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NHL Montreal Canadiens

Montreal Canadiens’ Blue Line Needs An Overhaul

By @LissaRantSports

Jarred Tinordi, Montreal Canadiens

Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports

This has been a busy month for Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin. He traded two forwards (Travis Moen and Rene Bourque), acquiring defensemen Sergei Gonchar and Bryan Allen respectively. He extended the contract of popular forward Brendan Gallagher as well. Is there more he can do? I believe there is, specifically on defense.

To preface this, I’m not taking away from the fact that the team, as a whole, is not performing of late. But I’d like to discuss those who are standing out in negative ways.

Let’s talk about Bryan Allen. Bourque had been sent down to the Hamilton Bulldogs originally, but the Habs were still on the books for his salary. In trading him, they managed to make some room financially. However, in the four games he has played with the Canadiens, I am not impressed with his play. He is slow, he has not helped create chances and in fact — despite the assist he had against the Buffalo Sabres –has not given me much confidence in his presence on the team.

For example, in Saturday night’s game, he, along with Mike Weaver, allowed Buffalo Sabres‘ Chris Stewart to skate away from the rest of the players on the ice, literally creating a breakaway on which he scored. While I’m not blaming Allen alone, it was indicative of the type of play he has shown thus far. When he isn’t making mistakes, he is largely invisible (It should be noted, he was benched for the remainder of the game after that goal was scored).

Thus far, I have no problem with Sergei Gonchar. In the games in which Montreal has prevailed, Gonchar has been a good addition. He has taken many shots on net, has contributed to goals and the Montreal power play improved when he joined the special teams on the ice. For a 40-year-old, he is doing well.

It was worrisome, when the two acquisitions were announced, that two younger defensemen – Nathan Beaulieu and Jarred Tinordi –would be left behind. That concern has materialized; both are with the Bulldogs and despite both having had games in Montreal this season, they are relegated to the AHL with the comment (from Bergevin) that they have his confidence but require further development.

I disagree. I enjoyed watching the two when they were in the lineup for Montreal. Tinordi is known for his grit, his physical play and Beaulieu for his smart play and puck possession skills. They have been doing well in Hamilton, and it is a general consensus that there is nothing more either can learn from playing in the AHL. Brendan Gallagher burst on the scene of the NHL after just a single season in Hamilton and is doing well with the Canadiens as he continues to develop. I have to wonder, just when does a coach or GM decide it’s time?

To add to the absence of Beaulieu and Tinordi, head coach Michel Therrien chose to scratch defenseman Tom Gilbert in favor of Bryan Allen. Gilbert, at least, has played with the team since the beginning of the season and has been productive. While he isn’t quite the caliber of P.K. Subban or Andrei Markov, he is younger and faster than Gonchar and Allen.

Alexei Emelin is also a concern for those of us following along. Since the beginning of the season, he doesn’t seem to be on his game. Sure, he’s making the big hits (one unnecessary hit to the head of Sabres captain — and former Habs captain – Brian Gionta, which cost him a hefty fine), but he’s making more mistakes than before, many of them leading to goals against the Habs. Perhaps it’s time for him to be scratched as well. In fact, why Gilbert was the healthy scratch (twice) against Buffalo, and not mistake-prone d-men like Allen and Emelin, baffled many fans who would like to see the defense step up a lot more.

Somehow Michel Therrien has an affinity for the veteran players; with a four-game road trip to western USA this week, he needs to change his game plan. I believe it’s time for Allen to sit, or be sent to Hamilton, and the younger guys get a chance. Given the lack of announcement from the Habs’ camp as to call-ups, this doesn’t look like it will happen.

Lissa Albert is a Montreal Canadiens writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow her on Twitter @LissaRantSports. “Like” her on Facebook and/or add her to your network on Google.

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