The junk drawer is where you throw everything you can’t find a place for, so these articles going forward will have a little of everything: Some statistics, some prospects, some opinions, some information, and anything else Canadiens related I feel like you all need to know. If there is anything you would like to read in The Junk Drawer just let me know in the comments.
Let’s Dive In…
The Montreal Canadiens sit in last place in the Atlantic Division, in the midst of a five-game losing streak, with a -20 goal differential. Things have been better in Montreal. The defense and the goaltending need to improve. Neither goalie has a Goals Against Average under 3.4 or a Save Percentage greater than .900. The Canadiens have relied on great goaltending in the past and are not getting that right now.
Stats:
Here are the Canadiens league ranks after fourteen games (4-8-2):
Goals For: 38 (21st)
Goals Against: 57 (31st)
Assists: 71 (17th)
Shooting Percentage: 10.92% (13th)
Power Play Percentage: 20.8% (12th)
Penalty Kill Percentage: 83.3% (12th)
Penalty Minutes: 147 (23rd)
Looking at the stats, Montreal’s special teams are solid and their shooting percentage is above average as well. When the Canadiens can generate offense, they have players that can finish. The Canadiens don’t generate enough offensive chances. Montreal averages only 24.9 shots per game and allows almost 32 shots per game (31.8). Defensively, Montreal has given up 3 or more goals in 11 of their 14 games.
News & Notes:
Cole Caufield leads the Canadiens with ten goals in fourteen games. Caufield’s career high in goals is 28 which he did last season. Caufield is on pace for 59 goals which would shatter his career high.
20-year-old 2nd round pick Lane Hutson is learning at the NHL level gaining valuable experience. The blueliner has seven points in fourteen games and brings an offensive flair that can’t be taught. As with any young defenseman playing in his own zone is where the most growth needs to happen. Once Hutson figures out what he can and cannot get away with, the sky is the limit.
Speedy Center Alex Newhook is on pace for 23 goals that would exceed his career high in goals (15) that he set last year in only 55 games with the Canadiens. Newhook came to Montreal in an off-season trade with the Colorado Avalanche before the 2023-24 season.
22-year-old Defenseman Kaiden Guhle is one of only two players on the Canadiens that are not minus players. Guhle and Slavkovsky are +/- 0. The 2020 first-round pick (16th overall) has played well on the blue line for Montreal, with one goal and four assists in nine games. Although Montreal is going through some rough times, their talented young core is gaining valuable experience that should only benefit them in a few years when they start to hit their prime.
Injury News:
Rafael Harvey-Pinard has been on Long Term Injured Reserve (LTIR) since the start of the season and has yet to make his 24-25 season debut.
Juraj Slafkovsky had a concussion scare after a hit from Pittsburgh Penguins forward Noel Acciari, but he did not have any symptoms after the game. The Canadiens dodged a bullet with their young star forward.
In the Minors:
The Rocket has started the season 9-1-0-0 for first place in the North Division. Joshua Roy leads the Rocket in goals (7) and points (12) in ten games. Alex Barré-Boulet leads the club with 11 assists in only six games played. 2021 first-round pick (31st overall) Logan Mailloux leads all Rocket defensemen with 10 points (3g, 7a) in five games played.
Canadiens Prospects in Juniors:
A couple of Habs prospects have had strong starts to their Junior seasons:
2024 5th-round pick Tyler Thorpe has 15 points (7g, 8a) in 15 games for the Vancouver Giants in the WHL. The 6-foot-5 forward has a physical presence and a hard, heavy shot.
2024 4th-round pick, Owen Protz has 7 points (2g, 5a) in 14 games for the Brantford Bulldogs in the OHL. The 18-year-old, 6-foot-1, 213 lb. defenseman is a heavy-hitting, physical, two-way defenseman.
Canadiens Prospects In the NCAA:
A couple of Montreal Canadiens prospects have had strong starts to their collegiate seasons:
Sophomore Forward Sam Harris has started fast for the No. 1. ranked University of Denver Pioneers with 11 points (7g, 4a) in 8 games.
2024 1st-round pick, Freshman Forward Michael Hage, has 8 points (4g, 4a) in 8 games with the University of Michigan. The 18-year-old, two-way, playmaking center has had a strong start to his career with the Wolverines.
Week ahead:
November 11 at Buffalo Sabres
November 14 at Minnesota Wild
November 16 vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
Season 4. Episode 14. West Coast Road Trip. – Bruins Benders Podcast
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Can I ask why is it that everyone in the Montreal universe seems to not see the obvious. That this rebuilding ides is not working. You have a GM who is leaning always towards the American University and international hockey players and not the QMJHL. Statistically the Montreal Canadiens have won the Stanley cup when the team had above 30% French Canadiens players on the ice. We need to get back to that idea, enough of the Coach and General Manager needing to be Bilingual, Lets get more French content on the ice!