5 Canadiens players who must bring their A-Game to help secure an improbable wild card spot
The Montreal Canadiens are quite a few points out of a wild card spot following the All-Star Break, but if a few players step up, they may contend.
The Montreal Canadiens weren’t supposed to be anywhere near contention this season, and while they have ground to make up, they aren’t out of the running yet. But if they want to hand everyone a shocker and sneak into the playoffs as a wild card, the Canadiens need quite a few players to step up.
They will likely be sellers at the trade deadline, and players who may not finish the season in Montreal won’t be listed below. Therefore, Jake Allen, for example, is someone who can end up playing the rest of the year in a different uniform for a would-be contender. But Sam Montembeault, barring an unforeseen move, will likely stick around, so expect a section on the latter.
Even if they sell at the deadline, the other four players listed below are also likely to stick around. And if they pick up their respective production, don’t be surprised if the Canadiens are playing meaningful games in March.
Juraj Slafkovsky must start making major strides
Juraj Slafkovsky has been better in his second season and first full year in the NHL, but he still hasn’t completely figured things out. However, now that Sean Monahan is no longer in town, someone on the Canadiens must step up and pick up where he left off.
A few players can do this, but ideally, the former number-one pick improves and enjoys a strong final stretch of the season. Through the All-Star Break, Slafkovsky has 20 points in 49 contests, and he’s managed to avoid injury. So those are some major pluses for the 19-year-old when you compare everything to last season.
He’s also a physical player who has earned more trust with a four-and-a-half-minute uptick in average total ice time. His possession metrics at 5-on-5 are also trending north, so as it stands, Slafkovsky just needs to put it all together, and he will finish the season strong.
It’s time for Sam Montembeault to take his game to an elite level
Jake Allen likely won’t be around to see the end of the Canadiens season, which could open more time for Sam Montembeault if Cayden Primeau doesn’t see his opportunities substantially increase. But even if the latter is in the net more often, Montembeault can still proclaim himself as the undisputed No. 1 goaltender in Montreal with a solid finish to the 2023-24 season.
Despite his slightly below-average numbers with a 0.905 save percentage and a 3.10 GAA, Montembeault is also boasting a quality starts percentage of 0.727, which is outstanding considering his status as the top goaltender for a less-than-stellar hockey team.
You can even argue that if Montembeault played for a team further ahead than the Canadiens, he could even threaten to be one of the better goaltenders in the game. But given his status with a building team like Montreal, one that is still very much in the playoff race at this point, if he picks up his game and gives us a few unheralded performances, he’s at least a solid 1A moving forward.
This isn’t to say Montembeault is or will be an elite goaltender, but at this stage in the season, he has a massive opportunity on his hands.
A healthy Arber Xhekaj should be a force at the NHL level
The injury bug hit Arber Xhekaj earlier in the season, and he subsequently went to the Laval Rocket. But shortly before the All-Star Break, Xhekaj returned to the Canadiens, and he could stick around Montreal for the rest of the season if he keeps up his effective play in the defensive zone.
Last season, Xhekaj showed us he could be a physical force for Montreal, logging an amazing 159 hits in just 51 games while pitching in 13 points, and 46 blocks. His average total ice time is still very low, meaning he hasn’t exactly earned the highest amount of trust, but it doesn’t mean he won’t prove himself to be part of this young core down the stretch.
Further proof rests in Xhekaj’s possession metrics at 5-on-5, where the Canadiens have a remarkable 94.6 on-ice save percentage through the 19 games he’s been on the ice in the situation. This impeccable number is nothing new, as Xhekaj also gave them a 92.3 on-ice save percentage at 5-on-5 the previous season, so he’s parlaying these numbers.
His status ultimately depends on whether he stays in Montreal for the remainder of the season. But given his defensive numbers and relative inexperience, Xhekaj has yet to reach his full potential with the club, and he can inch closer to that from now until mid-April.
Nick Suzuki must match his power play production at even strength
When you think of the current incarnation of the Montreal Canadiens, Nick Suzuki is often the first name that pops into your mind. We’re seeing Suzuki lead the team in points with 42, and he also has 13 goals, putting him on pace for 70 points and 22 scores. But there is a problem here, as Suzuki’s production at even strength pales to what he’s done on the power play.
The upside is simple, as Suzuki’s 22 points on the man advantage foreshadows a phenomenal power play for the Canadiens. And while you can win or lose games at 5-on-4, it doesn’t mean a player of Suzuki’s caliber should be lacking at even strength, where he has just 20 points.
What we need to see from Suzuki is the power play production from this season, but his even strength production from 2022-23. If he can give the Canadiens that, he’s not only one of the league’s most prolific scorers, but Montreal will be tough to stop for the next nine weeks.
One player won’t catapult an entire team, especially one still in a building phase like the Canadiens, into a playoff berth. But they will make things much tougher for opponents when they produce at an elite level in all situations.
Cole Caufield must become ultra-consistent in the clutch
If Nick Suzuki isn’t the first player you think about when you hear the word Montreal Canadiens, Cole Caufield is probably that player. Caufield, who, thanks to injuries, only saw 46 games in 2022-23, has since rebounded in 2023-24, and his 39 points in 49 contests is second only to Suzuki.
Unlike Suzuki, however, Caufield has given the Canadiens much more even production. But if there is one statistic where he is just crushing everyone on the team, it’s his ability to score game-winning goals. Caufield has an eye-popping six of them this season, and if the Canadiens want to win more of those close games, they need to put the puck onto his stick. He will score the go-ahead goal often, and if he doesn’t, there is always a chance for a rebound near the crease so someone else can finish the job.
The Canadiens aren’t a great hockey team, and there is a good chance that they will lose a few players by the trade deadline, making their job ultra-tough for the spring. But if Caufield comes through in clutch moments, you can’t count this team out. They will sneak up and steal a few wins, and that could make them a surprise contender in March.
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(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference as of Tuesday, February 6th)