Jayden Struble | After exaltation, “normality”

A new professional challenge is like a new relationship: after the exhilaration of the beginning, everyday life sets in. And if there are problems to be had, that’s usually where they arise.

Defenseman Jayden Struble is not in problem territory, let’s get this straight. But after 43 games in the NHL, the spark that shined during the first few weeks has undeniably dimmed. The surprising reliability he displayed upon his unexpected arrival in Montreal falters. His game, according to Martin St-Louis himself, “is not at the level of what he showed us”. He’s not “so consistent” anymore.

It’s difficult to pinpoint the exact moment when the 22-year-old American lost his luster. His defensive metrics, however, started to drop somewhere in January.

On January 10, in Philadelphia, Struble was sublime, spending almost 20 minutes on the ice. The next day, back in Montreal, his entire team collapsed against the San Jose Sharks, but the young man had particularly struggled, making costly mistakes at the start of the match.

This poor performance was the start of a statistical decline which, without being drastic, is constant. Since the 23^e Struble game, when the defender is on the ice five on five, the Canadian increases his deficit in terms of shot attempts, shots on target and expected goals.

The trend is not just theoretical. There are more errors than before. Tuesday, against the Columbus Blue Jackets, his last two appearances in the second period lasted 3 minutes and 2:10, while he and his partner Johnathan Kovacevic were prisoners in their territory.

For a while, his playing time didn’t suffer too much. However, he had started to decline a little before he injured his back on February 22 in Pittsburgh. He then missed four games. However, without it making any waves, he was actually left out for two of these matches, even though he was available. Since his return, his usage has fluctuated between 14 and 15 and a half minutes, while he was more in the 16 to 20 minute range at his peak.

Drop

This reduced task certainly coincides with the rebirth of Arber Xhekaj. The CH also temporarily dealt with an injury to Jordan Harris, which reduced the possibilities of changes in defense. This is what Martin St-Louis has in mind when he talks about the necessary context surrounding a player’s situation.

But it’s not just that.

“In general, if you game go down, your minutes will surely go down,” said the Quebecer on Wednesday after his team’s training.

Struble certainly hasn’t unlearned how to play good defense. But St-Louis did not deny its decline.

It is therefore important, for a recruit like Struble, to show “who he is when he embarks on normality”.

Will he be asked to miss games, as Jordan Harris and Johnathan Kovacevic already do? “I don’t know yet,” replied St-Louis.

It would obviously have been polite to ask the principal concerned for his reading of the situation, but despite the interview request The Presshe had already left the training center when journalists gained access to the club’s locker room.

Leap

Without commenting on his specific case, three of his teammates agreed that the jump from the collegiate ranks to professional life is not easy.

Struble was still playing for the Northeastern University Huskies a year ago. A lower-body injury and the outbreak of a global pandemic limited him to a total of 39 games in his first two years in the NCAA. The next two he played in 34 and 31 games, respectively, which is a far cry from an American League (72 games) or NHL (82) schedule. Suddenly, the meetings follow one another at a startling pace, with the travel that comes with it.

Struble has experienced both before. After 12 games with the Laval Rocket, he was recalled by the Canadian and has not seen the North crown since.

“The only way to get used to it is to experience it,” said Merrimack College graduate Johnathan Kovacevic. Everyone experiences it in their own way. Strubs is very calm, so he handles the ups and downs well [du quotidien], so he doesn’t carry the energy and stress from one match to the next. But yes, it is a transition that everyone must succeed in. »

“Everything is different,” added Alex Newhook, a former Boston College student. It’s a long season, and mentally, it’s quite a battle. Especially in the long days of February, it’s harder to keep the same state of mind in every match. »

Without naming it that, he also evokes the notion of normality, which probably takes “two years” to master. “The first year, it’s the excitement, the adrenaline. After that, you have to learn to manage the entire season, the trips, the training, without burning out. It is enormous. »

“It’s even worse starting in the American League, with streaks of three games in three games,” added Jake Evans, who played four seasons at the University of Notre Dame. You have to adapt quickly and take advice from older players. If you fall behind, you’re in trouble. »

Let’s emphasize again that none of the three players were explicitly discussing Struble. What we will conclude, however, is that if he seeks to chase away the empty passage he is going through, he has comrades around him who have been there.

Slafkovsky misses another practice

What mysterious illness does Juraj Slafkovsky suffer from? Obviously, this is nothing that prevents him from taking part in matches, because the Slovak is one of five CH players who have never skipped their turn this season. But something is wrong, since he missed a fourth consecutive training session on Wednesday, busy undergoing “treatments”. Colin White, for his part, participated in all the exercises, without constraint. His name is still on the injured list, but he would be eligible to return if he is physically ready. It is also Samuel Montembeault who will face the Boston Bruins on Thursday.