Defensive setbacks: Matheson and Savard hold team meeting with young defenders

Dans les Coulisses
Crédit: MONTREAL, CANADA - FEBRUARY 10: Mike Matheson #8 of the Montreal Canadiens and teammate David Savard #58 speak to each other during the third period against the Dallas Stars at the Bell Centre on February 10, 2024 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Dallas Stars defeated the Montreal Canadiens 3-2. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

The Canadiens’ defense is young.

It lacks NHL experience, which may explain why the Habs have had so many setbacks defensively so far this season.

Because, as we all know, the Canadiens have been taking pity on their zone lately.

When you look at the age of each defenseman, it’s easy to see that Mike Matheson and David Savard have a lot of pressure on their shoulders.

They’re there to help the younger players, who need a little guidance:

  • Lane Hutson, 20
  • Logan Mailloux, 21
  • Kaiden Guhle, 22
  • Jayden Struble, 22
  • Justin Barron, 22
  • Arber Xhekaj, 23

But Matheson and Savard may be the oldest of the bunch, but at the end of the day, the two veterans can’t do it all alone on the ice.

That’s why, after yesterday’s practice, Matheson and Savard held a small team meeting with the rest of the defensive brigade to clarify a few things.

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Matheson and Savard are the team’s leaders, along with Brendan Gallagher and Nick Suzuki.

They have an important voice in the dressing room because they do things the right way and because they have mileage.

David Savard even has a Stanley Cup ring, which proves that he knows how to find himself in a winning situation.

That said, it’s interesting to know that these two guys stood up to calm the storm. They’ve taken the initiative knowing that things haven’t been going so well lately, and that’s why they’re important in the room.

We’ve talked in the last year about the possibility of trading one of them so that Kent Hughes could maximize his assets, but this is where we see how crucial it is to have veterans in the room.

It takes older players to guide the younger ones, after all.

Now, all that remains to be seen… is whether the meeting in question will have had its impact on the ice. We’ll see tonight at the Bell Centre and we’ll see tomorrow, when the Habs visit Philadelphia to take on Matvei Michkov’s Flyers.

Overtime

– Oh.

– Will they be fit tonight?

– All the better.

– This is normal.

– The Islanders are on the move :