Heading into New Jersey on Thursday night, the Montreal Canadiens have won just four of their first 13 games. It’s not just the losses that are discouraging. Montreal has the worst margin in the league, allowing 18 more goals than it scores.
They added to that total with a 5-3 loss to the Devils.
Wild horses
One of the more reliable NHL rarities is that a forward doesn’t get his second wind at 32. Brendan Gallagher’s career appears to be in a cooling off phase with plenty of seasons remaining on a six-year contract. It appears he was a long way from a career-best 33 goals in 2019.
Last season, Gallagher scored his sixth goal of the season on January 6th. This season, he finished sixth on November 7. Gallagher jumped on the rebound to put the Canadiens within one late in the second period.
For a player who had his name written off even halfway through last season, Gallagher responded that he had no interest in that scenario regardless of his age. Only Cole Caufield has more goals this season than Gallagher, with 10 this season.
By the way, Gallagher’s contract expires in the spring of 2027. I wonder if he’ll sign another one? He will be 35 years old. He’s been underrated since he was drafted in the fifth round in 2010. Don’t bet against him.
Another notable player in the competition was Alex Newhook who played like the forward the Canadiens traded. The key for Newhook is that he has great speed, but he has to stay in step. It’s not enough to be a fast dealer and use that speed to get to the defender, but then you slip.
Newhook scored on an all-out rush as he continued to drive aggressively as he got to Devils defenders. He raced towards them with his tremendous speed, then turned them around at two o’clock in the night.
Pay attention to the Newhook’s slip or step. When it slips, it can be easily defended. When he steps out he’s a handful.
Wild Goat
In the history of the NHL there has never been a two-year rebuild. Somehow, though, it’s news to everyone at the beginning of Season 3 that the rebuilding isn’t over yet. The rebuild will take place in month 25 of 60, if history is our guide.
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The terrible nights will continue for a long time. The Canadiens have four defensemen who are just starting their careers. They’re all top-tier defenders, but they’re learning. They need season after season of experience before they reach their peak.
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In the second goal against Kayden Gohley, he won the ball behind the net. Guhle was on his stick and had two players on him. He chose to stick. That little move and his chance to clear the ball was wasted. Gohl delivered. One pass later, it was in the net.
The point is that Ghoul will learn from that moment, even though he will likely make the same mistake several times before it takes him. Guhle would be a first or second pairing defender in this league. Perhaps he will become a star player in Canada one day.
He has already played for Canada at the junior level. He was the Western Hockey League playoff MVP for the Edmonton Oil Kings after being drafted in the middle of the first round. Guhle would be great. He is far from it now.
Guhle is the same as Jayden Struble, like Lane Hutson, like Logan Mailloux, like Arber Xhekaj, like Justin Barron. Each of these players was among the best in both junior and college. They have the lineage that makes us believe in their greatness. They were great at the lower levels. They are simply learning this level.
Patience is required for several seasons. If you’re sitting around feeling angry that they didn’t win, remind yourself that there’s no such thing as a two-year rebuild. If GM can manage a five-year rebuild, it will be a massive rebuild.
Go check out the Buffalo Sabers’ playoff record over the past decade. Check out how the Detroit Red Wings are doing. Check out how the Ottawa Senators are rebuilding. The last time these three clubs reached the playoffs was in 2011, 2016 and 2017. Are you fed up already?
The best rebuilders of this century are the Chicago Blackhawks and New York Rangers. Either way, they moved up the rankings in season five. The Hawks have won three Cups. The Rangers have the tools to win cups, too.
There are tremendous seeds of growth in the rebuilding Canadiens. They have stored an impressive amount of talent. All components are installed, except for one.
In defence, it’s just about maturity. In attack, Ivan Demidov and Michael Haj are scheduled to come in. In goal, Jacob Fowler is a big hope. The only question mark remains at the position as the club searches for another talent. This draft could be taken care of when the Canadiens have two first-round picks.
Look for the young players to start improving in January. The level of rebuilding could be low during the first three months of Season 3, which wouldn’t be surprising given the history.
The biggest fear is that this group gets up and out before they actually get all the ingredients. They need that top-ranked center, otherwise the rebuild will resemble those clubs that never actually rise to the top, but continue to rebuild like Buffalo or Detroit.
The goal this season should not be “in the mix”. Be sure to formulate the center of the first line. Without that star element, it will be teams with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl that will go away, not teams with Nick Suzuki and Jake Evans.
Wild cards
There are several Canadian prospects who are on the cusp of finding out at the NHL level, but they’re not there yet. This is normal. Oliver Kapanen is in that group. After a strong camp, Kapanen earned a job with the Canadian team, but slowly, as often happens, the games started to go together and Kapanen began to feel that the energy required was too much.
The game and then games can move quickly when the player is close, but not quite there. The mind is full when the play moves quickly. Kapanen will figure it out, but for now, returning to Europe after 12 NHL games was the right choice the Canadiens made on Wednesday.
Kapanen can now begin working on those aspects of the game that he felt were not quite up to the NHL level in this assignment. He is a solid player and will be a good professional. His first attempt at becoming an NHLer went very well. He is only 21 years old. A place at Timra’s position in the Swedish League would be ideal.
Ultimately, it’s easy to see Kapanen as one of the centers of the future. He has a strong defensive bias in his game and some offensive skills to help at times as well. It’s easy to see Kapanen and Owen Beck at third and fourth line positions when the rebuilding process is over.
It will be a strong center group as long as someone is found to complement Nick Suzuki.
Montreal-based sports writer Brian Wilde brings you the Call of the Wilde on globalnews.ca after every Canadiens game.
