Canadiens Brunch: Ylönen On Top Line? Embrace Skill, Don’t Pummel It

Does Jesse Ylönen deserve a legit shot on the top line for the Montreal Canadiens?

Kevin Hayes calls out the Philadelphia Flyers for ending Keith Yandle’s ironman streak.

This hockey scribe thinks it’s time for the middle-aged hockey fans and media to evolve, stop turning so many away from hockey and embrace skill not pummel it.

That and more in the latest BHN Bruins Brunch:

Montreal Canadiens

Does Montreal Canadiens winger Jesse Ylönen deserve a chance to ride shotgun on the top line with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield? My partner-in-scribe at Montreal Hockey Now, Marco D’Amico, thinks so and he makes a solid case for Habs fans to think about.

Just called them the cardiac kids and as I texted to Marco during the game, if you want to make money over the next couple of weeks, just bet the over in every Montreal Canadiens game. The Habs staged two two-goal comebacks and Nick Suzuki scored a filthy shootout goal to beat the defending Stanley Cup Champions, Tampa Bay Lightning 5-4 in a shootout.

Jordan Harris looked great in his first NHL game. If you haven’t been reading them already, I highly suggest reading Marco’s series of posts on the Montreal Canadiens rookie defenceman from the past week.

Also, as Marco reported already djcbdj, Sportsnet Insider Elliotte Friedman also reported Saturday that Montreal Canadiens prospect Jayden Struble isn’t done playing for the Huskies. Unlike Marco though, Friedman failed to ease the fears of Habs fans that Struble returning to school doesn’t mean he will become an unrestricted free agent in August, 2023. Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes was Struble’s family advisor and as it did for Harris, Struble’s familiarity with Hughes will very likely have him donning the CH for the 2023-24 season, if not earlier.

National Hockey Now

BOS: If you’re a Bruins fan still in denial and don’t think Erik Haula can be the No. 2 center for the Boston Bruins right now and in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, leave your address here please. I have this Qanon pamphlet that came in the mail and I hear they welcome delusional folks and those that can’t admit when they’re wrong with open arms. If you want a dose of reality though, please read the latest from my BHN partner-in-scribe Joe Haggerty.

Philadelphia: It’s no surprise, considering he’s roommates and a longtime friend of Keith Yandle, but good on Philadelphia Flyers center Kevin Hayes calling out the classless move by the Flyers to end Keith Yandle’s ironman streak.

Pittsburgh: Have to disagree with my colleague and friend Dan Kingerski here who believes it’s OK to punish skill and creativity with violence. That may have been true 15-20 years ago, but as we are supposed to in life, should we not evolve in sports? Jay Beagle needs to evolve fast because there’s lots of young players coming for the Arizona Coyotes and playing and acting like a dinosaur won’t save his spot in the lineup.

Detroit: The Detroit Red Wings may be out of the playoff race but not all was lost in Motown as the Wings have seen two rookies in Mo Seider and Lucas Raymond rapidly become stars in this league and the future will get even brighter when more Red Wings prospects get to the show.

Colorado: If Saturday was any indication, the Colorado Avalanche and Pittsburgh Penguins would be one heck of a Stanley Cup Final.

Vegas: Our man in Vegas, Owen Krepps, looks at every potential scenario for the Vegas Golden Knights down the stretch run.

Canada Hockey Now

Calgary: Calgary Flames center Sean Monahan is out for the season after hip surgery.

Vancouver: Like Dan Kingerski above, it appears a lot of my friends in my age group are having trouble accepting that the barbaric ways of the past don’t work in the NHL anymore? Should cheap shots be punished with punch to the face? Yes! But sorry Dan and Rob Simpson, skill should not.

NHL

At least hall of fame puck scribe Larry Brooks, who’s older than Simmer, Dan and I, gets that skill doesn’t need to be punished and shouldn’t be viewed as showing someone up. To to adjust with the time lads. Love ya, but you missed on this just like troy Terry wishes Jay Beagle missed on those haymakers. The Trevor Zegras show will go on; why not enjoy it?