The Montreal Canadiens, like every team in hockey, are part of a very dog-eat-dog sport. If you aren’t performing at your best, a player beneath you on the totem pole could leapfrog you quickly.
While the sport relies heavily on being able to brush off a loss or a goal against, in terms of performance, if you don’t excel or perform to your believed abilities, you could find yourself being a healthy scratch or sent down to the minors.
A perfect example of a player not playing to the best of their abilities is Jan Mysak, whose success in the Ontario Hockey League with the Hamilton Bulldogs (Now Brantford Bulldogs), didn’t translate to the professional ranks with the Canadiens American Hockey League affiliate.
Mysak’s 2021-22 season with the Bulldogs, saw him post 34 goals and 31 assists for 65 points through 61 games, followed by 11 points in 17 playoff games. An offensive explosion was certainly not expected for Mysak during his first full professional season with the Laval Rocket, but his nine points through 40 games, along with a -10 plus/minus were disappointing.
The pressure was never going to decrease but with Canadiens top prospects Sean Farrell, Joshua Roy and Riley Kidney leading a core of first-year pros, and Emil Heineman, Jesse Ylonen and Rafael Harvey Pinard in the mix for a roster spot with the Canadiens, Mysak will certainly feel the heat of the improved depth chart.
There’s also the addition of Lias Andersson who will occupy one of the top two centre roles, and Mitchell Stephens will likely occupy the second-line role. So, if Mysak wishes to show his stuff down the middle for Laval, it could very well be with a third-line role, and even if he wishes to move to the wing, the Rocket’s depth could push Mysak even further down the roster.
I don’t like to put so much emphasis on one season, but it’s likely that if he doesn’t play better in 2023-24, he could be usurped by younger players, that are hungry to earn their roles and help the team develop a winning culture going forward.
With size, smarts, strong skating and a strong processing ability, Mysak has the tools to be a fourth-line player with the Canadiens, that can keep teams in check, while killing penalties and being a good tertiary offensive aid. Staying healthy and working on his consistency will go a long way in his development, and finding some confidence in the attacking zone could increase Mysak’s confidence in a big way.
There is no question that he can play a smart and responsible brand of hockey in his own zone, but unlocking some offence will be the ultimate factor in determining where he plays his professional career.
This year will be very telling in where he stands in the grand scheme of things, and tempering his own expectations of himself should allow him to take everything in stride. Not every offensive dynamo in junior translates that production or skill to the next level, and while it’s tough to come to terms with that, every position within the team is an important one.
So staying ready, and showing up each day to compete and get a little bit better will be important for Mysak’s future, despite what kind of stat line he reaches by the end of the upcoming season.
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