Stéphane Robidas may technically be a rookie coach, but he arrives in Montreal with a background. The new head of Canadian defensemen worked on the development of players for the Toronto Maple Leafs from 2015 to 2021.
Posted yesterday at 8:36 p.m.
He has therefore seen all the enthusiasm that can surround young talents, particularly in defense, his specialty. In 2018, for example, the Leafs made Rasmus Sandin their No. 1 pick.er tower, at 29e rank. Two years later, Sandin was named defenseman par excellence at the World Junior Championship.
Here is Robidas in Montreal. Among the players he will coach is Kaiden Guhle, pick of 1er tour described as very close to the NHL. He played for Junior Team Canada, he helped his club reach the Memorial Cup, he was named the Junior Western League (WHL) playoff MVP. In short, he excelled at all levels.
“It’s to take it one day at a time, recalled Robidas, Sunday, after the Canadian’s intrasquad game at the Bell Centre. He played a game in Buffalo, he made camp. There, he will play matches. Yes, there is a lot of “hype” in places like Montreal and Toronto, and sometimes it can affect the players mentally. »
PHOTO MARTIN TREMBLAY, PRESS ARCHIVES
Kaiden Guhlé
Another early draft player, Justin Barron, is also expected to see action this season. Jordan Harris, a choice of 3e tour which has been successful in the collegiate ranks, is also expected in Montreal this season, full-time or part-time.
These young people arouse enthusiasm, in particular because the Habs have not been a model of development recently. Of the defenders drafted under Marc Bergevin, Victor Mete has played the most games (185) with the team. Alexander Romanov (133) was on track to catch him, but was traded. We then fall to Noah Juulsen and Cale Fleury. Mikhail Sergachev has played more matches than all these beautiful people, but we are beginning to know how it ended…
In short, difficult to blame those who get carried away in front of the next generation. Except that enthusiasm creates expectations, and that’s what Robidas has to manage with his young defenders.
“When the expectations are there, he said, placing his hand at the height of his head, you can be disappointed. But if the player doesn’t reach them, it’s not his fault. It’s more pressure. Me, I arrived as a choice of 7e round, I had zero pressure and all I could do was exceed expectations. Sometimes we will judge a player in relation to expectations and it’s a mistake, we have to be careful about that. »
Without pressure
Like Robidas at the time, Corey Schueneman is on the other end of the expectation spectrum. Never drafted, hired as a free agent two years ago, he took his first steps in the NHL last season… at 26 years old.
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS
Corey Schueneman and Gabriel Bourque
But he does have a place in the fight for a post this fall. On Sunday, he again formed a duo with Chris Wideman, his main partner last season. Pairing him with a veteran whose position is virtually assured is in itself an encouraging indicator for him.
For a full-back not renowned for his attacking play, Schueneman pulled off a fine move to set up an Anthony Richard goal in the intrasquad game. In his press briefing, Robidas also mentioned this game.
Schueneman however arrives far in the discussions, behind Guhle, Barron and company.
“Whether the cameras are on me or not, that won’t change my approach,” says the American. I’m not a 21 year old either. I’ve lived it, I understand how it works and I’ve been in this situation quite a bit all my life, so it doesn’t bother me. »
With his age and profile, Schueneman is tailor-made for a role as sixth or seventh defender. The state of health of Joel Edmundson, again bothered by a back injury, could partly determine his fate. Except that without Edmundson, Schueneman becomes the fourth defender of the Canadiens in terms of seniority… with 24 games of experience! Only Wideman, David Savard and Michael Matheson have played more than him. Madison Bowey too, but the latter is injured and he is increasingly labeled American League.
Last year’s 24 games, “it helps a lot, recognizes Schueneman. It allows you to see what the NHL is, the speed, the execution. »
This situation also reveals the paradox of expectations. There may be some on an individual level, but collectively this group of backs will be growing this season, in a team that many predict will finish last in the division.