Canadiens: Ranking the Three Biggest Surprises at the Season's Halfway Point
Now that we have reached the halfway point of the Montreal Canadiens season, we can start to really reflect upon what we’ve seen so far. The Canadiens are, as expected, still a team hovering between the middle and bottom of the standings. Many of the young players have shown great promise, but we’ve also seen a fair share of struggles.
It’s been a mixed bag, really, but for the most part, the players who Habs fans want to see play well have, for the most part, lived up to that. But some players really bursted onto the scene, making a larger impact than expected. It goes without saying, but that’s a massive development for the Canadiens as they continue rebuilding.
So, with that in mind, we're going to look at the three biggest surprises for the Canadiens this season. Each one of these players has either broken out or has just played well above expectations.
Just a quick disclaimer. This would exclude Juraj Slafkovsky, not because he hasn’t played well, as he has. But due to the fact he’s a first-overall pick, his development has been expected and rather necessary. Other players have been far more surprising. So, with that out of the way, let’s get into the list.
Cayden Primeau
When the season began, the idea of carrying three goaltenders was not something that many were overly keen on, including the Canadiens goalies themselves. 41 games later, we are starting to see why the Canadiens were hesitant to put Cayden Primeau on waivers. He’s been a welcomed surprise for the Canadiens so far this season.
Of course, I still believe a resolution to the three-goalie system is needed, but perhaps it’s Jake Allen who will be the odd man out instead of Primeau. In nine games this season, Primeau has a 4-4-1 record with a .905 SV% and a 3.13 GAA. Those numbers are not incredible by any stretch, but that, mixed with a 0.4 GSAx, suggests he can hang in the NHL.
That wasn’t always the case with Primeau, who has struggled in the NHL. In limited action this year, he’s shown why the Canadiens were correct in their decision to not risk losing him. And at just 24 years old, he still has room for further development. Just look at former Canadiens goaltender Charlie Lindgren, who is having a breakout season at the age of 30 with the Washington Capitals. Goalies take time to develop.
More starts from Primeau, like the one we saw in Philadelphia, where he stopped 37 of 39 shots in a shootout loss, will surely earn him more opportunities. And that could lead to better development for Primeau. He’s been solid this season, something that was far from a guarantee when the season began.
David Savard
David Savard is often known more for being a big, burly defenseman who kills penalties and blocks shots. He’s not considered fleet of foot, nor will you ever look to him for a ton of offence. And yet, he has 10 points in just 20 games with four goals. It’s certainly unexpected, but a welcomed surprise nonetheless.
And Savard has still been a defenseman who’s killing penalties and blocking shots. The offence has just been an added bonus. Of course, he’s still not going to be running the powerplay or out on the ice in the last few minutes when the Canadiens need a goal, but he’s providing solid secondary scoring. Something the Canadiens have gotten quite a bit of from their defensemen this season.
Obviously, Savard, at 33 years old, is not a prospect, but he could ultimately fetch the Canadiens one. Defensemen like Savard are always coveted come trade deadline time. Heck, Savard himself was traded for a first-round pick back in 2021 to the Lightning, where he ultimately helped them win a Stanley Cup.
The better he plays, the more likely it is that he’ll fetch the Habs a modest return if the Canadiens decide to trade him, of course. He still has another year left on his contract, which means the Habs could hold off a year before entertaining trade offers for Savard. But the offers may be too enticing to turn down.
Regardless, it’s encouraging to see a veteran defenseman still playing well at 33. In today’s NHL, it’s far from a guarantee that players can still play at a high level at that age. Savard has been fantastic so far this year for the Canadiens, and if they decide to keep him, it’s encouraging for next year, too. A good veteran presence on the blueline is always welcomed.
Jayden Struble
The biggest surprise this year has easily been the play of rookie defenseman Jayden Struble. Called up because of a bunch of injuries, Struble has been fantastic on the Canadiens' third pairing. He hasn’t been asked to do too much, but he already looks to be an NHL-calibre defenseman despite having less than 50 professional games under his belt.
Struble has just four points, two goals, and two assists in 24 games this season, but he’s been very capable. Playing about 15 minutes a night, the former second-round pick looks very comfortable patrolling the blueline, making smart play after smart play.
Admittedly, his role has been pretty sheltered, rarely facing tough assignments, but he could be ready to handle a little bit more. Remember, he was only called up due to injuries, but he’s stuck around despite Arber Xhekaj and Jordan Harris both returning. He’s managed to stay in the lineup, so the Canadiens clearly like what they see out of Struble.
“I have to admit that even I’m surprised & I’ve watched Jayden play hockey since he was 10 years old, in the same minor hockey league as my son. We knew his talent but you never know how mentally prepared someone is until they make the NHL…” Kent Hughes on Jayden Struble pic.twitter.com/dR6ViRI0Kw
— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) January 9, 2024
And I do, too. I thought he had the potential to be a solid bottom-four defenseman in the NHL, but he would need time in Laval first. But he played so few games down there before he was called up that it’s hard to call his success a result of his stint in the AHL. He may have just been further along in his development than we all thought. Now, it’ll be interesting to see how much better he can be.
For a brief moment, due to injuries, Struble was needed. He made the most of that opportunity. But the Canadiens have such a surplus of left shot defensemen it’s hard to say what the future holds for Struble. I anticipate them making a trade to clear the logjam at some point, but with the way he’s played thus far, he might be someone the Habs want to hold on to.
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