Montreal Canadiens

The defense never rests

Last season, the Canadiens defined themselves as an uptempo, quick moving puck possession team, which resulted in the number one offense in the league. Thus far into this season, the offense has picked up were it left off a season ago. Augmented with the additions of creative offensive forwards in Tanguay and Lang, the Habs boost three quality scoring lines, resulting in the third highest scoring average in the league at 3.46 goals per game. Unfortunately, the old adage the best defense is a good offense has not held true for this years edition. Thus far, the Habs have given up an average of 31.3 shots allowed per game, a ranking of 20th in the league. More disturbing is the amount of high quality chances the team is allowing to the opposition. Last season, the Habs allowed the fewest goals in the Northeast division due to a concerted team effort, and elite level goaltending provided by Huet and Price. Once again this season, Price is providing stellar goaltending, but the team approach to defense has left alot to be desired.

The defensive deficiences are due a lack of attention to effective positioning amongst the forwards when they don’t have the puck, and the lack of a quality defenseman that can play alongside Roman Hamrlik as the teams number 4 d man. The first issue, a lackadaisical approach to defensive responsibilities, can be fine tuned and corrected to a certain extent, with the teams exisiting personnel. The seond issue, a reliable, efficent defenseman to fill the number four slot on the depth chart is somewhat more problematic.

Too often this season, the forwards have left the Habs dmen on an island, providing little in the way of deligent defensive zone coverage, proper puck support, and not providing sufficent passing options for the beleaguered Hab defensemen. The team needs to institute a defense first mentality. The forwards need to shorten the gap between themselves and the defensmen, when the Habs are transitioning from defense to offense. Last season, a key to the teams success was the dedication the Hab forwards had to placing “back pressure” on the oppositions puck carrier. Too often this season, there has not been a persistent backchecking forward on the puck carrier, forcing the Habs defensemen to back off quickly, surrendering the Habs blueline, and enabling easy opposition penetration creating too many dangerous scoring opportunities. A greater committment to team defense would remove some of the strain from the Habs defenseman, and limit the oppositions scoring chances.

An upgrade on defense, is a more difficult scenario to address. After Markov, Komisarek and Hamrlik, questions arise about the competencyand capabilities of the bottom half of the Habs defense corps. Gorges and Bouillon make up an effective third defense pairing. However, Brisebois and O’Bryne have struggled playing along side the well rounded Hamrlik as the teams number 4 dman. Brisebois is in the twilight of his career, and is not capable of playing aheavy rotation of minutes on a nightly basis, because he simply has too many flaws in his game. O’Bryne is an intriguing prospect. At 6 foot 5, he has a long reach, skates well for a big man, and can impose a physical dimension to his game. Howeve as a fourth round draft pick, his on ice vision, and outlet pass is sometimes suspect,and he is struggling with self confidence on the ice. Can he grow into the role with Hamrlik as his mentor, is a possibility, but can the maturation process occur quickly enough for him to adequately fullfill his responsibilities this season, remains a question mark.If and when Gainey decides to augment the defense, the question will be: what exactly does the team need on the blueline. Will Gainey go in the direction of a mobile, puck moving d man, who can augment the teams transition game, and thus fortify the Canadiens greatest strength, puck possession and offense. Or does the need for a physical defenseman that can impose a physicality down low in the defensive zone against teams that rely on an aggressive forecheck and a relentless cycle game become a more pressing need.

If the Habs were to play a team like Dtroit in the cup finals, a efficent puck moving blueliner, capable of making a stretch pass, or a quality short crisp outlet pass would be required. A dman with finesse would negate a perceived advantage a team like Detroit would have over the Habs. On the other hand, against more demanding physical teams such as Philly, San Jose and the Ducks, a physical dman that can disrupt those teams cyclingg of the puck down low, and clear space in front of the Habs net would be a great advantage.

The difficulty, Gainey faces is, that there are very few defensemen that incorporate both styles of finesse and physicality into their game. Those that do, would command an exceedingly high price in terms of a trade. As such, Gainey would have to decide whether he wants a Kaberle or a Regher type of defenseman, which style would best elevate the Canadiens as a team. For the Habs you want to place to your strenghts, quickness and puck possession. However, in doing so the team can get exposed to its weakness, of lacking a physical presence down low and along the boards. In last seasons playoffs, the defensive combination of Gorges and Bouillon were exposed, and wore down as the playoffs advanced.

Ultimately, teams don’t win championships without a solid defense. Last season, Ken Holland made a trade deadline deal, acquiring Brad Stuart to further stabilize what was an already solid defense corps in Detroit. The result was a Stanley Cup. Gainey will have to decide what price he is willing to pay to upgrade the Habs blueline, if he has an eye to going for the cup this season.