November 4, 2024 | 2:00pm ET
By David Calabretta, TheFourthPeriod.com
PLENTY OF TAKEAWAYS TO BEGIN MONTREAL’S SEASON
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Cole Caufield, forward
MONTREAL, QC — The Montreal Canadiens are entering their third full year as a rebuilding team, with their eyes set on making a drastic improvement in their overall standings position, the threshold between being a fringe playoff team to actually being in the mix.
With a disappointing 4-7-1 start to the season, expectations are not on pace to be met, with lots to take away during the dawn of the season.
Nick Suzuki and Caufield looking ahead in February
Yes, it was a slow start for Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki, going pointless in his first two games, causing fans to overreact and question his position. But since then, the points have started to come along, especially starting from the New York Rangers game last week.
Suzuki acknowledged his rough start, and told the media he must be better, and since then he has been.
“I think my assertiveness, I think I can defend better, I feel like I’m rushing some plays a little bit here and there,” said Suzuki on what he can do better. “I know what I’m capable of and I haven’t gotten there yet. I wouldn’t say I’m playing bad, but I definitely got more.”
Suzuki currently has 13 points in 10 games after going scoreless in the first two. He’s someone who can catch the eye of Jim Nill and Don Sweeney as they look to fill out team Canada’s roster ahead of the 4 Nations Face-Off in February.
Speaking of those making a case for shot at the tournament, Cole Caufield seems to be heating up with a special touch from above. The 23-year-old has 10 goals in 12 games this season and has been shooting at an impressive 30% rate. While it may not be as sustainable, it is clear he’s transitioned his “playmaking game” from last year back to his scoring touch, with only one assists so far this season.
Last season, Caufield had 65 points with 37 of them being assists. The task may be a little harder for him, as Team USA has quite the goal scoring pedigree already, with the likes of Auston Matthews, Jason Robertson and Kyle Connor representing the team.
Lane Hutson Adjusting to the NHL
There will always be growing pains when it comes to the development of NHL rookies, and Lane Hutson is no exception – especially with his risky offensive plays. It happened versus the New York Rangers, losing the puck as the last man back leading to a goal from veteran forward Reilly Smith.
But it’s nice to know Habs Head Coach Martin St.Louis has his back, and will not punish him for such an inevitable mistake.
“I let him know it was a really bad play and he just told me ‘don’t hide away from it, you just gotta go out and play’ so it’s good to hear; but I gotta be a lot better for all the guys in here,” Hutson admitted.
The 20-year-old defenseman has seven points in 12 games this season, and has clearly improved his game since that mistake, both offensively and defensively.
Habs Struggling to Find Consistency
It’s never acceptable getting blown out at the Bell Centre in front of the NHL’s most passionate fanbase, yet it happened twice in one week. On October 22nd versus the NHL’s powerhouse New York Rangers, the Canadiens got embarrassed on home ice losing 7-2. St. Louis let it be known that a result like that was unacceptable during the post-game presser.
“I’m very disappointed in the result but I’m probably going to go home, probably going to watch the game and I’ll have a plan tomorrow cause there’s nothing we can do tonight about tonight – that game is over, now it’s what's next that's important to me,” St. Louis said after the game.”
The Canadiens went on to win two straight after that disaster versus both the St. Louis Blues and the Philadelphia Flyers, hinting that the Rangers game was indeed put behind them. However, the next Tuesday, the Habs got embarrassed yet again, this time against the Seattle Kraken, a significantly weaker team than New York.
Starting the season with a shutout, things have quickly fell downhill defensively in Montreal. With 50 goals conceded in the first 12 games, Montreal is averaging four goals against per game, a league low. The Canadiens have currently lost seven out of the last 10 games since starting the season 2-1-0. To be in the mix like promised, the Canadiens must find consistency game in, game out moving forward.
Canadiens’ Fourth Line Showing Promise
It has been a pleasant surprise for the Anderson-Evans-Gallagher line so far this season, seemingly the only line who hasn’t been shaken up thus far.
Josh Anderson has found a role this season, playing bottom-six minutes and finding an identity on the Habs’ penalty kill, a role he was not previous so familiar with. While it will take a lot more than just that production to live up to his $5.5 million cap hit, I think the Habs are satisfied given his standards. The 28-year-old has two goals and three assists throughout 12 games this season.
He hasn’t necessarily been a surprise, given he is extremely underrated given his role, but Jake Evans has been playing his best hockey in a Montreal sweater.
Evans, 27, is a pending UFA at the end of the season and an extension may be on the horizon if he keeps up his play. He has five points throughout 12 games this season and has been a crucial defensive piece on this young team.
Brendan Gallagher has been the most surprising Hab, thus far. It hasn’t been easy for the veteran winger over the last few seasons after going through many injuries across his body. However, this year it seems there is a light inside the right winger.
Like Anderson, the 31-year-old is currently making $6.5 million across the next four seasons, and while he still isn’t living up to his cap hit, he has been a serviceable veteran presence for this young Canadiens’ team.
One thing to monitor is GM Kent Hughes across the next few weeks. There is no question that he is calling teams to address roster needs, whether it’s a gritty forward or a young, solidified defenceman, he continues to look at ways to address issues around the organization. While nothing is imminent given how hard it is to make an early season trade, Hughes has been amongst the most active GMs around the NHL to begin the 2024-25 NHL season.