Stu's Slapshots: Juraj Slafkovsky should be on Canadiens' No. 1 line

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Juraj Slafkovsky began this season in what had turn into his common spot on the Canadiens’ No. 1 line with centre Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield.

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Six video games into the season, the 20-year-old Slafkovsky was averaging a degree per sport with 1-5-6 totals. This got here after Slafkovsky posted 16-19-35 totals throughout the second half (41 video games) of final season whereas taking part in with Suzuki and Caufield to complete the yr with 20-30-50 totals.

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After taking part in the primary six video games this season with Suzuki and Caufield, Slafkovsky suffered an upper-body harm that sidelined him for 3 video games. When Slafkovsky returned to the lineup he had misplaced his spot on the No. 1 line to Kirby Dach, who head coach Martin St. Louis was attempting to get jump-started after he suffered a season-ending knee harm within the second sport final yr.

Slafkovsky discovered himself on the second line when he returned with centre Alex Newhook and Joel Armia.

Dach continued to wrestle and Slafkovsky additionally went right into a hunch with a revolving forged of recent linemates. In his first 11 video games after returning to the lineup, Slafkovsky had no objectives and 5 assists — with three of these assists coming in a 7-5 win over the Sabres in Buffalo on Nov. 11.

After apply final Monday in Brossard, I requested St. Louis if it may be time to place Slafkovsky again with Suzuki and Caufield to assist get him jump-started. Slafkovsky actually struggled the earlier sport, going minus-4 with no pictures on aim in a 6-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights final Saturday after beginning the sport on the primary line with Suzuki and Dach.

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“Not proper now,” St. Louis mentioned.

The subsequent night time, Slafkovsky was on the fourth line with Dach and Armia and for the second straight sport Slafkovsky did not get a shot on aim in a 3-2 extra time loss to the Utah Hockey Membership on the Bell Centre.

St. Louis clearly doesn’t wish to hand Slafkovsky again his spot on the No. 1 line. The coach desires him to earn it — however at what value?

“If you management all the pieces you may it’s uncommon that you’ve got many dips,” St. Louis mentioned after apply Monday. “You’re going to have some as a result of it’s a tough league. And typically you’re doing all the pieces proper, however possibly your linemate shouldn’t be in an excellent place and he’s struggling. That hurts your success a bit bit. I feel (Slafkovsky’s) acquired to do extra.

“All of it comes down with being engaged throughout his shift for regardless of the sport is asking and it begins with tempo on each side of the puck,” St. Louis added. “It’s simply specializing in taking what the sport’s giving. Taking part in the sport. Not having your thoughts made up: I’d like to do that tonight, I’d like to do this. Simply go play the sport and be prepared for something. So it’s important to be engaged.”

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St. Louis moved Slafkovsky up the second line Wednesday night time in Columbus with Christian Dvorak and Brendan Gallagher and he responded with a aim and an help in a 4-3 extra time win over the Blue Jackets. Slafkovsky’s first aim in 15 video games got here on a two-on-one with Suzuki on the ice when he well determined to shoot quite than cross to Suzuki and beat goalie Elvis Merzlikins with a magnificence excessive to the stick facet. It was Slafkovsky’s solely shot of the sport and he has solely 23 pictures in 19 video games this season.

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Slafkovsky must shoot the puck extra and now looks as if an excellent time to place him again with Suzuki and Caufield to assist him do this.

However that gained’t occur Saturday afternoon when the Canadiens play the Rangers in New York (1 p.m., TSN2, RDS).

Throughout apply Friday in New Jersey, St. Louis had Suzuki between Caufield and Newhook on the primary line, whereas retaining Slafkovsky with Dvorak and Gallagher on the second line.

Submit-game celebration

You must love the video under of the post-game celebration within the Canadiens’ locker room in Columbus with Arber Xhekaj congratulating Slafkovsky on his aim.

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Bergevin explains departure from Habs

After the Canadiens began the 2021-22 season with an 0-4-0 document, former GM Marc Bergevin determined to fulfill with the media.

Bergevin was within the closing yr of his contract and I requested him if in a “good world” the place he may management all the pieces he would wish to stick with the Canadiens.

“In an ideal world, sure,” Bergevin mentioned.

“I do nonetheless management all of the strings,” Bergevin added about doing his job as a lame-duck GM. “I’m completely in cost. And like all the time prior to now once I make one thing important, I all the time run it by not solely the individuals who work with me, both (assistant GM) Scott Mellanby or whoever, however I additionally run it by Geoff (Molson), telling him what I do, why I do it. So nothing has modified that manner. I’m fairly clear.”

It made it seem to be Bergevin wished to come back again, however that he in all probability wouldn’t.

At that time, the Canadiens had introduced that they wouldn’t talk about Bergevin’s contract scenario till the top of the season and he didn’t wish to discuss a report the earlier weekend from Larry Brooks of the New York Submit that he could possibly be becoming a member of the Los Angeles Kings the following season.

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Throughout an interview with Pierre LeBrun for an article revealed on The Athletic web site Thursday — which was the third anniversary of Bergevin getting fired by the Canadiens — the previous GM mentioned Molson (the workforce proprietor and president) had approached him with a contract extension after the Canadiens had reached the 2021 Stanley Cup closing earlier than dropping to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

“I made a decision that for me, it was greatest to maneuver ahead,” Bergevin advised LeBrun. “Time had come. It was good for each of us to maneuver in a unique route. Geoff was excellent, particularly reasonable. However I advised him, ‘Geoff, I’m going to complete my final yr that’s left after which I’m going to maneuver on.’ He was good with that. He understood.

“COVID took a toll on me — not bodily, however as Montreal, Quebec, was actually strict with the foundations on COVID, and all my children had been within the States,” Bergevin added. “There was a 14-day quarantine then (as soon as coming into Quebec). I didn’t see my children for nearly a yr. When Geoff made me the supply, I simply felt there was no gentle on the finish of the tunnel. The entire COVID factor for me beat me up, mentally, not seeing my children.”

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Molson fired Bergevin on Nov. 28, 2021, when the Canadiens had a 6-15-2 document.

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“I knew a change was coming (as a result of that they had mutually agreed it was his final season), but it surely’s all the time a shock despite the fact that you put together for it,” Bergevin advised LeBrun. “It was accomplished the precise manner from Geoff’s facet.”

On Jan. 9, 2022, the Kings employed Bergevin as a senior adviser to GM Rob Blake.

Bergevin is now dwelling in Redondo Seashore, Calif., and LeBrun reported he travels lots doing scouting for the Kings, whereas additionally assembly every week with the teaching workers. Bergevin want to land one other GM job, however was handed over after interviewing for jobs in Toronto and Pittsburgh final yr and in Columbus this yr.

Shorter contracts?

The NHL want to cut back the utmost contract size for gamers after the present collective bargaining settlement expires in September 2026. Time period limits are presently set at eight years if a participant is re-signing along with his present workforce and 7 years if he’s going elsewhere.

Gallagher, who was signed to a six-year, US$39-million contract by Bergevin that runs by way of the 2026-27 season with an annual salary-cap hit of US$6.5 million, laughed when he heard in regards to the NHL wanting to scale back contract lengths.

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“They management how lengthy the contracts are,” Gallagher mentioned. “They can provide much less years if they need. They will supply much less years proper now if they need. It all the time makes me snort. It’s of their management already.

“I feel whenever you can provide a participant long-term stability it means lots to a participant and his household,” Gallagher added. “Contract size is vital to a variety of guys and it offers groups a bonus, like Montreal, the place, OK, it’s a better tax bracket. We are able to give you a long run. Possibly that makes up the distinction for cash you’d make in a Tampa or a Dallas, the place there’s much less taxes. There’s sure benefits that it’s important to use to play into it. However it all the time makes me snort when the GMs complain about that. They will supply no matter they need.”

Precisely.

The NHL desires to restrict contract lengths to guard groups and GMs from themselves.

Bear in mind when former New York Islanders GM Mike Milbury signed goalie Rick DiPietro — the No. 1 general decide on the 2000 NHL Draft — to a 15-year, US$67.5-million contract in 2006?

The Islanders ended up shopping for out the final eight years of that contract and DiPietro will proceed to be paid US$1.5 million a yr by way of the top of the 2028-29 season. That cash doesn’t depend towards the Islanders’ wage cap.

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In 2012, the Nashville Predators determined to match a 14-year, US$110-million supply sheet the Philadelphia Flyers made to defenceman Shea Weber, who 4 years later can be traded to the Canadiens in trade for P.Okay. Subban largely due to that contract. Weber, who hasn’t performed for the reason that Canadiens superior to the 2021 Stanley Cup closing due to accidents, nonetheless has yet another season after this remaining on that contract, which was traded from the Canadiens to Vegas in 2022 after which from the Golden Knights to the Arizona Coyotes (now the Utah Hockey Membership) in 2023. Weber stays on long-term injured reserve so his US$7.857 million salary-cap hit doesn’t depend towards the Utah workforce cap.

Rosters to be introduced for 4 Nations Face-Off

The total workforce rosters for the 4 Nations Face-Off match might be introduced on Wednesday.

Canada, the US, Finland and Sweden will participate within the match, which is able to run from Feb. 12-20 in Montreal and Boston.

There’ll little question be some gamers upset about getting left off the rosters, like St. Louis was when he was left off Workforce Canada’s authentic 25-man roster for the 2014 Olympics.

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St. Louis was taking part in for Tampa Bay on the time and Lightning normal supervisor Steve Yzerman was additionally the manager director in command of Workforce Canada for the Olympics. St. Louis finally did get on Workforce Canada as a substitute for injured Lightning teammate Steven Stamkos and Canada gained the gold medal in Sochi.

However St. Louis remained upset with Yzerman about being left off the unique Workforce Canada roster and demanded a commerce out of Tampa. Two weeks after the Olympics, St. Louis was dealt to the New York Rangers.

St. Louis additionally performed for Workforce Canada on the 2006 Olympics in Turin once they completed seventh. St. Louis gained silver medals with Workforce Canada on the 2008 and 2009 IIHF World Championships and a gold medal with Workforce Canada on the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.

“That was all the time a aim,” St. Louis, who was by no means chosen on the NHL Draft earlier than occurring to have a Corridor of Fame taking part in profession, mentioned about making Workforce Canada. “For me it’s bizarre as a result of I by no means performed world junior and I used to be by no means within the dialog — and rightfully so. I’m not complaining. I used to be a late bloomer. I feel everyone understands that.

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“It actually occurred quick,” St. Louis added. “At 28 and now for the primary time I’m beginning to be thought-about to play for Workforce Canada and it’s like bizarre. It was bizarre for me. However I knew it was a chance, so it makes you actually drive, it makes you push. It’s exhausting to make these groups. You are able to do all the pieces you may to place your self and it doesn’t assure it as a result of it’s very aggressive and there’s guys left off … it doesn’t essentially imply that they’re not adequate to be on that workforce.

“You management what you may, however when these moments are there as a participant you drive for that,” St. Louis added. “It was vital to me to attempt to make it.”

Monahan shines in Columbus

It’s good to see former Canadien Sean Monahan taking part in so nicely with the Blue Jackets.

Monahan has 7-13-20 totals in 22 video games after signing a five-year, US$27.5-million contract with the Blue Jackets on July 1 as a free agent.

“The blokes look to him,” Blue Jackets head coach Dean Evason advised reporters in Columbus forward of Wednesday’s sport towards the Canadiens. “He’s such a professional. I feel that’s the largest complement all through the time I’ve been within the sport, which is a very long time. When any person says, ‘That man, he’s only a professional, he simply goes about his enterprise,’ I feel that’s the best complement this sport can have. And he’s that man.

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“All conditions, PK, PP, six-on-five, five-on-six, four-on-four, three-on-three, shootout … he does all the pieces proper,” Evason added. “He’s wholesome, he’s in completely phenomenal form.”

Whereas the Canadiens miss Monahan and his management each on and off the ice, it’s comprehensible why GM Kent Hughes traded him to the Winnipeg Jets final season and there’s no manner Hughes would have matched the five-year time period Columbus was keen to offer the 30-year-old as a free agent.

Hughes used the first-round decide he acquired from the Jets (twenty sixth general) at this yr’s NHL Draft in trade for Monahan as a part of a commerce to maneuver as much as No. 21 and choose centre Michael Hage, who has 8-8-16 totals in 12 video games this season as a freshman on the College of Michigan.

Columbus coach loves French guys

Mathieu Olivier can be taking part in a key function with the Blue Jackets this season.

The 6-foot-1, 226-pound right-winger has 7-3-10 totals in 22 video games to associate with 47 penalty minutes. He additionally gained a combat with Xhekaj when the Canadiens beat the Blue Jackets 5-1 on the Bell Centre on Nov. 16.

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“To begin with, I really like French guys as a result of I dwell in Montreal in the summertime, so I completely like it,” Evason mentioned.

“What’s his most important job?” Evason added about Olivier. “Is he a fighter? He’s fairly good at it. Like, actually good. He’s taken a step I feel this yr confidence-wise. However he’s a very good hockey participant. He’s sound in all areas. He’s taken a step killing penalties for us this yr, blocking pictures. He’s scoring objectives, however his objectives are the objectives that every one coaches preach. It’s that you just get to the online, you go to the online, you rating in that soiled space that’s not so soiled or exhausting to get to anymore. However he goes there with conviction and he’s been rewarded for it.”

Olivier acquired into one other heavyweight bout with the Calgary’s Ryan Lomberg Friday when the Blue Jackets beat the Flames 5-2. Olivier gained a unanimous resolution.

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Olivier was born in Biloxi, Miss., when his father, Simon Olivier, was taking part in for the Mississippi Sea Wolves throughout the 1996-97 ECHL season. Simon, a 5-foot-11, 190-pound defenceman, performed 67 video games with the Sea Wolves that season, posting 8-13-21 totals and 230 penalty minutes. Simon’s coach in Mississippi was none aside from Bruce Boudreau, who would go on to educate within the NHL with the Washington Capitals, Anaheim Geese, Minnesota Wild and Vancouver Canucks and is now working with TSN.

Simon is from Lévis and earlier than becoming a member of the ECHL performed one season with the QMJHL’s Laval Titan and two seasons at Brandon College. Simon by no means made it to the NHL and completed his profession by taking part in six seasons in Quebec’s LNAH, which promotes combating. Throughout the 2007-08 season with the LNAH’s St. Georges CRS Categorical, Simon had 11-34-45 totals in 51 video games to associate with 111 penalty minutes.

Olivier is the one participant in NHL historical past born in Mississippi.

His father is now head coach of the Edmunston Blizzard within the Maritime Junior Hockey League.

Misconduct penalty for Savard

Veteran Canadiens defenceman David Savard was shocked when he went on the ice for the beginning of the third interval of Tuesday’s sport towards the Utah Hockey Membership and discovered he had been given a 10-minute misconduct penalty.

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On the finish of the second interval, Savard acquired right into a heated dialogue with referee Trevor Hanson, who determined throughout the intermission to offer him the misconduct penalty.

“They make the decision and I’ve nothing else to say,” Savard mentioned after the sport.

Did he possibly say one phrase Hanson didn’t like.

“Possibly,” Savard mentioned. “However it’s what it’s. It was within the warmth of the second. … I used to be stunned.

“I feel I’ve had worse (disagreements with referees) prior to now,” Savard added. “It’s a sport of emotion and we’ve had some forwards and backwards with some refs prior to now and it was superb. I assume it wasn’t tonight.”

Savard remembers just one different 10-minute misconduct penalty he has obtained throughout his 14 seasons within the NHL. It got here throughout a 3-2 win over the Purple Wings on Nov. 8, 2022, whereas he was with the Canadiens.

“I ponder if it’s the identical (referee),” Savard mentioned. “Possibly. I don’t know … I can’t bear in mind.”

I can inform Savard that it wasn’t the identical referee. Graham Skilliter and Michael Markovic had been the refs for the sport in Detroit.

scowan@postmedia.com

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