Flashback to the beginning of training camp, you could feel, for the first time since 2021, some hype surrounding the Habs. Patrik Laine had just arrived, Kirby Dach was finally healthy, the young guys should all improve, we might just fight for a playoff spot.
Perspective and expectations have changed since that time. And the initial hype surrounding the team? Pretty much gone.
After getting everyone excited over the summer the team was robbed of seeing this pure talent on the ice for 24 games following a knee collision with Cedric Paré during the preseason.
But then, slightly ahead of schedule, it was announced that Patrik Laine will make his season debut tonight in what history shall remember as the “battle of the Patricks” as Montreal face Patrick Roy and the New-York Islanders tonight at the Bell Centre.
Ok, maybe this game won’t go down in history, but the timing of Laine’s return couldn’t be better for Montreal.
After losing both of their back-to-back games this weekend, despite playing some very good hockey at times, you can feel the players on the team are getting frustrated about their current situations.
Some of that frustration is justified as they deserved a better fate against the Rangers, a game where apparently no one wanted to talk about the referees because every possible comment was a fine waiting to happen, but then things didn’t look so great against the Bruins as we saw familiar failures in the defensive zone cost them early in the game.
What better way for the Canadiens to put this weekend behind them and look towards the future than with their star acquisition coming back, forming one of the biggest (litteraly) line we’ve seen in Montreal in the last 30 years when Laine (6”4, 208lbs) joins Dach (6”4, 221lbs) and Slafkovsky (6”3 225lbs). I must admit I am more very interested in seeing how this line will perform with its mix of skill and size.
Let us all hope for a victory tonight as we see a fully healthy Montreal Canadiens lineup. I can’t even remember the last time that happened.
And knock on all the wood you can find for it to remain that way, at least for a little while.
Quick notes
I’ve been more critical than most of Arber Xhekaj since the beginning of the season. Despite acknowledging the importance of his physical presence and his ability to defend his teammates, I didn’t think he played well enough on most nights in the first 15 games of the season to deserve a spot on the team ahead of some other defensemen, despite their own struggles. I’m very happy with how he’s been playing lately. He’s picking his battles, he’s positioning himself well on the ice, he’s reliable defensively and isn’t costing his team goals by lapse of attention defensively. If he can maintain this level and improve on it, this could be a significant turn into becoming the defensemen every Habs fan hopes he can become: A true sheriff that’s also a good hockey player.
Joshua Roy deserved to be called up because of how he played in Laval. It was also no surprise to see him being sent down when Patrik Laine was activated. In his 4 games callup Roy has done… well… nothing. He wasn’t playing badly, but he also didn’t show any of his usual strengths that would justify keeping him in the NHL over Emil Heineman when the latter keeps giving us reasons to like his presence on the team with his heavy shot and physical play. Roy might have the bigger upside between the two (he’s also two years younger) but right now, “Monsieur Émile” is the most effective player in the NHL in the bottom 6 role that is available.
A few weeks ago on this blog, I mentioned how Cayden Primeau needed to find a way to shake off his bad start this season, which is something he always seemed to be struggling with due to what looks like a lack of confidence. Sunday’s loss against the Bruins isn’t all on Primeau. It would be unfair to him to claim otherwise. But he certainly didn’t help his team when they needed their goaltender to keep them in the game. As mentioned in his article by Alexandre Pratt of “La Presse”, out of all goaltenders that played at least 50 games in the NHL since 2000-2001, Cayden is now 217th out 218 goaltenders both in save percentage and in goals allowed per game.
Last week, I said I didn’t see a future for Justin Barron in the Habs defensive core moving forward. Well for anyone that still wondered, I think it’s now pretty obvious Cayden Primeau isn’t the answer at the backup position, both in the short and long term. Meanwhile, Jakob Dobes in Laval is boasting impressive numbers and athletic qualities that certainly indicate the potential to become a NHL goaltender down the line. I think it’s about time we give young Dobes a few games in the big league. And if a team is desperate enough to grab the statistically worst goaltender in the NHL to play him on their team, it’s a loss I think the Habs can afford.
Until such decisions are made (or not) enjoy tonight’s game! It’s always fun when Patrick Roy comes back to town but I think everyone in the arena tonight will hope the other Patrik will be the one to steal the show.
Thank you for reading and have a nice day!
Hugo Brossoit
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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