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Ivan Demidov Playing For Canadiens Tonight. Should he be? |
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Let me start by saying, since I was a kid, I have always loved the Montréal Canadiens and everything they are about. The NHL is a much better place when they make the playoffs, and Canadiens fans are second to none. Seeing a game at the Bell Centre is like going to the Yankee Stadium or attending the Christmas Eve Mass at the Vatican. It’s an experience you will never forget.
This season has been absolutely fantastic to watch. I don’t know many people who predicted the Montréal Canadiens to make the playoffs this year…I know I sure didn’t.
But here they are….one win away. Two games left. And tonight one of the worst teams in the NHL visits the “The City of Saints” or it’s other nickname. “La Métropole.”
And as if the excitement of returning to the playoffs with a single point isn’t enough, tonight the Canadiens will debut Russian Phenom, Ivan Demidov, who is widely considered the best player not playing in the NHL right now…. He won’t hold that title after the night of course…
The hype around this kid in the city that invented hockey hype is way off the charts. Montreal fans, love their superstars. They absolutely are going to adore this kid. And keeping him out of the lineup really doesn’t feel like an option. Tickets on StubHub for tonight’s game are going through the roof with the anticipation.. There are no lower bowl seats under $300 a piece. Many are in the $500 range per ticket….. the event is selling extraordinarily fast according to Stub Hub.
The combination of Montreal clinching a \play spot, and Demidov is the obvious cause for the wild demand. The fans want Demidov NOW. But is it really wise with what’s at stake?
In my opinion, it’s kind of a coin flip. One of two things could happen.
1. The atmosphere and the excitement of it all catapults Montreal to an easy win. And a ticket to the dance.
Or…
2. The Habs players let up a bit and get caught up watching Demidov, become less focused on their normal assignments and Chicago, with nothing to lose, defeats Montreal, Then the playoffs will come down to Montreal having to get that point in Carolina.. because I really believe Columbus will beat the Islanders….
This is nothing like Ryan Leonard entering the Capitals. Unlike the Washington Capitals, the Montréal Canadiens are a team where the sum is greater than the parts. The Canadians are fine tuned and balance right now. Yes, Demidov only makes them better in the long run, BUT should you introduce anything new tonight that could possibly distract and take away the mission of just making the playoffs?
If this were another city, any other city, I believe this would be questioned a lot more than it being questioned right now. The fans of Montreal would absolutely destroy the team if they didn’t play him and they lost to Chicago. And I think that’s driving this decision more than it should.
I’m speaking from experience here to a degree because I lived through the Eric Lindros era in Philly. I remember the game seven he came back for against the Devils years ago. He didn’t finish the game of course because of the Scott Stevens hit, but while he was playing in the game, I felt like the Flyers players were watching him a bit. Waiting for him to do something spectacular. The team didn’t have the same energy as they had had for the first six games of the series.
I’m always in the mindset that a team needs to play to win, and not play not to lose.
So why wouldn’t I put what could be one of my best players in the game?
Because Montreal has to play desperate hockey tonight. There’s this massive assumption that Montreal is in the playoffs…. they’re not…they’re really not. Watching the blue jackets last night they are a team on a mission. Both Columbus and Montreal are such great stories this year. I wish that both could make the playoffs. It sucks that one won’t.
I have a fear of the Habs players, relaxing a bit and shifting their focus watching what Demidov can do… maybe for the first time this year tonight the fans are expecting them to win. It’s a different game, especially in Montreal, when you’re playing, the Cinderella roll versus the expected to win roll. It’s a kind of pressure thisc team hasn’t had to deal with much.
There is no right answer here. I want to see the kid play too. And hopefully scenario one happens tonight for Montreal. The Bell Centre will be rocking like crazy no question. Chicago is not a great team. This is set up for Montreal to win. I believe they will win.
I’m just posing a question here that I believe should be asked and really considered more than I think it is being…
What are your thoughts?
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