The NHL All-Star Weekend rhymes with the home stretch of the regular schedule. Obviously, the Canadian has long been excluded from the playoff portrait, but what’s left for fans to say?
A race to finish as low as possible in the standings to get your hands on Connor Bedard?
Bedard is an exceptional athlete. We only see players like him every 10 years. Like the Sidney Crosbys or the Connor McDavids of this world. I may be wrong, but I’m convinced that Bedard is of the same caliber, a generation-long hockey player.
The Habs will therefore face the Vancouver Canucks, San Jose Sharks, Arizona Coyotes, Anaheim Ducks, Chicago Blackhawks and Columbus Blue Jackets for top spot in the repechage.
However, I don’t think NHL executives like that.
The big losers in this dire scenario are the amateurs who are being held hostage.
The losses are piling up, but the fans still have to pay maximum money. Ticket costs don’t go down because CH presents a formation worthy of the American League.
In the last game, a 5-4 loss to the Ottawa Senators, Montreal had nine hockey players with the designations “AHL” or “rookie” on its roster. We announced 21,105 spectators at the Bell Center…
The show suffers
We may appreciate the remarkable performance of Rafaël Harvey-Pinard, who has five goals and six points in seven games since his recall from Laval, one fact remains: the Canadian’s infirmary is overcrowded and the show is suffering.
Add in Carey Price, who may never wear his leggings again, and Paul Byron, who has not played a game this season, and the Bleu Blanc Rouge are without 11 injured players. Not to mention that recently, Kirby Dach and Christian Dvorak have often missed training to undergo treatment. You are not playing at 100% capacity.
A little positive
Luckily, roof is one of the big stories of this campaign at CH. He has five points in his last five appearances.
So it’s not all negative. Fans got to witness Cole Caufield’s prowess before he went under the knife and Samuel Montembeault showed up. But hey, Jake Allen seems to have regained his No. 1 status since returning to the game. Who deserves most to play between Montembeault and Allen? Asking the question means answering it.
And there are injuries we don’t hear from anymore… and who seem in no hurry to return to the game. Have to say the Canadian season is going nowhere. Hard to believe that this club already has the nickname “Les Glorieux”.
A plan in the water?
Brendan Gallagher hasn’t played in a month. It dates back to December 5th for Sean Monahan. Several observers believed Monahan would be a good bargaining chip at the close, but Kent Hughes’ plan may have failed.
I am curious if the general manager of CH will make several transactions. But I wonder if his players are worth enough for people to want to believe him. Some are sending defense attorney Joel Edmundson elsewhere. who will want it He’s slow and his only quality is winning the Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues.
As long as the youngsters are playing, I’d like to see more Anthony Richard, who came back too quickly with Rocket School Club, and more Montembeault.
Management has a plan. Everyone trusts Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton. And Martin St-Louis is preparing his club for victory. At least the players are working. You can’t blame them for dragging their feet.
– Interview by Mylene Richard
Echoes of Bergie
Goodbye to a big one
My generation was lucky enough to see Bobby Hull develop. He changed the hockey world, especially with his brilliant slap shot. And he was the first, alongside Stan Mikita, to use a curved palette. He sowed terror among the guards. Glen Hall was shaking during Blackhawks practice. Imagine some Cerberus not wearing a mask! When they heard the puck hiss near their ears, it was scary. Hull and Mikita may have overdone it a bit and the NHL had to regulate the turns. Hull also gave NHL players better salaries when he joined the Winnipeg Jets in the World Hockey Association, but it cost him a World Series berth. Brett Hull then followed in his father’s footsteps and became a formidable underdog in the NHL. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree.
Exciting weekend
The NHL All-Star Weekend is spectacular, although not all fans are happy with the new Skills competitive events. We mix golf and hockey… we try to come up with original ideas. The three-on-three match is exciting and the players are having fun, except maybe the goalies, who are as overwhelmed as they want. Other hockey players use this holiday to recharge, recharge, rest and spend time with family… and maybe escape the -30 and -40 degrees Celsius
from Montreal!
McDavid or Pastrnak?
Who will win the Maurice Richard Trophy, awarded to the circuit’s top scorer? The fight is between Connor McDavid and David Pastrnak. For now, the Edmonton Oilers captain is dominating with 41 goals versus 38 for the Boston Bruins player. McDavid, who lost the fastest skater challenge yesterday, is the league’s MVP in my opinion. He was able to win all individual prizes, even that of Gentleman.
