The Montreal Canadiens’ man-to-man defense does not complement their personnel, and in this PuckTalk MTL episode, we break down which defensive system would better fit the Habs. For Montreal Canadiens fans, NHL fans, hockey fans, and armchair coaches, this is a must-watch discussion on defensive-zone coverage, coaching structure, player strengths, and how Montreal can build a more effective team defense.
This video examines why the Canadiens’ current man-to-man defensive system creates problems, including missed assignments, chasing, lost coverage, weak-side breakdowns, and extended defensive-zone pressure. We compare alternative systems such as zone coverage, box-plus-one, strong-side overload, and a hybrid defensive structure that could better support Montreal’s speed, puck movement, and transition game. We also dive into Montreal Canadiens news, Habs analysis, Canadiens defensive system breakdown, Habs offseason discussion, and what Martin St. Louis and the coaching staff must change to improve the team’s defensive identity.
🎦 Video Chapters:
0:00 – Show Start
1:20 – What The Season & Playoffs Told Us
7:33 – Why Man-To-Man Hurts the Habs
12:18 – What Are The Other D-Zone Options & Which Fits The Roster Best?
19:14 – Pressure Triggers Are Key To Success
20:35 – How A Zone-First Hybrid System Create Better Transition
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In every episode, Kosta Papoulias takes a deep dive into the latest Montreal Canadiens news involving Ivan Demidov, Patrik Laine, Juraj Slafkovsky, Josh Anderson, Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Kirby Dach, Joe Veleno, Jake Evans, Zach Bolduc, Brendan Gallagher, Alex Newhook, Oliver Kapanen, Habs Defencemen, Arber Xhekaj, Kaiden Guhle, Sam Montembeault, Lane Hutson, Jayden Struble, Alex Carrier, Mike Matheson, Noah Dobson, Jakub Dobes, Jacob Fowler, Kent Hughes, Martin St Louis.
THE D ZONE SYSTEM DOESN'T WORK! Congrats. 'bout time !
From what I found when they hired Derek Lalonde, he is primarily known for his defense, penalty kill (PK), and overall structural coaching, so that's probably a big thing they are working on !
Nice D systems chart progressing from the limits of m-m locking.
Consideration is on coaching the systems for the players you have, rather than the ones you want. Habs D are very (too?) mobile, but a bit ‘soft’ on the m-m.
You are right to point out that the D identity is quite diverse, some systems might be intrinsically more identity based…forwards have to compensate for a wide set of situational compensation.
The coaches need to sort that out past just matching forwards to the specific D profiles. But to see that diversity as having the potential for the team to employ more varied systems to foster possession.
I sure hope the new ast. coach hire was to help install a new defensive system away from our 4 yr working on it man on man. So frustrating getting a good defensive night 1 every blue moon. It was clear after this many yrs we didnt have the players to get man on man rolling. My question to coach K. Do you think if there is a plan in place to change the D system, that it came from management? I just found the Lewtowski leaving to spend time with family a little strange. We have been hearing the last few months we would probably lose Trevor to another team for a head coaching position. Then abruptly, he is taking a step back? Could Marty of not wanted that 3rd ast. coach on the bench? We heard that many times now as well? Regardless, it will be a welcome sight if we finally get a better system that fits our Habs personal. A lot less closing our eyes when the opposition crosses into our zone next season is the goal we only want to see next season…..
Too many of Montreal's answer to defense was icing 😔
Completely agree, ive been saying this for the last two years.
People have been talking about this since MSL is in.
It's been two years now that many smart observers have been asking for a zone first approach to defending for clearly obvious reasons. Management knows this and should react this year.
Everyone is in agreement the D zone coverage needs improvement. I tend to agree with the zone first hybrid system when your able to combine structure with disciplined aggression you should in most cases be able to transition out of zone. This is where Derek Lalonde can hopefully help. Sorting out the D pairings will also help. When a pair has been together for awhile they know each other’s tendencies, they can play to each other’s strengths.
I'm not qualified enough to give specifics but I was thinking about this with all the Arber conversations Ive listen to in the past week. Which would you rather have for the habs: Reinbacher delivering on expectation by becoming a competent shutdown partner for Hutson but commanding a very high salary leaving little room for a top tier forwards or Xhekaj staying a bottom pair but becoming a dominant physical presence (reliable defensively, elite hitting, not just fighting) at a low/mid tier salary?