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Our first contestant for “The Next Great Habs Writer” Ryan Snow |
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EK’s Note: I have been getting some great submissions from everyone and if you would like to get involved, send me a article on the Canadian season/moving forward to eklund at ockeybuzz.com, and put Habs Writer as the Subject….First Up Ryan Snow… please give your opinions in the comments. And remember to be kind and constructive . It takes guts to put something out among hockey fans…. That said, I really like this piece
The Habs Have Found the Right Formula
by Ryan Snow
At the outset of the regular season, the expectations for the Habs were not very high. They were deemed a non-playoff team, possibly doomed for the draft lottery once again. After their first 30 games, the Habs were 11-16-3 and that prediction seemed destined to be fulfilled. Slav was not putting up the points like we wanted, the defence and goaltending were leaking goals and some people were going as far as questioning whether Martin St-Louis was the right coach for the team. (Not me!)
However, the team was starting to play within a system and structure.Unity and hard work became their mantra. And then things started to change.
Everything just seemed to click, and the Habs became a high-forecheck, defensibly responsible team from lines 1-4. With everyone on the same page, wins began to pile up and the team developed swagger and moxy. The first line of Slav-Suzuki-Caufield became a top tier NHL line that teams are terrified of. The addition of a healthy Laine one timer on the left circle has made the power play truly lethal. The goaltending tandem of Montembault and Dobes gave the Habs stability and two dependable options in nets (however I really want Primeau to develop well, he's a good goalie!) In his first 12 NHL games, Dobes is 6-3-2 with a GA of 2.71 and SV% of 907. Also he's a huge body and seems to have a calm, quirky and positive attitude, giving the Habs a good back up to Montembeault. Speaking of Montembeault, he's been on an absolute tear since the First Nations Cup along with the rest of the team, and is showing everyone that picking him up on waivers from Florida was an absolute steal.
But there are three factors which have propelled the Habs to a next level.
The first factor is the bottom six.
They all know their roles and are playing to their strengths, without worrying about putting up points. They all seem focused on what the job is:
1-Get the puck deep
2-Forecheck and annoy the hell out of the other team
3- Chip in some greasy goals.
4-Take care of your own zone
Players like Josh Anderson are no longer concerned about their goal total. The only concern is winning . With this focus, the bottom six is more relaxed and focused and this has translated into goal scoring and defensive tenacity. Brandan Gallagher has 17 goals and is having a great season. (I admit I was a little choked up after he scored his goal following the passing of his mother) Before his injury, rookie Emil Heineman was a beast out there hitting everything that moves while contributing 10 goals. And seems to have regained his form in the last few games. Evans and Armia have developed into one of the best PK tandems in the league and created a lot of noise at the trade deadline. Dvorak has been great in the faceoff dot with a 55.9 WPT and is depended on taking important late game draws. When you have a strong bottom six like the Habs, it gives the top two lines less pressure and more breathing room.
The second factor is Lane Hutson.
The Habs are not even close without Hutson. Since pre-season, he has been an absolute stud, and has exceeded everyone's expectations. He makes a great first pass out of the zone, can skate himself out of any type of danger, can play great defence in his own zone and has the ability to control a power-play with the likes of Makar or Huges. What makes Hutson great is that when he's one the ice, he often controls the flow of play with his incredibly high hockey IQ. He makes elite reads of the ice constantly which has resulted in 48 assists, some of them incredible.
We are seeing a superstar in the making and he's only 21. With 53points on the season so far, he's been the Habs best player this season and I believe he should win the Calder Trophy. (I admit I've seen a lot more Hutson than Celebrini so I am biased, but from what I've seen, Celebirini is an absolute beast) He would have excelled in the Four Nations Cuphad he played, and is a shoe-in for the US Olympic squad. This guy is the real deal. The game changer we've been waiting for since Carey Price. How the Habs had the chance to draft him at 62 overall I do not know. (LOTR)
The third and most important reason the Habs have found success is Martin St-Louis.
Before Martin St-Louis, often, Habs coaches would punish mistakes. I remember Mathieu Dandenault, a defenceman (and a good one), starting on the first line with Saku Koivu, to send a message to the rest of the team. I remember P.K Subbanbeing a healthy scratch during his first season despite having a great playoff prior and being the team's best defenseman along with Markov.
Martin St-Louis does not punish his players for hardworking mistakes.He teaches his players how to pick their spots and do things at the right time, while playing to their strengths. We've all seen the video of Marty showing Cole a little fake and shoot move he could use which resulted inCole using it and scoring in a game. What St-Louis has done is make each player comfortable with their role on the team. He has convinced each player that their role is vital to the team's success. Whether it's goal scoring, playing the pk, taking a big draw or blocking a shot, each role has the same importance to the team's success. Nothing is more important than the team and winning hockey games.
This culture set by St-Louis has permeated throughout the lineup. As an ex-Nhler and first year hall of famer, Marty understands hockey. He knows hockey is a fast game andplaying a perfect game is impossible. Mistakes are inevitable. But if you make a mistake while working hard and doing the right thing, it's no big deal. Shake it off and keep going!
He is not giving Lane Hutson the rookie treatment like coaches in the past did to Subban and Caufield. Hutson is playing over 20 minutes each night because he is encouraged to play to his strengths. (imagine how Subban would have benefited by having St Louis as his coach?)
Because of this philosophy, the players have more confidence and the message is clear of what is expected of them. How many times have players been benched for a mistake this year? Rarely. How about the Flyers with Torts constantly freaking out? Often and to star players. How has that worked out for them? (Couturier a healthy scratch last year? Come on....) If a player is being lazy and not playing within the structure and is hurting the team, then yes bench him. St-louis did it to Laine, and he deserved it. But the message to Laine was clear: toe the line or you won't play. Laine consequently toed the line, is putting up points and playing more minutes.
St-Louis has put up a master classin coaching the last few years and is the best coach in the NHL in my opinion along with Paul Mauirce.
I could talk about several more aspects which have contributed to the Habs success (Newhook, Matheson, Guhle...) but this article would never end! Thank you for reading and I hope to have the opportunity to write more about my favorite hockey team!
Ryan Snow
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