After Drew Doughty, Patrik Laine. When two big names fall in battle in matches without any meaning, the debate on the relevance of the preparatory schedule inevitably comes to the fore.
This question arose at Martin St-Louis’ press briefing on Monday, after the Canadian’s training, held as usual in M’s hometown.me Brossard.
“As a player, I wanted to play a lot of matches, have my reps, and when the season started, I was ready,” recalled the Habs head coach. I wasn’t using my first 10 games to dip my toe. I wanted to jump into the lake.
“It’s important to have rehearsals, but you hope those rehearsals don’t come with a price. »
That said, for the Canadian, the last two exhibition games take on new importance. The absence of Wool, the duration of which we still do not know, essentially creates two projects:
- Find Laine’s replacement on the second line and, if the first line is dismantled, reconfigure the top 6 ;
- Identify the attacker who, therefore, will be entitled to a permanent position in the top 12.
Regarding the first project, St-Louis remained vague. “Everything is possible. We will be guided towards the decisions,” he said. The coach, however, clarified that the internal competition triggered by the loss of Laine is not only for young people, but “also veterans who have been here for a long time”.
PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Martin St-Louis
Luckily, the Habs are counting on a 30-year-old veteran, paid like a second line player, but who presented fourth line numbers last season and third line before that: Josh Anderson. The big winger has earned praise from St. Louis even if, at first glance, he doesn’t particularly stand out in this camp.
“He understands the kind of season he had last year and he acts accordingly. I am very enthusiastic,” said St-Louis.
Inserting Anderson to the right of Alex Newhook and Kirby Dach is the simplest solution, but St-Louis could also dismantle its Caufield-Suzuki-Slafkovsky unit to better distribute forces.
To this end, Cole Caufield recalled that he liked playing with Dach. The latter, however, played on the wing, not in the center, when they were reunited two years ago.
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Cole Caufield
“He likes to pass and I like to shoot,” Caufield recalled. It’s easy to play with him. It feels like the game is slowing down, but it’s not. He has a special ability to find guys in the open. »
The aspirants
As for the permanent position to be filled in the top 12everything will depend on the duration of Laine’s absence. As a reminder, the main candidates:
Olivier Kapanen
The best young striker in camp. His contractual situation is clear: if he can’t hold on to an NHL job, he will spend the season in Sweden. No American League for him. If it is agreed that Laine is lost for the season, it becomes easier to keep Kapanen in Montreal if Laine can return in a few months. Kapanen believes he hasn’t really played on the wing, aside from a few appearances here and there, since he was 16 (he’s now 21). With four healthy centers and winger Alex Newhook as a replacement option, his short-term future in Montreal lies on the wing.
Emil Heineman
Without turning heads, he doesn’t know a bad side. The 22-year-old Swede scored two points in his first outing, but he mainly distributed four hits in each game. However, if a position opens up within the fourth trio, this robustness could give an interesting identity to this unit. “He’s fast, he finishes his checks and he has a good shot,” St-Louis said. I can’t put my finger on precisely what it does better, but it definitely looks better. It can be greater ease in our environment. »
Alex Barré-Boulet
He is the experienced candidate, at 27 years old. He also has 68 games played in the NHL, including 36 last season in Tampa. The list of forwards he played at least 50 minutes with last season says a lot about the different roles he was given: Braydon Point, Nick Paul, Nikita Kucherov, Anthony Cirelli, Tyler Motte, Brandon Hagel and Luke Glendening. “I have always been offensive. Playing with players who have offensive abilities helps me a lot,” he summarized. He has indeed been productive at all levels, except the NHL, where he was limited to 9 points in 36 games last year.
Whatever scenario awaits Laine, the fact that he uses crutches suggests he will miss some part of the season. This fight should therefore largely fill the conversations of the final segment of the camp.
In brief
A regret
Martin St-Louis returned to the phrase he used so often last year: “The league continues. » This is a way of saying that even if the CH loses an important piece in Wool, the opponents will not give up just to be nice. St-Louis, however, admitted his disappointment because “we felt that we were doing the first thing we had to do: return [Laine] excited to come to the arena. » At his last meeting with the media, Laine was, however, very critical of his own game.
Wool visiting
Laine still showed up in training. Left knee orthosis, left foot without shoes, crutches to get around, he went to the players’ bench, from where he watched some exercises. “He remains with us and in good spirits. You have to find a way to stay enthusiastic and keep him in a good state of mind,” said Cole Caufield. David Reinbacher, also injured in a leg on Saturday, was not seen near the ice rink. No update on their condition was offered Monday.
Guhle gets closer
For his part, Kaiden Guhle participated in training, but dressed in a blue sweater suggesting that he cannot take contact. Guhle is recovering from an appendectomy and has yet to play in a preseason game this fall. Josh Anderson was entitled to a day of treatment and did not put on the skates.