by Marc Lescoutre , Vodcast Producer, All Habs Hockey Magazine
OTTAWA, ON — As the NHL playoffs inch closer to completion, it seems as though it’s been forever since the last Montreal Canadiens game, and even more importantly, since Corey Desormeaux and I recorded the season finale of the Habs Banter Video Podcast.
We decided to shake off the rust in between ice cold ginger ales (for Corey) and margaritas (for me) with a new feature called The Duel. It works like this: we look at 2-3 questions, Corey and I each take a side, and we each provide our own takes which vary from lukewarm to scalding hot. Let us know who you agree with more in the comments below, or on Facebook or Twitter.
Here we go with round one.
Where will Artturi Lehkonen play next season?
Habs fans rejoiced when the news came out that 2013 second round draft pick Artturi Lehkonen signed his 3-year entry-level contract with the club on May 8th. As part of the deal, should Lehkonen not make the squad, he may rejoin Frolunda HC in the Swedish Hockey League where he recently broke Daniel Alfredsson’s club record for scoring in the playoffs.
Corey: Lehkonen goes back to Frolunda
The Habs need a top six winger. Lehkonen “could” be the closest thing the organization has to a top six winger. Seems like the perfect fit, no? Sure, but it won’t happen and here’s why…
With the bottom six pretty much spoken for, and the Canadiens finally establishing a number one line, there is only one line left for Lehkonen to play on. The second line. But let me remind you of last year’s offseason when Marc Bergevin didn’t directly address this gap with a proven player. Zack Kassian, Alex Semin, and a revolving door of Sven Andrighetto, Daniel Carr, Dale Weise, and others were all slotted in the role with no consistent success. I simply can’t see Bergevin letting this happen again especially after the horrid season we all sat through.
I’d also like to point out that Bergevin and Michel Therrien like players to grow in the AHL. Additionally, Lehkonen has been learning the game at a different speed, on a different size ice surface and will take some time to adjust prior to jumping into an NHL lineup. Lehkonen has been vocal in the past that he would only come to North America if it were for the NHL.
Unfortunately, I think Lehkonen spends one more season in Frolunda.
Marc: Lehkonen stays with the Canadiens.
The Habs are in need of scoring help, and I don’t believe management is interested in paying too much in the free agent market. Lehkonen would make sense as an internal answer and I believe he could be a solid contributor on the wing of the second line.
If you watch or listen to Habs Banter, you’ll be well aware of my feelings toward current Head Coach Michel Therrien. With few exceptions, he seems to find it impossible to trust young players much responsibility due to perceived defensive flaws, while often limiting their chances on the power play. Reports out of Sweden lead me to believe Lehkonen has the ability to make a difference in the NHL, I just can’t see Therrien putting him in the position to succeed. Now that Alex Galchenyuk has finally nailed down the 1st line centre role, the young Finn could be the next example of a talented young player whose talent seems undervalued and under-used by the Canadiens’ coaching staff.
I can’t wait.
Lehkonen will make the opening day roster, he just won’t be used by the Canadiens how many hope.
Who’s more likely to leave Tampa Bay: Steven Stamkos or Jonathan Drouin?
Steven Stamkos has the potential to become the most sought-after free agent in years, and it wasn’t so long ago that it seemed like an inevitability that Jonathan Drouin was on his way out of town at the trade deadline. Who stays? Who goes?
Marc: Stamkos on the move.
Until recently I would have said there’s no way he’d be playing for anyone other than the Tampa Bay Lightning beyond this season. Consider me among the converted, for a few reasons.
First of all, the Lightning have been successful in the playoffs, coming within one game of the Stanley Cup Finals, while sporting the third best goals for per game average in the playoffs. The team is far from a one-trick pony with big contributions from players like Nikita Kucherov (19 points), Tyler Johnson (17 points and three game-winning goals), Victor Hedman and Alex Killorn (each with 13 points and three game-winning goals between them), and finally Jonathan Drouin (12 points.)
Speaking of Drouin, he seemed to be on a one way ticket out of town earlier this season, but the former first round pick has stepped up big time for the Lightning in the playoffs, not only with his production, but also with physical play and a willingness to go to the tough parts of the ice. He’s looking like a player that should be a big part of this team for the long haul and help pick up the scoring slack when Stamkos leaves town. Hockey Night In Canada’s Elliotte Friedman noted in his most recent 30 thoughts that GM Steve Yzerman even shared an embrace with Drouin’s agent, Allan Walsh, following the second round of the playoffs, which leads me to believe that fence has been mended.
Finally, Stamkos will likely get paid in the $9-11 million dollar range. That’s a big chunk of the salary cap for a team to give up on one player, when they seem to have enough offensive fire power without him. With other players such as Killorn and Kucherov looking for extensions this summer, and Johnson, Ondřej Palat, Drouin, and Hedman looking for extensions in 2017, that money could be better placed tying up the core of the squad, while improving the team’s defensive depth.
Despite his impending unrestricted status, I think Yzerman will be able to flip Stamkos for a decent package at the Draft, avoiding a situation where we leaves town to the highest better while leaving the Lightning with nothing to show for it.
Corey: Stamkos stays put.
In a nutshell here’s what I assume Marc’s arguments will be:
- They’re winning without Stamkos
- Drouin has X pts in X games and is contributing in other ways than just offensively
- Seems Drouin has mended his relationship with Jon Cooper and Steve Yzerman
- The Lightning have no cap space and a ton of players to sign
If I am wrong about this, I will buy him a dozen egg rolls.
While these points are true, it’s too simple and we shouldn’t be fooled.
We are talking about Steven Stamkos, a true franchise player. I mean, stranger things have happened, but franchise players don’t grow on trees and letting a player of his calibre walk is the type of move that haunts you for decades.
However, I will admit it that it is exciting to talk about. The problem is that we are starting to believe that it will happen. The fact of the matter is Stamkos is staying in Tampa Bay and Drouin will go.
People have quickly forgotten that less than a year ago…we are talking months ago…Drouin was in Quebec not playing any hockey at all. He abandoned his coach, teammates, fans and the organization for selfish reasons. Is this really someone you want sticking around? What happens when times get tough again? What happens when Drouin hits a slump and is relegated to a lesser role?
Let’s be honest here, Drouin’s coming back and contributing helps everyone involved. Cooper’s team is winning games, Drouin’s playing great hockey, and one of Yzerman’s biggest trade chips continues to elevate his value on the market.
I’ll tell you one thing that’s definitely true. Teams that were slightly hesitant to pounce on Drouin in the past are definitely not hesitating come the 2016 Draft.
Brendan Gallagher and Brad Marchand best buds. How sad does this make you?
Corey: So I did some research on sadness.
Turns out there is a sadness scale, and according to Wikipedia it contains ten questions which are rated into a score.
The score is scaled like this:
- 0–5: May be safe to discharge (depending upon circumstances)
- 6-8: Probably requires psychiatric consultation
- >8: Probably requires hospital admission
The questions and my answers look like this:
- S: Male sex → 1
- A: Age 15-25 or 59+ years → 0
- D: Depression or hopelessness → 0
- P: Previous suicidal attempts or psychiatric care → 0
- E: Excessive ethanol or drug use → 0
- R: Rational thinking loss (psychotic or organic illness) → 0
- S: Single, widowed or divorced → 0
- O: Organized or serious attempt → 1
- N: No social support → 0
- S: Stated future intent (determined to repeat or ambivalent) → 0
I scored a two. I am a pretty damn happy person but Brendan Gallagher and Brad Marchand drive me right off this scale. I didn’t watch any IIHF World Championship games Canada participated in (including the gold medal match) and I quickly switched my allegiance to Russia upon seeing Gallagher and Marchand’s bromance (Corey Perry’s cheap shot one Laine made this a little easier as well.)
If you’re reading this Brendan (which I know you are), I’m not mad. I mean you can’t help how you feel. I’m just upset. Not mad. Upset.
Marc: Brendan Gallagher + Brad Marchand = BFFL is not something I ever expected to see.
The World Championships are over and I still feel weird about it. Much was made about the new found friendship between two bitter rivals. TSN even aired an interview featuring the two players mid-way through the tournament.
The only thing keeping me sane is the inevitable moment in the first game between the Habs and Bruins next season where Gallagher is getting under the skin of Marchand and his Bruins teammates while posted up in Tukka Rask’s crease with his patented big grin. Brings a smile to my face.