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Beyond the Crease, A Look at Habs D-Core for 2010-11 |
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While so much has been said of the burden Carey Price will carry this season, not enough has been said about the team in front of him. In order to properly assess where the Canadiens will fall in the Eastern Conference picture, breaking down the strengths and weaknesses beyond the crease allow for some clarity.
Let's start on defense today, where the team is anchored by experienced veterans and supported by a star-potential rookie in P.K. Subban.
Hal Gill- The newly minted alternate captain of the Canadiens is coming off what many would consider to be the three best seasons of his career. At 36, Gill has found his rhythm in the post-clutch and grab era of hockey. New rules on obstruction were essentially instituted to take players like Gill (players that relied on their sticks as opposed to their skates) out of the game. But the 6"7, 240lb Gill has found a way to get his feet moving at the right time, and the rules that force him to avoid hooking and holding have taught him to concentrate on positioning. If there's a big defenseman in the game who's adjusted to the new rules better you'd have a hard time identifying him. Gill hasn't only played in two Stanley Cup Finals and a conference final over the last three seasons, he's been among the most important players in all three runs.
Josh Gorges- The Canadiens finally had a good understanding of what they had in Gorges when he fought his way to a regular roster spot in December of 2007, after coming over from the Sharks in February of the preceding season. If they were pleased with the direction his career was taking at that point, they have to be thrilled about where he's come since then. The kid from Kelowna, BC., has become a man in bleu-blanc-rouge, accounting for the most blocked shots on the team last season. He was instrumental in shutting down Alex Ovechkin, Alex Semin, Nick Backstrom, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin in the playoffs, and has been considered as part of the core group of leaders currently skating with the Canadiens. And why not? Gorges will take any hit to make a play, he'll step in front of any shot and sacrifice any part of himself for the team. Outside of those winning characteristics is an underrated passing game, and the subtle ability to skate the puck out his zone and out of trouble. He's not shy to dish out the hits either.
Jaroslav Spacek-Before coming to Montreal, Spacek was among the top defensemen in Buffalo, along with recently departed Toni Lydman and Henrik Tallinder. Spacek struggled to find consistency with the Canadiens, playing on the right side for the first time in his career. He came with the promise of more offense than he provided, having put up 32 and 45 points respectively, in his final two seasons with the Sabres. Spacek only managed 21 with the Canadiens despite a prominent powerplay role, while Andrei Markov nursed an injury for the first 35 games of the season. That he wasn't able to provide as much in that capacity certainly hindered the team at points of last season. But Spacek's true value was identified in Andrei Markov's absence, as he and partner Roman Hamrlik logged Herculean minutes to keep the Canadiens in the playoff race. He showed great things in the playoffs before he suffered from a virus that inevitably led to symptoms of vertigo. The Habs are hoping they get similar play from Spacek this season provided he contributes more on the offensive side of things.
Roman Hamrlik- A lot has been said about Roman Hamrlik's value to the team in relation to his cap-hit (5.5 mil), but it's hard to imagine three straight playoff berths without him. It's hard to imagine a fourth without him. Hamrlik will play out the final year of his 4-year deal, and his steadiness will be counted on to help the Canadiens balance out their back-end. Hamrlik does nothing extraordinarily well but likely has the most rounded game of anyone on the Canadiens' blueline. He can skate, he can pass, he can join the rush, he can hit, he can take a hit and he can play big minutes. A former top selection in the entry draft, Hamrlik should have a calming and valuable influence on P.K. Subban.
Andrei Markov- The Canadiens have had one of the best powerplays since the lockout, and Markov's been the only constant from year-to-year. He earned Sheldon Souray and Mark Streit contracts they'd never have dreamed of had they not had the opportunity to play with him. He's a quiet leader who does everything well. His vision and awareness are beyond acute; he sees plays developing a few steps ahead of most players in the NHL. He's a point-producing machine who's known for his passing, but can shoot to score from the blueline as well as anyone in the game. He's not an imposing physical threat, but those who underestimate him in that regard often find themselves the victim of one his punishing checks. That's Andrei Markov, and his influence on where the Canadiens finish in the standings is about as high as it can be, short of him putting on goalie pads and Price's jersey.
P.K. Subban- The sky is the limit, isn't it? Eventually, Subban is going to figure out when and where he can take risks, and making mistakes is going to help him develop and learn those things quicker. Outside of that reality, we're talking about a player who's likely the best skater not named Tomas Plekanec on the team; A player who can shut top players down as easily has he can threaten to score on every shift he plays. He's got great vision, tremendous speed, physicality and shooting ability. Given his natural talent, he likely couldn't be on a better team to help his development considering the experience on the Canadiens' blueline.
Ryan O'Byrne- OB brings a physical dimension that is otherwise unapparent on the Canadiens' blue. His struggle to find regular ice-time has coincided with a lack of confidence that has negatively influenced his decision making capability. He's a solid skater with more offensive upside than people commonly recognize, but hasn't been reliable enough in his own end to show different parts of his game that would keep him in the lineup more often. O'Byrne has the inside track to the 7th position on the blueline but that's hardly a position he'd like to be in at this stage of his career. With Andrei Markov on the sidelines, at least to start the season, O'Byrne will have to play the best hockey of his career for the team to start giving him more of a role--one that he can feel comfortable with. If he doesn't, Alexandre Picard and Yannick Weber will impede on his territory.
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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