The Montreal Canadiens are sailing dangerously close to the bottom of the rankings.
Currently 29th, just one point behind the Nashville Predators, the slide could quickly become a free fall.
And honestly, is that a bad thing? If this season is going to be a disaster, we might as well aim for the jackpot in the draft.
Because at the top of the list for 2025 is a name that will make you salivate: Matthew Schaefer.
But forget that name for now.
The important thing here is the comparison that Craig Button dared to make. During an appearance on The Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro, Button dropped a bombshell: “He reminds me of Drew Doughty. »
Yes, the Drew Doughty. Two Stanley Cups, a Norris, a guaranteed future Hall of Famer.
Button didn’t mince his words: “Schaefer is a general on the ice. No matter where he is, he commands the game. Doughty has never been the most spectacular defender, but he is complete. A pillar. And Schaefer has everything to be that kind of player. »
And there, it’s impossible not to imagine what this could mean for Montreal.
Doughty is the kind of player who changes everything.
He doesn’t just add talent to a lineup, he redefines an identity.
The Los Angeles Kings are proof of that.
With him, they won two Stanley Cups in the space of three years, building a modern dynasty around his essential presence.
This type of defender is not found on every street corner.
So, imagine a Drew Doughty in blue-white-red. A Sainte-Flanelle worn by a generational defender.
A dream, yes, but not totally unrealistic.
Because if the CH continues to collapse, the lottery could offer this unique chance.
Certainly, the ranking is still tight, but the Canadians are flirting with last place.
Nashville is only one point ahead, and one bad streak would be enough to send them there.
A depressing prospect for some, but full of potential for others. Because sometimes you have to go back to move forward.
A player like Doughty or Schaefer is much more than just a choice. It’s a foundation.
Montreal has seen legendary defensemen over the decades, from Doug Harvey to Larry Robinson.
But since then, Flannel has been waiting for this new pillar, this figure capable of transforming the game and establishing a standard of excellence.
To be continued…
And that’s exactly what Doughty, or his equivalent in Schaefer, could offer. It’s not just about raw talent. He is a player capable of stabilizing a team, asserting himself in all aspects of the game and making a difference with each presence on the ice. Montreal needs this type of player to escape the purgatory where the team seems trapped for too long.
So, Drew Doughty and the colors of Sainte-Flanelle? For now, it’s just a fantasy. But with a season falling apart and a draft approaching, this dream could become a very concrete project. All it would take is a little luck, a well-timed fall in the rankings and, of course, a lottery that goes in Montreal’s favor.
And if that ever happened, it would no longer be a simple hope, but the start of a solid reconstruction. A name like Doughty in the lineup would make all the difference. Because a player of this caliber cannot be refused. Honestly, who would say no?
This version clarifies that it is indeed Craig Button who makes the comparison. Thanks for the clarification!
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