Has the Habs’ rebuild met expectations — has it been a success or a setback? When can we expect to reach another final and ultimately capture the Stanley Cup?
pdd on X — @revord78
Heading into this season the goal from Canadiens management was to be “in the mix” for a playoff spot and that’s exactly where they are with 17 games left. Through Thursday’s games the Canadiens were only one point out of a wild-card playoff spot after going 6-1-2 in their last nine games. So they have definitely met expectations during Year 3 of the rebuild — and the Laval Rocket also had the best record in the AHL (37-16-3) heading into Friday night’s road game against the Utica Comets. The future is looking bright.
Last December I wrote a column under the headline “When will the Canadiens win the Stanley Cup?” In that column I predicted 2030 and I will stick with that.
Given the Habs seem to be a culture and build-from-within style organization, would you be OK with a small step back next season to give young players a chance?
Habs Jabs on X — @oley4424
Next season will be Year 4 of the rebuild and a step back — even a small one — would be a big disappointment.
Having said that, I’d be very surprised if the Canadiens were to take a step back next season. The arrival of Ivan Demidov — the No. 5 overall pick at last year’s NHL Draft who has 19-30-49 totals in 62 games this season with SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL — should provide an offensive boost. A healthy Patrik Laine to start next season would also help. The expected departures of veterans Joel Armia, Christian Dvorak and David Savard as free agents will free up more than $US11 million in salary-cap space that will allow GM Kent Hughes to look for a second-line centre either on the free-agent market or through a trade.
The experience gained this season with young players being in the mix for a playoff spot and playing meaningful games down the stretch will also help greatly next season. If they sneak into the playoffs, even better.
Do you think Nick Suzuki is a point-per-game player and Cole Caufield is a 40-goal scorer after Game 82 this season?
Drew Mersereau
I do.
Suzuki has 69 points in 65 games (20 goals, 49 assists) and has been on fire since the 4 Nations Face-Off break in the schedule with 5-12-17 totals in the last nine games. As captain he seems determined to carry the Canadiens into the playoffs — especially since Hughes rewarded the team by keeping Armia, Dvorak and Savard at the trade deadline after Suzuki asked the GM not to break up the team.
Caufield has also been on fire since the 4 Nations Face-Off break with six goals in the last nine games. With 32 goals in 65 games Caufield is on pace to finish with exactly 40 goals.
The Canadiens haven’t had a point-per-game player since Alex Kovalev had 35-49-84 totals in 2007-08. They haven’t had a 40-goal scorer since Vincent Damphousse scored 40 in 1993-94. It’s about time to change that.
Do you think Patrik Laine will be let go after the season? What would it cost to release him?
Sheldon Stein
The only way I could see Laine leaving Montreal after the season would be in a trade — and I don’t see that happening.
The Canadiens knew what they were getting when they acquired Laine from the Columbus Blue Jackets last summer. While his defensive play will always be a concern, Laine does have 15 goals in 35 games this season — including 12 on the power play — after missing the first 24 games with a knee injury. Caufield ranks second on the team with 10 power-play goals, followed by Brendan Gallagher with five and the Canadiens rank 17th in the NHL on the power play with a 21.7 per cent success rate. The Canadiens need Laine on the power play.
The 26-year-old winger has one more season remaining on his contract with an US$8.7 million salary-cap hit. The Canadiens can decide at next season’s trade deadline whether they want to keep Laine or move him.
Who has been the Canadiens’ best player since Guy Lafleur in your opinion?
Brian Livingstone
That’s a great question.
If we’re including goalies I’d have to say Patrick Roy, but we’ll stick to skaters here and my pick would be Mats Naslund.
In the future maybe we’ll be able to say it’s Suzuki, Caufield or Lane Hutson.
Naslund remains the last Canadien to finish a season in the top 10 in NHL scoring, posting 43-67-110 totals in 1985-86. That was the season after Lafleur retired for the first time before returning with the Quebec Nordiques for the 1988-89 season. Naslund added 8-11-19 totals in 20 playoff games in 1986 as the Canadiens won the Stanley Cup.
Only two Canadiens have ever registered more than 110 points in a season. Lafleur did it six times, including a team record 136 points (56 goals, 80 assists) in 1976-77. Pete Mahovlich had 35-82-117 totals in 1974-75.
Chris Chelios would be second on my list behind Naslund, even though he only played seven seasons with the Canadiens — he was also part of the 1986 Stanley Cup team — before being traded to the Chicago Blackhawks for Denis Savard and having a Hall of Fame career.
Do you think Jacob Fowler and Michael Hage join the Laval Rocket for the AHL playoffs this year?
Shaner on X — @Bchockey3327
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Fowler join Laval after his second season at Boston College. The 20-year-old has had an outstanding sophomore season, posting a 24-5-2 record with a 1.62 goals-against average, a .941 save percentage and seven shutouts as Boston College won the Hockey East regular-season championship for the second straight year. Fowler was also named the Hockey East Goaltender of the Year for the second straight season. As a freshman last season, Fowler had a 24-5-2 record with a 2.14 GAA, a .926 save percentage and three shutouts. He certainly seems ready now to take the next step and turn pro.
I would be surprised to see Hage join Laval. I think a second season at the University of Michigan would be best for his development after posting 13-21-34 totals in 33 games as a freshman. Another season at Michigan would also allow the 6-foot-1, 190-pound centre to continue to build up his body and gain more strength before turning pro.
It seems like every game I see one or two broken sticks. I don’t remember seeing so many broken sticks when I was a kid when the sticks were much cheaper than they are now.
Dick Labete
Hockey sticks definitely have become expensive with top-of-the-line models selling at sports stores for close to $500. Those sticks usually come with a 30-day warranty against manufacturing defects.
The pro-model sticks are a notch above and are built more for performance than endurance and are usually stamped with: “Pro stock. Intended for professional use only. No warranty.”
While the old wood sticks didn’t break as often, they also didn’t allow players to shoot the puck the way they can now.
If given the opportunity to change careers and be employed by an NHL club, which one would you prefer and which team would you avoid like the plague?
Ed Helsinki
Another great question.
There’s a saying that “every day in the NHL is a good day” and I have to agree with that. While I’m not looking to change careers, it would be special to work for any NHL team.
The Canadiens would be at the top of my list since I know the team well and I love Montreal after living here my whole life.
The Lightning would rank second because I love the area around Amalie Arena in Tampa, the weather is great and owner Jeff Vinik, GM Julien BriseBois and assistant GM Mathieu Darche are all class acts.
As a big country-music fan Nashville is my favourite NHL city to visit, so the Predators would rank third.
My friends in Winnipeg won’t like this, but the Jets would rank last on my list. Winters in Winnipeg must be very long. But, again, every day in the NHL is a good day — even if you’re freezing.
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