Habs News: Montreal Canadiens, Claude Julien, Kirk Muller, Dominique Ducharme, Shea Weber, Tyler Toffoli, Josh Anderson, Nick Suzuki, Power Play, Jesperi Kotkaniemi

ROCKET SPORTS MEDIA | LAVAL, QC. — The Canadiens power play hasn’t had much success in awhile, in fact the last time that it finished in the top-10 in the league was in 2012-13 season. Michel Therrien’s team ended the season fifth overall with a success rate of 20.7 percent. It contributed to the Habs finishing first in the Northeast Division, before getting eliminated by the Senators in the opening round of the playoffs.

Their success with the extra attacker has steadily decreased since that year. In 2018-19, Claude Julien‘s squad finished 30th with 13.3 success rate, and finished 22nd in 2019-20 scoring during 17.7 percent of their opportunities. Only Nashville has had less success than Montreal in the last two seasons.

Coaching responsibility

With the power play performing so poorly over the last two seasons, I wouldn’t have been surprised if the responsibility of running it would have been shifted amongst the coaching staff.

“As a head coach you got to take the majority of the responsibility over all that [power play]. I had Kirk [Muller], and Dominique [Ducharme] that were working together with the power play last year. It’s easy to say that it’s the coach that isn’t doing the job,” explained Julien recently when asked on that topic.

“Kirk had a lot of success in St. Louis with the power play that he was running, it’s not like he lost his abilities, Dominique has always done good work on that aspect, but it’s up to me to assure that we have the best group possible of players and coaches to have success.”

Postseason Units

During the team’s postseason run in Toronto, which was seen positively by most, the power play wasn’t any more successful. Montreal finished 17th overall from the 24-team expanded postseason with 15.2 percent success rate.

The units that were primarily used by Montreal during their first round series versus Philadelphia were as follows:

First unit: Jonathan Drouin – Nick Suzuki – Brendan Gallagher – Shea Weber – Jeff Petry

Second unit: Tomas Tatar – Jesperi Kotkaniemi – Joel Armia – Max Domi – Victor Mete

New Additions

Over the last two seasons, there was countless posts on social media where Montreal fans wanted to take a page from football’s rulebook that allows a team to decline their opponent’s penalty. At times, it was difficult to watch the team try to get their power play unit setup.

Weber’s shot was Montreal’s most dangerous weapon with the extra attacker. Last season, he scored three times and added five assists on the power play during the regular season, and in the postseason, he only collected one goal.

“I think the biggest thing is that teams scout; they’re aware of what Webby [Shea Weber] offers. And I think what happened was where Webby was being clearly taken away at times, the way teams kill, it opens up other opportunities. We didn’t capitalize on the opportunities that presented themselves when teams over-cheated on Webby,” Muller recently explained on how opponents played against the captain.

The organization is counting that the acquisitions of Josh Anderson, and Tyler Toffoli make a significant difference and also become threats for the opposing teams. If this materializes, it will open up Weber and allow him to increase his contribution on the power play.

“Guys like Toffoli, we know he can score; he’s definitely a good addition. When you look at a guy like Josh Anderson, he has a big body and he does a good job in front of the net. We have some elements that we can put in certain positions that are definitely going to help our power play. For sure, we went out to get players who could help us in that area, and we intend on exploring our options there,” said Julien on the additions.

Anderson’s Role

In his 267 career games with the Blue Jackets, Anderson has scored four goals and added seven assists on the power play. He has zero points in 21 career playoff games. His most productive year in this statistical category was in 2018-19, when he recorded three goals and four assists. Last season, he had no points with the extra attacker.

“Josh, he’s a big body. He can play around the net; he can use that size. I know he hasn’t played a lot [on the power play] but if you look at what he’s capable of doing, and his ability to play around there, that net presence – which is huge on a power play – I think he can be effective on the power play in that position,” Muller explained on how Anderson is expected to contribute.

Toffoli’s Role

Toffoli has been more productive than Anderson during his career on the power play. In 525 games, he has scored 32 goals and added 24 assists. In the playoffs, he has scored twice, and added four assists in 54 contests. His most productive year on the power play was in 2017-18, when he scored six goals and added six assists with the Kings. In his most recent postseason appearance with the Canucks, Toffoli obtained two points in seven matches.

“Toffoli is a right-hander. Sitting in that slot, he’s had some great success. You watch, he’s got quick hands, so he can make plays in those areas. He has the ability to score in that slot with his shot. He can be very dangerous and effective, which could open things up for other guys,” said Muller.

Possible Power Play Units

Nick Suzuki was tied with Tomas Tatar as the team’s leading scorer on the power play last season. It’s positive from an individual perspective that Suzuki was able to accomplish that feat in his rookie season, but also shows the team’s struggles.

“Suzuki is obviously showing what he’s capable of. He’s going to get more responsibility. KK [Jesperi Kotkaniemi] showed what he’s capable of in the bubble last year. His skating has improved so much, and I’m sure his confidence in that, too,” said the associate coach on the upcoming responsibilities of the young centers.

“Drou [Jonathan Drouin] was hurt for a big part of it and he certainly has the capability of bringing the puck up the ice. You’ve got Petry. So, I think the personnel is there. If we can get two years of working together and cohesiveness, it should not be a problem to enter at a decent rate to create offense and get O-zone time,” Muller added on other key players.

Here’s how I expect the coaching staff to line up the power play units to start the season:

First unit: Jonathan Drouin – Nick Suzuki – Josh Anderson – Tomas Tatar – Shea Weber

Second unit: Jesperi Kotkaniemi – Phillip Danault – Brendan Gallagher – Tyler Toffoli – Jeff Petry

The units above are significantly different than those used the last time the Canadiens played a game. They would keep Weber and Toffoli, the team’s most dangerous offensive threats on separate units, which would prevent opponents from over-cheating on one unit.

I believe that Phillip Danault will get the nod at center on the second unit as he’s the team’s most efficient player at the face-off circle. In the post-season, he won 62.5 percent of the face-offs that he took during the power play.

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