The evolution of build from within
March 29th, 2008 by wrightGainey and Carbonneau are getting some very deserved accolades for the success of the Habs this season. The blueprint of emphasizing drafting and developing young talent within the organization has provided major dividends for the organization. From 2001 to 2005, the Canadiens have acquired 13 players in those drafts who are currently playing for the team. The organization wisely shunned the temptation of trading away any of their draft picks in exchange for a veteran player in order to provide a temporary quick fix. The scouting department of the team has done an extraordinary job of unearthing quality talent in the latter rounds of the draft. Tomas Plejkanec was a 71st overall pick, Mark Streit was drafted 262 overall in the 2004 draft, Sergi Kostitsyn was selected 200th in the 2005 draft, all those players have had impactful seasons for the Canadiens.
Despite, the huge dividends the Canadiens strategy of building through the draft has provided, there have been instances where Gainey and Carbonneau have come close to derailing the organizations strategy. Think in terms of where the team would be had Souray accepted Gainey’s 4 year 5.5 million dollar annual salary. An injury prone, defensive liability in Souray, as opposed to an efficent defensively sound Roman Hamrlik, who was signed only after Souray rejected Gainey’s offer. Additionally, what would have been the dynamics of the team had Daniel Briere accepted the Canadiens offseason offer of 7 million a year for 8 years. A Briere contract would have acted as a millstone on the Canadiens payroll flexibility going forward. Gainey’s ability to resign pending restricted free agents:Gorges,Halak,Kostitsyn and upcoming free agents Streit and Ryder would have been seriously compromised. As well, the Briere signing would have pushed Plekanec’s down to being the number three centerman on the team, and thus inhibiting his icetime and development. As it turned out, the non signing of Briere accelerated Plekanec’s growth, and he has had a far superior year than Briere.
As head coach, Carbonneau did not initially fully embrace the notion of giving signficant ice time to the emerging young core of the team. At the start of the season, Carbo continually attempted to have two defensive forward units, featuring Kostopolous,Latendresse and Chipchura on one line (think how slow that line was) and a second defensive unit of Smolinski,Begin and Dandenault, a unit that was highly ineffective. Until the overdue promotion of SKostitsyn in game 32 of the regular season, veteran players Begin, Smolinski,Dandenault and Kostopolous were all averaging over 14 minutes of icetime pergame. Far too many minutes for marginally talented players. It took Carbo, 14 games to move Plekanec’s on to a second line with second year player A.Kostitsyn alongside Kovalev, which became the teams best forward unit. Carbonneau, also insisted on playing veteran Brisebois on a regular basis instead of the up and coming, fast developing Josh Gorges.An injury to Brisebois,and the ineffectual play of Ryder, forced management to make some personnel moves. Once Sergi Kostitsyn and Gorges were inserted into the lineup on a regular basis, the dynamics of the team dramatically changed. The Habs went from a conservative, at times somewhat plodding defensive team, to a more puck control, creative offensive team. Over the first 30 games of the season without Gorges and SKostitsyn the Habs averaged 2.83 goals a game. With those two players in the lineup over the past 48 games (and reducing the icetime of less skilled veteran players) the Habs offense has jumped to 3.45 goals per game.
To some extent, Gainey’s offseason signings of Brisebois, Smolinski,Kostopolous and Carbonneau’s personnel playing decisions up until the mid part of the season resisted the underlying strengths of the team, its emerging youth core developed within the organization. With the young players getting a far more prominent role with increased icetime, the team is playing to its strengths.
Gainey and Carbonneau have established solid assets, but the full evolution of the teams youth core, was not totally predesigned from the offseason onward. Some things fell into place through good fortune, some ufa’s did not sign with the team, and some personnel moves were made due to injury, allowing for players like Kostitsyn and Gorges to step in. Gainey and Carbonneau have done a number of good things, but they also have had some good fortune helping along the way, which accelerated the youthful composition of the team.
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