Montreal Canadiens: Redefining success in a Lost Season

A coach’s job is to put a team in the best possible position to succeed. The definition of success
in the circumstances of a lost season can’t be measured by wins and losses but must instead be predicated on the growth of the team’s players, especially their youth. At least, this is what should have be happening on the Montreal Canadiens for the last month.

For Dominic Ducharme moving from Stanley Cup finalist to basement dweller has likely been a cruel development, but the adjustment to a new set of circumstances hasn’t happened. He continually ices lineups that won’t offer adequate experience to its youth nor get the most out of its veterans. Its a perplexing issue that hasn’t improved since the new management sign was hung on the door.

For example, the expected lines for tonite’s game are :

Hoffman–Suzuki–Lehkonen
Drouin–Poehling–Armia
Pezzetta–Perrault–Caufield
Paquette–Dauphin–Ylonen

Chiarot–Savard
Romanov–Wideman
Kulak–Clague

Its hard to see a scenario where this lineup is productive enough either to win a game or develop young players meaningfully.

If the team is showcasing wingers for trading purposes the top four wingers lining up for the Habs tonite are prime candidates. Hoffman was signed by the Canadiens to be a powerplay specialist, not taking up first line minutes. He is a luxury the Habs can’t afford. Jonathan Drouin refuses to go to the net, despite having the talent to be the teams top point getter if he could find consistency. He won’t. Lehkonen who was so great in the playoffs, seems to need luck to score, and Joel Armia just doesn’t look engaged. He rarely makes a meaningful impact outside throwing a few bodychecks.

Based on how this Canadiens season is going these four wingers should be fighting for their ice time, not playing top minutes. Lehkonen, at least, is still playing with passion. If he had a better shooting percentage he’d be a wonderful all round player. Sadly, that ship has sailed. He is the Chris Higgins of this generation of the Habs. Thankfully, other teams are always looking for a Chris Higgins.

If we were closer to the deadline showcasing Drouin and Mike Hoffman would make sense, but right now there is no reason to do so.

Leaning on veterans right now is a pointless exercise, at least with these particular players.
Veterans expect a certain treatment but why Cedric Paquette gets preferential treatment over Jake Evans (in terms of the position they play) is anyone’s guess. Tonite might be the first time since he started playing for the Habs that he wont be at center. Laurent Dauphin is playing center and Evans is a healthy scratch. There is no argument that can be made as to why Evans is not playing fourth line center and Ylonen isn’t getting a chance on a top line. Ylonen was hot in Laval and can actually score the puck, as opposed to Lehkonen and Armia. Why a team that is struggling for offense won’t put him in a position to do what he actually does is anyone’s guess.

It has never made sense to me how players are groomed for something in the AHL and then asked to do another in the NHL. That approach hasn’t worked for the Habs for decades. It might be time to stop.

Anyone want to start a poll on how how long it will take the Habs manage to ruin Jake Evans? A good fourth line player with speed who can play on the PK has value on this team. A winger who can’t keep his head up in the corner and is one bad collision away from a potentially career ending concussion does not. Players should play their positions – but in Habsland position is a state of mind.

Lastly, lets take a quick look at the defense, or more specifically Kale Clague. Kale Clague is the short straw for any defensive partner he plays with.  If we made a drinking game of Clague giveaways my liver might not survive.

Maybe he just had a terrible game against the Hawks, but Saints Preserve Us, anyone who puts his head in his hands ON THE ICE needs a game off! How can Clague possible play tonite after giving up the puck more often last game than he advanced it?

Hold onto your hats. I fear that after tonite we’ll be singing the blues without seeing any meaningful building up of the youth on this roster.