A few days before the opening of training camp, no one predicts the Stanley Cup or a place in the playoffs for the Canadian. A new era is beginning for this organization with a glorious past. For the first time in its long history, the Habs are going through a real phase of reconstruction.
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For a long time, the term was taboo in the Bell Center pharmacies. Even today, Kent Hughes does not dare to pronounce this word.
Nevertheless, the Canadian is well and truly there. Whatever happened by force of circumstance. It was not in the cards after his surprise participation in the Stanley Cup Final in 2021.
But when Carey Price and Shea Weber fell in the field of honor, crippled by incurable injuries, the team fell to the bottom of the precipice.
Patching
There are some to say that it should never have happened.
Let’s face it instead.
Since its last conquest of the cup, the Habs were at best a formation of midfield.
The team has missed the playoffs 11 times over the past 27 seasons. That’s three more exclusions than his first 77 National League campaigns.
Apart from the Bruins, the other four original NHL teams, namely the Leafs, Rangers, Red Wings and Blackhawks, have had to carry out a major reshuffle of their roster in the present millennium.
Three-time Stanley Cup winners between 2010 and 2015, the Hawks are in a second phase of reconstruction.
Penguins consistency
The Pittsburgh Penguins claim the longest active playoff streak with 16.
This is a high among the major leagues in North America.
Sidney Crosby, a generational player like he does almost every 10 years, obviously has something to do with it.
The Penguins have been able to surround him well over the years. Players like Evgeny Malkin, Marc-André Fleury, Kris Letang and Jake Guentzel, to name a few, have contributed greatly to this beautiful continuity that characterizes the organization.
But the Penguins suffered before getting to the top. This is the price to pay for any team in recovery mode.
The first pieces are here
Supporters of the Canadiens must get used to the idea that the next few years will bring their share of inconveniences.
How long will it last?
The leaders of the Canadian cannot quantify it themselves.
On the other hand, the next few years should bring real hope for the highest peaks, which we haven’t seen for a long time in Montreal.
Fans are already conquered by Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield.
Juraj Slafkovsky has a size like we haven’t seen often among attackers who have worn the blue, white, red jersey.
Photo d’archives, Pierre-Paul Poulin
Juraj Slafkovsky
Let’s give him time to adjust to the NHL’s style of play and smaller rinks.
Time will tell, but I dare to believe that, unlike Alex Galchenyuk and Jesperi Kotkaniemi, he will live up to expectations.
Good coach for young people
Why would Slafkovsky be more successful than the other two?
Because Martin St-Louis has the qualities to give players confidence.
We saw it with Caufield.
St-Louis is the type of coach the Canadiens need in the current context. He will be the first to say that he still has a lot to learn.
On the other hand, he knows how today’s players think and how things are done in a locker room. He experienced it fully during the 17 seasons he played in the big league.
His new assistant Stéphane Robidas has a good head too. He should be a good teacher for young defenders like Justin Barron and Jordan Harris, who we saw with the big club last season and who we expect to see again in training this year.
Photo d’archives, Martin Chevalier
Justin Barron
Photo d’archives, Martin Chevalier
Jordan Harris
Still in defense, it will be interesting to follow the progress of Kaiden Guhle and Arber Xhekaj, who have completed their junior training, as well as that of Mattias Norlinder.
Photo d’archives, Martin Chevalier
Kaiden Guhle
We must no longer live in the past. It was wonderful while it lasted.
Now we have to move forward.