Perhaps it was the joy of being on the meticulously manicured lawn of a golf course. Perhaps it was the cloudless sky that inspired optimism on this Monday morning. Perhaps it was the spellbinding effect of the jazz musicians welcoming the guests, although the titanic taught us that a performing band doesn’t always bring good news.
Posted yesterday at 4:50 p.m.
Still, at the start of a season which, according to a majority of experts, will end on April 13 for the Canadian, Joel Edmundson had a very clear message.
“There will be no excuses if we miss the playoffs. We think in terms of qualifying for the playoffs and then everything is possible. We don’t see it as a reconstruction. »
Of all the speakers met at the Habs golf tournament, Edmundson was – by far – the most categorical. His reaction is normal, notice. What signal would the new deputy send to the new captain if he arrived already resigned?
“I think we’re going to surprise a lot of people,” added the great defender. Several players arrived in town a few weeks before the camp, we can feel the enthusiasm in the locker room. Last year was a first step. We have something to prove, we want to participate in the playoffs. »
His teammates have opted for less restrictive formulas. “There will be obstacles along the way, but we will take a step forward this year, then another next year,” predicted goaltender Jake Allen.
“People can think whatever they want. The guys in the locker room know what we can accomplish, Cole Caufield agreed. We will believe in our abilities, hope for a good start and we will see what will happen. »
PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
Cole Caufield
What about Martin St-Louis? “I don’t know if we are in reconstruction or not. Expectations can change during the year”, he recalled, before stressing that he did not wish to qualify in “one word” the situation of his team. “Perhaps in two or three months, we will have a better idea of where we are,” continued the CH head coach.
Imbalance
These words contrast with a cold analysis of the team.
Let’s start at the front where, with a healthy workforce, the Canadiens could count on 11 forwards earning $3 million or more per season. The other 31 NHL teams average six each. Any manager will remember that an essential element of a balanced formation is to have a number of productive players at “low” wages.
This imbalance is corrected at the blue line, where the CH has the smallest payroll in defense ($ 15.155 million), according to CapFriendly. These savings come with uncertainty; that of deploying two or three very inexperienced defenders, night after night. The top three contenders for tenure this season, Kaiden Guhle, Justin Barron and Jordan Harris, have played 17 NHL games. Unless one of these three becomes a Moritz Seider, integration could be painful at times.
“I prefer to approach the situation with optimism,” Allen said. Yes, there will be difficult times, but that’s part of learning. These young people are very good. They arrive in a new environment. Once they have their bearings, they will be better, and with [Edmundson, David Savard et Michael Matheson], we have veterans to help them. »
PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
Jake Allen
The situation in net will be just as uncertain, now that Carey Price is ruled out. Allen was a starter early in his career, but last year injuries multiplied as his workload grew.
His assistant, Samuel Montembeault, played part of last season despite a hand injury; its performance, when healthy, remains difficult to predict.
Add to that an already strong division, which has two of the most improved teams (the Senators and the Red Wings), and the elements are in place for a transitional season.
Go from afar
Finally, recent history suggests that it will be difficult for the Habs to make a big leap forward.
Montreal concluded the last campaign at 32e rank in the general classification. However, in nine campaigns since the 2012 lockout, only two last-place teams have made the playoffs the following season: the 2017-18 Avalanche and the 2016-17 Maple Leafs. But the first team relied on Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen; the second, on Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner.
Until proven otherwise, the CH does not have such phenomena in its ranks to bounce back. Juraj Slafkovsky is very promising, but we still don’t know if he will spend the season in Montreal or Laval. Predicting him a rookie year like Matthews’ six years ago would be highly unwise.
But all these beautiful people are hopeful that with a head coach who will have had a training camp to instill his concepts, a coach who has allowed the team to present the 24e file of the NHL from its hiring, in February, a form of progression is possible.
If it doesn’t lead to the playoffs, Geoff Molson won’t mind, because he sees beyond 2023.
“We have to take the time necessary to accomplish our objectives and have a winning team in the long term,” said the owner. I’m in no rush at all. »