Habs Wrap: The Patrik Laine Show, Carrier Arrives, Trade Talk

MONTREAL — There’s always Montreal Canadiens content to absorb, but there are only so many hours in a day. On Sundays, we recap the most exciting and relevant NHL news stories that you may have missed throughout the week so that you can stay in the Canadiens loop.

Monday

The Canadiens played well versus the Winnipeg Jets, the best team in the NHL, but they were ultimately undone by a fantastic performance by Connor Hellebuyck, not to mention Montreal’s eternal lack of discipline. On the bright side, rookie Lane Hutson scored his first goal of the year, which means he now has 20 points in his first 30 games in the league. [Habs Highlights: Lane Hutson Scores First NHL Goal Versus Jets]

Prospect Florian Xhekaj enjoyed quite an outing against the Bridgeport Islanders. The 20-year-old centre stole the spotlight with a five-point effort, including the first hat trick of his professional career. Jared Davidson also scored a goal in the 6-2 comeback win, pushing his season totals to 12 goals and six assists in 23 games, a significant uptick compared to his rookie scoring pace in 2023-24. [Xhekaj And Davidson Find Rhythm With Canadiens AHL Affiliate]

The disparity in results between Samuel Montembeault and Cayden Primeau is clear every time they take to the ice, but just in case you needed confirmation, they’re among the best and worst netminders in the NHL, respectively.

Best and Worst Goaltenders – December 15 pic.twitter.com/fBtcD7r7rs

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) December 15, 2024

ICYMI: Head coach Martin St-Louis discussed a few things following the team’s embarrassing 9-2 loss by the Montreal Canadiens to the Pittsburgh Penguins, which featured mid-game adjustments to the top six. Juraj Slafkovsky was promoted to the top line, while Alex Newhook was dropped to the second line. St-Louis suggested the Slafkovsky, Patrik Laine, and Kirby Dach combination was not working, something we confirmed by taking a look at their numbers. [Canadiens Fact Check: St-Louis Discusses Slafkovsky Line Change]

This isn’t Canadiens news per se, but I did have a good laugh when I saw TSN describe the play embedded below as being close to a goalie goal. I’ll never criticize a goalie for trying, but that’s the first time I’ve ever seen a goalie goal attempt intercepted before the puck made it to the opposing blue line, and some would argue that would make it rather far from a goalie goal.

SO CLOSE TO A GOALIE GOAL! pic.twitter.com/mBubSxcn9Y

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 16, 2024

Tuesday

It looked like the Canadiens were finally going to play with some wiggle room this season, but general manager Kent Hughes decided to trade for Patrik Laine in August; taking on the entirety of his $8.7M contract and forcing the need for LTIR once again.

The Canadiens could theoretically remove the need for LTIR by sending down a player; reducing their roster size from 22 players to 21 players; but that would leave them exposed in case of injury, as they’d need to use LTIR again just to call up a replacement. [Canadiens Looking To End Use Of LTIR, Prepare For 2025]

As the eternally rebuilding Bufflao Sabres were forced to cancel their practice in Montreal in favour of an emergency meeting with the team owner, there are a few lessons to be learned for the Canadiens, especially when it comes to the challenges involved in taking the next step in a rebuild. [Rebuild Lessons On Tap As Struggling Sabres Visit The Canadiens]

Count me among those who are a fan of former Habs forward PJ Stock. He’s one of the few anglophones who makes regular appearances on the French side of the media barrier, and I will always commend people for exploring beyond their regular routes. With that in mind, since I know he can take a little criticism,  I have to say I do not care much for his proposed lines, even  if they are overflowing with creativity.

PJ Stock propose de changer les trios et de séparer Caufield et Suzuki!

Qu’en pensez-vous? 👀 pic.twitter.com/K0oTRLlSlh

— L’Antichambre (@Antichambre) December 17, 2024

Granted, this is a simplistic answer, but the main reason I try to avoid constantly complaining about referees is that the Habs have less discipline than a 17th century sailor breaking into a rum store room on an abandoned ship. Of course, the discipline issues for the Canadiens don’t quite date that far back, but it’s certainly not a new problem. In a vacuum, it may seem the Habs are always getting the short end of the stick, but the long-term trends point to a different issue.

Any surprises? 👀 pic.twitter.com/TLszwTKgnd

— BarDown (@BarDown) December 16, 2024

Wednesday

It was the Patrik Laine Show on Tuesday. The 26-year-old sniper recorded his 11th career hat trick while the Montreal Canadiens dismantled the struggling Buffalo Sabres. All three of his goals came on the powerplay, which just goes to show some things, such as having a fantastic shot, are quicker to surface than others. There’s still work to be done at 5v5, but overall, Laine’s impact in Montreal has been undeniable, with logic dictating that the best is yet to come.  [Habs Highlights: Patrik Laine Hat Trick Powers Big Canadiens Win]

Habs fans have been quick to adopt Laine as their own, a testament to the Finn’s affable approach to the game. The Bell Centre faithful will always cherish players who bring a certain level of excitement to the table.

“i thought they couldn’t be any louder than my first goal but i was wrong” :,) pic.twitter.com/ky4qlicwJC

— ava (@teapottoffoIi) December 18, 2024

I know the Sabres are having an awful time finding their rhythm in the last decade or so, but I can’t stop laughing at their desperate attempt to shut down Nick Suzuki on Tuesday night. Even with all four defenders focusing on him, Suzuki still managed to find Laine with a perfect pass. You could argue his behind-the-back pass to Laine for the second powerplay goal was nicer, but my vote is for the earlier Sabres penalty kill debacle.

I understand why the Sabres were paying close attention to Suzuki. It’s a smart strategy, Suzuki is almost always the best skater, but giving Laine enough time to file his taxes before he took the shot was probably not ideal.

Suzuki still made the pass while covered by 4 guys. pic.twitter.com/t1KGgTyOBx

— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) December 18, 2024

The Canadiens are set to meet with members of SKA Saint Petersburg to discuss Ivan Demidov’s development. Before anyone gets too excited, there’s no way Demidov will make his way to North America before the end of the KHL season.

Rottenberg will have discussions with the Habs Org tomorow:
[…]We will all definitely discuss how Ivan Demidov develops, adds and how to improve his realization. Ivan also had some good scoring chances. […]They flew across the world. Tomorrow we will have talks.”#gohabsgo

— HabsEnthusiast (@karralz) December 17, 2024

File this in the adorable column, Canadiens legend Carey Price teaching his boy how to skate.

Carey Price teaching his lil son how to skate 🥲 ♥️ pic.twitter.com/9jq5s84OZs

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) December 17, 2024

Thursday

ICYMI: Juraj Slafkovsky was returned to the top line, but their improved results were lost in the wake of Patrik Laine’s fantastic hat trick performance. It’s a small sample size, but since being reunited with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, Slafkovsky’s stats have improved by leaps and bounds. [Canadiens Analysis: Slafkovsky’s Top Line Impact, Laine’s Situation]

The Habs made a trade ahead of the 2024 NHL Roster Freeze, sending defenceman Justin Barron to the Nashville Predators in exchange for defenceman Alexandre Carrier. While the initial trade to acquire Barron from the Avalanche backfired, Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes demonstrated he’s capable  of pivoting when things do not go according to plan.

It’s impossible to avoid mistakes in professional sports, making the speed at which teams react to said mistakes a very important factor. As for the player the Habs acquired, Carrier should provide a much more reliable option for Martin St-Louis on the blue line, which is a luxury he’s rarely been afforded since he took over as head coach in 2022.  [Canadiens Instant Analysis: Barron For Carrier Trade Impact]

At times, the one-size-fits-all player cards that have gained popularity in recent years can seem off base, as they don’t necessarily tell the entire story. That is not the case for Barron, who may very well have the most accurate player card in history. His offensive impact was undeniable, as were his defensive issues.

Justin Barron, acquired by NSH, is a developing bottom pairing offensive defenceman with a good shot. #Preds pic.twitter.com/lqRswJAFjr

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) December 19, 2024

If you were curious, here’s Carrier’s card, which suggests he’s solid in his own end and can absorb minutes, exactly what the doctor ordered for a chaotic Canadiens blue line.

Alex Carrier, acquired by MTL, is a top-four defensive defenceman. I’ve been a fan for a few years but he’s having a tough season in a difficult role. At his best he plays an effective disruptive defensive game despite his small size and contributes a bit offensively. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/B6iYAQdFe8

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) December 19, 2024

Carrier and the Habs have some history, dating to when made a little contact with goaltender Samuel Montembeault, which led to a measured response by Arber Xhekaj’s standards.

Greg brings up a pretty interesting point here. It really feels like the Predators fumbled the whole Carrier situation, a lot like they fumbled the Yaroslav Askarov situation, not to mention the misread on the team’s potential success following the 2023-24 season. Barry Trotz is having an interesting time away from coaching, to say the least.

I need to meditate on Barry Trotz choosing not to trade Alexandre Carrier last deadline, signing him to a 3-year extension and then trading him for a 23-year-old that may not become anything close to Alexandre Carrier as an NHL defenseman…

— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) December 19, 2024

Friday

Newcomer Alexandre Carrier met with the media on Thursday, expressing his excitement after the trade to the Montreal Canadiens. He mentioned that he received texts from Nick Suzuki, David Savard, and Mike Matheson,

Le défenseur Alexandre Carrier s’adresse aux médias pour la première fois depuis son acquisition par Montréal

Defenseman Alexandre Carrier addresses the media for the first time since being acquired by Montreal#GoHabsGo https://t.co/X7yfVg4ceF

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) December 19, 2024

Unfortunately, Carrier’s mother was already asleep when the trade went through, which means he couldn’t reach her, but it’s definitely heartwarming to see a local product return home to play at the highest level of any industry, let alone a professional athlete. There’s always something special about a homecoming.

“To find out that I was going to Montreal, let’s just say, it helped a lot. I was very excited. To know that I was coming back home. Right away I called my family but no one picked up. It was late, my mom was already asleep.”

– Alexandre Carrier on being traded to the Habs pic.twitter.com/frtZHtVp1N

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) December 19, 2024

Jeff Gorton also discussed the trade, explaining that management felt they needed a proven commodity on the blue line, a logical approach given the chaotic results from the very young defensive group in the last two seasons.

#Habs Jeff Gorton on acquiring Alexandre Carrier: “for us finding someone at Alex’s age, with his experience, the type of character, the way he plays – we feel like it really fits into the way we want to play…we felt our team needed some more veteran presence…”

— Priyanta Emrith (@HabsInHighHeels) December 19, 2024

Now that the Montreal Canadiens finally acquired their experienced right-shot defenceman, it has set up another move that will await them as they approach the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline. [Canadiens Carrier Acquisition Could Set Up Another Trade]

The Habs improved their defensive situation by trading for Carrier, but that doesn’t mean they won’t have to adapt to losing Justin Barron, who was one of their best offensive defencemen. Lane Hutson will be important in mitigating the lost offence, but so will the forwards, who have to pick up the slack when it comes to generating shots.  [Trade Talk: The Canadiens Will Have To Adapt To Losing Barron]

We have some encouraging prospect news from Russia, as Ivan Demidov scored a goal under Hughes’ watchful eye. Canadiens brass have made their way to Russia to take a closer look at their top prospect, who, if we’re being honest, is not receiving ideal usage by SKA Saint Petersburg, as they have restricted his ice time despite solid production.

Fortunately, whenever Demidov is given reasonable ice time, he tends to make his mark, and that’s exactly what you want to see from a player in his situation.

Ivan Demidov ended 12-game scoreless streak!

Right in front of @CanadiensMTL GM Kent Hughes. pic.twitter.com/uhulBMkK0C

— KHL (@khl_eng) December 19, 2024

Patrik Laine and his fiancée, Jordan Leigh, took on the role of Santa Claus while shopping for gifts which will be donated to needy children via Opération Père Noel. I don’t know the couple personally, but everything I’ve seen from them suggests they’re legitimately good people. Not to mention, their honesty and transparency regarding the importance of mental health will surely help many who are struggling with their day-to-day lives.

Chill guy, but also just a really good guy#GoHabsGo | @O_PereNoel pic.twitter.com/qUyKranI50

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) December 19, 2024

Saturday

Don’t look now, but Patrik Laine is on pace for a 50-goal season despite only featuring in eight games. The Finnish sniper registered his seventh powerplay goal since returning from injury, writing another chapter in what has been a great story, both on and off the ice. Laine’s latest goal overshadowed a rather strong performance from the fourth line, with Jake Evans, Joel Armia, and Emil Heineman driving the play as the Canadiens beat the Red Wings 4-3. [Canadiens Highlights: Patrik Laine Delivers Again, Evans Shines]

You may have noticed I didn’t discuss Alexandre Carrier’s play very much in the recap, because it’s much too early to make any decisive statements about his impact. With that in mind, his first game with the Habs produced some very encouraging stats. The Canadiens controlled over 70 percent of the shots while he was on the ice. [Natural Stat Trick]

ICYMI: The Montreal Canadiens are seemingly turning the ship around, but that won’t stop GM Kent Hughes from following his plan. With the core seemingly showing signs of moderate growth, the question then becomes: are the Canadiens going to attempt to sell for the last time come the NHL Trade Deadline? If so, Evans is a likely target to be moved. [Canadiens Pending Free Agents Most Likely To Be Traded]

Here’s your daily reminder that Lane Hutson’s production is otherworldly.

Every defenseman younger than 24 with more than 20 points this season:

22 — Lane Hutson

He’s 20. pic.twitter.com/Mxp3x9qIQE

— StatMuse Hockey (@statmusehockey) December 20, 2024

The Laval Rocket beat their rivals, the Belleville Senators, 2-1 on Friday night. Prospect Joshua Roy scored the game-winning goal, marking the 11th time he’s found the back of the net this season in the AHL.

Tout un tir! Tout un écran!
What a shot! What a screen! #GoRocket https://t.co/799lifZujH pic.twitter.com/Jciq7brD6Y

— Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) December 21, 2024

If you’re wondering whether Patrik Laine scored on Saturday, the answer is yes. Then again, you probably just assumed he scored, and that’s fair too, given he’s generating some of the most impressive powerplay production numbers in recent team history. [Habs Highlights: Yes, Laine Scored For The Canadiens, Again]