FEATURE | Montreal Canadiens Center Of Attention, Marc Bergevin, Ryan Poehling, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Jordan Weal, Phillip Danault, Jordan Weal | Rocket Sports
ROCKET SPORTS MEDIA — The Canadiens have only had two significant playoff runs since 1999. In 2010, the Habs had an improbable run to the Eastern Conference Finals riding Kirk Muller’s defensive scheme and hot goaltending. Then in 2014, Montreal repeated an Eastern Conference Finals appearance, only to lose due to an injury suffered by Carey Price.
Hot goaltending can only carry a team so far. Successful teams need to score to win. Too few quality centers can be one reason to explain a lack of scoring.
For nearly two full decades the Canadiens have lacked any depth at center. In my opinion, this has been a contributing factor why the Habs haven’t had a chance at winning the Stanley Cup.
The golden age during this two decade time period was the one season when the Habs boasted Tomas Plekanec, Saku Koivu, Bryan Smolinski and Maxim Lapierre on their roster. However, production and overall ability to compete with the top NHL teams of the time suffered.
Marc Bergevin and Trevor Timmins have spent 11 picks on centers over three drafts between 2016 and 2018. Bergevin sees the loop on the old core of the team as being closed. The new, youthful group will be built on center depth
This can be seen as Bergevin’s second attempt as his first failed to deliver.
Last season, the great hope was that Jonathan Drouin, who played on the wing during his time in Tampa Bay, was going to become a top six center. That hope never materialized.
This season, however, there seemed to be a quantum leap forward in center effectiveness, impact and abilities. As surprising as it may seem, this is directly a result of Bergevin’s recent trade and draft history.
Max Domi‘s arrival in return for Alex Galchenyuk was initially panned by many as yet another desperate attempt to add character over talent. His nine goals each of the last two seasons didn’t endear him to the critics of the deal.
However, his arrival in a hockey hotbed re-invigorated the 23-year-old forward. Domi played the entire season as a top six center and put up career highs in time on ice, goals (28), assists (44), points (72) and plus minus (20). Domi became the first Canadiens’ center since Plekanec to score 70 points or more in a season.
In my view, Domi’s play this season has provided the team a player who can hold the fort at center while youth develops.
The trade that brought Phillip Danault to Montreal is seen by some as one of the best moves Bergevin has made in his tenure. This season was a bit of a coming out party for Danault as he was deployed as a matchup center similar to the role Plekenec had perfected over many years.
Danault centered the Habs defacto first line, matched up against the opposition’s top centers, while putting up career bests in assists (41) and points (53). While he would be better suited as a middle six center, Danault served as a placeholder as the franchise awaits the development of their young centers.
Jordan Weal was acquired at the trade deadline from Arizona in return for Michael Chaput. Weal provided speed, grit and reliable defensive play in the Canadiens’ bottom six while producing 10 points in his 14 games played.
Bergevin will have to decide if he wants to re-sign this unrestricted free agent. Weal could be a useful depth player if returned for a short time deal without providing him a raise above his $1.75 million salary.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi earned a roster spot out of camp based on his hockey IQ along with his defensive and playmaking abilities. His 34-point rookie campaign will not result in a Calder trophy, however, he is also now seen as a future top-line two-way center.
Ryan Poehling, the 2019 World Junior Championship MVP, signed his entry level contract with the Canadiens after St. Cloud State was eliminated from the NCAA Men’s Division I Ice Hockey Tournament at the end of March. Poehling was inserted into the lineup in time for Bob Cole’s final broadcast, a traditional Habs/Leafs rivalry game on a Saturday night.
It was a memorable night with the rookie scoring a hat trick and a shootout winner in his first ever NHL game. Poehling is expected to eventually become a quality middle-six two-way center.
It remains to be seen that Bergevin’s recent efforts to rebuild center depth will be successful. Canadiens fans have been suffering the longest championship drought in franchise history over these last 26 seasons.
By Blain Potvin, Staff Writer. Edited by Cate Racher.
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