The decision of Martin St-Louis to align Jake Evans as a second center seems a direct response to the failure of the decisions of Kent Hughes, the general manager of the Montreal Canadiens.
This unexpected promotion of Evans illustrates the extent of the problem represented by Kirby Dach, who failed to establish himself as an impactful pivot and is increasingly revealing himself as a risky bet which has cost the team dearly. team.
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The exchange of Alex Romanov, today a solid defender for the New York Islanders, in exchange for Dach, was to offer the Canadian a promising second-line center.
But instead, Dach is shifted to the wing, unable to impose himself in his favorite position, a hard blow for the CH, whose deficit in depth in the center becomes critical.
This situation seems to push St-Louis out of control, indirectly pointing the finger at its general director.
The message is clear: the team is sorely lacking in depth and consistency, especially when we add the disappointing performances of Justin Barron, who never managed to show that he could be a regular caliber player.
The young defender, despite high expectations and opportunities on the ice, did not live up to the expectations placed on him.
But the frustration doesn’t end there. The decision not to draft Matvei Michkov, a talented attacker who could have transformed the face of the team, adds an additional weight on the shoulders of St-Louis.
Seeing these management decisions undermined, the coach finds himself caught between the expectations of the fans and a team constructed in a disconcerting manner.
Promoting Evans to second center sounds like an admission of failure. It’s a desperate attempt to fill in the holes left by Hughes’ choices.
St-Louis thus sends a strong message to its general manager: he can no longer be the only one to bear the blame for the team’s performance.
On social networks, supporters of the Montreal Canadiens are wild, and the comments are not kind towards Kent Hughes and Martin St-Louis.
The promotion of Jake Evans to second center only amplified the frustrations.
“Evans in the center of the second line? Seriously? That shows we don’t have a solid plan. What are we doing here, playing dice with the lines?”
“From what I understand, Barron-Struble-Xhekaj will skip a match each in turn? Great strategy to avoid consistency in defense…”
“Dach on the wing, that means we have a real center problem until Hage arrives. Hughes, that really smacks of a GM with no long-term vision…”
“St. Louis is hiding behind questionable experiments, but the reality is that Hughes has put it in a corner with questionable decisions. Dach, Barron, the lack of depth on defense… Where is the construction ‘a competitive team?’
“We trade Romanov to get a cross, and we end up with Dach on the wing? What’s the strategy here? Hughes got steamrolled!”
“If Evans becomes our second center, it’s because the foundations are weak. Hughes, stop improvising and give us a team that can hold its own!”
“What I like about this management is the philosophy of anything. The lines change every week and Dach, who was supposed to stabilize the attack, ends up in disaster. Who really runs this team?”
“Between Michkov’s non-drafting and Barron’s failure, where does Hughes take us? CH has become a club of trial and error.”
“Instead of building on solid achievements, we tinker while leaving young people in distress. Dach is neither an elite center nor winger, but we sacrificed Romanov. What a shame.”
“At this rate, we should recall Stéphane Quintal to fill the void. What is the next absurd move?”
Supporters are increasingly expressing their discontent online, mocking recent decisions and criticizing the CEO’s strategic vision.
This wave of comments demonstrates one thing: Kent Hughes, once revered for his vision, is now in the crosshairs.
The supporters, disappointed and frustrated, are demanding explanations and results, and this discontent could well increase if the situation continues to deteriorate.
Meanwhile, Martin St-Louis manages to throw Kent Hughes under the bus. Phew.
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