Canadiens Sign Petry to 6 Yr/$33M Contract; What's Next?

After what can only be described as a stroke of genius by Montreal Canadiens' General Manager Marc Bergevin at the 2015 NHL Trade Deadline, and an above-average contribution to help bolster the Canadiens' blue line in the latter part of the season and the playoffs, it was announced today that Jeff Petry signed a six-year, $33 Million contract to remain with the Habs.

The deal includes a full no-movement, no-trade clause, which has become a standard offering by teams wishing to sign trade deadline acquisition prior to them testing the free agent market come July 1st.

Many assumed that Petry, a native of Detroit, Michigan, wanted to sign with his home town Red Wings, however this year's playoff run, and the experience of playing with the league's most storied franchise, seemed to be enough to keep the 6' 3", 196 lbs defensemen with "Les Glorieux".

The signing now solidifies the top four defensemen on the Canadiens' blue line, with Norris trophy nominee P.K. Subban, veteran Andrei Markov and up and comer Nathan Beaulieu.

The last two spots and the role of the Canadiens' 7th defenseman are now up for grabs. While Alexei Emelin is still under contract until the 2017-2018 season, many observers believe, given the chatter about the Russian blue liner being dealt during the season, that the Habs may shop him around to try and alleviate themselves of the $4.1 Million cap hit his contract represents. Emelin has not looked anywhere as good as he did prior to injuring his knee against the Bruins on April 6th, 2013.

Emelin would definitely be a player teams would be interested in. His brutal physical assaults on opponents have brought many a Canadiens fan out of their seats, and would be a welcomed addition to any blue line. One team in particular, the Edmonton Oilers, might be a good fit. With the expected selection of Erie Otters' superstar Connor McDavid in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, the Oilers will have to part ways with one of their young forwards. Jordan Eberle and Nail Yakupov have both been rumoured to be trading chips for Edmonton, but that may all change with the arrival of their new GM, Peter Chairelli.

That said, the Canadiens are in a situation that will force them to make some very difficult decisions. Jarred Tinordi, who played the majority of last season with the Habs' AHL affiliate, nursed a wrist injury for the majority of the season. His 6' 5", 218 lbs frame is a much need commodity on the Canadiens' back end, so the organization cannot afford to make the wrong decision in his case. Tinordi is a restricted free agent, and must be signed to an offer sheet prior to July 1st.

Veteran rearguard Tom Gilbert ran hot and cold all season for the Canadiens. While he showed flashes of why Marc Bergevin signed him in the off-season last year, he also made his share of defensive gaffs in his own zone. The inconsistency in his game may relegate the 32 year-old to the role of 7th defenseman, as was the case with former Hab Mike Weaver, whose game plummeted since he resigned with the club after some fantastic play in the 2013-2014 run to the Eastern Conference finals.

Then, there is Greg Pateryn. For the last two seasons, this analyst fully expected the American-born defenseman to crack the Canadiens' roster in 2012-2013, only to see get pushed back down to the AHL by the signings of Douglas Murray and the aforementioned Gilbert. In the latter part of last season, the native of Sterling Heights, MI showed he had all the necessary tools, the skills and the mindset to remain with the big club.

Now What?

With the defense accounted for, now the daunting task of adding supplemental scoring is what faces the Canadiens' brass. While GM Bergevin was unwilling to admit what needed to be done going into next season, it's all but a foregone conclusion that the Canadiens' 1st round pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, Alex Galchenyuk, will need to make the move to centre at the start of next season.

Galchenyuk has spent most of his first three NHL seasons on the left wing, bouncing from linemate to linemate, and restricted to playing up and down the half wall. Having watched quite a bit of his junior career with the Sarnia Sting, it's obvious that his biggest asset is his ability to use the entire offensive zone to create scoring opportunities. Despite Canadiens' coach Michel Therrien claiming his young forward needs to improve in his own zone, Galchenyuk finished last season with a +8 rating. He is oftentimes the first forward back in support of his defenseman, unlike some of his teammates who seem disinterested in defending their own zone.

With a move to centre, the Canadiens would now need to address the need for a scoring winger. Granted, Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau was acquired from the Colorado Avalanche last off-season in exchange for Daniel Briere to fill that need, but a string of concussion issues kept the veteran right winger from getting his game to where everyone expected it to be.

Many expect the Habs to make a move or two at the 2015 NHL draft in Sunrise, FL, and they may be right, but there is a name on the unrestricted free agent list that is definitely worth dealing a draft pick or two to get the negotiating rights for before the 2015 free agent frenzy begins.

Capitals' forward Joel Ward, who had 19 goals and 15 assists during the regular season and added another 14 points in the playoffs, can fit the bill nicely in my opinion. His size and physicality, along with his ability to finish from in tight, would be a much needed addition to the Canadiens' all but non-existent power play. His play along the boards, and ability to separate the puck from defenders would help the likes of Max Pacioretty and Galchnyuk, but allowing them to get into prime shooting areas in anticipation of Ward's puck retrieval prowess.

It's going to be a very interesting summer for Marc Bergevin and the Montreal Canadiens, and given the long term commitment given already to Jeff Petry, for once, this team will be the aggressor.

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Game 46: Canadiens vs Stars

#MTLHockey Preview

Match Up

The Canadiens (29-13-3) return to action Tuesday night after the All Star break, playing host to the Stars (21-18-7). The game is set to start at 7:30 and airs on RDS and Sportsnet East.

This is the second and final game between the Habs and Stars this season, and the only one in Montreal. The last time these teams met, Dallas skated away with an easy 4-1 victory on home ice. Tyler Seguin had a pair of goals and an assist in the win.

What to Watch

Carey Price and Jiri Sekac return from their All-Star experiences in Columbus and the rest of the Canadiens return from their extended breaks looking to pick up where they left off. The last time the Habs played, Max Pacioretty was held pointless in a 2-1 overtime victory against the Predators, ending his seven game point streak. PK Subban and Alex Galchenyuk each had a goal and an assist in the win over Nashville.

Averaging over three goals per game, the Stars have the league's fourth ranked offense, led by the NHL's top goal-scorer, Tyler Seguin. Seguin is second overall in points with 52, 12 points more than the Stars' next most productive player, Jamie Benn, who currently has 40 points, including 13 goals.

What's at Stake

While the Canadiens are third in points in the Atlantic division, they still hold a lead over the Lightning and Red Wings in terms of points percentage. The Habs are locked into a close race for top spot in the division that's likely to last the rest of the season, so every point matters.

Who's Out

A week off is usually enough to cure what ails you, but P.A. Parenteau (concussion) is still not ready to play on Tuesday. Aside from that, the Habs are healthy as their schedule is about to kick into overdrive.

The Stars will see lots of players returning to action on Tuesday, but former Hab Erik Cole (upper body) is not one of them, he's expected to miss the match. Valeri Nichushkin (hip) is also missing, his November hip surgery has kept him out of the lineup for most of the season.

What Else

For the Habs a long break translates into a cramped schedule in their next stretch of the season. With only 45 games played to this point, only the Florida Panthers and New York Rangers have played less than the Canadiens this season. To compensate, the Habs will play 28 games between January 27 and March 21, a span of 54 days.

The Question Mark

How much of the All-Star Weekend did you watch and what was your favorite moment?

Tonight's Show

Join host Steven Hindle along with Kosta Papoulias and Rob Elbaz for the Montreal Hockey Talk Pregame Show as we go live at 6:30 to preview the Canadiens and the Stars.

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Game 43: Canadiens at Senators

#MTLHockey Preview

Match Up

The Canadiens (27-12-3) are in Ottawa to face the Senators (17-17-8) Thursday night. The game starts at 7:30 and airs on RDS and Sportsnet East.

This is the second of five meetings between the Habs and Sens this season, and the first of two in Ottawa. The Canadiens won the first meeting this season 4-1. Alex Galchenyuk had a goal and an assist, and Max Pacioretty had a pair of assists in the victory.

What to Watch

The Canadiens' power play returned with a vengeance Wednesday against the Blue Jackets, converting three of their seven opportunities. Max Pacioretty scored twice and PK Subban potted his fourth power play goal of the season to help the Habs overcome a 2-0 third period deficit en route to their 3-2 victory.

Mike Hoffman has been the biggest pleasant surprise for the Senators this season, he leads the team with 15 goals and a +18 rating. Bobby Ryan leads the Sens with 30 points on the year, he'll be the team's only representative in next week's All-Star Game.

What's at Stake

The Canadiens are back within striking distance of top spot in the Eastern Conference, sitting one point back of the Lightning and Penguins, and two points back of the Islanders. While the Senators may be division rivals, their .500 record has them 15 points back of the Habs at the midway point, so it's safe to say this isn't a four-point game for the Canadiens.

Who's Out

The Canadiens are healthy again heading into Thursday's action, despite a scare to Carey Price in Wednesday's game. Blue Jackets forward Matt Calvert was sent barrelling into Price at the end of the first period, but Price stayed in net to finish the game. Still with matches on back-to-back nights, expect Dustin Tokarski to get the call in Ottawa.

The Senators are missing noted tough guy Chris Neil (knee), along with Zack Smith (wrist) and Mark Borowiecki (leg).

What Else

The Canadiens have won six straight on the road heading into Ottawa on Thursday. Their 14-7-1 record on the road is among the best in the NHL, behind only the Islanders in terms of road wins and points. In fact, with 29 points on the road, the Canadiens have earned as many points away from the Bell Centre as the Oilers have collected so far this season!

The Question Mark

What was your first impression of the Plekanec, Pacioretty, Gallagher line?

Tonight's Show

Join host Steven Hindle along with Kosta Papoulias and Corey Collard for the Montreal Hockey Talk Pregame Show as we go live at 6:00 to preview the Canadiens and the Blue Jackets.

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Does the Future Look bright for the Habs... or Not?

Trevor Timmins, what has he done for our Habs since taking over as head of scouting in 2003?

As any one who follows hockey will tell you, getting the draft selections right can make you a Stanley Cup contender.

However, if you get them wrong too many times then you will be a perennial bottom-half dweller.
So getting back to Mr. Timmins, how has he done?

His first go around was in 2003, a stacked draft year. In my opinion he real messed it up at his first draft. At the 10th pick overall, he selected Andrei Kostitsyn. At the 40th and 61st picks he selected Cory Urquhart (who you ask) and Maxim Lapierre. Andrei was okay when he played with Kovy and Pleky a few years back, but then disappeared. Lapierre was never more than a fourth liner at best and Urquhart is a no show.

Who could have Timmins selected? Well, it is an impressive list I am about to share, and it makes you cry when you think we could have had even one of these guys instead of what we did get. How about Jeff Carter, Dustin Brown, Brent Seabrook, Zach Parise, Ryan Getzlaf, Ryan Keslar, Corey Perry, Patrice Bergeron, Shea Weber, and David Backes. Anyone of those guys would be a huge help to our Habs today. How he could have missed this talent pool and picked what he did I will never understand.

However, I will give him a little bit of a break since it was his first time at the draft table. What about his second sit down at the draft table? In 2004 he selected Kyle Chipchura at the 18th selection. Who could he have selected instead and was still available instead of Chipchura? How would Travis Zajac look with the CH on his chest? What about Andrej Meszaros, Jeff Schultz, Mike Green, or David Krejci. So in my opinion year two was another big bust.

In 2005, we had the 5th pick overall and selected Carey Price. Nicely done Monsieur Timmins. Our next pick at the 45th spot was Guillaume Latendresse. Big G. never did pan out now did he? Who could be in a Habs uniform instead of Big G.? How about Kris Letang, Adam McQuaid, Keith Yandle, or Mason Raymond. Anyone of these guys could have been had instead of Latendresse.  But he did give us Carey Price, so we will forgive him for 2005 misses. Can you imagine Letang and Subban on the power play today, man that would be something special to watch. And throw in McQuaid's mean streak (which we dearly lack in our line-up today), boy would Price drool at having those two defend his crease today instead of what we currently have.

In 2006, Timmins' fourth time at the draft table. What did he do this time? So far the only good thing he has accomplished is Carey Price. Well in 2006 Mr. Timmins did not do well again. He had the 20th pick and he selected David Fischer. Another colossal failure. He followed that selection with Mathieu Carle (not Matt Carle) and Ben Maxwell. Neither of these two are doing anything significant today to warrant any excitement at their future contributions to the Habs. Now who could  have Monsieur Timmins giving us instead? How would Claude Giroux fit our needs today? Or how about Nick Foligno? And here is a real kicker; as much as I despise these two because they play for the Bruins I would have loved to have them join the NHL in a Habs uniform. Picture what a difference a Milan Lucic and a Brad Marchand could have done for us if they were selected instead of Maxwell and Carle. As much as I detest Lucic now, I would have loved him in a Habs uniform from day 1. So 2006 is another bust of a draft year for Mr. Timmins.

In 2007, his fifith draft I would say Mr. Timmins redeemed himself. He had the 12th pick and selected Ryan McDonagh. (Unfortunately Mr. Gainey in his infinite wisdom traded him away for a bag of hockey pucks (Gomez) to the Rangers.) He followed that up with Big Max Pacioretty and PK Subban. So 2007 was a win no matter how you look at it. He gave us two of our present day superstars who should be around for a long time.

For 2008, we did not have any first round picks because we traded those away. In the second round we received from Mr. Timmins, Danny Kristo and Steve Quailer. Neither of these two would make the Habs's current edition. Who could have been selected in this weak draft year? Well Zack Smith was available along with Adam Henrique and T.J. Brodie. I know, no big super stars but again much better than what we received. So 2008 we can say was a white wash since we never had a first round pick.

Mr. Timmins once again had a weak draft in 2009. We had the 18th selection and picked Louis Leblanc. Leblanc as his name may suggest was a huge blank. Never materialized into anything resembling a prospect. The very next pick was a guy named Chris Kreider. Remember him? He totally destroyed our cup dreams last year when he ran over Price and over our defense every time he entered our zone. After Leblanc we received Joonas Nattinen and Mac Bennett. Who could have been selected? How about Marcus Johansson or Ryan O'Reilly. So 2009 a lost draft year for the Habs.

In 2010, Timmins' 8th try was a good one. He gave us Gallagher and Tinordi. So it is safe to say that no matter who else was available we are definitely happy with Gallagher and the big potential of Tinordi.

As we get to the present years of 2011-2014 the jury is still out on the talent selected. Here are the highlights of those draft years. In 2011, we drafted Nathan Beaulieu in the first round and then did not have a pick until the third round. In 2012, that is when we had the third pick overall and selected our future #1 center in Alex Galchenyuk. That same draft we selected some high potential players in Tim Bozon and Charles Hudon. Both are doing very nicely in their present clubs (Kootenay and Hamiton) and should challenge for positions on the big club in the near future.

2013 saw the Habs get bigger with the 25th pick on Michael McCarron who says he wants to be compared to a Milan Lucic type of player). The next selection was Jacob De La Rose followed by Zachary Fucale and Sven Andrighetto with Martin Reway shortly after. Each one of these selections has high potential to make the big club and make an impact soon. Andrighetto already has several points in his short stint with the big club and showed he has NHL calibre speed and the hands to go with it. Reway had an excellent juniors tournament over the Christmas break as did De La Rose. The only knock I have against Reway and Andrighetto is they are both small players, neither stands over six feet. 2014 saw the addition of Nikita Scherbak, a big fast forward that the Habs need. So far he is excelling with the junior team (Everett Silvertips of the WHL) and looks to have huge potential in the next year or two, plus his 6' 2" frame will definitely be welcomed to the Habs line-up.

So the jury is still out on the last few draft years. We will wait and see how these selections mature and if they can contribute to the big club; and not as a fourth liner either. We have an abundance of fourth liners. Our best draft years were 2005 with Price; 2007 with Max Pac and Subban and 2012 with Galchenyuk. Other than that, the selections by Timmins have not really helped our club. Now I know there are some out there who say Timmins has one of the better records on his selections making the NHL. Yes but how many fourth liners does a club need. The draft is where you find your future stars. Other clubs have done a much better job at selecting players who can be a top-six forward or a top-four defenseman. Just review all the missed opportunities we have had with Timmins in charge. I say he needs to re-evaluate his scouting team because they are not up to were they need to be if the Habs are going to win another Stanley Cup.

What do you think? Are you happy as a Habs fan with what Timmins has brought to the table since 2003 or do we need to revamp the scouting department? Let me know your thoughts. Thanks.

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Game 42: Canadiens at Blue Jackets

#MTLHockey Preview

 

Match Up

The Canadiens (26-12-3) are in Columbus Wednesday night to face the Blue Jackets (18-19-3). The game is set to start at 7:00 and airs on RDS and Sportsnet.

This is the first of three meetings between the Habs and Jackets, and the first of two in Columbus. Last season the Canadiens won two of their three games against the Blue Jackets, including a 3-2 shootout victory in Columbus. The Habs erased a two-goal deficit and David Desharnais scored the only goal in the shootout to seal the victory.

What to Watch

It looks like the Canadiens will try a new look on the man advantage in Columbus, as coach Michel Therrien looks to spark the fourth worst power play in the league. In their last seven games, the Habs have scored just once in 21 opportunities.

Look for PK Subban to play the point on the first unit with Desharnais, P.A. Parenteau, Max Pacioretty and Brendan Gallagher up front, while the second unit should consist of Andrei Markov, Sergei Gonchar, Tomas Plekanec, Lars Eller and Alex Galchenyuk.

Injuries have taken their toll on the Blue Jackets this season, but Nick Foligno and Ryan Johansen have managed to stay healthy and lead the way this year. Foligno has 40 points in 39 games including ten points in his last seven. Johansen is right behind him for the team lead with 39 points on the year, he's in the midst of a ten-game point streak.

What's at Stake

Although they earned a point Saturday night against the Penguins, the Habs lost their second consecutive game for the first time since the first week of December. The losing streak hasn't hurt the Canadiens too badly yet, they're still the top team in the Atlantic in terms of point percentage, but they still trail the Lightning by three points heading into Wednesday's action.

Who's Out

With Parenteau set to return, the Habs are healthy again. The only other change to the line-up could be on defense, where Mike Weaver might play Wednesday in place of the struggling Alexei Emelin.

The Blue Jackets have been without Nathan Horton (back) all season. Ryan Murray (knee) has also missed most of the year, but he has started to practice again. Artem Anisimov (triceps), Brian Gibbons (knee), Boone Jenner (back) and Jack Skille (lower body) are also out.

What Else

In just over a week, Columbus will play host to this year's NHL All -Star Game. Only Carey Price was named to the All-Star team from the Canadiens, although Jiri Sekac was selected to take part in the rookie skills competition, filling in for an injured Tanner Pearson. Despite an impressive first half of the season, PK Subban was not named an All-Star this year, although there is a chance he'll be called to fill in for the injured Victor Hedman.

The Question Mark

We want to hear from you, express your outrage at the fact that PK wasn't selected as an All-Star this season.

Tonight's Show

Join host Steven Hindle along with Kosta Papoulias and Rob Elbaz for the Montreal Hockey Talk Pregame Show as we go live at 6:00 to preview the Canadiens and the Blue Jackets.

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Game 41: Canadiens vs Penguins

#MTLHockey Preview

Match Up

The Canadiens (26-12-2) wrap up the first half of the season Saturday night when they host the Penguins (24-10-6). The game starts at 7:00 and will be broadcast on TVA and CBC.

This is the third and final game this season between the Habs and Pens, they've played a game each in their home building already this season. After losing 4-0 in Montreal, the Habs got a measure of revenge last week when they beat the Penguins 4-1 in Pittsburgh. Max Pacioretty and Tom Gilbert each had a goal and an assist in that game.

What to Watch

Carey Price had an off night Tuesday against the Lightning, allowing four goals on 16 second period shots, but the Habs netminder is having a career year this season. With 22 wins in 33 games, a 2.20 goals against average and a .927 save percentage, Price is on pace to match or set personal records in each of those categories.

Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are always players to watch when the Penguins come to town. The duo has 88 points between them, 45 for Malkin and 43 for Crosby, that's more than the top three scorers combined for the Canadiens (Pacioretty, Alex Galchenyuk and PK Subban combine for 86 points so far).

What's at Stake

The Habs and Pens are both chasing top spot in their division after falling behind the Lightning and the Islanders respectively. The Canadiens are four points behind the Bolts with three games in hand while the Penguins trail the Isles by a single point and have played one game less.

Who's Out

P.A. Parenteau (head) is skating on his own, but doesn't appear ready to rejoin the team yet. Special mention as well to Jarred Tinordi who was injured in a fight Friday night while playing with the Hamilton Bulldogs.

The Pens are missing Patric Hornqvist (lower body), Olli Maata (upper body), Blake Comeau (wrist) and Pascal Dupuis (blood clot).

What Else

Not only did Montreal's seven game win streak come to an end Tuesday night against the Lightning, their perfect streak of wins after scoring first was broken as well. The Habs went into Tuesday's game with a perfect 16-0-0 record when scoring the first goal, but after they opened the scoring, four straight goals from the Lightning ended that streak.

The Question Mark

What are your thoughts on fighting in professional hockey and do the Habs need more muscle in their lineup?

Tonight's Show

Join host Steven Hindle along with Kosta Papoulias and Rob Elbaz for the Montreal Hockey Talk Pregame Show as we go live at 6:00 to preview the Canadiens and the Penguins.

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Game 36: Canadiens at Hurricanes

#MTLHockey Preview

 

Match Up

After an extended Christmas break, the Canadiens (22-11-2) look to pick up where they left off when they face the Hurricanes (10-21-4) in Carolina on Monday. The game is set to start at 7:00 and can be seen on RDS and Sportsnet East.

This is the second of three meetings between the Habs and Canes this season, and the only one in Carolina. Alex Galchenyuk scored his first career hat trick the last time these teams met and Max Pacioretty picked up three assists to lead the Habs to a 4-1 victory.

What to Watch

As good as Galchenyuk and Pacioretty have looked together, David Desharnais has looked alright as well on a line with P.A. Parenteau and now Lars Eller. Desharnais has three goals and two assists in his past five games, a quarter of the 20 points he has in 35 games this season.

There haven't been many bright spots in the Canes season so far this year, except the possible high draft pick at the end of the tunnel. The Hurricanes are the second worst team in the NHL, three points ahead of the league-worst Oilers. Defenseman Justin Faulk has emerged as one of the team's best players, leading the Canes in scoring with 20 points.

What's at Stake

The Canadiens may have had an extra couple of days off but their competition hasn't. Both the Red Wings and the Lightning picked up wins on Saturday leaving the Habs in third place in the Atlantic division, but with games in hand.

Who's Out

The Canadiens are rested and healthy headed in to Monday's action.

Jordan Staal is set to make his season debut on Monday and Jiri Tlusty is expected to return to the lineup as well for Carolina. Alex Semin (upper body) is day-to-day.

What Else

The IIHF World Junior Championship is underway taking place in Toronto and Montreal this year, and the Canadiens have four prospects taking part. Goaltending prospect Zach Fucale is the starting netminder for Canada, Artturi Lehkonen is captain of the Finnish team, Jacob De La Rose is wearing the "C" for team Sweden, and Martin Reway is captaining the Slovaks. As impressive as it is to have three prospects captaining their respective teams, the Canadiens top draft picks from the past two seasons, Michael McCarron and Nikita Scherbak, were left off their countries' roster.

The Question Mark

What have been the Habs greatest strengths and weaknesses so far this season?

Tonight's Show

Join host Steven Hindle along with Kosta Papoulias and Rob Elbaz for the Montreal Hockey Talk Pregame Show as we go live at 6:00 to preview the Canadiens and the Hurricanes.

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Game 35 - Canadiens at Islanders

#MTLHockey Preview

 

Match Up

The Canadiens (21-11-2) are in New York to take on the surprising Islanders (23-10-0) Tuesday night at the Nassau Coliseum. The game is set to start at 7:00 and airs on RDS and Sportsnet East.

This is the first of three meetings between the Habs and Isles this year, and the first of two in Long Island. Last season the Canadiens took two of three from the Islanders including a 21-save shutout performance by Carey Price to help the Habs to a 1-0 overtime victory last December.

What to Watch

The new top line of Alex Galchenyuk, Brendan Gallagher and Max Pacioretty have combined for seven goals in the last five games and look like they're here to stay, at least for the foreseeable future. With six points in his last three games and 24 points on the season, Galchenyuk has moved into second on the team in scoring.

The salary cap losses of others has been the Islanders' gain this season, the team was able to bolster their defense by adding Nick Leddy and Johnny Boychuk to the roster without giving up much in return. Boychuk leads the Isles in ice time per game, making him an integral part of the team's success so far this season.

What's at Stake

The Canadiens have a chance to catch the Islanders in the Eastern Conference standings with a regulation win on Tuesday, but more importantly, they can help solidify their spot at the top of the Atlantic Division.

Who's Out

The Canadiens are healthy again heading in to Tuesday's action, so it will be interesting to see who Michel Therrien dresses. Sven Andrighetto and Nathan Beaulieu both held down starting positions on Saturday and could dress again on Tuesday.

The Islanders are missing Michael Grabner (lower body) and Matt Carkner (back).

What Else

Last season the Habs finished the year 17th in face-off percentage, with a 49.6% success rate. The Predators led the league with a 53.1% efficiency. With the addition of Manny Malhotra this season, the Habs have jumped all the way to first winning 55.4% of their face-offs so far. At 62.4%, Malhotra leads the league in face-offs, winning over four percent more of his draws than Martin Hanzal or Patrice Bergeron in second and third place.

The Question Mark

It's almost Christmas and the Canadiens have a share of the division lead; say something nice about Michel Therrien.

Tonight's Show

Join host Steven Hindle along with Kosta Papoulias and Rob Elbaz for the Montreal Hockey Talk Pregame Show as we go live at 6:00 to preview the Canadiens and the Islanders.

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Game 34: Canadiens vs Senators

#MTLHockey Preview

Match Up

The Canadiens (20-11-2) end their homestand Saturday when they host the Senators (14-12-6). The game is set to start at 7:00 and airs on TVA and City.

This is the first of four meetings between the Habs and Sens this season, and the first of two in Montreal. Last season the Habs went 3-1-1 against the Sens, winning the last three meetings. The last two times the Canadiens and Senators met, the Habs overcame three goal deficits to win.

David Desharnais scored in the final second of a 5-4 OT win to draw the Canadiens even in their March 15 win over the Sens, a game that the Habs trailed by three in with less than three and a half minutes remaining.

What to Watch

Desharnais has looked pretty good on a line with P.A. Parenteau since Lars Eller's injury. In the past three games Desharnais has two goals and two assist, while Parenteau has had a pair of assists of his own. The duo practiced on Eller's wings on Friday, which could mean that Alex Galchenyuk will get the opportunity to stay at center as Desharnais shifts to wing.

Kyle Turris is coming off consecutive two point nights, he has three goals and seven points in his last five games. With 23 points, Turris is tied with Erik Karlsson for the team lead, although at minus 12, Karlsson has the team's worst plus/minus rating.

What's at Stake

The Canadiens have taken six of eight possible points since their homestand began, they'll be looking to end on a high before hitting the road until after the New Year. The Senators are seventh of eight in the Atlantic division, but with 34 points in 32 games, it's still too early to count them out of the playoff race.

Who's Out

Max Pacioretty was forced to leave Thursday's game against the Ducks early when he was shoved into the boards by Clayton Stoner. Pacioretty was taken to hospital as a precaution, but the injury doesn't appear serious and he is listed as day-to-day. Defensemen Mike Weaver (concussion) and Bryan Allen (illness) could be healthy enough to dress Saturday, which would mean Michel Therrien will have a decision on who to sit.

The Senators are missing defensemen Patrick Wiercioch (undisclosed) and Marc Methot (back). Zack Smith (wrist) and Chris Neil (knee) are also out.

What Else

Paul MacLean was the first coach to lose his job this season when he was fired by the Senators earlier in the month. MacLean was replaced by David Cameron, MacLean's assistant since 2011. Despite a long coaching career in the AHL and OHL, this is Cameron's first head coaching job in the NHL. He brings a 3-1-1 record into Saturday's game.

The Question Mark

With the holidays around the corner, what would you get Marc Bergevin, Michel Therrien or your favorite Habs player for Christmas?

Tonight's Show

Join host Steven Hindle along with Kosta Papoulias and Rob Elbaz for the Montreal Hockey Talk Pregame Show as we go live at 6:00 to preview the Canadiens and the Senators.

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Game 33: Canadiens vs Ducks

#MTLHockey Preview

Match Up

The Canadiens (20-10-2) are home to host the Ducks (21-7-5) and pay tribute to former captain Saku Koivu on Thursday. The game is set to start at 7:30 and airs on RDS and City Montreal.
This is the first of two meetings between the Habs and Ducks this season, and the only one in Montreal. The Canadiens actually managed to beat the top seed of the Western conference in both of their matches last season. Dustin Tokarski backstopped the Canadiens to a 4-3 shootout win in Anaheim with a little help from both posts when he faced Kyle Palmieri in the shootout.

Kyle Palmieri's penalty shot walks the goal line tightrope. Originally posted by @GregBallochST.

What to Watch

Alex Galchenyuk notched his first career hat trick Tuesday night against the Canes, lifting him up to 9 goals and 21 points on the season. Max Pacioretty picked up three primary assists, setting up each of Galchenyuk's goals on Tuesday. Pacioretty now leads the team with 25 points on the year.
Ryan Kesler is having a strong year with his new team, the former Canuck has 11 goals and 26 points in 33 games this season. Ryan Getzlaf leads the way for Anaheim, he has 34 points already this season, eighth overall in the NHL.

What's at Stake

The top of the Atlantic division is getting pretty crowded, with four teams separated by just two points for the division lead. With 42 points apiece, the Canadiens and Red Wings are sandwiched in between the Lightning at 43 and the Maple Leafs at 41.

Who's Out

Sven Andrighetto has been sent back to Hamilton after a fairly successful four-game stint with the Habs. Lars Eller (upper body), Mike Weaver (concussion) and Bryan Allen (illness) have all returned to practice and are cleared for contact, the trio should be available to play Thursday if needed.
Kyle Palmieri (shoulder) is the latest Duck to go down with injury, leaving Tuesday's game against the Leafs. He joins Corey Perry (knee), Francois Beauchemin (finger) and Eric Brewer (foot) on the sidelines.

What Else

Saku Koivu played with the Canadiens from 1995 to 2009, he wore the "C" for ten seasons starting in 1999. Koivu played 792 games in bleu blanc et rouge, scoring 641 points, tenth most in team history, and 450 assists, ranking him sixth all-time amongst Canadiens.
Of course, Koivu's most memorable moment in a Canadiens uniform came on April 9, 2002. He was diagnosed with cancer in September of 2001 and spent almost the entire season receiving treatment before returning on the third to last game of the season, receiving one of the largest ovations in team history. Koivu then led the team to an improbable playoff series win against the top-seeded Boston Bruins.

The Question Mark

Apart from Koivu's return after beating cancer, what other moment in his career stands out for you?

Tonight's Show

Join host Steven Hindle along with Kosta Papoulias and Rob Elbaz for the Montreal Hockey Talk Pregame Show as we go live at 6:30 Thursday to preview the Canadiens and the Ducks.

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Game 32: Canadiens vs Hurricanes

#MTLHockey Preview

Match Up

The Canadiens (19-10-2) are home to host the Hurricanes (8-18-3) Tuesday night at the Bell Centre, for the third match in their five-game homestand. The game is set to start at 7:30 and airs on RDS and Sportsnet East.

This is the first of three meetings between the Habs and Canes, and the first of two in Montreal. Last season, the Habs went 2-0-1 against the Hurricanes. The team lost 5-4 in overtime after blowing a 3-0 third period lead. Jeff Skinner had two goals and an assist to spark the Canes' comeback.

What to Watch

Jiri Sekac scored a pair of goals in Montreal's 6-2 win over the Kings, giving him four points in the last three games and his first multi-goal game in the NHL. PK Subban scored a goal and added a pair of assists Friday as well, bringing him up to 22 on the season. Sven Andrighetto still has a point in every NHL game he's played after scoring his second career goal and third point.

The Hurricanes have lost five in a row, sending the team crashing to the bottom of the league standings tied with the Edmonton Oilers. The Hurricanes don't have a single player with a positive plus/minus rating who's played over 15 games this season. Justin Faulk the team's leading scorer with 17 points is also a team worst -15.

What's at Stake

Depending on how their division rivals do on Tuesday, the Canadiens have a chance to end up anywhere from first in the division, if they earn a win and Detroit and Tampa don't, to fourth, if the Leafs win their game and the Habs lose to the Canes.

Who's Out

Lars Eller (upper body) is nearing a return but won't be back in time for Tuesday. Mike Weaver (concussion) is also working toward a return, as is Bryan Allen (flu).

The Hurricanes are missing Jordan Staal (leg), Andrej Nestrasil (upper body) and Alexander Semin (lower body). Jiri Tlusty (undisclosed) missed Saturday's game against the Flyers but could be ready to return on Tuesday.

What Else

Montreal's new look line-up is expected to stay intact for at least one more game, giving Alex Galchenyuk another opportunity to show what he can do at center on the team's top line. Despite not picking up a point in the two games he's played in the role so far, Galchenyuk has not looked out of place in the role. David Desharnais meanwhile, looked pretty good between new linemates P.A. Parenteau and Michael Bournival, picking up a goal against the Kings.

The Question Mark

What for you has been the Habs highlight of the season so far and which player are you most excited to watch each game?

Tonight's Show

Join host Steven Hindle along with Kosta Papoulias and Rob Elbaz for the Montreal Hockey Talk Pregame Show as we go live at 6:30 to preview the Canadiens and Hurricanes.

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Game 31 - Canadiens vs Kings

#MTLHockey Preview

Match Up

The Canadiens (18-10-2) are home host to the defending Stanley Cup champion Kings (15-9-5) Friday night at the Bell Centre. The match is set to start at 7:30 and airs on RDS and Sportsnet East.

This is the first of two games between the Habs and Kings this year, and the only one in Montreal. The Kings took both games last season, a 2-1 win in L.A. and a 6-0 victory in Montreal. PK Subban scored the only Canadiens goal against the Kings last year, while L.A. defenseman Jake Muzzin had goals in both games.

What to Watch

Alex Galchenyuk played his first full game of the year at center on Tuesday, and while he didn't record any points, his line opened the scoring when Brendan Gallagher beat Ryan Miller with a hard wrist shot. Sven Andrighetto picked up his second NHL point in his second NHL game, an assist on Tomas Plekanec's ninth goal of the year.

That 70's Line is the trio to watch for the Kings. The line of Jeff Carter, Tyler Toffoli, and Tanner Pearson has combined for 28 goals in 29 games this season, making them one of the most productive in the league. Jonathan Quick started for the Kings in Ottawa on Thursday, so look for Martin Jones to get the call on Friday.

What's at Stake

After a tough stretch the Canadiens are down to third in the Atlantic Division behind the Lightning and Red Wings. A win on Friday would help the Canadiens turn a much needed corner and put them back on track in the race for the division title.

Who's Out

Lars Eller (upper body) could miss much of this Canadiens homestand, but should be ready to return around the time it is wrapping up. Mike Weaver (concussion) is out indefinitely, while Bryan Allen (mumps) and PK Subban are battling an illness and may be forced to miss Friday's game.

The Kings are only missing Slava Voynov, who has been suspended indefinitely as a result of his arrest related to domestic abuse. 

What Else

Home ice has been good to the Canadiens so far this season. In 14 games the team boasts a 10-3-1 record at Bell Centre, taking 21 of a possible 28 points. The team has scored 44 goals on home ice this year, an average of 3.14 goals per game. That's a big difference from the 1.81 goals a game they are averaging on the road.

The Question Mark

Is Alex Galchenyuk ready for the pressure of playing top-line minutes?

Tonight's Show

Join Steve Hindle along with Corey Collard and Kosta Papoulias as they bring you the Montreal Hockey Talk Pregame Show live at 6:30 on Friday to preview the Canadiens and the Kings.

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Therrien Changes The Lines But For How Long?

Greetings Habs Addicts!

Well, it took another lacklustre effort, this time against the Dallas Stars on Saturday before Michel Therrien finally did the unthinkable: He surgically removed David Desharnais from Max Pacioretty's hip and replaced him with Alex Galchenyuk.

Now Habs fans have been clamouring for a Pacioretty-Galchenyuk-Brendan Gallagher combination for a while now and they finally had a chance to see it in action - albeit briefly - in the third period of what had been a non-competitive game up until that point. The Stars went on to win the game 4-1, but the Canadiens showed signs of life in the period. The second change Therrien made was moving Tomas Plekanec onto a line with  Jiri Sekac and Sven Andrighetto, who scored his first NHL goal in his first NHL game.

Photo Credit: allhabs.net

The big question going into Tuesday's home game against the Vancouver Canucks is whether or not we will see a full game of these line combinations or if Therrien the juggler will switch things up again. Building chemistry takes some time and Therrien never likes to take time and see how things develop. Instant results or see you later seems to be his mantra. Unless you're Desharnais, in which case you remain with Pacioretty regardless of the circumstances.

Until Saturday night.

Alex Galchenyuk is a natural centerman who has not had the opportunity to play the position on a consistent basis. Arguably, if Lars Eller had not gotten injured, he would probably still be toiling on the wing. Galchenyuk has the best stick skills on the team. Pacioretty may be a natural goal scorer, but Galchenyuk has the skills and vision to create scoring chances and put the puck in the net. With space in the middle and an opportunity to produce, he should be able to feed the sniper with some creative passes and give the diminutive Brendan Gallagher a chance to clean up the rebounds in front of the net. There is no reason why this trio cannot all score 20+ goals before the season is over. Provided they stay together. And how long they stay together is the million dollar question.

Michel Therrien's coaching decisions have been less than stellar this season. He has been a far cry from the coach who came in during the lockout and changed the losing culture in Montreal. Last year showed some regression across the board in many categories aside from their overall record, at least until the playoffs came along. He abandoned the puck possession approach that worked during the lockout-shortened season in favor for a dump-and-chase approach and it did not work. Then he went back to puck possession during the playoffs and they had the magical run to the Eastern Conference Finals. This year he reverted back to his favored dump-and-chase approach and the team is floundering from a lack of scoring, a lack of discipline and this time there is no Thomas Vanek lingering on the trading block to come in and save the season again. Off-season acquisition P.A. Parenteau has been disappointing so far, with only 6 goals and 11 points in 29 games and David Desharnais needs to have his play called out by mayor Denis Coderre again as his two goals and 15 points in 29 games is terrible for a player who averages over 17 minutes per game on the top line and top power-play unit. Therrien finally separated him from Pacioretty on Saturday, which may be a blessing in disguise for the Habs offense.

Jiri Sekac spent a chunk of time in the press-box until Marc Bergevin dealt away Travis Moen and Rene Bourque to essentially force Therrien's hand to play the touted rookie. Aligned with Lars Eller and Brandon Prust, Sekac responded by putting up 8 points in 16 games of third line minutes after his press box vacation. With Eller going down with an injury, Sekac finished the game with fellow countryman Plekanec and Hamilton Bulldogs prospect Sven Andrighetto. There is a lot of talent and speed on this line. Plekanec is also defensively responsible, which should recover some of the rookie mistakes his line-mates may make as the season progresses. A smart Therrien should allow this line an opportunity to be creative with the puck. All three have tremendous stick skills and following a dump-and-chase mantra would be a waste of their skills and play away from their strengths. But alas, it is Therrien logic that ultimately decides how things play out.

Therrien appeared to see the light in Dallas. He saw the need to take some chances and make the changes that he was unwilling to make to this point. He created two line combinations that have the talent and ability to dominate a puck-possession game and put the puck in the net. If he can find a way to adapt his strategies to exploit the strengths of these two line combinations and give them the patience and time to develop some chemistry, he may have solved the scoring woes and save the season. The 17-10-2 record is misleading, as the Habs have failed to generate any offense in the first period of games and often have to rally late to win the games. This resilience is a testament to a never-quit attitude but not the recipe for success at the NHL level. If he decides to revert back to his previous ideas and force these talent trios to dump the puck and chase after it, we can expect to go 3-6-1 in the next ten games too.

The choice on how your season plays out is all yours, Michel. Choose wisely.

---

Nick Malofy is a transplanted Montrealer, currently living in evil LeafLand. He is a contributor here at HabsAddict.com and give him a follow, as he can often be found rambling on Twitter.

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Game 30 - Canadiens vs Canucks

#MTLHockey Preview

Match Up

The Canadiens (17-10-2) return home for the first time this month to host the Canucks (18-8-2) Tuesday night. The game is set to start at 7:30 and can be seen on RDS, Sportsnet East and Sportsnet Pacific.
This is the second and final meeting between the Habs and Canucks this season, the Canadiens took advantage of two late goals the first time these teams met to salvage a point in a 3-2 overtime loss. Henrik and Daniel Sedin combined in OT for the game winning goal.

What to Watch

For the first time this season Max Pacioretty won't line up next to David Desharnais at the start of the this game. Instead, Alex Galchenyuk will center the top line, a position many Habs fans expect the 20 year old to fill for many seasons to come. Galchenyuk has six goals and 18 points on the season, putting him behind just Pacioretty and Tomas Plekanec for the team lead at 20.
The twins are once against leading the Canucks in scoring, but newcomers Radim Vrbata and Nick Bonino have been pitching in regularly as well. Vrbata with 12 goals and 23 points in 26 games is on pace for a career year, his previous best is 62 points with the Coyotes.

What's at Stake

The Canadiens have gone 1-5-1 in their last seven, crashing down the standings the Eastern conference along the way. The Habs are at the start of a five game homestand that will take them close to Christmas. They can recover some ground over the next two weeks and starting the stay off with a win will help their cause.

Who's Out

Lars Eller (shoulder) is out indefinitely for the Habs. Mike Weaver suffered a concussion Saturday night in Dallas and could miss significant time as well. The good news for Montreal is that Michael Bournival is healthy and expected to make his return to the line-up on Tuesday.
The Canucks are without Dan Hamhuis (lower body) and Zach Kassian (finger). Shawn Matthias (head) missed the last Canukcs last game against the Senators Sunday and may not be ready to play Tuesday either.

What Else

Jean Beliveau has been lying in state at the Bell Centre Sunday and Monday prior to his state funeral on Wednesday, and the Canadiens organization will have their chance to say goodbye before Tuesday's game. Member's of the Canadiens from throughout the years have paid their respects to the legend.

The Question Mark

With five home games to play including matches against the Kings and Ducks, how many points would you be satisfied with in this homestand?

Tonight's Show

Join myself Rob Elbaz along with Corey Collard and Kosta Papoulias for the Montreal Hockey Talk Pregame Show as we go live at 6:30 to preview the Canadiens and the Canucks.

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Top 10 Reasons Michel Therrien Is Failing The Grade... Again

Similar to last season, but after 29 games and a 17-10-2 this time, the Montreal Canadiens have seen their first place overall in the NHL evaporate due to poor play in recent weeks, going 3-6-1 in their last ten games and failing to win consistently, especially on the road.

First in the NHL not a long time ago, the Canadiens are now ranked 11th in the league with only a seven-point lead of the ninth place Florida Panthers who have four games in hand on the Habs...

Let’s see 10 reasons why Michel Therrien needs to change his way of coaching or to be fired if GM Marc Bergevin and owner Geoff Molson have any hopes to see their team make the playoffs this season.

1. The slow starts almost every game: the Canadiens have scored only NINE GOALS in the first period, good for last place in the NHL. At the same time, the team is 6th in the league with 26 goals allowed in the first frame for a goal differential of -18 in the first period. -18! You cannot give up the lead every game and expect to win every time. Therrien just can't seem to prepare his team correctly. The Canadiens are the only playoff team with a negative goal differential this season (-2).

2. His ingrained man-crush on David Desharnais. While I like David as a person, Therrien needs to stop giving him every chance to succeed and remove him from Max Pacioretty's line. The diminutive pivot has only one even-strength goal this season and two in 29 games. He only has 15 points overall and is currently on pace for a mere 42 points over a full season. Despite his lack of offensive production, the head coach keeps giving him first power play duties as well as plenty of ice time. In Dallas, Desharnais played a season-low 14:43 minutes... that's not what I call "benching".

3. His consistent use of veterans such as Bryan Allen, Mike Weaver or Tom Gilbert over youngsters Nathan Beaulieu and Jarred Tinordi. The two young defensemen are currently playing in the AHL while the above veterans keep making mistake after mistake. The same happened up front with Rene Bourque and Travis Moen who had to be traded by Marc Bergevin so that rookie Jiri Sekac could draw into the line-up every night. 

4. His constant line juggling and questionable decisions regarding his offensive lines and defensive duos. For example, Therrien keeps pairing two righties together in Gilbert and Weaver, while he sticks two lefties together in Gonchar and Emelin. His constant use of grinder Dale Weise on a line with David Desharnais and Max Pacioretty is comical at best. 

5. His affinity for a dump-and-chase style of play with a passive forecheck is not working. Because of the small size of the club’s forwards, the Habs would be better suited to adopt a west-east approach instead of a north-south strategy that is simply not working. The team needs to penetrate the offensive zone with the puck instead of dumping it and failing to retrieve it. The Habs need to forecheck with two forwards and use their speed to create turnovers in the offensive zone instead of letting the opposing teams come out of their zone too easily and enter the neutral zone without any pressure.

6. The utilization of natural center Alex Galchenyuk on the wing, even though players like Lars Eller and David Desharnais have struggled mightily at times. We finally saw Chucky at center last game due to the injury to Eller, but we can bet he will be back on the left wing for the contest against the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday.

7. Poor defensive positioning had led to numerous scoring chances from the opposing teams and if it were not for Carey Price’s and Dustin Tokarski's stellar play, the Canadiens would have a far worse record. The defensemen have a hard time making a good first pass, often icing the puck because of an inaccurate pass or clearing the puck by the boards with the wingers having no real opportunity to catch the pass and make a clear exit of the defensive zone. The team is so discombobulated in the defensive zone that the opponents have been able to take advantage of this flaw.

8. The indiscipline of the team: while the Canadiens are 28th in the league with only 76 power play opportunities, and converting them at a dismal 14.5% rate, the team is 29th in the NHL with 105 penalty kill situations so far. Luckily for Therrien, his PK unit is doing the job, killing 83.8% of the penalties good for 11th overall. The team's penalty ratio is a pedestrian -31 differential on the season, a big reason why the club is in a downward spiral at the moment.

Therrien is clueless most of the time.

9. The inability to adjust the power play units after the early season failure. The solution is quite simple as the team needs to use movement and quick passes to free up Subban and his lethal one-timer to have any kind of success. I analysed the situation a few weeks ago here.

10. His inability to adapt during games and to match up his lines, especially at home where he is supposed to have the advantage with the last change. We have often seen the Canadiens get caught with their fourth line on the ice while the opponent’s first line jumps on the ice; situations that often led to a goal.

Below you will find the Habs’ expected lines for Tuesday’s match-up against the Canucks:
Max Pacioretty – Alex Galchenyuk – Brendan Gallagher
Sven Andrighetto – Tomas Plekanec – Jiri Sekac
Michael Bournival – Deavid Desharnais – P-A Parenteau
Brandon Prust – Manny Malhotra – Dale Weise
Extra: Eric Tangradi

Once again I am puzzled at the hockey decisions made by Michel Therrien and his coaching staff.

As for the defensive pairings, nobody has a clue what the duos will be and who is going to play or be scratched since both Bryan Allen and Mike Weaver seem to be injured and the team has yet to call up another defenseman from Hamilton…

It sounds like Therrien is quickly losing his dressing room as a result of poor decisions this season… 
Is it time to panic in Montreal, or it's simply a bump in the road?

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Game 28 - Canadiens at Blackhawks

#MTLHockey Preview

Match Up

The Canadiens (17-8-2) continue their road trip Friday night as they are in Chicago to face the Blackhawks (16-8-1). The game starts at 8:30 and airs on RDS and Sportsnet East.

This is the second and final meeting between the Habs and the Hawks this season. The Canadiens dropped the first game on home ice 5-0. Despite out-shooting the Blackhawks 11-5 in the first period, the Canadiens went into the first intermission trailing 1-0 on a goal by Jonathon Toews. Corey Crawford made 28 saves in the game to earn the shutout.

What to Watch

Alex Galchenyuk scored his sixth goal of the season against the Wild on Wednesday, it was his third straight game with a point, bringing him up to 17 on the season. Like Galchenyuk, PK Subban also extended his point streak to three games and reached 17 points on the season with an assist on Wednesday.

The Blackhawks have won four straight led by the trio of Patrick Kane, Kris Verteeg and Brad Richards. Kane has 25 points on the season including seven in his last games. Versteeg has a goal and six assists in his last three games and Richards has five points in his last three.

What's at Stake

The Canadiens have slipped to three points back of the Lightning for top spot in the East, and are two points back on the
PenguinsIslanders (the Islanders, really? are you sure?) as well. Moreover, the Canadiens have a chance to avenge the 5-0 loss they suffered to the Blackhawks on home ice earlier in the year.

Who's Out

Michael Bournival has been sent the the Bulldogs for reconditioning as he nears his return to the Habs lineup.

Corey Crawford injured his foot at a concert earlier in the week and will be out for two to three weeks. Patrick Sharp (leg) and Trevor Van Riemsdyk (knee) are also out for the Hawks.

What Else

The Canadiens are coming off a 2-1 loss to the Wild on Wednesday, it was the 11th time in 27 games that the team was held to one goal or fewer in regulation. It's a trend the team will need to reverse if they expect to have continued success as the season progresses.

The Question Mark

While Carey Price has probably been the team's MVP to this point in the season, who has been the team's best skater?

Tonight's Show

Join myself Rob Elbaz along with Steve Farnham and Jesse Dorais for the Montreal Hockey Talk Pregame Show as we go live at 7:30 on Friday to preview the Habs and Blackhawks.

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Eller Needs To Go So Galchenyuk Can…

By Eitan Calmy (@habsaddict)

Source: Elsa/Getty Images North America

ELLER NEEDS TO GO SO “GALCHENYUK CAN PLAY CENTRE”

Lars Eller is a third line centre. He will never be anything more than that. If the organization and Lars himself don’t make that clear to each other, Eller will be another one of those players that everyone will always wonder about. What if this? What if that?

Some will say that I’m being hard, but I’m not. He has had his chances. He’s going to be a very good shut down guy with some offensive upside. As long as Eller does not accept that role he will always be playing musical chairs, on the wrong line and with the wrong teammates. He has consistency issues. When expected to produce, it's as if he cracks under pressure. He fits the third-line centre role perfectly. When on his game, extremely reliable defensively and can surprise you with speed and strength which will create some offense. 

David Desharnais and Tomas Plekanec aren’t going anywhere as long as they have contracts. Desharnais has no trade value due in part to what I write below. Plekanec is one of the best two-way players in the game. He is a good second-line centre and in a perfect world probably the best third-line centre in the game. I would hesitate to move him.

Desharnais is untouchable. For some strange reason Montreal Canadiens management and coaching refuse to entertain the possibility of playing Max Pacioretty with anybody else. It is undeniable that they have chemistry. Desharnais is a very good playmaker. But if he’s that good, then why not try different line combinations? Why not test Plekanec with Pacioretty or Galchenyuk with Pacioretty?

To be very clear, if I thought that there was any chance the organization would even consider trading Desharnais, the title of this article would be: “Desharnais needs to go so... “

Why fix or toy with something that’s not broken? Because your number one centre is undersized, because your number one centre can’t play shorthanded. Because your number one centre can’t play in crucial defensive missions; whether it’s to preserve a lead or play against other teams top

lines. David Desharnais is and always will be a one-dimensional player. In my opinion, and please know that as a fan that bleeds Blue/White/Red, it hurts to say this, but “the Montreal Canadiens will not win a Stanley Cup as long as David Desharnais is the number one centre.”

It’s becoming more and more evident that Alex Galchenyuk is a special player. He has more natural skills than anybody on the current line-up. His passes are divine and his puck control is comparable to the elite players in the league. Michel Therrien has to let him express himself. The coach needs to, has to free Galchenyuk from Plekanec. He needs to let him spread his wings and fly. Galchenyuk is ready. Game after game he shows his creativity, his passion and skill. Other than Max Pacioretty’s scoring ability, Alex Galchenyuk is the next best thing, maybe better. With all due respect to Plekanec and Gallagher, they are simply not skilled enough to play with the future star. I’d even say that there’s probably no forward on this team that’s talented enough to play at Galchenyuk’s level or simply follow his lead. One of the only players that has been able to finish what he has started was PK Subban.  

If the Montreal Canadiens won’t move Desharnais from that top line, then they have to find a way to make a trade and add a "Power Forward" to the team that can play at the level that Galchenyuk is capable of. That being said I am not saying it’s easy because every single team in the league wants those big forwards that can’t score.

Montreal will have to make the right offer, they will probably have to overpay. I am not a GM but it’s obvious that it will at the very least cost one or two established guys from your line-up + either Jarred Tinordi or Nathan Beaulieu and probably a first-round draft pick. In order to get you have to give. Those of you that think it’s too much, well it’s never going to happen.  

I have complete confidence in Marc Bergevin and I strongly believe that we are in good hands for many years to come. The Montreal Canadiens have a 14-5-1 record. The team has had a great stretch as of late; however, just as Bergevin has done so far, you can always improve and I strongly believe that the big step forward will occur when Galchenyuk becomes that #1 centre.

1.       Who do you think should be moved in order for Galchenyuk to play centre?

2.       Does Michel Therrien have what it takes to bring Subban, Galchenyuk and others to the next level or just like in Pittsburgh, the Canadiens will have to bring somebody else to finish the job?

3.        Do you think Bergevin will pull the trigger on a blockbuster trade?

4.       Will the #Habs maintain their position for the rest of the season or is this just an illusion?

Eitan Calmy ( @habsaddict  )

I’m a fan just like all you other wackos out there. These are my opinions and if you do or don’t like them tweet me or comment on the post. I often comment on referees as I was an official for over 15 years. Hockey is more than just a sport, it’s a way of life!

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