By J.D. Lagrange, Senior Writer, All Habs Hockey Magazine

When the Montreal Canadiens were going through their good stretch of games where it seemed like they wouldn’t be losing a game until the end of the season, the defense was looking stellar and the offense was producing goals at a regular rate. Oh how things change in a long hockey season and some fans are ready to throw that same team under the bus as they are going through a stretch of inconsistency.

PENTICTON, BC. — Even the outstanding efforts by netminder Carey Price cannot prevent the puck from entering the net. In the first 31 games of the season, the Habs allowed four goals or more on six occasions. In their last 18 games, the opponents have scored four or more goals eight times and had it not been for Price’s performances, this statistic would be even worse. And while the offense has gone through an offensive dry spell, they have scored an average of three goals per game in their last nine games. As coach Michel Therrien is preaching to his players that it takes three goals to give yourself a chance to win games in today’s NHL, he will also have to start preaching that they have to allow fewer goals than they score in order to accomplish what they are set to do.

The Canadiens’ defensive coverage has been terrible as of late and while the defensemen have to take a big part of the blame, the responsibility doesn’t sit solely on them. We’ve seen many forwards missing their defensive assignments in their own zone and turning the puck over in the neutral zone, leaving the defense and the goalies in very difficult positions.

Josh Gorges is having some difficulties, Alexei Emelin is a shadow of his old self, Andrei Markov has lost a step or two in the skating department, Francis Bouillon and Douglas Murray have to play more than they should and Raphaël Diaz has been a healthy scratch before suffering the flu. The Diaz issue is compounding the problems for the Habs as he is, with P.K. Subban, the only right handed defenseman, forcing two defenders to play on their wrong side, something former NHL defenseman Cory Cross was telling me last month that it is incredibly hard to adjust to at this level.

So what do the Canadiens need in order to find their bearings and return to the form which saw them catch up to the Boston Bruins atop of their division and prevent other teams like the Leafs from catching up to them? First let’s look at a few glaring needs that I see as key to success.

The lack of a quality right handed defenseman to play top-four minutes behind P.K. Subban is a must as it has become obvious that Diaz cannot do it on a consistent basis. Someone with some experience, someone who is sound defensively and who can make a good first pass coming out of his zone, someone who can kill penalties from the right side.

We have been signing the same song for a long time now and while Marc Bergevin and Trevor Timmins have been drafting in hope to address this problem, some big players for Top-six, preferably a right-winger, are needed. Gallagher, Gionta and Briere are all under six feet tall and while two of them play bigger than their size, they get pushed off the puck too easily and they don’t command respect, as we saw against Toronto when Dion “pick your opponent” Phaneuf took liberties against all three of them.

It’s very unfortunate that George Parros has suffered from a couple of concussions but the Canadiens have to try to acquire in the near future a young heavyweight enforcer for its fourth line. They must find someone who can skate a bit and learn to be somewhat responsible defensively, someone who can play 6-8 minutes a game to support guys like Brandon Prust and Travis Moen who, by the way, has been much better this year.

But where will they find that much needed help, do you ask? Well let’s take a look at the depth in the organization first. As there is extensive research and I found myself writing over 3,500 words for this article, we will split the analysis into two. In this first segment, we will be looking at the forward position and in a few days, we will come back with the defense as well as some potential solutions.

CENTER

The team is extremely deep at the center position, although none of those guys are currently true top-end producer in this league as we speak.

• While he is progressing extremely well, Alex Galchenyuk has the potential to become one but he is, in my humble opinion, two years away from breaking out into that player when talking into account his age and physical strength.
• Tomas Plekanec is an excellent hockey player, a good checker with blazing speed, someone who excels while short-handed but he tends to disappear when the going gets tough.
• David Desharnais, after a very rough start of the season, has been on fire since being a healthy scratch with 23 points in 27 games and a plus-4 rating, and he and Max Pacioretty have since been the only two constant offensive threat of this team.
• I must be one of the only Habs’ fans on the planet who is concerned that Lars Eller might have reached his peak as the big center is struggling to find consistency in his game. While still relatively young (he will turn 25 in four months), Eller is only showing flashes of what he can do while he is invisible too many nights. I was expecting a breakthrough season for him and I don’t buy into the theory that it’s Therrien’s fault and it’s under him that he had a career season last year.
• Ryan White is what he is, a fourth line agitator who can win the odd draw. He has improved this season but he’ll never be more than what he is.
• The wild card at the start of the season was Daniel Briere, a natural center who has been used on right wing more often than not this season but it is looking more and more that signing him was a mistake by GM Marc Bergevin. Unfortunately, he has one year left to his contract.

LEFT WING

Unless Marc Bergevin is able to trade Rene Bourque, the team is pretty much set at that position, especially if Michel Therrien wants to keep young Galchenyuk at that position to continue his development.

• Max Pacioretty’s name has been in rumours way too much in my opinion and while teams may be calling about him, it is very, very unlikely that he’ll be moved, especially that he’s under a very good, long term contract. The team’s only true sniper, he changed stick blades this year and his wrist shot has surprised many goaltenders.
• Rene Bourque has been disappointing this season and there have been countless rumours circulating to the effect that Bergevin was trying to unload his contract. Unfortunately for both parties, as long as Bourque is not performing, few teams if any will have any interest in the big winger.
• Brandon Prust is there to stay and he is a much better hockey player than what many in Montreal were expecting, a contribution which goes well beyond his fists and his leadership. Third line left winger is where I’d like to see him, with a spot on the PK as he’s being used right now.
• Travis Moen had an awful season last year but to his credit, he has rebounded this season and he is a good contributor on this team. Unless he’s a throw-in for a bigger trade, I doubt he’s going anywhere.
• Michaël Bournival had a great first half of the season but it’s been more difficult so far in the second half. Having said that, it’s not unusual for a young player, especially that he’s been mostly used on the bottom six, mostly on the fourth line where he can’t show his offensive upside as much as he would on a top line. At 5’11” and 196 pounds, he’s not small but he doesn’t scream size as the Habs need.

RIGHT WING

This is one of the team’s weaknesses in my opinion. Too small, too old and not enough production from that position and even looking at the depth chart, there doesn’t seem to be any immediate help available which tells me that Marc Bergevin should be looking outside the organization for help.

• While Brian Gionta’s offensive production has dropped this year, the captain is playing some good hockey, especially defensively and by playing the system asked by the coaching staff. Marc Bergevin has recently hinted that he might be interested in bringing the pending UFA back at a discounted rate, so what comes out of that remains to be seen.
• One guy who shouldn’t be going anywhere is young Brendan Gallagher, who is like the Energizer Bunny as he keeps going, and going, and going. He is one constant on this inconsistent team and he has often been used to get a player or a line going. He’s currently playing on the team’s first line with Max Pacioretty and David Desharnais.
• While Marc Bergevin has said being satisfied with George Parros, his concussions are a huge problem for a guy supposed to make a living giving and receiving punches and it wouldn’t be at all surprising if this was Parros’ last season in pro hockey. He has made a good living with the game.
• It will be interesting to see if one of Mike Blunden (27 years old), Louis Leblanc or Christian Thomas (5’9” 176lbs) will be given an opportunity this season or next year. Sebastian Collberg (Frolunda HC, Sweden), Stefan Fournier (6’3” 210lbs), Patrick Holland, Michael McCarron and Sven Andrighetto are a few years away from being ready, although Fournier does bring that much needed size and grit.

Go Habs Go!

I welcome your comments. Check back tomorrow for Part Two of my analysis.