Canadiens: Grading Some of the New Kids on the Block

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.