realize some of that potential he showcased in the AHL.

Chris Wideman: 6 Games, 1-1-2 totals: C+

Wideman was one of my personal favorite signings by the Canadiens this past off-season, having established a reputation as a bit of a journeyman since making his professional debut in the 2012-13 season. A brief third-pairing option for the Ottawa Senators over two seasons in 2015-16 and 2016-17, controversy stemming from a recorded phone conversation about former head coach Guy Boucher, led to Wideman travelling far and wide since being traded to the Edmonton Oilers in the 2018-19 season. After leading all KHL defenseman in scoring in 2020-21 with 9-32-41 totals over 59 games, Wideman turned down a reported US $2 million AAV contract in Russia to come to Montreal.

A former 60-point option for the Binghamton Senators, Wideman brings a lot of offensive upside to the table yet is lacking in the consistency and reliability of a more proven option like Niku. Having recorded his first goal since 18-19 earlier this season, the Missouri native has shown flashes of his soft hands and excellent passing abilities, setting up a Hoffman bullet for a powerplay goal against Anaheim on Sunday. With Niku now nipping at his heels with better reliability and confidence on the backend, Wideman should continue to find powerplay time, though it remains to be seen whether he can ultimately secure anything beyond a third-pairing role, with more proven options finding increased minutes as Montreal struggles to find their footing.

David Savard: 10 Games, 0-2-2 totals: D

Savard was the biggest question mark in my mind going into this season, with the former Columbus Blue Jackets veteran bringing a steep $3.5 million AAV cap hit to the table after being picked up out for free agency. For a player who showed some noticeably reduced foot speed for the Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning last season, Savard has only looked worse since arriving in Montreal. Without top-tier two-way option and former Canadiens pick Mikhail Sergachev as his partner, Savard has looked rusty and indecisive with the puck most nights, joining the rush often in spite of not being able to backcheck effectively.

While he’s made some good plays here and there, demonstrating his usual physicality and up and over style of penalty killing, partner Alexander Romanov has looked like the far more promising and physical option thus far this season. After playing solid minutes over his rookie season in 2020-21, Romanov has frequently carried the load for Savard instead of the other way around. With the Canadiens problems multiplying after a less than ideal start, I wouldn’t be surprised if Savard continues to have the magnifying glass upon him as he struggles to find his footing with a non-Stanley Cup contender.