by Blain Potvin, Staff Writer, All Habs Hockey Magazine
HALIFAX, NS. — When last season started to fall apart, man, it really fell apart. Like boots or hearts when they start, they really fall apart. The loss of Carey Price and Brendan Gallagher for extended periods exposed weaknesses in the Canadiens lineup. A lack of grit was exposed by the loss of Gallagher and a lack of defensive depth was exposed with the loss of team MVP Price.
Despite revealing their defensive and character warts, the Canadiens were able to maintain the scoring pace that they held the previous season. The main difference between finishing first in the division and a lottery pick was the additional 47 goals against allowed this past season in comparison to 2014-15.
The difficult season that the team and the fans endured may have been a curse, but it may have been a blessing as well. It has given management a complete view of the depth of the organization. It has demonstrated the Canadiens’ strengths and provided young players such as Alex Galchenyuk a less stressful environment to progress their game.
The crash also highlighted all of the team’s deficiencies: the anemic power play, a need for scoring depth and weakness in the defensive top four. Mostly, the lack of grit and leadership was a glaring weakness when the team was unable to refocus after giving up a goal.
While goal scoring is an issue that needed to be addressed, Marc Bergevin began by addressing the lack of grit and experience. The acquisition of Andrew Shaw was the first step to fill that void. It came at the cost of both early 2016 second round picks held by Montreal.
To create the needed cap space to sign Shaw, Lars Eller was moved to Washington. This move also was also able to partially recoup the loss of the picks used to acquire Shaw by receiving a 2017 and a 2018 second round pick in return for Eller (albeit likely late round picks.) Shaw’s ability to play up and down the lineup while consistently playing his agitating style was likely what made this move one that most fans agreed improved the team immediately.
Marc Bergevin then led management through a very solid draft weekend where a possible franchise defensive prospect in Mikhail Sergachev was selected with the ninth overall pick.
Bergevin then moved on to address the defensive deficiencies. However he chose to put aside his characteristic conservative approach to slowly building the team and chose to make a franchise defining trade by moving P.K. Subban for Shea Weber. Despite the heated discussion that has gone on all summer and emotional response from the majority of fans, it is a trade that helps the team in their own end and will cut back some of the goals against.
The trade also adds more grit, leadership and experience as Weber is well known for his physical play and has played a key role with multiple championship teams. Weber’s participation in the upcoming World Cup of Hockey will provide fans an opportunity to see him in action with Carey Price prior to his arrival at training camp. No matter how hard or how tough he plays, nothing short of the ultimate prize will be enough for some fans.
Perhaps the biggest addition to the 2016-17 edition of the Canadiens in terms of cutting back the goals against is the return of a healthy Carey Price. He will however be facing a lesser workload over this coming season as we are told that the number of his starts will be limited. And having signed a veteran NHL backup in Al Montoya should go a long way to achieving this goal. While some fans may question this tactic, there is no denying that it will allow Price to enter the playoffs rested and ready to compete in the season that matters.
The return to a healthy lineup as well as the added grit and experience should be more than enough to cut back significantly on the additional 47 goals against the team suffered from last season. As many omit that Jeff Petry’s loss did hurt the team depth on defense as well as on special teams.
The next major issue faced last season was a lackluster power-play. And to help address this, Marc Bergevin orchestrated the return of Kirk Muller as an associate coach. Muller is well known for his ability to revive a team`s power-play production. Also, the last time he was employed in Montreal, Muller, a “player’s coach” served as a buffer and communicator. His addition is a welcome one, not only for on-ice production but also for the culture in the dressing room.
Despite the upgrade on the power-play, the need for an additional proven top-six forward to upgrade scoring depth was desperately needed this summer. As Bergevin had already dove headlong into the trade pool, the safer method to add scoring was to sign one of the many available unrestricted free agents.
Enter Alexander Radulov. The mercurial right-winger is returning to the NHL after a four season stint in the KHL. The question is: has he matured enough to focus on his game?
The pressure of playing in Quebec should not bother Radulov as he was already a star in the QMJHL playing for the Remparts. In addition playing a secondary role with time on the power play should minimize the external pressures. The larger pressure will more than likely be what he places on himself to prove he is worth a lucrative long-term deal.
Playing on a one-year deal provides the motivation. If Radulov can produce 20 to 25 goals and 50 to 60 points this season, the signing would prove to be a home run for the Canadiens and Russian sniper.
While my Twitter poll is not scientific, it does demonstrate that many fans feel the team is improved from last season’s edition. A majority of fans believe that the team has improved offensively with the additions of Shaw and Radulov and defensively with the addition of Weber.
With the current makeup of the #Habs what do #Canadiens fans think will be the result? @AllHabs #GoHabsGo
— Blain (@BlainPotvin_THW) August 15, 2016
With the offseason coming to a close, we can see the changes and additions fit Bergevin’s plan. Hopefully that plan leads to wins on the ice. A Stanley Cup has been a long time coming, but if it finally arrives it’s well worth the wait.