A Winning Habit
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Montreal Canadiens: Looking Back at the Habs Four Clydesdales

By Tyler Major-Mcnicol

MONTREAL, CANADA - MARCH 07: Joel Edmundson #44 of the Montreal Canadiens goes through his warm-up routine prior to the game against the Carolina Hurricanes at Centre Bell on March 7, 2023 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 in a shootout. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, CANADA - MARCH 07: Joel Edmundson #44 of the Montreal Canadiens goes through his warm-up routine prior to the game against the Carolina Hurricanes at Centre Bell on March 7, 2023 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 in a shootout. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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Gone are the days of big, punishing defensemen that can play in all situations, logging the lion’s share of ice time. Or that’s what we’re led to believe; as the league has gone towards a more speed-style game. But, as evidenced by the St Louis Blues Stanley Cup winning run in 2019, and the Habs Stanley Cup berth in 2021, a big blueline can be very effective.

Specifically, the 2021 Canadiens blueline will be the focus of this exercise, with the four Clydesdales aiding in the cinderella cup run. All six-foot-three or taller, the four pillars on the backend led the Habs to the final against the juggernaut Tampa Bay Lightning offence. The Canadiens’ lack of offensive depth proved inferior against the Lightning’s Vezina-caliber goaltending, from Andrei Vasilevskiy.

But the brigade featuring Shea Weber, Ben Chiarot, Jeff Petry and Joel Edmundson had a nice blend of grit, poise, stout defence and offensive punch, albeit minimal. The four behemoths were able to control the pace of play with a smart defensive stick, swift skating or a big hit. The Clydesdales were a nightmare to play against, and if there weren’t two on the ice, it wouldn’t be long before two came over the boards for a shift.

The top four were able to play in all situations, including both special teams units. They blocked shots and cleared the crease effectively for Carey Price to get a clear view of incoming shots. The eventual loss was devastating, and each of the four defensemen departed from the organization since, with Jeff Petry being reacquired in the recent three-team trade.

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