Catégorie oBox : Dose

Habs: 15 things to watch out for this weekend!

The Edmonton Oilers tough start in 12 key points

EDMONTON, CANADA - JUNE 21: The Edmonton Oilers starting line-up stands for the performing of the national anthem before Game Six of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers at Rogers Place on June 21, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)
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Gallagher couldn’t have had a better start to the season

MONTREAL, CANADA- NOVEMBER 5: Brendan Gallagher #11 of the Montreal Canadiens celebrates after scoring a goal during the second period of NHL regular season game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Calgary Flames at the Bell Centre on November 5, 2024 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Matt Garies/NHLI via Getty Images)

Ahhhh, good old Brendan Gallagher.

We loved him so much when he was in his prime… Because he worked his butt off night after night for the Canadiens logo.

His form waned during the 20-21, 21-22 and 22-23 seasons, so much so that it was said that he had become a burden on the club’s rink.

But now…

Now it’s time to start giving him some love again, because realistically, the veteran couldn’t have had a better start to the season.

Last night, the forward scored his 5th goal of the campaign (in only his 13th game) and could have had one more had Josh Anderson not entered the zone so quickly on the Habs’ disallowed goal midway through the third period.

It was a beautiful goal too, his 5th of the season:

Five goals in 13 games is a pace of 31 goals over a full 82-game season.

Imagine if he could keep up!

But beyond goals and offensive production, Gallagher is off to a good start because he’s staying true to his style of play.

Let’s cut to the chase: it’s true that he’s not as fast as he was eight or ten years ago, and it’s true that he doesn’t skate with the same intensity throughout his entire career.

But Gally does what he has to do. He goes into traffic, he still disturbs opposing goaltenders… All this while being super disciplined on the ice.

Eille! We don’t talk about it, but Gallagher has only two penalty minutes in 13 games this season.

That means he’s not hurting his club the way he often has during his career, and it shows he’s doing things the right way on the ice.

We know he has a big salary and maybe earns too much money for what he brings to the rink.

But if Gally continues to set an example like this by showing up for every game, if he’s able to produce when needed, if he continues to be a role model for others who should follow his lead, and if he’s able to not hurt the Habs by staying disciplined on the ice, I’ll take him any day in my lineup.

It’s hard to ask for more, after all.

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Jake Evans wants to stay in Montreal: Kent Hughes can’t let him go

MONTREAL, QC - APRIL 16: Montreal Canadiens center Jake Evans (71) plays the puck during the Detroit Red Wings versus the Montreal Canadiens game on April 16, 2024, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

It’s often said that it takes time for a player to reach his full potential.

The perfect example is Jake Evans.

He’s (already) in his fifth full season in the NHL at 28, and we’ve noticed since the start of the season that he’s in his prime. After all, he’s one of the Habs’ best forwards…

There’s been a lot of talk about him lately, and that’s to be expected: Evans is one of the few players to show up night after night on the ice.

I’ve heard he takes the team’s success to heart, and I’ve heard he hates to lose.

That said, he plays an important role in the Habs line-up, and the timing is right for him, because at the end of the season, the center will be out of contract.

He’ll be entitled to complete autonomy and will – no doubt – be in line for a pay rise.

For the record, his current contract pays him $1.7 million per season.

But even though his contract is about to expire, Evans prefers not to think about it… Because in his head, it’s pretty clear.

He wants to play in Montreal, as stated in an article by Richard Labbé (La Presse):

I’ve been part of this team for a while now, I’ve lived through the highs and lows, and now there are several lows this season… but I want to help this team get back on its feet. – Jake Evans

When Phillip Danault left, the Canadiens found themselves with a major hole at center.

Even worse: the departure of the Québécois had a direct impact on the club’s defensive play because he was doing his job the right way.

That said, I think Jake Evans is the Canadiens’ Phillip Danault right now.

He’s playing on the top-9, he’s being used for almost everything, he’s excellent on the power play, he’s capable of producing offensively when needed… And he’s playing for the logo up front, not the name on the back.

We don’t know what Jake Evans’ demands will be, but I wouldn’t hesitate to offer him a contract at $3.5 – $4M per season. Christian Dvorak earns more than that annually and we all know how useful he is in the lineup…

All this to say that Jake Evans is too important to Montreal for the Canadiens to see him leave for free in the summer of 2025. Kent Hughes shouldn’t trade him unless the Habs are “really behind” the other clubs at the trade deadline, and if Evans finishes the season in Montreal, he needs to be there for the start of the next one too.

Overtime

– He dominates.

– To be continued…

– Love it.

This content was created with the help of AI.