St-Eustache, QC. — Now that the All-Star Game is a thing of the past, it’s time to start what some people are calling “the real season.” Right now, the Habs are 11 points out of a playoff spot but also tied with the Carolina Hurricanes — Habs only escape last place in the Eastern conference as they have two games in hand.
For the first time since the 1939-’40 season, we could witness a dead last Montreal Canadiens team. At least, that year, there were only seven teams.
The beginning of the end?
For the more optimistic, this title won’t make you happy. The main objective is still to make the playoffs and you probably feel it’s not time to give up. You know what, I agree. As a proud Habs fan, I won’t stop supporting this team no matter what happens and I don’t want to see the players give up, but now, it’s time to open our eyes.
This season is going nowhere and I’m still wondering what drives this management to save this season? What are the long term objectives behind this push towards the post-season? I really hope we’re not talking about money here, as if the fans were only representing a few more millions gained in the playoffs.
Of course, Mr. Molson won’t be on the front-line telling journalists it’s time to put this season in the past. What kind of message will he send to the fans? I’m madly angry with the fact that people like Pierre Gauthier, Randy Cunneyworth and Randy Ladouceur talk to the media like their jobs aren’t on the line. How can this be possible? Mr. Gauthier is still negotiating with Habs players, still signing some of them, still tanning and playing GM under the Californian sun. Why does he still has the right to decide the fate of young guns like Andrei Kostitsyn and, more importantly, P.K. Subban and Carey Price? I’m starting to think that Mr. Molson doesn’t have the guts to clean house. If so, he’s not suited for the job of President of this team.
The only thing it tells me is that the identity of this team is not going to change and since it seems impossible to rebuild in Montreal, we will keep on dreaming of an eighth place position for the rest of the season. With the trade deadline approaching, I thought the Habs would have learned from lessons from the past, when they decided to keep guys like Mike Komisarek or Sheldon Souray for the sole purpose of adding three or four million dollars in playoff revenue to the owner’s pockets.
Miss the playoffs, by a lot
Since the beginning of the season, it seems like everyone wants to take a stab at the Canadiens; the fans, the politicians, the protesters and, of course, a few former players. The journalists love to ask questions about the Habs to former superstar goaltender Patrick Roy. He’s the type of guy who doesn’t hesitate to say out loud what he’s thinking and he did so last week.
According to Roy, since Montreal is likely to miss the playoffs, the Habs should miss it by a lot in order to have a very high draft pick in next year’s entry draft. The Quebec Remparts head coach also added that the Canadiens should consider drafting his young prospect, Mikhail Grigorenko, a 17-year-old Russian sensation. Am I the only one who saw a subliminal message in these declarations? To me, he’s sending a very clear message to Mr. Molson that if they manage to get Grigorenko, Roy would be a little bit more motivated to quit the QMJHL and become the new Habs head coach. It’s been speculated that Roy has been approached for the job and perhaps has already received a call.
Can an emotional and intense coach like Patrick Roy finally change the identity of this team? I think so. He’s not the only one who could do it but one thing is for sure, some players need to get out of their comfort zone.
Spring cleaning??
What’s hockey without rumors? The rumor mill has been running wild since last month and players like Getzlaf, Parise, Ryan or Hemsky are “traded” everywhere, even to Montreal. I personally don’t think the Habs could get a prime player like the ones mentioned above, not with what they have to offer. Perhaps Montreal could only acquire more of a Penner-type of player.
The Canadiens do not have any superstars but they have players who could help other teams trying to make a Stanley Cup run. Right now, there are five unrestricted free agents on the team : Andrei Kostitsyn, Travis Moen, Mathieu Darche, Hal Gill and Chris Campoli. When it comes to the last two, it’s likely over for them in Montreal but for the three forwards, decisions could become a little bit harder to make.
To me, Kostitsyn is worth a little bit more than everyone. Honestly, I don’t want to see him go. I have had a love/hate relationship with Kostitsyn since his draft year, in 2003, when Trevor Timmins announced he was the new Hab instead of Zach Parise. Andrei is still young, he’ll turn 27 on February 3rd, he’s talented, has a good size and a wicked wrist shot but he’s not always willing to pay the price. However, I saw a different Kostitsyn this year. He was smiling and looked happy when Lars Eller was acting as his center. Chemistry like that could be really important in the future but does management really want to sign him to a multi-year contract, even though he said he was willing to accept less money to stay here?
It breaks my heart to say this but Moen, Darche and Gill have to be traded so a few draft picks can be added. Of course, Gauthier will not receive a first round pick for any of these guys but I’m pretty sure a 3rd or 4th pick is not impossible to get. I would take the time to discuss with them whether they want to finish the season here. When it comes to Campoli, there are too many defensemen and sometimes he’s a healthy scratch. The Canadiens don’t need him.
And please don’t even ask me about Gomez, he’s not going anywhere, at least not this season.
Another thing that upsets me is people willing to trade P.K. Subban. Giving up on Subban means giving up on our future No. 1 defenseman. It would be giving up on a young player who had to play like a veteran while still learning how to play the game like a 22-year-old player should do. Trading Subban would prove once again that the Habs are unable to help their young talents.
After Price, there is Subban
In my opinion, this Subban-case looks like the one the Canadiens had with Price 3-4 years ago. I’m pretty sure everybody remembers how Price loved to party and stare at his defensemen after a goal. He made mistakes too. Carey had won everywhere and people were saying he was so talented and very important for the team. He became arrogant and invincible. Oddly, I see the same thing here with P.K. and it doesn’t mean he’s a rotten apple in the locker room, it means he has to learn how to become a professional.
He needs to play with a veteran who will be able to calm him down and show him what he’s doing wrong. Montreal had Hal Gill for that, last year. Gill is not the best hockey player in the world but he developed a good chemistry with Subban and took him under his wing. This year, coaches have decided Subban was ready to take the No. 1 spot and gave him too many responsibilities. Last year, in the second half of the season, he was one of the most dominating players on the team — we just can’t blame the sophomore slump here.
We can’t forget the absence of Andrei Markov. He could teach a lesson or two to Subban on the ice but off the ice too with his attitude. His injury gives a lot of pressure to the kid, who has to play at the same level of him because he’s the most talented player of the squad. Habs made a mistake with Subban but can’t make another mistake by trading him far away from here. As the old adage goes : You can’t repair a mistake by doing another.
It has been a tough season for the team and the fans so far. It’s starting to look more and more like a soap-opera and to stay in the tone I will say this : To be or not to be in the playoffs, that is the question. Will the Montreal Canadiens brass make the right decision?
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