by Kristina Ashqar, AllHabs.net

“I think it was clear that Plekanec would be signed for his two way ability and the reliance Martin put on him all year. But I think $5 million a year for six years is too much cash when you compare him to a guy like Ryan Kesler who has the exact same contract…but is three inches taller, bigger, more gritty and has an easier time handling bigger and better defencemen in the NHL. I hope we continue to see the Pleks of this year and not the “little girl” of the year before for the duration of his contract.” — Kristina Ashqar, June 23, 2010.

MONTREAL, QC.–Well, ten games into the Montreal Canadiens season, it is obvious that my assessment when Tomas Plekanec signed his six year contract this past summer was dead wrong. Not only has the “little girl” of the 2008 – 2009 season with her 39 points been completely obliterated, the player who has emerged is arguably one of the best centers in the NHL.

It is without question that Plekanec had his breakout year in 2009-2010. With 25 goals and 45 assists, Pleks’ career-high 70 points made him the best Montreal Canadien on the ice for the duration of the season. His consistency, ability to see the ice and set up his teammates to generate offense, and his dominance on the penalty kill and powerplay are what gave Plekanec the opportunity to sign on the dotted line for a new contract worth $30 million in the off-season.

So before I throw my comments from last summer under the bus for being completely asinine, allow me to explain since hindsight is always 20-20.

Back in the 2009-2010 season, Ryan Kesler was the third leading scoring on the Vancouver Canucks behind the Sedin twins. He racked up 25 goals and 50 assists for 75 points in 82 games played.  He scored more than Plekanec and averaged about about two shifts fewer per game. Kesler’s size, toughness, ability to score and be a play maker made him a center that was vital to the support of the Canucks’ top two stars. In the eyes of GM Mike Gillis, Kesler had proven himself to be someone the Canucks organization could not go without and he signed a six year, $30 million contract extension on March 19, 2010.

So when the Canadiens traded Halak to make room to sign Plekanec for the exact same contract, the basis of comparison seemed logical: both were two-way players, both were essential on the power-play and the penalty-kill, both were there to support the number one line (at least at the time the Gomez line was the number one line), both scored at least 70 points in the year, and both held a similar role. If you looked at the two players side by side, Kesler seemed to win on three main attributes: three inches taller, almost two years younger, and not afraid to drop the gloves. But the Canadiens forwent those attributes and paid Plekanec exactly what Kesler was making.

But that was June 23, 2010. If you asked me today, I would tell you that I am 100% ok with the decision made by Pierre Gauthier and the Montreal Canadiens management.

With ten games played, Plekanec continues to be the Habs’ most dominant player. His five goals and five assists rank him 19th in the league in scoring and he has played inspired hockey on both ends of the ice. Plekanec’s ability to set up his teammates and finish has already been showcased this season in fine fashion:

1. Game 2 vs. Penguins: Plekanec carries the puck into the offensive zone from the Habs’ blue line, wraps his way around the net and finds Cammalleri in the slot for a slap shot past Fleury that happened so fast Bob Cole didn’t even realize the Canadiens scored.
2. Game 3 vs. Lightning: Cammalleri picks up his own rebound off the pads of Mike Smith and finds a wide open Plekanec who rips a shot so hard he just about burns a whole in the netting.
3. Game 3 vs. Lightning: Plekanec steals the puck in the neutral zone from defensemen Mike Lundin for a two on one with AK46  and feeds a beautiful pass under the stick of Pavel Kubina for an easy backhand goal.
4. Game 5 vs. Senators: AK46 takes the puck off Regin at center ice and Plekanec sets him up on a nifty give and go play to give Kostitsyn his second goal of the year.
5. Game 5 vs. Senators: Plekanec follows up with his first game winning goal of the season, benefiting from a rebound given up by Elliott as AK46 crashes the net on the two on two play.
6. Game 7 vs. Senators: Plekanec carries the puck from the blue line along the boards, drives towards the net and gets tied up by Gonchar, yet he still manages to feed AK46 a one hand pass for a top corner snipe.
7. Game 8 vs. Coyotes: A recipient of a juicy rebound given up by Bryzgalov on an AK46 shot after a flurry of pressure, Plekanec pops the puck into a wide open net.
8. Game 9 vs. Islanders: Trying to kill of a penalty, Plekanec pushes the puck past Doug Weight at the blue line for a  two on one with Travis Moen where Pleks feeds a perfectly placed pass for the team’s first shorthanded goal of the season.
9. Game 9 vs. Islanders: Hamrlik throws the puck to Plekanec just before the Islander blueline. Pleks feeds a touch pass to AK46 along the boards and he gives the puck back to No. 14 as he skates into the slot and sends a rocket passed Roloson into the top left corner of the net.
10. Game 10 vs. Islanders: Standing in the right place at the right time, Plekanec picks up a rebound from a Cammalleri shot at the side of the net and makes a nifty move to backhand the puck past Roloson for his first power play goal of the year.

In addition to getting points on the scoresheet, Plekanec’s contribution on the penalty kill was epitomized on 5-on-3 the Habs had to kill off against the Islanders in game 10. You also can’t forget the missed opportunities to score on beautiful set-up plays drawn up by Plekanec. For all these reasons, Tomas Plekanec is worth every penny he is making.

Oh, and in case you are interested, Ryan Kesler has four points in nine games played…