Martin St-Louis, once again, shows all of Quebec to what extent he lacks courage.
This time, he found a brilliant – or cowardly, depending on who you ask – way to avoid doing what everyone was calling for: sending Christian Dvorak into the stands.
Instead of tackling the problem head on, St-Louis preferred to camouflage its lack of guts by sacrificing… Alexandre Barré-Boulet.
Yes, Barré-Boulet, one of the only players to have shown a bit of energy and creativity in Boston.
But hey, why make a bold decision when you can send a new guy to watch the game from the press box?
St-Louis now plays strategist by alternating Barré-Boulet, Emil Heineman and Oliver Kapanen in a well-oiled rotation.
But let’s make no mistake: this maneuver has only one purpose, and that is to hide the fact that he doesn’t dare seat a veteran.
Basically, the coach does everything to avoid offending Dvorak, this player that all of Quebec hoped to see in a suit and tie this evening.
Especially since it’s really time to play Oliver Kapanen at center.
And what message does that send? Barré-Boulet, after having done everything that was asked of him in training camp and during the first two games, found himself penalized for having the misfortune of being a newcomer.
Meanwhile, Dvorak, with his legendary nonchalance and his record-breaking slowness on skates, remains warm on the bench, barely worried by the phantom rotation put in place by St-Louis.
It seems that the Canadian’s coach prefers to avoid the waves and keep his little country club intact.
Barré-Boulet may not have recorded a point in two games, but his effort was evident. While he is being beaten down, St-Louis serves us up by keeping Dvorak who can no longer keep up with the rhythm, neither of the opponent, nor of his teammates.
Dvorak continues to float without being threatened, protected by a coach who, clearly, does not have the guts necessary to shake the columns of the temple.
Fortunately, Kapanen will get another chance tonight against Ottawa, after scoring his first career point against the Bruins.
The Finn will also have time on the power play. He will no longer leave the alignment.
But whether it is Heineman, Kapanen or Barré-Boulet, the alternation is only a facade to avoid touching the “untouchables”.
The reality is that St. Louis is afraid of difficult decisions and prefers to go after the young people who are easiest to move.
While the Ottawa Senators, led by a fiery Tim Stützle, arrive with the intention of repeating their success in the preparatory games against CH, the question remains: how much longer can St-Louis continue this ride without being unmasked?
Sending Barré-Boulet to the stands tonight is more than just a lineup choice. It’s a confession. An admission that Martin St-Louis simply doesn’t have what it takes to lead this team with authority.
Unless he wakes up quickly, the hockey country of Montreal will not forgive him for this lack of courage for long.
Dvorak needs to go to the stands…and quickly…
Lineup for tonight’s game:
Caufield-Suzuki-Slafkovsky
Newhook-Roof-Army
Anderson-Evans-Gallagher
Heineman-Dvorak-Kapanen
Matheson-Guhle
Hutson-Savard
Xhekaj-Barron
Montembeault
They were getting
Out: Struble, Pezzetta, Barré-Boulet
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