November 29, 2024 | 1:10pm ET
By David Calabretta, TheFourthPeriod.com
END OF FIRST QUARTER IN MONTREAL: BRIGHTER DAYS AHEAD
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Kirby Dach, forward
MONTREAL, QC — The Montreal Canadiens have reached the quarter mile mark of the 2024-25 season, and it hasn’t exactly been a step up in the rebuild. Going 8-11-3 in the first 22 games, the Habs currently sit 29th in the league standings, and last in the Eastern Conference.
It would simply be a lie if the Canadiens saw themselves at the bottom of the league standings just 20 games into the season, especially given the expectations of being “in the mix”. The reality is, the Habs’ top guys haven’t given enough for them to poise any threat in the East.
Montreal’s bottom-six has been performing at an impressive rate, seeing guys like Josh Anderson and Brendan Gallagher having scorching hot starts, but the Habs aren’t getting enough from their big dogs. Kirby Dach and Juraj Slafkovsky, especially, have struggled to find consistency in their overall game.
Dach’s returned this season since suffering an ACL tear versus the Chicago Blackhawks in October 2023. While many have felt that such an underwhelming start would be in the cards given his long hiatus from everyday hockey, but he hasn’t snapped out of it yet and head coach Martin St. Louis has also been concerned.
“I think it’s a combination of things,” the coach said. “The injury is part of it. I think now you accumulate that with not the start that he was hoping for. So, there was a physical, mental aspect. Now there is a little bit of a mental aspect on top of that too so.
“I wouldn’t say it’s one thing. We still got plenty of time this year. Obviously, we hoped by now that he would feel better about himself. But we’re gonna keep helping him.”
Dach was dropped to the fourth line on Wednesday, playing alongside Slafkovsky and Joel Armia.
“I think (Dach’s) confidence is not where it probably needs to be,” St. Louis added. “So, putting him back in a familiar, more comfortable environment up the middle, I’m hoping that boosts his confidence.”
Dach, 23, has eight points throughout 22 games so far this season, with most of them coming from the top powerplay unit.
Slafkovsky also fell victim to the message St. Louis is trying to send.
It all seemed to be going well for the 2022 first-overall draft pick after an impressive second half to his season in 2023-24, collecting 36 points in the final 42 games and landed an eight-year extension worth $7.5 million kicking in next season. While 13 points in 19 games isn’t something worth losing sleep over, his overall game must be better, and he knows it best than anyone else.
“Of course I’m disappointed,” Slafkovsky told the Montreal Gazette following Wednesday morning’s practice at the CN Sports Complex in Brossard. “I’m not surprised. The way I’ve been playing, I don’t know, maybe I don’t deserve the goals. I just need to skate faster and do all the things better. Then I’ll start scoring.
“The injury for sure didn’t affect me. I don’t think nothing affects me. It’s only me and I’ve got to figure my stuff out. It’s not a big deal. We’ve still got 69 games left. Hopefully I get to score at least ... I don’t know. We’ll see how many. I don’t even think about who I’m playing with. I know I must bring my best game, whomever I’m playing with.”
The reality is, Slafkovsky got paid and results must start to reflect that. Consistency must start to come from the Slovakian and it all starts from confidence, and currently he seems to not have much in his game.
As we try looking into the future, it seems there are better days ahead even in a week from now with the imminent return of Patrik Laine.
As seen over the last week, Laine has finally begun practicing with the team, and the sign of a return on the horizon. As I reported early last week, Laine’s official Habs debut could come on December 3rd versus the New York Islanders.
I think December 3rd versus the Islanders could be his debut. Maybe earlier https://t.co/l5WRobGgEg
— David (@DcalabrettaTFP) November 20, 2024
Laine, 28, was acquired by the Canadiens in late august from the Columbus Blue Jackets, in exchange for defenseman Jordan Harris. With the return of Laine, the Habs’ top-six has suddenly improved drastically, adding a proven 40-goal scorer to the fold.
Canadiens Prospects Showing Up
If there was a light at the end of the tunnel, it must be the success in the AHL; more importantly some of their prospects, having great starts to the season with the likes of Logan Mailloux, Owen Beck and Joshua Roy.
Mailloux, the Canadiens’ first-round pick (31st overall) in 2021, has since developed an amazing offensive side to his game since turning pro, leading defensive rookies in points during the 2023-24 season with 14 goals and 33 assists combining for 47 points. This season, after a hot start with seven points in his first four games with the Rocket, Mailloux got an early call-up with Montreal, where he played five games and got one goal and two assists. With some defensive work to do still, Mailloux was sent down. Since then, he now has 13 points in 12 games this season in the AHL.
Beck has been impressive in his first season since turning pro with the Rocket. The Habs’ rookie has three goals and nine assists throughout 17 games this season. Selected 33rd overall in the 2022 NHL draft, Beck continues to look like a steal for GM Kent Hughes and his draft brass. If things continue to go north, a callup can be looming.
The Canadiens have also called up Roy after an impressive stint in Laval with eight goals and eight assists throughout 17 games with the red-hot Rocket. The 21-year-old was sent down before the start of the season due to a rather underwhelming training camp, losing a spot to fellow prospect Emil Heineman. I am curious to see whether he can stay up for the remainder of the season. The 2021 fifth-round pick had nine points in 23 outings last season.
The next month will probably be the most crucial for the Canadiens, but also the healthiest they have been in recent years with the return of Laine and Rafael Harvey-Pinard on the horizon.
The Habs will have 15 games coming up in the month of December and will be ending the New Year with an intense three games against three recent Stanley Cup Champions of the last four years with the Florida Panthers, Vegas Golden Knights and Tampa Bay Lightning on the road. It will be interesting to see how the Canadiens’ will hold up and if they can somehow sit in a better spot then they are in currently.