Three consecutive exclusions from the playoffs, five in seven years, six in nine years. It’s not the best time to be a Canadiens fan.
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If we exclude the accidental presence of the Habs in the 2021 Stanley Cup final, this difficult passage is similar to that of the turn of the millennium. Between 1999 and 2007, Montrealers missed the prom five times in eight springs, including three times in a row (1999, 2000 and 2001).
At least this time there seems to be progression. And not only because the Habs have postponed the moment of their exclusion each time (March 25, March 28 and April 4).
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Yes, the loss to the Lightning was a stinging reminder that there is still a way to go for this young team to have a long spring. However, we saw some beautiful things.
With an average age of just under 26, the Habs are the fifth youngest team on the circuit.
Encouraging outbreaks
Before our eyes, Juraj Slafkovsky became a man and an established NHL player. Stronger, more confident, more robust, he has become effective everywhere on the ice. He is far from the Slafkovsky of the start of the season. The one that led us to wonder if it wouldn’t be better to send him to Laval for a few weeks.
Nick Suzuki asserted himself even more in his role as number one center and leader of the team. He will end the season with almost a point per game, something rarely seen among the Habs over the last quarter of a century. The worst part is that at 24 years old, he has not yet reached his potential.
Cole Caufield has filled the net on a less regular basis, but Martin St-Louis says he is a more complete player.
On the blue line, Kaiden Guhle is increasingly establishing himself. In his second season and at only 22 years old, he displays the confidence and stability of a veteran of several seasons.
The presence of Logan Mailloux and David Reinbacher in Laval, as well as the upcoming arrival of Lane Hutson, suggests great competition among the defenders.
Enough so that Kent Hughes could possibly concoct a transaction when the time comes to add the missing piece to his puzzle.
Back to 2001
In 2001, in a very different league from today, it must be admitted, the Canadian’s roster was made up mainly of aging players.
With 47 points in 54 games, Saku Koivu was the team’s top scorer. The Finn formed a core of young veterans composed of Sheldon Souray, Craig Rivet, Richard Zednik (acquired at the end of the season) and him.
Due to several evaluation errors made during selection sessions in previous years, the only hopefuls on site were José Théodore, Andrei Markov and Stéphane Robidas.
In the subsidiary, based in Quebec, there were Mike Ribeiro, Michael Ryder and François Beauchemin (who only played one game with the Canadian before being claimed in the expansion draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets).
In short, it was in the order of rather thin compared to what is in the organization today.
There is therefore reason to remain hopeful that better days are approaching. But to keep this flame alive, it will be necessary, at the very least, for the Canadian to be in the race until the very end next season.
