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Montreal Canadiens: Three Players Outperforming Expectations This Season

By Ken MacMillan

Nov 2, 2023; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jake Allen (34) makes a save in the third period against the Arizona Coyotes at Mullett Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 2, 2023; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jake Allen (34) makes a save in the third period against the Arizona Coyotes at Mullett Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 4, 2023; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Montreal Canadiens left wing Tanner Pearson. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Le-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 4, 2023; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Montreal Canadiens left wing Tanner Pearson. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Le-USA TODAY Sports /

Tanner Pearson

Tanner Pearson was acquired as a cap dump from the Vancouver Canucks. He went through a brutal 2022-23 season due to injuries and it was further complicated by the fact the team did a poor job diagnosing and repairing his hand injury.

His hand was broken early last season and then infected during his recovery as they thought it would only be a couple weeks before he returned but he never did. By the end of the season Pearson commented he just hoped he could play with kids normally at some point. It seemed like his career may have been finished.

Then, over the summer he recovered and was ready to go by the time training camp began. This put the Canucks over the salary cap limit and they had to find a player to move. The Canadiens ended up taking on Pearson, and the final year of his contract which has a $3.25 million along with a third round pick for Casey DeSmith.

Expectations were pretty low for Pearson as he only played 14 games and had just one goal and five points last season before his injuries. After several surgeries and a long road to recovery, only to be cleared on the eve of the season, it would have been reasonable to expect a slow start for Pearson.

However, he has been great to begin his first season in Montreal. He has played on a veteran third line with Sean Monahan and Brendan Gallagher, and seems to have dialled the clock back a few years. He has scored three goals and six points in 11 games which puts him sixth on the team in points.

Not only that, but he has been killing penalties and creating scoring chances while shorthanded. The 31 year old is not at all a step behind out there and doesn’t look rusty at all after barely playing last season.

No one would have predicted a hot start for Pearson this season but he looks incredible right now.

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