In this season where the watchword is progression for the Canadian, any improvement is good to embellish the portrait. At mid-season, we highlight the fact that the team has five more points than last year. It’s not huge, but it’s better than a setback.
However, if the Habs maintained the same pace between now and April, they would end the campaign with 80 points. This would be an increase of a dozen points compared to last season and an overall increase of 25 points for the first two years of its recovery plan.
Seen from this angle, it’s encouraging.
Still far from the series
No one was shouting it from the rooftops, but after snatching a point from the Flyers on Wednesday, Martin St-Louis’ squad was only five points away from a place in the playoffs. But we knew that there was little to hope for.
The pendulum came back to her face Thursday as she allowed the San Jose Sharks to record their first victory in 13 games.
Nasty cold shower! The CH now finds itself seven points from a place in the playoffs.
You have to remain realistic and patient.
Don’t they say that patience is the mother of all virtues?
A minimum of two more years will pass before the Canadian can really aspire to participate in the spring tournament.
Success requires two players
After 41 matches, the club has only eight victories in regulation time. This is one less than last season at the same date.
The chances of victory rest mainly on the shoulders of captain Nick Suzuki and Samuel Montembeault, the most improved player on the team who, despite his winning record, remains trapped in a menage a trois in front of the net.
For his part, Cayden Primeau agrees with team management to keep him in Montreal. The ideal would be for him to play the role of auxiliary to Montembeault.
The problem is that Jake Allen, who Kent Hughes is looking to sell, has little value on the market.
Among the youngest, Kaiden Guhle shows a good progression curve. The defenseman from Edmonton sacrificed offense to refine his defensive game. His progress is remarkable in this regard.
Juraj Slafkovsky, meanwhile, has come out of his shell. He gained confidence and physical maturity. He is on the right track and has his place in the first line. His name appears more often in the summaries, but he would benefit from shooting more often.
A good word is also in order for Jayden Struble, who constitutes a great revelation. It’s not sparkly, but you feel in control. His checks are impactful and opponents who try to hit him feel like they are hitting a wall.
When Arber Xhekaj returns to the big club, the Canadian will have two defenders capable of mixing. It won’t be too much.
Caufield: don’t panic!
Let’s move on to Cole Caufield.
It is no exaggeration to say that there is concern about its production. But let’s not panic!
Opposing teams are watching him more closely, which is to be expected. We don’t hit him anymore. We sometimes see big players moving him as if he were a straw in hot zones. It’s the price of glory.
The management of the Canadian showed him that they believed in his abilities by granting him a lucrative eight-year contract. Caufield won’t say it, but he must be feeling more pressure.
That said, he has to find a way out. His team needs him to score goals.
Stick to the plan
This is where the Canadian is in this second year of reconstruction.
Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes will not deviate from their plan. Both men show calm and wisdom. They want their team to learn to walk before they run.
There is no point in rushing things if it means going backwards, which we have seen with many teams.