by Blain Potvin, Staff Writer, All Habs Hockey Magazine
As with any other endeavor, team sport requires cooperation and coordinated effort to achieve a goal. So far this season, the members of the Canadiens have truly bought into the need to support each other by accepting their diverse roles.
The offence is spread out among many players, and they are taking turns producing points. While opposing defenses focus on the expected offensive catalysts such as Max Pacioretty (14 goals) and Alex Radulov (23 points in 31 games), other team members are able to step in and take advantage of their opportunities.
Paul Byron, who is likely the best waiver wire acquisition in the last five seasons, has been using his speed to his advantage. The team concept of speed that is used in both offence and defense has allowed him to use his main talent to produce goals. So far, his 11 goals this season have matched his career high.
Phillip Danault has already more than doubled his career point output. The 23-year-old former Chicago Blackhawks first-round pick is just beginning his career and he has shown some promise. His ability to step up and play responsibly when he is needed to play an expanded role has greatly lessened the burden on his teammates.
Defensively, Shea Weber has provided a yeoman’s effort by playing heavy minutes in all situations and shutting down opposition scoring. His offensive output has been dry over the last couple weeks, as his focus on defense has opened the door for others to step into that role.
Meanwhile, at 38 years of age, Andrei Markov has continued to provide his signature style and offensive production. When Markov was unable to produce or dress, Jeff Petry was able to step in and provide the necessary defensive effort to launch the transition game and produce the offence. His abilities were shown by his seven points in his last six games, culminating in a dominating three-point game against the Anaheim Ducks.
After 33 games, despite key injuries, the Canadiens are at the top of the Atlantic Division. They are fifth in the league with 102 goals for and sit fourth in the league with 73 goals against. A goal differential of plus-29 places them comfortably at fourth in the league. It should be noted that Pacioretty is leading the Habs in points and is currently sitting at 28th overall in points.
As the idiom says, “many hands make for light work.” With everyone playing their role, it allows others to step into larger roles when needed, even if only temporarily.
All season long, the team has preached systems. Michel Therrien’s system is not a secret, nor is it complicated. It is simplistic in its design: use team speed, keep attacking the puck en masse, and pressure the other team. By pressuring the other team, the Canadiens can wear down their opponent forcing mistakes and using those opportunities to generate offence. This is something we saw in the Washington and Anaheim games. Petry spoke to this:
Petry:"Tonight, we used our speed really well. It's one of our biggest assets. We knew that it would be tough for them to keep up with us."
— All Habs (Canadiens) (@AllHabs) December 21, 2016
To play this style, it requires every player to buy in and focus on their specific roles every shift. This is not an easy task for veterans, let alone younger players to do. This focus is a factor in Therrien’s reliance on veteran players to implement his game plan whether they are more talented or seemingly deserving.
Therrien: "They are ready to play, they work hard, they pay attention to detail, they pay attention to structure. We got good leadership."
— All Habs (Canadiens) (@AllHabs) December 21, 2016
There will be disagreements among the Canadiens’ faithful on Therrien and his “systems.” Many feel that the coach lacks the factors needed to win a championship, and that may very well be true. However, there is no denying that his systems have worked so far this season. Because of him or despite him, the team has been getting positive results in the form of wins. Therrien’s system will never be awarded points for style, but the Habs have been earning points in the standings nonetheless.
There is also no denying that this year’s edition of the Canadiens has learned from their collapse last season when they were unable to put their focus on fitting into the team system. It would seem as though that lesson has led to the players having bought into the system.
Now, despite losing their top center in Alex Galchenyuk, as well as missing some of the usually reliable and much needed production from Thomas Plekanec and Brendan Gallagher, they can focus on control of their personal work ethic and effort relying on their teammates to do the same. In doing so, it appears as if the players have realized that a key to remaining relevant in the playoff picture is to focus on their effort level while playing a simple game.
That said, this team is not without its share of faults. If one team member falls out of step, it leaves the rest vulnerable. Thankfully, Carey Price has been healthy and able to provide leadership and all-star caliber goaltending to help insulate the team when these moments arrive.
There are still shortcomings for the team to overcome. While Nathan Beaulieu has provided flashes of his potential as a top four defenseman, he hasn’t been consistent enough yet to be relied upon if Markov is to be injured long-term.
Beaulieu was given an opportunity to play on the top pairing with Weber against the Minnesota Wild, as Markov is still sidelined and Alexei Emelin did not dress as his wife was in the hospital giving birth to the family’s third child, a beautiful and healthy baby girl.
Beaulieu may require mentorship from a more vocal veteran player such as Weber, or it may be necessary for management to make a deal and upgrade the blue line in time for the playoffs. The added ice time against top competition did expose some holes in his game. However, Beaulieu has made some large strides and seems more open to listening to the coaching staff to fix these shortcomings. If he can continue on this path, the need to trade for a top four defenceman will not be necessary. That said, management may make a deal as the need is in the here and now.
Something else that is inevitable to become an issue is the offence. The lower offensive output of the team’s top six has been insulated thus far by career years from key members of the bottom six forwards. While the depth players are producing, it is unreasonable to expect each one of them to continue on producing at a much higher rate than they ever have in their careers.
Once Galchenyuk returns, it will help five-on-five play and the power-play. The Canadiens success with the man advantage has stalled without the threat of Galchenyuk’s one-time shot. However, even that may not be enough in the long-term. An upgrade to the top six in the form of a talented second line centerman that can also win face-offs will be needed.
Management has the assets to make either move, but these upgrades would not happen until the New Year due to the holiday freeze, if they happen at all. In the meantime, the players that are currently on the roster will need to continue to provide their best and sustained efforts in the system that is in place proving the age-old saying that “many hands make for light work.”
