Initiating a recovery plan is never a bad idea for an organization that is going nowhere. But to do this properly, you must have the right tools.
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That seems to be the case with Kent Hughes. Since the beginning of the campaign, we have had great praise for the work of Kaiden Guhle, Jordan Harris and Arber Xhekaj on the Canadian’s blue line.
In the absence of Joel Edmundson, who has recently returned, and Mike Matheson, they have behaved like true veterans most nights, providing a solid and inspired game close to their keeper.
But it is not only on this level that the Canadian’s youth has made itself felt since the beginning of the campaign. It is she who draws the team offensively.
Photo Martin Chevalier
Thanks in large part to Nick Suzuki and Kirby Dach, the Canadiens’ youngsters have been producing at a rate unprecedented in the NHL since the 2016-17 season with the Winnipeg Jets.
26 goals in 15 games
NHL stats say Kirby Dachs’ brace, Nick Suzuki’s goal and Xhekaj’s goal Wednesday night made the Habs the first team since the 2016-17 Winnipeg Jets to have their 23-and-under skaters score at least 26 goals before their 15th game of the season.
Led by Patrik Laine’s 11 goals and Mark Scheifele’s nine, the young Jets had scored 31 goals.
During the first 14 encounters, Habs players moved the strings 41 times. 27 of those goals were scored by people under the age of 23. We are talking about 66% of the production.
For comparison, the Carolina Hurricanes follow with 51% (19 of 37 goals).
The Canadian’s Young Wolves also dominate the Pointer Column (60) in Category 23 and below.
Dach took the opportunity
In that regard, we can congratulate Martin St-Louis for giving Dach the opportunity to seize the rights from Caufield and Suzuki.
The tall winger, who was drafted from the Blackhawks last draft, has nine points (three goals, six assists) in six games since the association began.
Together, Caufield, Suzuki and Dach scored 12 of the Canadians’ 21 goals during that period and amassed 27 points overall.
As the others would say, it’s not ugly.