You always have to keep a dose of reserve for miracles, like that of the St. Louis Blues a few years ago, but if the trend continues, the season of the Canadiens will be catastrophic.
A few more losses and it will be necessary to turn to a long term plan, if it is not already done.
The management will first have to take care of the young people already on board. Cole Caufield showed some nice flashes during the recent trip to the US West Coast, but we are far from the confident player at the end of last season.
With only one assist in ten games, the Canadian decided Monday to send him to regain his confidence in the American League.
PHOTO DAVID BOILY, THE PRESS
Cole Caufield was sold to the Laval Rocket on Monday.
On the other hand, we can let the Suzuki and Romanovs develop at their own pace in the NHL, depending on the mistakes, since the games may no longer have a great meaning in a few weeks. The Ottawa Senators did, after all, and the Tkachuk, Norris and company are no worse off …
We will already have to rejoice in the possibility of obtaining a very favorable first draft pick if the CH maintains such a level of mediocrity.
In a spirit of great clairvoyance, Marc Bergevin made sure by getting Christian Dvorak to protect himself in a certain way. If the CH finished in the cellar of the standings and drafted among the top 11, it keeps its first choice and will instead give up the first choice obtained from the Hurricanes for Jesperi Kotkaniemi, let us remember. Carolina is currently second in the overall standings and her pick would be at the end of the first round at the end of the first round if the team keeps up that pace.
In the grand scheme of another reset, more and more likely, it will also be necessary to study the players likely to attract hopes or young people.
There are not a lot. But Ben Chiarot, an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year, could bring back an interesting choice or hope.
PHOTO DAVID BOILY, THE PRESS
Ben chiarot
Carey Price? It was offered on a silver platter to the Kraken. Seattle did not want it even if it would have had nothing to give in return. At 34, with an annual salary of 10.5 million for four more seasons after this one and the wear and tear of time, both physical and moral, Price will bring nothing.
The same goes for Brendan Gallagher. He is 29 years old. The tired body too. In his last 31 games, including the playoffs, Gallagher has eight points, including three goals. He’s still on the sidelines. And he is entering the first season of a six-year contract, valued at 6.5 million per year.
The Canadiens fan will, once again, have to follow and hope for a progression of his hopes outside of Montreal.
Ryan Poehling had a tough training camp, but he started the season well at Laval, in the AHL, with five points in just four games. He remains the long-term candidate for the post of third center, still not filled. Winger Jesse Ylonen, 22, has five points in six games.
PHOTO SARAH MONGEAU-BIRKETT, THE PRESS
Ryan poehling
In his role as agitator and righter of wrongs, Michael Pezzetta, a sixth-round pick in 2016, has a surprising start to the season, after an astonishing training camp, with six points in eight games, but he remains a candidate. to a fourth line position.
Otherwise, Kaiden Guhle, the team’s first pick in 2020, will be one more year old in October 2022. He’s having a good start to the season in Prince Albert with his usual defensive play and eight assists in seven games, and he will have an experience. rewarding at the World Junior Championship.
We will have to hope to see Jordan Harris, third round pick in 2018, to come to an agreement with the CH in the spring. The Northeastern Huskies captain plays 30 minutes per game in the NCAA and has five points in eight games, having been shut out in the first four.
Alternatively, petite forward Sean Farrell, shunned for almost four rounds in 2020, kicked off his NCAA career on the hats of Harvard with … seven points in his first two games. He had amassed 101 in 53 USHL games last year with the Chicago Steel.
Fifth-round pick in 2021, Josuah Roy, is also having a strong start to the season in Sherbrooke with 19 points in 11 games. Jayden Struble, Jan Mysak, Luke Tuch, Blake Biondi and Mattias Norlinder are also among the hopeful bank.
Obviously, ALL teams in the NHL have their share of talented young players. But if we don’t live on hope, what is left?
The feat of the day
PHOTO JOHN MINCHILLO, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Igor shesterkin
Young New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin allowed the Seattle Kraken just one goal on Sunday, and New York claimed a fifth straight road victory. The Rangers are 6-2-1, third in the Metropolitan section. Shesterkin, 25, a fourth-round pick in 2014, has allowed one goal or less in five of his six starts this season. He’s 5-1-1, 1.70 GAA and .947 save rate.
Quote of the day
To gain the coach’s confidence, and for him to allow me to be creative offensively, I have to give him something first. I showed up at the camp and did as I was asked instead of feeling sorry for myself and sulking. I am here because of my commitment. I changed things. I had to do it.
The Evgeny Kuznetsov center, on a daily basis Washington post
After a tough season, Kuznetsov has 12 points in his first 8 games with the Capitals.
The number of the day: 6
The Calgary Flames already have six wins in just eight games. Only the Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes have more. This is one of the interesting twists and turns since the start of this young NHL season.
To read
1- Why does Guillaume Lefrançois mention Maurice Richard, Émile “Butch” Bouchard, Toe Blake and Buddy Dame in his analysis of the CH Sunday match in Anaheim? It’s up to you to find out …
2- Cédric Paquette will have to explain himself to the NHL authorities for his sneaky checking against young Trevor Zegras on Sunday. It doesn’t bode well …
3- Nashville Predators prospect Luke Prokop says his coming out, an unusual fact in the hockey world, gave a boost to his career. A text by Jean-François Téotonio.