by Blain Potvin, Staff Writer, All Habs Hockey Magazine
‘Tis the Christmas season as we prepare for office parties, family gatherings, and giving gifts to our loved ones. Our favourite sports franchise has provided us with the merriest of seasons so far. Upon reflection, I have prepared a seasonal look at the ’12 gifts of Habsmas’ that the Canadiens have provided to their fans.
On the first day of Habsmas, our team gave to us a team that is in first place.
Despite some lopsided wins and losses, injuries, and some performance issues with key players so far this season, the team was able to get off to a great start. This season’s start was strong enough to jump out to the best record in the NHL thus far.
On the second day of Habsmas, our team gave to us two centres on long term injury (LTI).
Now this sounds bad. Kind of like getting socks for Christmas, but like socks as gifts, injuries will happen. The silver lining is that they happened early in the season, and are not season-ending for the players involved.
The debacle with Carey Price last year seems to have made management provide details on injuries. So, while Alex Galchenyuk and David Desharnais recover, other centres are stepping up their play. What, did you expect all 12 gifts to be good ones?
On the third day of Habsmas, our team gave to us three World Junior Championship (WJC) prospects.
Noah Juulsen, Victor Mete and Michael McNiven are all vying for roster positions on Team Canada. If all three earn starting roles, that would allow Habs fans to watch top prospects enjoy a Canadian Christmas tradition while playing the WJC in Montreal. Fans will get to witness their progression on a world stage.
Now, Mete was part of the first cuts. But he did get an invitation (and I needed a ‘three.’) Seriously, Mete played well and should be playing next tournament, but will not have the chance to do so this Christmas.
On the fourth day of Habsmas, our team gave to us four minor league call-ups.
Player development has been an issue in Montreal for years. With the call ups of Daniel Carr, Sven Andrighetto, Marc Barberio and Michael McCarron, we witness different parts of this all-important aspect of successful professional scouting and amateur drafting.
Barberio is an established player and he provides a known quality. His skills allow him to be a quality depth NHL defenseman.
Carr and Andrighetto are at a key point of their development. They have achieved success in lower levels, and are now at the point where they need to apply their strengths to the NHL game to become full-time players at the highest level. That said, their progression has left fans wondering if they will reach their potential.
McCarron is still in the beginning stages of his professional development. He has made large strides to correct any deficiencies in his game every season since he was selected. With the right coaching and veteran leadership, he can be more than capable of meeting his potential.
Once again, the Canadiens are making my task more difficult. With assignments to the AHL and recalls happening daily, they have been trying to make a mess of this verse. Andrighetto and Barberio were sent to the IceCaps but then returned this morning!
On the fifth day of Habsmas, our team gave to us five Carey Price blocker shots.
This was a polarizing moment for the season. Kyle Palmieri ran into Price’s knee while crashing the net, and this left Price to provide some old-school justice. Some were calling for Price to be suspended, while others were applauding him as a hero.
Some in the Montreal media demanded to know why players like Weber didn’t step up and defend his goalie (which would have been difficult for him to do because he was not on the ice.) In the end, those five blocker shots can act as a deterrent and have opened up a dialogue within the NHL on the importance of the league providing methods to protect NHL goaltenders.
On the sixth day of Habsmas, our team gave to us number six, Shea Weber.
Weber’s arrival came amid a storm of controversy due to the player that was traded to Nashville to land the six-foot-four, 232-pound defenseman. Yet, based on his game-to-game impact, there is little doubt that the trade provided an immediate improvement to the team defensively without any dip in offensive production.
On the seventh day of Habsmas, our team gave to us seven goals by Max Pacioretty in one week.
In the four games against the Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues, New Jersey Devils and Colorado Avalanche, Pacioretty was able to score seven goals. This was more than he had before the week began.
He has been faster and his skating has looked more fluid. This could be due to his being paired with Alex Radulov or his reported broken foot has finally healed. In my opinion, it’s likely both. Pacioretty is now able to keep up with Radulov’s dynamic style of play. The real gift for Habs fans is that a healthy and productive top-line left winger has returned to the line-up
On the eighth day of Habsmas, our team can give to us eight more years of Alex Galchenyuk.
Up until his knee injury, Galchenyuk had shown he can be a point-per-game (PPG) top-line centerman. While his face-off techniques can use work, his two-way play and slick offensive skills will become the cornerstone of the Canadiens’ offence for years to come. This season has seen many comparables signed, and a long term extension is the next item fans will have on their list to Youppi Claus for their stockings.
On the ninth day of Habsmas, our team can give to us nine top-90 draft picks.
The team needs upgrades at the center position to become long-term contenders. Part of filling the need for upgrades will involve making a trade. Having nine higher picks over the next three seasons provides Marc Bergevin attractive assets to use to make difficult trades happen. A great stocking-stuffer from management would be to see an upgrade in skill and scoring of our top six.
On the tenth day of Habsmas, our team gave to us a ten-goal game.
Fans had a game earlier in the season where they suffered a 10-goal loss. Habs fans can understand what Avalanche fans felt on Saturday, December 10th. However, getting to see a game where everything went right was a joy to watch. This wasn’t a game where it was simple “puck luck,” but one where the team out-muscled, out-hustled, and out-played the Avalanche.
Yes, the Avalanche are having a difficult season, but the Habs have been accused for years of playing down to the level of their competition. That was not the case in this game as they provided a complete effort in every aspect of the game. This gift from Youppi Claus was to let fans see a team capable of playing their own style regardless of their opponent.
On the eleventh day of Habsmas, our team can give to us a renewed Brendan Gallagher.
The Habs resident number 11 has had a difficult season. Thankfully, he hasn’t changed his style of play at any point. He has begun to produce points with his herculean efforts again, but still hasn’t scored in the last few games. If Youppi Claus can leave Gallagher a rabbit’s foot in his stocking, that would be a great gift for all in this festive season.
On the twelfth day of Habsmas, our team can give to us 12 points on the road.
Not all gifts during this holiday season can be big, and this one isn’t. The Habs are a .500 team when on the road, and this is fine as long as they remain dominant at home. Finding a way to improve on their road record can be done with improved scoring depth and for Youppi Claus’ elf, Michel Therrien to find a way to get favorable matchups in hostile rinks.
As the twelve days of Habsmas ends, we hope that Youppi Claus and his elves have given all Habs fans and their families the gifts they need to cheer their team late into spring. Most of all, we at All Habs Hockey Magazine wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a very Happy Holidays!