The 2024 year was supposed to be different for the Montreal Canadiens. They believed their rebuild was starting to end, and they wondered whether 2024 would end with them looking ahead to a run at the playoffs in 2025. The year ended with a string of wins that elevated them to sixth place in the Atlantic Division, but they are still seven points behind in a playoff race. This series will examine how each player performed over the 2024 calendar year. Next up is little-used forward Michael Pezzetta.
It's hard not to feel bad for Michael Pezzetta. He found a home in Montreal and played 175 games over the past three seasons. He also played 36 games in the first half of 2024 last season, recording two goals and five assists. However, as the offseason acquisitions started to pile up and prospects like Emil Heineman and Oliver Kapanen emerged as potential roster players, Pezzetta's place on the roster came into question.
Pezzetta continues to travel with the team, stay in the team hotel, and practice every day, but that's likely the extent of how much he feels part of the Canadiens organization. He has only been in three games this season and hasn't played since October 27th. That's a long time for a scratch to go without seeing game action, and it's getting increasingly challenging for Martin St. Louis to get him into the lineup.
St. Louis couldn't find a way to get him into the lineup when the Habs were struggling and going on massive losing streaks. They have now won six of their past seven games, which would make it nearly impossible to justify inserting Pezzetta now. I don't think we've seen Pezzetta's last game in a Montreal uniform, but it'll soon be time to make a decision on him.
The Canadiens also have players like Joshua Roy and Owen Beck clawing at the door to jump from Laval, and the front office won't allow Pezzetta to block their spot. They are likely keeping Pezzetta around for the team morale and to be a locker room guy, but there comes a point when you need to cut ties.