by Michael Ham-Fan, Managing Editor, All Habs Hockey Magazine
MONTREAL, QC. — The Montreal Canadiens currently have 58 points in 58 games. With 24 games left, it would take them around 18 wins to make the playoffs with 94 points. They would have to go 18-6, with Mike Condon and Ben Scrivens in nets. Needless to say, that is probably not going to happen.
I will never advocate the team to lose on purpose, but this season has been very painful to watch in many ways and I have to admit that I don’t mind them losing anymore. At least, not for now.
As of today, the Habs have just a seven per cent chance of making the playoffs. They also have a 18 per cent chance of drafting top-5 in the upcoming draft. There has been practically nothing to cheer for.
The team has been very inconsistent, the goaltending has been mediocre and the players have almost all regressed in a certain way. The coaching staff is not putting emphasis on learning and development, and this feels like a lost of a season.
To make matters worse, the development haven’t exactly been better in the AHL. The team is hanging on the last playoff spot, and if they miss the postseason, it would be the fourth straight year without a playoff berth. Sylvain Lefebvre would have failed to make the playoffs in every season as a head coach in hockey. That is something I would be worried about if I was the general manager of the Canadiens.
Back in the NHL, the team is losing games and controversies are surrounding the Canadiens as they always do when the team is in a slump. This “slump” has been going on for 32 games, where the Habs have only won eight of them and five of them against teams that are even lower than them in the standings (CAR-EDM-TOR-OTT-CBJ).
More recently, with the whole P.K. Subban versus Michel Therrien saga, it is getting more and more obvious that something needs to change, and soon. Even without considering that there is already a general anger towards this coach, I don’t understand why a head coach would alienate his second best player like he did. What exactly does he gain from that except personal satisfaction?
Subban is the Habs best offensive player, and he throws him under the bus. Alex Galchenyuk is our best offensive forward, and he’s played off his natural position. Sven Andrighetto is our best offensive prospect, and he barely plays at all!
I would consider myself one of the patient ones…but I think change is needed, and change is needed right now. Do not let the culture of the team go the wrong way. (See: Oilers in the Kevin Lowe years)
Statistics taken from:
http://nhl.com