When the Nashville Predators played against the Canadiens recently, a situation arose.
Basically, after the game, Jonathan Marchessault told Montreal reporters that he didn’t understand why his coach had to change his lines so often.
And he did this without informing his players.
The Quebecer said that during warm-up and to start the game at the Bell Centre, he wasn’t with the same people. And in his mind, it didn’t exactly make sense.
His complaint to the reporters made its way to Barry Trotz, the GM of Nashville.
Essentially, the club’s GM took the Quebecer aside to explain that the reason he started with Zachary L’Heureux was because they are both Quebecers. Starting the game at the Bell Centre was a mark of respect.
But clearly, all of this shows that Andrew Brunette is having trouble communicating well with his team. After all, he sent the wrong starting lineup a few weeks ago, and now he didn’t tell the Quebecers why they were starting the game.
He didn’t tell Marchessault, at least.
Brunette, who thinks he could bench all his players, is losing control. And the fact that Barry Trotz had to intervene for something like this shows that things aren’t going smoothly behind the bench.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll repeat myself, but the best coach in the Predators organization is sitting in the GM chair. Simply put.
In Brief
– Well done.
Announcement comes at a perfect time as JF Grégoire also celebrates his 52nd birthday today.
On October 14, the Canadiens lost 6-3 to the Penguins. Three days later, the Kings won 4-1. On October 22, the “Tuesday Curse” began with a 7-2 defeat against the Rangers. And a week later, the Kraken won 8-2.
These are four games that the Canadiens lost by at least three goals at home in October.
But don’t think it’s over. Vegas won 6-2 on November 23 and last night, there was obviously that huge setback of 9-2 against Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Six losses like that at home in two months of activity is obviously way too much. If you’re hesitant to pay too much to watch a Canadiens game in the coming weeks, keep that in mind.
Even though the Canadiens didn’t exactly play badly during the first 40 minutes of yesterday’s game and were in the mix, it’s clear that even the effect of Patrik Laine couldn’t save the Canadiens in the third period.
By the way, over the past five games, the Canadiens are 0-2 when they don’t score and 3-0 when they do. That’s notable.
Giving up six goals in the third period and drowning out the fans’ boos by turning up the music isn’t exactly befitting of the Montreal Canadiens. And this, even though the team is in a rebuild. #InTheMix
(Credit: NHL.com)
And what’s also not dignified is Martin St-Louis’s indifference at the press conference. He probably wasn’t happy with his guys, but let’s just say he didn’t want to show it too much.
You might say that I’m only showing an isolated excerpt here, but go watch his press conference and you’ll see that it’s quite representative of the tone the coach used after the game.
He wasn’t exactly angry. He was more “disappointed than angry” and he will have to watch the game again to talk about it. Not angry? Really?
On the other side, in New York, Patrik Roy saw his team win… but because the club was leading 5-1 and then gave up three straight goals, the Islanders’ coach got angry.
A coach who gets beaten by seven goals isn’t angry and a coach who wins wants to break everything. Shouldn’t it be the other way around?
The Canadiens players see their coach remain calm, the lines have hardly changed during the game (only Juraj Slafkovsky and Alex Newhook moved) and they know that Michael Pezzetta won’t come to take their place.
Is there a sense of urgency? I don’t think so.
At the same time, if the captain (Nick Suzuki) says he doesn’t believe the guys have stopped working and the coach doesn’t get publicly angry, why would there be a sense of urgency?
It was probably different behind closed doors, but managing to keep calm a few minutes after such a drubbing shows that two of the team’s leaders aren’t completely angry either.
Obviously, there were guys who were unhappy. Jake Evans, unlike the captain, thinks the players have stopped working and Brendan Gallagher looked destroyed.
He understands the fans who booed, even if it hurts him. And the #11 says he’s tired of saying that things need to change… without anything actually changing with his team afterward.
#Habs Brendan Gallagher: “it’s an awful feeling; the fans are booing – they deserve to boo – and we’re not providing an entertaining product it’s simple as that. We’re disappointed in ourselves but for us, it’s learn from it and make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
Martin St-Louis, Kent Hughes, and Jeff Gorton need to find solutions. Whether it’s shaking up the fruit salad, going for a punishing practice, or calling someone up, something needs to happen.
After a great stretch at home just before, this is where we are. Things change quickly in the hockey world.
I watched the third period later, fully aware that the team had suffered a serious beating. Each zone entry was an adventure, knowing what was coming.
What do I take away from all this?
1. I want to start with some positivity because the stretch by Lane Hutson in the first (the one where he did whatever he wanted on the ice) was beautiful to watch.
He did what he wanted with the puck and could have racked up several assists.
But you know why that sequence was made possible, right? Because he never stopped working and always came out of the corner with the puck, even against bigger and stronger guys than him.
If Ivan Demidov, Patrik Laine, or Cole Caufield had been on the ice with him, the Canadiens would have scored. And the fans might have stayed at the Bell Centre?
2. Just before the game, David Savard was forced to give up his place to Jayden Struble. Let’s just say that in a game where the Canadiens appeared disorganized (for the first time in a few games), his importance was proven.
Mike Matheson didn’t step up enough to compensate. Because even though he found the first power play at one point, he still had a lousy game.
Is it because a virus is circulating in the locker room?
Nevertheless, note that Arber Xhekaj, without Savard, didn’t look bad. He kept his game simple (letting the opponent make mistakes instead of making them himself) and played physically. It’s pretty hard to blame him these days.
3. Let’s go with a bit of positivity: Cole Caufield made a beautiful play to set up Nick Suzuki’s goal at the start of the game, it was really beautiful to see.
And he did it in front of the team’s coach for the American team at the Four Nations tournament.
Another one that will end up in the highlight compilation
4. The goalies didn’t do well, even if they shouldn’t bear the entire burden of the loss. But when you give up nine goals, it’s clear that the goalkeepers weren’t perfect.
20-of-26 for Samuel Montembeault and 4-of-7 for Cayden Primeau, who played 11:19 during the game, isn’t great.
5. Given how the Canadiens are playing, it’s clear that the team still needs help. Would a good draft pick help this team? Asking the question is also answering it.
I won’t be the first to throw tomatoes at Marc-Olivier Beaudoin. Will you?
I’m going to get tomatoes thrown at me by some people, but this team really needs a top 5 pick in the next draft to inject talent into it.
Who cares about the “mix” when we know that the #CH won’t make the playoffs. The team has to be a seller for sure, not…
After experiencing the worst hockey period in a long time, will the guys experience this morning (11 am) the worst practice in a while? Will the coach “forget” the pucks?
I can’t wait to see that. And I’m also eager to see if a recall will be made to shake things up.
Suggestions:
Barron, Struble, Pezzeta = Laval
Barre Boulet, Beck, Mailloux, Engstrom = Montreal
Dach = Press Box #Habs#change
Let’s remember that after practice, the team will head to Winnipeg for tomorrow night’s game. It won’t be exactly an easy matchup against a powerhouse in the National Hockey League.
Which Canadiens will show up? The one that crashes… or the one that plays well on the road against big teams?
Even the team’s commentator contributed to the successes.
Reverse jinx never fails
Just as the Canucks broadcast team mentions to watch out for the Panthers’ shorthanded strength, Vancouver scores right off the draw pic.twitter.com/11tVuTgT2d
– Brandon Montour covers up the puck on the goal line with his hand
– Play is reviewed by the refs
– Determined that it’s no goal, penalty shot awarded
– Brad Marchand goes wickets to get the B’s on the board pic.twitter.com/5kItZjA55E
According to many simulated drafts ahead of the upcoming draft, Anton Frondell, the Swede, is likely in the top-5. But he is the least talked about in the top-5.
Matthew Schaefer, James Hagens, Porter Martone, and Michael Misa are attracting much more attention.
However, today, on the podcast The Sick Podcast – Recruits Draftcast, Grant McCagg shed more light on Frondell, a guy who he believes is neck and neck with James Hagens.
Anton Frondell is looking like the real deal! @grantmccagg: «I’ve got Schaefer #1 and then it’s basically a toss up between Frondell and Hagens»
— The Sick Podcast – Recruits Draftcast (@sickpodnhldraft) December 13, 2024
Without being as intense, Simon Boisvert has also praised Frondell’s skills recently on the podcast Process.
McCagg is clearly a much bigger fan of Frondell. He highlights that he is excellent defensively and that he has quickly risen in the rankings.
I have Matthew Schaefer number one, and James Hagens and Anton Frondell are practically neck and neck. – Grant McCagg
The Snake and the former CH scout are on the same page about Schaefer, then.
McCagg would slightly prefer Hagens, but it’s much closer than one might think. In Sweden, the NHL prospect looks good. Last year in the Swedish junior league, the 6-foot, 179-pound center scored 39 points in 29 games. And this season, he has tallied seven points in 10 games.
In the Swedish elite league, it has been a bit more complicated for two years (four points in 16 games), but it is still a professional league…
With the selection of Ivan Demidov and Michael Hage during the last draft, it’s quite easy to forget about the other players selected by Montreal.
But we should not forget that a certain Aatos Koivu, Saku’s son, was drafted by Kent Hughes and his team.
The Finn has not been discussed much this season, so I’ll do it now. News about the young forward: he missed the last five weeks of his team’s activities due to mononucleosis.
A fairly serious condition kept him sidelined, therefore.
Fortunately, he is back and seems to be in full health. He scored a goal in a 2-1 victory.
But to return to his nasty illness, the CH’s third-round pick in 2024 also had a very swollen spleen.
The young man shared this experience with the Finnish media Yle and TVA Sports later picked up the news.
During the last two matches of this tournament, I noticed that I had the flu. I wasn’t thinking about it anymore. However, when I got home after the tournament, I realized that something was wrong. – Aatos Koivu
He returns to play just in time because, with the upcoming World Junior Championship, Finland will reveal its roster in the coming days. Koivu will have a few games to prove himself and possibly secure a spot on his nation’s roster.
One thing is certain, the young man would like to be part of the journey.
Belichick’s five-year contract will pay $1 million a year in base salary and $9 million a year in supplemental income. He also can receive as much as $3.5 million in bonuses per year.
Simon Boisvert is someone well-known in the hockey world in Quebec.
He notably worked in the QMJHL (with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles) as a scout because he dreamed of reaching the NHL.
Today, you can hear him on TSN, BPM Sports… And also on his podcast (Processus), which he hosts alongside journalist Mathias Brunet.
That said, Mathias Brunet and Snake were guests on Louis Morissette and Jean-Philippe Wauthier’s podcast (Entre la poire et le fromage) and Simon Boisvert shared an interesting piece of information.
He has been hired by a junior team:
Last week, I was hired by a junior team. But I can’t say which one because I want to continue the podcast. – Simon Boisvert
The episode in question of the podcast can be found here:
Is he talking about a QMJHL team? If so, it would be a return for him to the junior league in Quebec…
If not, has an OHL team approached him? A WHL team? And what is his official role?
In all this uncertainty, what we do know is that Snake claims he does not want to reveal the identity of the team in question because he does not want to stop hosting his podcast with Mathias Brunet.
That makes sense.
Overall, this is great news for him.
We know that Snake loves to follow young players and prospects (it’s his specialty) and evidently, there is a team that has appreciated his work since he is no longer employed by a team in the QMJHL.
LAVAL, QC - OCTOBER 18: Look at Laval Rocket defenseman Logan Mailloux (24) during the game between the Rochester Americans and the Laval Rocket on October 18, 2023, at Place Bell in Laval, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Logan Mailloux continues his development in Laval.
He played five games with the Canadiens at the start of the season (and he did well), but he needs time before he becomes the defenseman that people think he can become.
It is worth noting that he is having a great season in the American League with a total of 14 points in 19 games.
The more time goes on, the closer he gets to the National Hockey League because he is making progress.
But in the eyes of Pierre McGuire (TSN 690), Mailloux is so good down there that he deserves the chance to be recalled by the Canadiens soon.
McGuire argues that Mailloux is “dominating” down in Laval… and that a stint in the National League could be a sort of reward for the young defenseman.
Would it hurt to recall Logan Mailloux to give him a chance to play a few games?
Not necessarily.
But where I get stuck is when I look at the statistics of the player in question over the past month.
Mailloux is in one of his worst stretches since the beginning of his professional career: he has one goal and one assist in his last twelve games and he has a differential of -7 during that period.
For a guy who is supposed to be dominating…
(Credit: Screenshot The AHL)
Logan Mailloux had a great streak to start his season in Laval, but it has been quieter for a while now.
And that’s okay. The goal is not to criticize the young man… But seeing that he is not in the most glorious stretch of his career, I think the idea of recalling him is a bit unnecessary.
There is no hurry, after all.
Things are going well for the Canadiens (three wins in four games), the players up top are healthy, and on the other side, the Rocket – which is going through a tough stretch – needs its #1 defenseman to win.
Especially since we know the player’s potential. We saw him perform well at the beginning of the season in the NHL, particularly offensively (three points in five games)… and we know he has the tools to become an important player in Montreal in the near future.
My point is this: let him develop in the best possible way.
In Brief
– Good.
The #leafs have assigned Alex Nylander to the AHL Marlies after he cleared waivers.
Dach has only two goals and seven assists in 28 games this season.
Before finally finding the back of the net (a desert) on Monday night against the Ducks, he had gone 19 games without scoring a single goal. All this while playing on the bottom six, now alongside Juraj Slafkovsky and Patrik Laine…
On Monday, Slafkovsky did not register a single shot on goal. And he didn’t even spend 15 minutes on the ice…
Logan Cooley and Shane Wright, both selected after Slafkovsky, are currently having great moments. And what about Lane Hutson, selected 61 ranks after the first overall pick (Slafkovsky) in 2022?
Juraj Slafkovsky is going through tough times.
(Credit: Getty Images)
It is time to see Slafkovsky start to play like a first overall pick. Especially since he will start his eight-year contract valued at $7.6 million per season next season!
And he will earn no less than $10 million in 2025-26!
No, Slafkovsky is not playing like a $10 million guy right now. Not at all…
But he is now considered a star player. He must deal with the pressure and expectations that come with it.
Kirby Dach is a guy making less than $4 million…
Alex Newhook? Less than $3!
But Slafkovsky is one of our leaders in offense. When you are rebuilding, you must ensure that your highest-paid young forwards develop properly.
Yes, the Slafkovsky situation is starting to worry me.
And when you don’t feel it – and you need it – you just have to post a photo on social media to get it back.
Unlike “playing for the Panthers, Ducks, Kings, Sharks, or the Lightning,” let’s say…
Does Slafkovsky get his adrenaline fix too easily by being a star in Montreal and Slovakia? It’s possible…
But we must not underestimate the impact of criticism on players, especially on social media. A guy like Andrei Markov never let himself be affected by people’s comments, and it helped him achieve long-term success in Montreal.
A guy like Kirby Dach seems – just like Mika Zibanejad, by the way – to care too much about what people think of him.
I dealt with that for a few years (career in the music industry and the start of my journey in the sports media universe), but I realized a few years ago that I couldn’t control what people think of me and that very often, what they think is far from reality.
Let’s hope that Dach and Slaf will find a mental place to retreat to in order to find success again in a market like Montreal.
SAINT PETERSBURG, RUSSIA - 2024/12/08: Ivan Demidov (91) of SKA, Vsevolod Logvin (11) of Barys Hockey Club seen in action during the hockey match, Kontinental Hockey League 2024/2025 between SKA Saint Petersburg and Barys Kazakhstan at the Ice Sports Palace. (Final score; SKA Saint Petersburg 1:0 Barys Kazakhstan). (Photo by Maksim Konstantinov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Here we go.
In light of today’s match for Ivan Demidov’s club, Roman Rotenberg has chosen to sideline the talented prospect from the CH. He will not even be the 13th forward today.
But since Roman Rotenberg is also the coach of the Russian club and 17 members of SKA are part of the team, it was to be expected that Demidov would play less than usual.
Why? Because his club is similar to SKA (a club where he plays too little), but stronger at the same time. And the opposition is better than a normal KHL match.
Throughout the tournament, it remains unclear how Demidov’s playing time will be managed. He is, after all, an 18-year-old young player. Therefore, it is not entirely abnormal to see him sidelined in the duel against the rest of the world.
Let’s remember that Connor Bedard was not chosen for the Four Nations Tournament. That puts things into perspective.
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