The Montreal Canadiens have now passed the midway point of the season, looking healthy in the standings despite missing several key players for lengthy periods of time due to injury. We asked the Community to assign grades to the players on a score from 1 to 10, and tabulated the results along with those of the EOTP contributors. Some comments from community members were also selected to describe each player’s impact.
Head of the Class
Alexander Radulov (9.6)
“Radulov has been the most pleasant surprise for the team this year. Skilled, physical, passionate, fun — everything Habs fans want.”
Dean’s List
Alex Galchenyuk (9.2)
“Galchenyuk made the first-line centre position his own for a bit, and it will be interesting to see how he comes back.”
Max Pacioretty (9.1)
“Max Pacioretty is still one of the league’s least-talked-about elite goal-scorers, and since recovering from a broken foot he has been lighting it up.”
Carey Price (8.9)
“Carey Price has regressed a little bit over the last couple of months, but I have a feeling all the grumbling about him not being the best player in the world are going to motivate him to put in a very strong performance in the second half of the season.”
Paul Byron (8.7)
“Byron has been incredibly impressive, showing off an ability to elevate his play by using speed, an ability to finish, and a surprising talent for protecting the puck despite his size, resulting in a player who drives possession and has already broken his career highs for goals/points, showing no sign of slowing down.”
Jeff Petry (8.7)
“Petry is the true number-one Dman on this team, definitely having a career year.”
Achievers
Shea Weber (8.3)
“Shea Weber has been solid and steady and exactly as advertised, suited to the style of play the team favours.”
Phillip Danault (8.0)
“Danault has shown himself to be another great acquisition, stepping up his play to match that of his linemates and being a consistent standout night after night.”
Artturi Lehkonen (7.9)
“Lehkonen has been one of the best additions of the season, with an already excellent defensive ability that is aided by a creative edge that suggests a very good future in the NHL for the rookie.”
Andrei Markov (7.8)
“Markov hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down, and the fact that before his injury he led the habs D corps in points really says something.”
Nathan Beaulieu (7.5)
“Beaulieu is a bit of a mystery. Would like to see more from him. Has looked simultaneously awesome and bad in the same game.”
Sufficient effort
Alexei Emelin (7.2)
“Emelin has looked, for the majority of the season so far, like the defenceman who earned that extension long ago.”
Al Montoya (7.0)
“Aside from a few blips, Montoya has been solid as expected.”
Michael McCarron (6.6)
“Seems to have progressed nicely from last season. So far he has made a strong case for staying in Montreal as fourth line centre.”
Andrew Shaw (6.5)
“Andrew Shaw has made his contract a little easier to swallow by stepping up his play after the first couple games in the season, putting up a respectable number of points, with the added benefit of having a player who can play anywhere in a lineup with ease.”
Torrey Mitchell (6.5)
“Glad that Mitchell was able to step up when Plekanec faltered. Habs would have been in trouble without him, but they will remain in trouble if Mitchell remains needed as second-line centre.”
Brendan Gallagher (6.5)
“If it wasn’t for bad luck, Gallagher wouldn’t have any luck at all. Continues to work hard, but seems snake-bitten or cursed, impacting his performance. Given the broken hand, a curse becomes a plausible scenario.”
Greg Pateryn (6.5)
“Good enough to be sixth defenceman, but once again this season remains on the edge of losing his spot. Can’t be good on the nerves to constantly be in a position of uncertainty.”
Mark Barberio (6.5)
“I have been severely disappointed in Barberio this season. He has made some very poor puck decisions that have led to goals against at key times (the short-handed goal by Staal vs. the Wild comes to mind). I love his flow and his mustache, but I would prefer smart decisions to smart style.”
Insufficient effort
Daniel Carr (5.8)
“There was another guy called Carr who played for the Habs last season. He was really fun to watch as he sort of reminded me of Brendan Gallagher. I wonder what happened to that guy.”
Sven Andrighetto (5.5)
“Fast but inconsistent. The results are just not there for him this season, although the lack of consistency in his development this season must be affecting all aspects from self-confidence to playing ability.”
Brian Flynn (5.4)
“Does what’s asked of him. Expectations are tempered, however when he scores I remain pleasantly surprised as I didn’t even expect him on the team at this point.”
Zach Redmond (5.4)
“I haven’t really seen enough of him to get a good feel for his play. There was potential when he returned from injury, but it just feels like he’s starting from scratch now.”
Chris Terry (5.2)
“Seem like the definition of space filler; a space that would probably be better served by a Scherbak or a Hudon even with everyone healthy.”
Ryan Johnston (5.2)
“Johnston is not yet ready for the fast pace of the NHL.”
Below expectation
David Desharnais (5.1)
“Desharnais is surplus to requirements and should be on the block.”
Tomas Plekanec (5.0)
“Disappointing first half of the season given his performance at the World Cup. His descent to third-line centre was merited and thankfully other players were able to step up when Galchenyuk and Desharnais went down to injury. Much more is needed from the usually reliable Plekanec.”
Joel Hanley (4.1)
“Hanley is a player who gets a little nervous when he has pressure.”
***
Agree? Disagree? Let us know what you think of the grades, and where you stood in your evaluation of the players in the first half of the season, in the comments.
Listen to Andrew weekly on TSN 690 Radio Sundays at 8:05am on Habs Breakfast, part of Weekend Game Plan.
