The nightmare of Justin Barron and, above all, that of Kent Hughes are at the heart of the concerns surrounding the Montreal Canadiens in recent times.
Although the team showed signs of improvement defensively, including reducing the number of shots and scoring opportunities allowed to the opposition, a certain defender became a nuisance…by not even playing.
Justin Barron, the young defenseman obtained in the worst major trade by general manager Kent Hughes in exchange for Artturi Lehkonen, is going through a difficult time.
His inconsistent performances, particularly in the defensive zone, led to the inevitable: the stands for good.
Barron has been left out of the lineup for the last five games, demonstrating the coaching staff’s concerns about his performance on the ice.
For Kent Hughes, the situation is even more delicate. The trade of Lehkonen, who has become a key player for the Colorado Avalanche, is now confirmed to be catastrophic when looking at Barron’s struggles.
Hughes, who had high expectations for the young defender, must now evaluate the options available to him to improve the Canadian’s defense.
The challenges Barron faces aren’t just personal; they impact the entire organization.
The team must decide whether to continue investing in player development or consider other solutions to improve their blue line.
Barron’s performances are scrutinized not only by fans and the media, but also by his teammates who must be thinking that they could really use Lehkonen at the moment.
The contrast between initial expectations and current reality is striking.
Barron, once considered a top prospect, now must prove he belongs in the NHL.
But he will never be more than a 6th or 7th defender.
Since the start of the month, the Canadian has managed to radically reduce the number of shots and scoring opportunities allowed to his opponents at five on five.
Head coach Martin St-Louis has even proclaimed this progression since Barron is no longer in the lineup.
The coach sends a merciless message to Kent Hughes: you’ve been fooled all along.
Yes, the Avalanche gave you a quick one.
“It’s a big team improvement. We are more difficult to face. »
Samuel Montembeault also noted a decrease in the time spent in their defensive territory during his last two starts.
Poor Barron. Buried as much by his coach as by his goalkeeper.
Poor Hughes, who is also buried by the gang, especially since he was also taken in the Alex Newhook transaction for a 1st and 2nd round pick…once again by Colorado.
To add insult to injury for Barron, among the players who stood out positively, the defensive duo Jayden Struble and Arber Xhekaj were able to stabilize the third defensive duo.
In some 41 minutes of ice time together over five games, they have given up just one goal at five-on-five.
Struble, despite the challenge of playing on the right for the first time in his career, is adapting well:
“It’s not that bad. There are still adjustments to be made, but nothing crazy. […] Defensively, it’s not that different. I like that! »
The improvement of this duo also means that Justin Barron is relegated to the role of spectator. Barron has watched the last five games from the stands, despite saying he is fully recovered from the “upper body” injury that kept him sidelined at the end of October.
His return to action coincided with a humiliating loss to the Washington Capitals on Halloween night, and he has been out of the lineup since.
Barron expresses his frustration bluntly:
“It’s a little frustrating. I think I played some good matches this year. I have to stay patient and wait for my next chance. »
He acknowledges having to be “more difficult to face” defensively and aspires to regain his offensive touch, having only amassed one point in eight games.
Barron’s case is all the more worrying for the general manager of the Canadiens, Kent Hughes. Hughes initially thought he was making a great trade by acquiring Barron and a second-round pick in exchange for Artturi Lehkonen.
Lehkonen, a versatile and indispensable player for the Canadian, has since become a key element of the Colorado Avalanche, contributing significantly to their conquest of the Stanley Cup in 2022 and being one of their top players today.
In contrast, Barron struggles to justify his place within the Canadiens. His inconsistent performances and defensive shortcomings are increasingly difficult to ignore.
He is often positioned crookedly, lacks robustness and makes costly mistakes that put his team in difficulty.
The other teams quickly identified his weaknesses, always going to his side at the entrance to the zone.
The criticism of him comes not only from the media and fans, but also, it seems, from his own teammates.
Signs of frustration are evident on the bench, where some players do not hesitate to blame him for his mistakes.
Barron’s situation is all the more critical as it calls into question Kent Hughes’ decisions as GM.
Trading Lehkonen, who was on a restricted free agent contract, was not a pressing necessity. By giving up such a valuable player for a prospect who doesn’t live up to expectations, Hughes has opened himself up to criticism.
Today, Barron’s market value is plummeting, and it seems unlikely that the Canadian will be able to get a player of Lehkonen’s caliber in return, regardless of whether Barron is frustrated or not.
Kent Hughes is increasingly in an uncomfortable position. He must take responsibility for this transaction which, in hindsight, appears to be a major error.
To try to limit the damage, he could be forced to compromise Barron, but he will receive peanuts in return.
Justin Barron, for his part, must be fuming.
The nightmare that Justin Barron and Kent Hughes are experiencing is the symbol of a reconstruction that is shaky.
Each decision, each exchange, can have significant repercussions in the short and long term. For the Montreal Canadiens, it is essential to learn lessons from this fiasco.
Justin Barron’s case is a stark reminder that potential is one thing, but reality is another.
For Kent Hughes, it’s a lesson in the importance of properly evaluating talent and understanding the real needs of the team.
The Canadian must face reality: the CH CEO was given a lemon.
