A collection of 20 points in 21 games. Seventh place in the Atlantic Division. After the first quarter of the season, the Canadian is largely where he was before the start of the season.
One would have had to wear rose-colored glasses to make it clear that the Habs would stay the course in their first few weeks of operation. Martin St-Louis’ side won five of their first eight games, but the brilliance of Jake Allen and Samuel Montembeault softened the impact of that team’s shortcomings.
Getty Images via AFP
Training always in learning and reconstruction mode, whose leaders swear by the words process and progress.
“I am satisfied with the development of the team. We’re playing for almost .500, despite the injuries and everything,” the Canadian head coach said Monday morning after practice in El Segundo.
“I think we follow the process. “I feel like our team is better than it was 12 months ago,” St-Louis said. But sometimes it’s funny. You can improve in one place, but slip in another area. We want to improve in all facets.”
The Habs are making progress, but only at a snail’s pace. He narrowly escaped during that trip, which will end Wednesday in Columbus. Coming back from that trip with losses to the Ducks, the Sharks and finally the Blue Jackets would have been a disaster.
The Canadian already has three points fewer in the rankings than on the same date last year. If he had had to be eliminated against weak teams, we would have questioned the development of this training.
Avoid disposal at Christmas
Furthermore, we could have given up on the season. Not that we should believe that the Canadian will take part in the playoffs. It won’t arrive. However, if we want these young players to be ready to put in the work, they need to learn to play meaningful games. And that doesn’t happen when you’re pretty much eliminated by Christmas.
“There were ups and downs. We need consistency to maintain a good level in each of our games. If we can do that, we can beat any team in this league,” said Sean Monahan.
Defeat anyone on any given night, yes. But the Canadian players saw what a team looking for major honors looks like on Saturday in Los Angeles. This should inspire them.
In this first quarter of the season, the Canadian experienced, as if in a recurring nightmare, several of his players falling in battle for more or less long periods of time. Starting with Kirby Dach, whose season ended in the second game.
The trio in front of the net, the timid emergence of Juraj Slafkovsky and the dryness of Josh Anderson were the main topics of discussion in the cottages and taverns of Quebec.
Good. Perhaps not as much as the third link, the $7 million to bring the Kings from Los Angeles to Quebec, or Quebec Solidaire’s decision to ban men from participating in by-elections. But still.
The Journal offers you its assessment of 25 of the 27 players who have worn the tricolor since the start of the season.
Metronomes
Photo Martin Chevalier
Cole Caufield
When we think of him, we naturally look at the column with goals. Things are far from progressing at the same pace as last year. His current pace would take him to 24 goals. However, he has practically collected a point per game since the start of the season (17 of 21). Maybe he’s slowly developing into a more complete player?
Nick Suzuki
Given his performance, he will finish the season with 24 goals and 66 points. That’s less than predicted, but it’s exactly the production he’s provided over the last two seasons. He is the go-to guy for St. Louis in all game situations.
Mike Matheson
He is the general of the Canadian blue line, St-Louis’ most frequently used player. A reality that requires some risk management. There is certainly still a lot of work to be done defensively, but his contribution in attack is particularly effective.
Kaiden Guhle
In one of the freest defenses on the circuit, he dominates the plus and minus columns (+5). That says a lot about its stability and reliability. Not bad for a 21-year-old full-back.
David Savard
His broken right hand limited him to five games. However, he was a real support for each of them. Especially considering his defensive commitment. An example for his young teammates.
The newly revitalized one
Photo Martin Chevalier
Sean Monahan
We knew Monahan could provide valuable service to the Habs. As long as you stay healthy. So far that’s how it is. In addition to his offensive contribution, his presence stabilizes the Canadian’s center line. He dominates the faceoffs (58.8%) and is used in all areas of the game.
Brendan Gallagher
We thought he had run out of gas in the tank. He has a quieter time, but his presence near the opponents’ net and his energy on the ice annoy several opponents.
Tanner Pearson
Since he suffered a hand injury that was poorly treated, expectations for him were not high. Without being intrusive, he brings a certain rigor to this young team.
Deceptions
Photo Martin Chevalier
Josh Anderson
Still looking for his first goal of the season, he is experiencing the worst lethargy of his career. Still, he played the vast majority of games as part of one of the top two lines, while also racking up reps in the first wave of the massive attack.
Jake Evans
He scored the Canadian’s first goal of the season. Dupuis, there is total drought. His share of face-offs won while shorthanded (44.6%) is far from meeting the expectations that were placed on him.
Joel Armia
The fact that he only played six games is a disappointment in itself. The Finn started the season in the American Hockey League. Let’s say that’s not what we expect from an athlete making $4.8 million this season.
In progress
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Juraj Slafkovsky
Opinions about him are divided. But as his coach often says, he is better than last year. He is more confident on his skates and appears less overwhelmed by the speed of the game, allowing him to read better and contribute more.
Justin Barron
While he was left out in the first three games of the season, he now plays in the first pair of defenders. Not everything is perfect yet. Far from it. But we feel that he is gaining confidence. Constantly keeping moving makes it much more effective.
Jesse Ylonen
He doesn’t touch the ice much in the third period. However, he is less anxious there. He avoids contacts less. We see him sacrifice a little more for the cause. He developed the defensive aspect of his game.
Standing water
Photo Martin Chevalier
Arber Xhekaj
At the end of the fist it is solid and strong. However, his indiscipline cost the Canadian a few goals. Not just in terms of unnecessary punishments. He was also impatient with certain plays and sometimes tried to score the big check. He had to sit out four games.
Rafael Harvey Pinard
His recall got off to an explosive start last spring. Although he received auditions with Caufield and Suzuki this time, his production was tentative. He has missed eight of the last 11 games with a lower-body injury.
Johnathan Kovacevic
He is capable of the best and the worst. He had some good defensive games. He blocked big shots on penalties. But if you put him in a bad chair, he’s not the same defender. With a third pair it is more effective.
Jordan Harris
It’s more beige. He has no attack, he doesn’t hit. On the other hand, he doesn’t get into trouble too often. As a left-handed player, he often played on the right side with Arber Xhekaj.
Michael Pezzetta
He has heart, he works and he sacrifices himself for the cause. However, he seems to have reached the limit of his potential. Furthermore, St-Louis is still hesitant to send him outnumbered, an aspect of the game in which Pezzetta wanted to be useful.
Category Mystery
Photo Martin Chevalier
Alex Newhook
We wondered if he was a Kirby roof thief. After a promising first week, he fell into a deep coma. We’ve been seeing him a little bit since the beginning of this journey. Be continued.
Christian Dvorak
A player who makes way too much money ($5.73 million) for what he brings in. With only three points on the clock, he’s not the one making Caufield explode in attack. At least he offers an honest presence when outnumbered.
Gustav Lindstrom
Even though he is right-handed, a rare commodity for the Canadian, he owes his presence in training to the absence of the cripples. He is the sixth defenseman on the team. But in a mid-pack lineup, he would play in the American Hockey League.
The Guardians’ Waltz
Photo Martin Chevalier
Samuel Montembeault
In the search for a new contract, he does everything he can to show that he deserves the trust of his superiors. In this three-way waltz, he is the one who shows the greatest regularity. Confident and solid, he continues the growth that we noted in his case last year.
Jake Allen
Teams looking for a goalie seem to have their eye on him. He has to give slightly fewer gifts, which he usually does at least once per game. In his defense, however, it must be said that of the three he was the one who had the toughest opponents.
Cayden Primeau
He’s hanging in there and wants to show he’s NHL caliber. Before we comment on this topic, we need to see him in action more often against established formations. His two wins came against the Red Wings and the Sharks.
*Kirby Dach and Jayden Struble did not play enough games to properly assess their contributions.
–In collaboration with Jean-François Chaumont