The Canadian | Change in dynamic on defense

We haven’t finished talking about Lane Hutson’s potential, especially on the offensive level. However, while he is impressing his opponents and fans, his arrival within the Montreal defensive squad coincides with what looks oddly like a change in dynamic among the backs.

We know that something like this is happening in attack. Over the past few days, head coach Martin St-Louis explained that the roles of Christian Dvorak and Josh Anderson had changed. That within a workforce which is gaining in age and experience, their offensive contribution was no longer the main reason why they were called upon. Both are, in fact, off to a very good start to the campaign.

End of aside and return to defense. We obviously have to be wary of the small number of matches (4) played by the Canadian so far. However, two elements caught our attention.

First, the coaching staff was quick to juggle the composition of its duos. From the second period of the second match, in Boston, Mike Matheson and Kaiden Guhle, the most used pair last season, were separated.

After the meeting, St-Louis explained that he wanted to better distribute his forces. Very good. Except that he did it again against the Ottawa Senators last Saturday, and again against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday. To the point that, at five on five, during the last three meetings, Guhle has been paired more with Hutson (26 min. 43 s.) than with Matheson (19 min. 9 s.).

Then, St-Louis could have been content to simply recombine its first two pairs, in which case David Savard would have joined Matheson. However, the three combinations were finally reshuffled, so that Matheson saw Justin Barron appear to his right, and Savard found himself on the third pair with Arber Xhekaj.

What happens when the same reorganization happens three times in a row? “Sometimes it’s a strategy. Sometimes it’s a matter of instinct [gut feeling] », succinctly replied the pilot.

Hutson monte, Savard descend

Whether St-Louis wants to dwell on this subject or not, something is happening within the CH defense. Something we more or less predicted.

If it was certain that the organization held Lane Hutson in high esteem even before his arrival in the club’s entourage, one would have thought that this attacking specialist would be used gradually at five against five. However, this is not the case.

In each of the matches played so far, the rookie has been part, along with Matheson and Guhle, of the top 3 in terms of ice time at five-on-five. He even went from third place at the start to second place for the next two games until finishing at the top of his team against the Penguins.

This is where the established order is broken. Because David Savard seems to have lost, if only momentarily, his place within this top 3. He has even been the least used defender by his coaches at five-on-five so far, tied with Arber Xhekaj. In this phase of the game, we seem to have drawn a clear line between two groups.

The Quebecer did not try to shy away on Wednesday. “I’m not super satisfied with my last matches,” he admitted. I haven’t always made the best decisions, I’m not in the right place, things like that. » The opponent made him pay dearly, with five goals scored while he was on the ice, compared to none for his team.

He doesn’t want to get lost in overanalyzing his ice time, especially not after four games. “It’s not more serious than that,” he assures.

Justin Barron is one of those who benefit from this effect of communicating vessels. By being promoted to the second duo, he sees his responsibilities increase. However, it is difficult to see a direct link with his game, since he has still had his ups and downs at the start of the season.

“I think I did good things, but there are always elements to work on,” he admitted. I try to be reliable defensively, to remain tough to face and to play in a more physical way. I want to raise my game to the top. »

He looks forward to playing more with Mike Matheson, although “adjustments” are always necessary with a new partner. We understood this on Monday when, in the third period of the game against the Penguins, an imprecise side pass from Barron to Matheson sent Michael Bunting on a breakaway.

Matheson, for his part, puts into perspective the importance to be given to the different combinations in defense. Except for the fact that Barron is right-handed and Guhle is left-handed, he does not believe that his game changes on a personal level even if his two partners do not have an identical style.

“That doesn’t mean that I’m going to take more or less risks with one or the other,” he clarified. I have to play the game that is in front of me. And it’s the same for them. »