Early on this season, things looked bleak for the Montreal Canadiens. Desperate for signs of progress, the fans grew frustrated after lopsided losses and stagnant play from young players with big expectations. Fast-forward to April, and it’s almost a certainty that the Habs will now make the playoffs after a remarkable midseason turnaround. So how much credit does their head coach deserve? Carlo Colaiacovo and Aaron Korolnek discuss 5 of the most intriguing storylines at the end of a surprising regular season.
@Montreal Canadiens
35 Comments
The Canadiens are getting way way too much love lately. It's nice to see them make the playoffs, but they were expected to be a fringe playoff team and that's exactly what they have been. They get in because the East is hot garbage. Washington was also expected to be a fringe playoff team and has led the league or been 2nd place all season. It shouldn't even be a debate.
Coach of the year has to be Scott Arniel. Rookie coach taking a team to first place and possibly President's trophy
Kent Hugues for GM of the year also…. Laine, Carrier and now signing Demidov some will say he didnt move at trade deadline and thats bad but sometime the best move is to not move plus we already acquire 2pieces that would make huge difference between this season and last season in Laine and Carrier MTL is top 5 in the league since acquiring Carrier, (Laine cameback 1week earlier from injury) imagine if they were here the 1st 2month, the wildcard race wouldnt even be close
They haven't clinched yet. No jinxing lol
0:20 Its been the same for st-louis since the beginning of his hockey player career !!
NO NOT MATHESON. We need just solid reliable defenseman behind Hutson. We better not re-sign him
They asked Matheson to play a more conservative defensive game. Hence the drop in points. Playing 25 minutes a game…..
Demidov will play Monday against Chicago
Matheson is a turnover waiting to happen, I will never understand why he plays close to 25 mins a game as for Savard he won't be offered another contract which probably means he will retire
As a Habs fan, I just don't understand anyone's love affair with Mike Matheson. The terrible turnovers, every game, since day one of his tenure here have been unbearable. He is no longer running the PP, where he regularly earned most of his points. Hutson is the upgrade we needed all along, so the defensive liability Matheson needs to go to make room for Reinbacher, Mailloux, or even Xhekaj. I'd sooner have Chewbacca (Savard) as the veteran mentor over Matheson. Or move both Matheson AND Savard, play the kids, and bring in a guy like Andrei Markov as a defensive coach to mentor and teach them. The General ran the special teams as a player and did it well. Markov has even talked about how he'd love a chance to work with the team again.
Mediocre coach and team. Laughable club.
Winnipeg jets sould be the one
Reading these comments from these “experts “ to get rid of Matheson are completely clueless and gives intelligent hockey savvy hab fans a bad name
Coach of the year means nothing. Rick tochett for example.
Knobloch would have been a better candidate last year…
In the same way, next year this time we will know who the true coach of this year way
The guarantee you the khl champion would beat the nhl cup champion!
Demidov also has the luxury of coming into the tteam, just as the team is starting to take off. It is perfect for him! Next year, get Crosby for 2C to play with Laine and Demidov! Give up some picks and prospects, just get it done KH!
Scott Arniel for Adams Award.
Ottawa has a first round bye
LMFAO…….
TSN for Maple Leafs fan of the year.
Martin St-Louis switched up the team's entire defensive scheme mid-season. Only true hockey analysts know this.
This fact is the perfect filter to know which analysts know what they're talking about and which do not.
Travis Green is another candidate.
As a Habs fan, I do believe MSL deserves Jack Adams votes. Not sure about winning it, but he helped so many players develop, and not only young guys. He's had an impact on veterans as well.
I agree with all except Matheson. He makes way too many mistakes and costs Montreal too many goals
On top of being a hard league, he had to deal with a coach that would restrict his playing time
Buddy had me until he said to keep Matheson, buddy is a fucking LIABILITY on the back end
I am grateful for the Hab's season, but in reality, the 8th spot may be the weakest playoff club in recent years in terms of regular season points. Of course, once in, you never know how that goes, but really, the Rangers have just given up these playoffs. It would have taken 95 points, which really isn't a lot. Montreal will qualify with 92 or 93. Very low.
Hands down has to go to the Caps coach. Nobody expected what they've done this year.
With the Habs in the playoffs, he will be one of the 3 nominated 100%.
I don’t know why no one on the mainstream hockey media has heard about it, but Demidov had 49 points in 65 games because he hardly played. He played a ton of games with fewer than 10 minutes of ice time. The kid led the entire league in points per 60. He was the best player there.
How to tell that someone is a wannabee-American from Toronto:
He has a Team Canada hockey sweater and a Buffalo Bills helmet but nothing Argos anywhere.
MSL should finish 3rd in Jack Adams votes right behind Carbery and the Jets coach
Well yeah. How can not say anyone playing the Leafs on a first round has potential to win? Toronto are choke artists until they aren’t anymore. Until they at least a conference final I don’t think you can comfortably bet on them in any series.
matheson is a terrible defender, i’d argue hes more responsible for goals scored against montreal than goals he contributes to. i hope they let him go
Let's not forget that many current Habs were part of that '21 cup run