It was announced earlier this morning: Jayden Struble will skip his turn tonight.
This is absolutely no surprise since Struble, for several weeks, has not played often. Since Alexandre Carrier replaced Justin Barron, Struble has been the club’s true #7 defender.
When we look at it, since he participated in the 9-2 defeat against the Penguins (we’re talking about a duel where David Savard was absent), he has only played four short games.
If you go to see the summary of David Savard’s matches, don’t be surprised to see that the four January matches in which Struble played, the Quebecer was absent.
Would he have played since the December 7 game if Savard had been healthy? The question arises.
All this to say that currently, the Jayden Struble that we see is not the one of 12 or 14 months ago, that is to say when he was in the “default” alignment and when he had made his place as frank and assertive manner.
At the moment, we no longer have a guy who is, by the quality of his game and his contractual situation, problematic.
Earlier this season, the Canadian chose to keep Struble in the NHL. And by making him play matches in the Bettman circuit, he lost his ability to go to Laval without having to be placed on waivers.
-A month ago, I wrote that he was in the same black hole as Cayden Primeau and Michael Pezzetta, guys who were condemned not to play and to skip their turn.
Since then, Primeau has been in Laval. And if Pezz is placed on waivers (which does not seem to be in the club’s plans, which obviously prefers to keep him as the 13th striker), it will not be serious.
But Struble?
Until proven otherwise, I don’t see Kent Hughes submitting his colt to waivers since the club probably doesn’t want to lose him. I therefore expect to see him, unless there is a change, play very small minutes for the CH.
And that’s not great for his development.
prolongation
Did the CH err by not sending him to Laval earlier, when he was still eligible to avoid waivers? In the circumstances, this is a question that must be asked. But at the same time, who could play Struble up top right now?
In short, the matter is not simple.
