FEATURE | Should Marc Bergevin Improve the Montreal Canadiens Defence, Trade Habs Prospects, Jonas Brodin, Olli Juolevi

ROCKET SPORTS MEDIA — During all of last season, the Canadiens were essentially in the same position: two points behind Toronto, and in a fight for a playoff position. They seem destined for a similar scenario again this season (although Toronto currently has their own issues.)

This situation should come as no surprise to Habs fans. Marc Bergevin made few changes to the lineup aside from the signings of Keith Kinkaid to replace Antti Niemi and Ben Chiarot to replace Jordie Benn. Both can be argued as slight upgrades, however they can be characterized as treading water.

The Canadiens are in what management has dubbed a retool. Rather than sacrificing a few years of competitiveness to add more high end draft picks, Bergevin followed the Bruins model. They relied on Zdeno Chara, Tukka Rask and Patrice Bergeron along with some luck at the draft and quick development to provide short to medium term gains.

The Canadiens have improved their power-play moving from an abysmal 13.2 percent (30th overall) last season to 12th ranked at 20.9 percent. They are 10th in goals for at 3.32 goals per game.

So if the offence is improved, why aren’t the Canadiens doing better in the standings? The reason is the team defence. The Habs have allowed an average of 32.9 shots per game, ninth worst in the league. And the penalty-kill is ranked at 29th overall with a woeful 72.5 percent rate.

So how can Bergevin fix the defence? Should he allow Luke Richardson more time to adjust to the system to allow the current roster to improve?

Another approach is to proceed to a roster move. The Canadiens have promising left handed defenders in the pipeline. Players such as Alex Romanov, Otto Leskinen and Mathias Norlinder are improving, and one may be able to make the NHL next season. That however does nothing to help the team today.

There will be a need to improve in the short term. Making the playoffs will be a key development tool for the current youth, but it will also be important for management to justify their plan to the masses. It may be time to sacrifice some picks and prospects in the Habs system in a package to land players that can help them in the meantime.

Last month, some believed that Bergevin was looking to add Marc-Edouard Vlasic. While some fans would welcome the addition of another Quebec-born player to the roster, Vlasic is less than an ideal candidate.

At 32 years of age, Vlasic is on the downward slope of his excellent career. His 7 million dollar cap hit, six years remaining on his term and full no-move clause point to his not being a fit with a team looking to add more youth.

A player that would be a much better fit is Jonas Brodin. Habs fans have now seen him play twice this season and he is a proven puck-moving defenceman. Brodin isn’t known for putting up big offensive numbers, however, his ability to log heavy minutes in all situations would be a major addition to a blueline in dire need of both defensive and transitional play. As an added bonus, he plays a style that would pair well with Weber, providing an instant upgrade to Mete on the top pairing.

Perhaps it’s time for Bergevin to take a gamble. He loves reclamation projects, but he moves in only when they’ve reached rock bottom. Olli Juolevi would qualify as a reclamation project that has not bottomed out.

Juolevi has immense talent, though he has suffered multiple injuries. He has returned this season and the Canucks will be easing him back into the rigors of professional hockey. The talented Finn has to deal not only with his health, but being labeled as a bust by his own fanbase as his fifth overall selection by Vancouver.

With Quinn Hughes already making headlines, the Canucks may be more willing to move on from Juolevi if provided another youthful left-handed defenceman in a package deal. Juolevi, when healthy, brings mobility and great vision to his game. He has an ability to defend reasonably well with positioning, to clear the defensive zone quickly while generating a transition game at top speed.

Juolevi’s addition would be a risk, in both the cost to acquire him and in the question of if he can crack the NHL lineup immediately.

But at this point in the retool, with a slow start under the Canadiens’ belt and the pressure on management, it may be time to decide to go all in on filling the team’s one glaring need.