This morning, the Canadiens turned the twenty sixth crew within the NHL to attain probably the most objectives up to now this season: 76. That’s not so much.
Because the crew additionally ranks second in objectives scored by defensemen(21, behind the Avalanche at 23), you’ll perceive that the CH inevitably ranks final in the complete league in objectives scored by its forwards, guys usually paid to provide offensively. Houston, now we have an issue!
Suzuki and Monahan have 8, Caufield and Newhook have 7, Gallagher has 5… and everybody else has 4 or much less. And there are already 28 video games performed!
It’s necessary to be good with out the puck while you’re a ahead, nevertheless it’s simply as necessary with the puck…
My objective in the present day, nevertheless, is to not repeat that Cole Caufield must be extra productive, that Josh Anderson nonetheless hasn’t overwhelmed a goalie or that Juraj Slafkovsky has simply two objectives in 28 video games…
It’s Christian Dvorak who’s been giving me the heebie-jeebies for the previous few video games.
Dvorak is the fifth-highest-paid ahead this season ($5.725 million), in addition to having the fifth-highest cap hit on the team ($4.45 million). Besides that within the stats column, Dvorak isn’t ranked practically as excessive as that.
Dvorak is the team’s 18th top scorer – all positions mixed – with one objective. No fewer than 5 defenders have extra objectives than him in 2023-24… and no participant who has performed not less than 18 video games (his whole) has scored fewer objectives than him (one). It’s a wrap!
Factors-wise, it’s hardly higher: Dvorak is the crew’s Thirteenth-highest scorer (5).
Dvorak hasn’t overwhelmed a goalie since November 7, i.e. in 16 video games. And he’s collected simply two factors in his final 10 video games!
That’s a far cry from Phillip Danault and Jesperi Kotkaniemi, the 2 gamers he got here to Montreal to switch… and from whom he was mentioned to be higher within the hours following his acquisition by Marc Bergevin. Let’s simply say that his vaunted expertise as a passer didn’t observe him to Quebec…
“Max, you’re acting in bad faith! Dvorak is good defensively! He’s important to the team.” – Somebody, someplace
Dvorak has a adverse differential(minus-3) regardless that he performs on the third pair (alongside defensive gamers corresponding to Brendan Gallagher). He doesn’t even face the perfect opposing defenders, particularly on the highway.
Montreal’s penalty kill is the fourth worst in the NHL this season. Want I remind you that Dvorak is an integral a part of this particular unit?
All 4 gamers on the ice have to indicate extraordinary dedication to succeed when down a person. Let’s simply say that Dvorak and dedication are related in sound, however not in definition…
And in any case, it’s not “defensive attacking talent” that we want most proper now, it’s uncooked offensive expertise.
If Dvorak was as necessary as some declare, the Habs wouldn’t have let him sit on the LTIR for weeks on finish, regardless that he was coaching laborious earlier than coaching camp opened and was able to play in October.
So long as guys like Dvorak get minutes and a top quality position within the line-up, the crew will tread water in its progress. Veterans want to assist the crew AND present the youthful gamers the best way. I’m undecided Dvorak is the man you’d most prefer to mannequin your youthful gamers on.
Briefly
– A person of the individuals.
– Geneviève (@Genevieve_21) December 12, 2023
– Suspension within the AHL.
Chicago Wolves head coach Bob Nardella has been suspended 10 video games by @TheAHL for steering homophobic language at an official throughout a recreation on Saturday.
– Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) December 12, 2023
– Josh Anderson nonetheless hasn’t scored since his empty-net objective.[La Presse]
– A go well with that leaves an enduring impression.
– A warrior.
