Review day for the Canadiens: here are 10 things we learned from this season

And There you go! This long Canadian season is finally over. Another exhausting marathon at the end of which the Habs are excluded from the playoffs. This time, however, we expected it. After all, the Canadiens were in year one of their unofficial, but very apparent, rebuild. A reconstruction that could gain speed if the organization wins the Connor Bedard lottery, scheduled for May 8. This season of 68 points (31-45-6) to forget – the second lowest harvest in the history of the Canadiens in a calendar of at least 80 games – will have, at the very least, made it possible to make the following 10 observations .

• Read also: Canadian: the ordeal is over

• Read also: Canadian: Martin St-Louis happy with the work of his players

• Read also: Jacques-Beauchamp Trophy: David Savard, obscure hero of the season

1) A well-established culture

Hired in February 2022, Martin St-Louis was in his first full season behind the Canadiens bench. After flying over the main aspects of his philosophy, he was able to really implement it. While waiting for the results to arrive, it is imperative to build the culture and identity of the team. That’s kind of the vision he hammered home throughout the winter. A message he was able to convey, with the help of veterans such as Nick Suzuki, David Savard, Jake Allen, Mike Matheson and Joel Edmundson. Virtually eliminated from the playoffs since the bottom of the wave in December, the Canadiens’ players continued to give themselves body and soul until the last weeks of the calendar. This is proof that the culture is well established.

2) Banking experience

The season was already shaping up to be a long one in Montreal. When we learned that Mike Matheson and Joel Edmundson would miss the start of the campaign, we thought that the Habs would eat sincere night after night. How to hold on with so many young defenders in the formation? And yet. Kaiden Guhle, Jordan Harris and Arber Xhekaj have done a great job. Guhle has demonstrated that he will be this team’s next general on the blue line. And faster than you think. Xhekaj quickly imposed himself physically by standing up to several strong men, while demonstrating that he was able to follow the parade. The trio was joined by Justin Barron. In his case, it hasn’t always been easy, but at 21, that’s a lot of banking experience.

3) The end for Drouin

Jonathan Drouin’s contract will expire on 1^er July. Already six years have passed since Marc Bergevin acquired him from the Lightning, declaring that he “couldn’t miss this chance”. In 321 games with the Canadiens, Drouin tallied 186 points, including 48 goals. Which left several supporters and observers on their appetite. Especially at $5.5 million per season. The passage of the Quebecois in Montreal will also have been punctuated by some health problems. Wrist operations and anxiety attacks caused him to miss many meetings. His future seems to be taking shape more in Europe than in the NHL. Unless he agrees to attend a training camp on a simple invitation.

4) The others we won’t see again

It’s not just Jonathan Drouin that it would be surprising to see again in the Canadiens’ uniform next season. Will Kent Hughes risk offering another contract to Sean Monahan, injured more often than not? It is permissible to doubt it. Has Denis Gurianov done enough to get a new deal? That remains to be seen. Also, with a healthy center line, there won’t be room for Chris Tierney. Paul Byron’s contract is another that will come to an end, which will likely mean retirement for the 33-year-old striker. Still struggling with hip problems, the Ontarian hasn’t played a game this season.

5) Cleaning in the infirmary

Once again this season, the Canadian was not spared from injuries. Habs players have missed more than 700 games due to injury. That’s a lot of millions in the infirmary. Many will say that it is bad luck and that it is part of the risks of practicing a contact sport. Either. However, what is more serious is that we have witnessed misdiagnoses and too hasty returns. And this is not the first time. Shea Weber’s career was cut short due to a poorly healed injury. Moreover, during the season, Kent Hughes said that the work of the medical staff would be reassessed during the summer.

6) Electrifying Caufield

In this season which was expected to be miserable, Cole Caufield remained the only hope of happiness and rejoicing. The 22-year-old striker did not disappoint. Posted in one of the face-off circles, he caught a good number of goalkeepers in default. He moved the ropes with such regularity that we wondered if he wouldn’t become the first 50-goal scorer in Canadian history since Stéphane Richer. Unfortunately, a shoulder operation forced him to stop the tally at 26 goals in 46 games. On January 20, the day after his last game, he ranked 11th in the league in the scoring column. We would have taken even more.

7) Dach, a real center player

If Kirby Dach continues to progress the way he did in that first season with the Canadiens, Kent Hughes will be considered a genius. The 21-year-old forward has provided excellent service to the Habs. He wanted to be a good complement for Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. In the center, he gained confidence as the season progressed. If he reaches his potential, he will allow St-Louis to bet on two first centers of high quality, capable as much of contributing in attack as of being reliable defensively. Maybe the Blackhawks gave up on him too quickly?

8) A first season with the C for Suzuki

The youngest captain in Canadian history, Nick Suzuki did not seem stifled by the pressure that comes with this responsibility. In terms of production, he had the best season of his young career (26 goals, 40 assists, 66 points). A true man of iron, he still hasn’t missed a game since joining the NHL. However, it is not because he stays away from traffic, he who is one of the most used attackers on the circuit (21 mins 06s). In the locker room, he seems to have quickly earned the respect of his teammates.

9) Montembeault, number one?

Here is another one that has made great progress. Completely recovered from surgery on his right wrist at the end of last season, Samuel Montembeault has compiled the best statistics of his career (16-19-3, 3.42.901). Much more solid and assured in front of his net, he gained the confidence of his coach and his teammates. At the end of the season, he got the start in 11 of the last 15 games. A sequence that seems to show that he has dislodged Jake Allen from the number one goalkeeper position.

10) RHP has made a name for itself

The impressive number of injuries has allowed some players to get auditions they might not have gotten. Anthony Richard, Jesse Ylonen and Alex Belzile have all spent time in Montreal. However, Rafaël Harvey-Pinard is without a doubt the one who benefited the most from his recall. By his combativeness, his vision of the game and his speed, he seduced St-Louis enough for the latter to use him on the first line on several occasions. On some occasions, he even got playing time on the massive attack and in shorthandedness. Harvey-Pinard has made such a name for himself that it wouldn’t be surprising to see him get a regular job with the team next year after signing a new contract.