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2021 was meant to be the year the world would leave Covid behind and the year the Canadiens would once again be relevant in the NHL, legitimate contenders after making it to the Cup final but neither of those 2 things happened. Instead, what we got was a never-ending roller-coaster ride of a year which gave us tremendous highs and disheartening lows. As we finally get to turn the page on year 2 of the Covid era, here are my highlights and lowlights of the last year.
The center line
After years of being told that trading for a good center was impossible and looking for a good center for decades, in early 2021, it finally looked like the Canadiens had a good center line. Philip Danault, Nick Suzuki, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Jake Evans and Eric Staal were all rocking the Bleu, Blanc, Rouge and fans could finally hope for some stability at what is arguably the most important position in today’s game.
Caufield’s arrival
After spending a couple of seasons with the Wisconsin Badgers of the NCAA, the organization finally deemed Caufield ready for the big league. He burst onto the scene in the dying miles of the last season taking parts in 10 regular season games and gathering 5 points. He wasn’t in the line-up for the start of the playoffs though, injuries had to force coach Ducharme’s hand for him to get a postseason chance, but once in, he was a big part of the Stanley Cup run with 12 points in 20 games. Watching the youngster play and score last season was a breath of fresh air and gave the Habs’ faithful reason to believe that the scoring woes might be coming to an end.
The Stanley Cup run
Yes, it was in large part a result of the stars aligning in the right way for the Canadiens, but still, what a thrilling ride! Coming back from the brink of elimination against the Leafs to march on, sweeping the Jets and slaying the Knights to get to the greatest stage of them all and in what fashion! The elimination of the Golden Knights on Saint-Jean-Baptist day could have been scripted by the biggest names in Hollywood not only because of its timing but also because of the name of the unlikely hero. It was almost magical to see Arturri “almost” Lehkonen score what is without a doubt the biggest goal of his career, the series-winning marker in OT. And who didn’t get goosebumps hearing Phil Danault start his media availability with a loud “Bonne Saint-Jean!”. Of course, the Habs would go on to lose in 5 to the Lightning in the Cup final but still, that run gave the province a new lease of life, brought smiles back on the faces and reasons to cheer and celebrate with friends, family or just fellow fans. It made us feel like better days were ahead.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be. The months that followed were a brutal awakening to the reality that the Canadiens weren’t really contenders and that the perfect balance can be rather short lived…
Free agency
Phil Danault, who had been the Habs number 1 center by default for years was able to get a big pay day on the open market thanks to the Los Angeles Kings and walked out on his childhood team, leaving a huge hole in the center line. A whole that got even bigger when the Carolina Hurricanes showered Jesperi Kotkaniemi in money to pry him away from the team that selected him 3rd overall in 2018. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Marc Bergevin also lost a huge presence in the room when he wouldn’t give Corey Perry a 2-year contract after he had more than proven his worth. Now a Lightning, Perry has scored twice against the Sainte-Flanelle this season, painful reminders that he was once ours and part of the good guys. The Canadiens also did some shopping on the free market, but there was just no way to make up for what they had lost, especially not by focusing on signing some French-Canadian players to appease the media who had made a scandal of one game played without any Quebecers in the line-up, enter depth signings Cedric Paquette and Mathieu Perreault and defenseman David Savard. In a few short days, Montreal lost most of its center line and an incredible amount of leadership and mentoring, the hope that was felt just a month earlier came crashing down…
Health Woes
As soon as the Cup final was over, we were told that many players had gone through the playoffs severely banged up, and in some cases, extremely banged up. Marc Bergevin announced with a somber look on his face that his captain’ career might just be over. Shea Weber needed several operations to address multiple injuries and to this day, there’s no indication that he’ll be back next season. Jonathan Drouin even said that Weber has now moved on from playing, “he’s moved on and he’s doing things for Marc now” were his words. Paul Byron also needed off season surgery and hasn’t returned to the line-up yet and of course, Carey Price also needed to take some time off. Initially, it was pointed out that he needed a break for mental health reasons, and he later revealed that he entered a treatment facility for substance abuse. Those 3 names on long term injured reserved could have been bad enough, but nowadays, the Canadiens are the worst-hit team by Covid.
Un beau grand bateau
In the end, that Cup run will have been a “beau grand bateau” as defunct French Canadian singer Gerry Boulet once sang about something that was too good to be true. Even worst though, it led to Marc Bergevin extending his coaching staff for 3 years, thinking that after leading the team to a Cup final, a reward was in order but as we’d come to realize, that Cup run was more thanks to the leadership of Weber, Price and Perry than it was because of Ducharme and co.’s coaching. As awful as the pandemic has been, without it, the Canadiens never would have made the Cup final last year. Without it, they wouldn’t have taken part in the bubble playoffs which made Bergevin think it was time to pounce thanks to Suzuki and Kotkaniemi’s breakthrough performances. As a result, he became a buyer on a free agency market where money was rare and he made some astute trades; Tyler Toffoli, Josh Anderson, Jake Allen, Joel Edmundson, Corey Perry, Eric Staal, without the pandemic, they wouldn’t have been there. Furthermore, without Covid crushing the Flames and Canucks last season, the Habs wouldn’t have qualified for the playoffs either so yeah, that Cup run really was un beau grand bateau.
Now that the calendar is about to turn to 2022, here’s what I wish for the Montreal Canadiens: a competent and shrewd new general manager who’ll be able to work hand in hand with Jeff Gorton, a new director of scouting who won’t miss the mark so often in the first round especially, a scouting system that looks everywhere, not just in the NCAA and in the QHJML, but in Europe as well and be able to dig deep, find those late round gems like the Detroit Red Wings have been doing for years. And even if it breaks my heart to do so, I hope the new GM can take the hard decisions and trade aging vets who deserve to win but definitely won’t get to do so in Montreal, Carey Price’s days as a Hab should be coming to an end, the man will be better off on a better team with less pressure and maybe, just maybe he’ll be able to raise Lord Stanley’s mug. Finally, I wish this team good health as is customary on new years’ day, even though it’s now more relevant than ever. And for you dear readers, I wish onto you good health for sure but also plenty of patience as we watch the Habs limp through the remainder of this season and the ability to find joy in the little things, like seeing Harvey-Pinard score his first NHL goal, like enjoying the return the Canadiens will get from the multitude of trades that are no doubt coming and in anything else that may keep you sane through the tough few months ahead. Hang in there, you’re not alone and happy new year!
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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