Free washer | Canadian: what to do, if not amass future assets?

During this American Thanksgiving period, a date when clubs excluded from the NHL playoffs generally fail to turn things around, we regret to inform you that the Montreal Canadiens will not participate in the details.

What can we do from now on in the interests of the organization? Get reinforcements to reap victories, move up the rankings, reassure fans… but not take part in the series? Or think only about the future, even if it means pushing his supporters to a nervous breakdown?

For many, it is necessary to maintain a certain level of respectability so as not to discourage young people. They’re not entirely wrong. But Nathan Mackinnon, Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen lived in Colorado this season of only 22 victories, in 2016-2017, after two ugly years, for a third consecutive exclusion from the playoffs, and they survived.

It was MacKinnon’s fourth NHL season and Landeskog’s sixth. The first was satisfied with 53 points, including 16 goals, in 82 matches, the second with… 33 points in 72 matches. Not exactly a progression. A fourth overall pick, Cale Makar, awaited them during the summer.

Steven Stamkos missed the playoffs four times in his first five seasons, Victor Hedman, three times in his first four years. Besides unexpected success under Guy Boucher in 2010-2011, they finished 29^es25^es21^es et 28^es. These difficult years did not destroy Stamkos and Hedman.

Dull games like those on Tuesday night against Utah HC and crushing defeats like Saturday’s against Vegas are not pleasant, especially not for the Bell Center customer.

But the current context being what it is, we must continue to amass assets for the future. Forward Ivan Demidov, 18, 20 points in 30 KHL games, fifth pick in 2024, defenseman David Reinbacher, injured, fifth pick in 2023, and center Michael Hage, 21^e pick in 2024, 16 points in 11 games at the University of Michigan, have not yet worn the Canadian uniform.

If the draft took place today, the Canadian would be drafted at 5^e row again, with the 1^is rank within his reach, and at 19^e rank with the choice offered by the Calgary Flames, that of the Florida Panthers. He also has two second-round picks and three third-round picks.

The value of defender Mike Matheson would never have been so high, reports Simon-Olivier Lorange, citing informant Frank Seravalli. Matheson is obviously an essential player for CH. His teammates were full of praise for him in Simon-Olivier’s text. But essential for what? To avoid slightly less embarrassing failures? To give the illusion of still aspiring to the famous mix ?

After the current season, already lost in a playoff perspective, Matheson will have one year remaining on his contract before his full autonomy. If he brings back a first-round pick and an attractive prospect, would you really hesitate? No, unless we maintain hope of seeing the Canadian aspire to the Stanley Cup in 2025-2026…

Christian Dvorak, Joel Armia, Jake Evans and David Savard will be entitled to full autonomy in July 2025. But they will not bring anything significant, unless there is a major surprise.

The Canadian has interesting elements for the future, despite the current setbacks of certain young people: Suzuki, Caufield, Slafkovsky, Demidov, Hage, Dach, Guhle, Hutson, Reinbacher. But the second center is not yet identified and it will take at least two reliable defenders to complete a solid top 4 with the uncertainty surrounding Reinbacher, seriously injured.

You’ll have to endure the orange cones for a while longer, don’t mind…