Recrutes

Recrutes: Hockey scouting from a professional perspective from Grant McCagg and Habs coverage from a 33 year veteran covering the NHL from Brian Wilde.

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McLean’s Pub Call Of The Wilde: Three Strikes, You’re Out.

January 16, 2018

By Brian Wilde

Now that the Montreal Canadiens have apparently given up on yet another attempt to find a top-flight center by moving Jonathan Drouin to the wing after only a half season’s apprenticeship, now what?

What exactly is the plan here?

They have a gold-medal goalie opposition players say is the best in the world. They have a gold-medal defenceman with a booming shot. They have strength on the wings. They have a Stanley Cup-winning coach. They have just about every piece there is.

It just doesn’t matter. It just doesn’t matter. It just doesn’t matter.

It just doesn’t matter because you’re not going far without top-flight centers. In a good year, you’re not going far in the playoffs. In a bad year, you’re not even making the playoffs. Win the middle. Win the game.

It is as if this organization has a blind spot at center just like the Philadelphia Flyers have a blind spot in net. It’s over two decades now and the same problem can not be solved.

Is this really that hard?  In some ways, yes, it is.

There are fewer than 31 first-line centres in the NHL, so that means not all teams have one. The Pittsburgh Penguins have two. The Washington Capitals have two. There are about five teams that don’t have one at all. The Montreal Canadiens are arguably the only team in the NHL that doesn’t even have a second-line center.

Phillip Danault is a hard-working three with a 40-point maximum. Tomas Plekanec is a three with a 30-point maximum. Jacob De La Rose has more upside than most think but even if he finds his upside, he’s still likely a third-line or fourth-line center with a 40-point maximum.

So let’s check the farm….barren.

Let’s check the prospect pool. One real hope.

Ryan Poehling is expected to have strong two-way skills but again no one is talking about a player with outstanding hands and finish. He projects out to be a second-line center if it all goes well. Not many project a first-line center. If he got to a first-line plateau, it would be quite surprising.

So where are we on a problem that has existed for the Habs since Pierre Turgeon’s skills diminished in 1997? The answer is the Habs are still in a horrible place. From an outsider’s point of view on national radio, national TV, and even NHL scouts on the catwalk at the Bell Centre, there is derision for this organization on a daily basis. It has become a laughing matter to outsiders who watch the daily carousel – 20 years of revolving ineptitude.

The near future has two options left to find a solution. Max Pacioretty is approaching his unrestricted free agency. With the sting of Alex Radulov and Andrei Markov leaving, the GM may be gun shy to hold this asset to unrestricted freedom. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me a third time…

For Pacioretty, Bergevin has a chance to get a potential 1C in someone like outstanding prospect Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues. Thomas has big numbers and is still improving but the Blues have to want to trade to make a playoff run looking for their first Cup since they joined the league in 1967.

Bergevin also will possibly have a top-five draft pick this June in the draft. There are not projected to be any centers in the top five of this entry draft, so Bergevin could opt to trade the first-round pick to a team who needs a winger or defender and get a 1C that way. Again though, it’s not a gimme. The other clubs have to want Pacioretty or want that top pick. That’s all that’s left for Bergevin. After that, the well is dry.

The general manager created for himself a tricky spot that keeps getting trickier.

Bergevin struck one by not getting a 1C for PK Subban. He struck two by not getting a 1C for Mikhail Sergachev. If he can’t execute a 1C this summer with his final chance, then Marc…that is strike three, and you are out.

If you can’t get it done after all these chances, then you just simply cannot get it done. Not getting a center will be your legacy. Sorry to say but Marc, the count is full, get this done, or get ready to pack your shit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About Brian Wilde

Brian Wilde has worked in hockey since he was 20. He was the rink side host for the Edmonton Oilers at CTV and Ottawa Senators for Sportsnet. He was also lead reporter on the Montreal Canadiens for 17 years at CTV Montreal.

View all posts by Brian Wilde

  • Emil says

    Great article Brian. When they finally drafted a center they didn’t let him develop. Very hard to see what their plan is.

    • Grant McCagg says

      That one is up for debate. By the time he came to the Habs he was playing on the wing as his junior coaches had concerns with him at center that were also seen by NHL coaches when he was given a chance at C.

  • Daniel Lamontagne says

    Why did it take so long for this flaw in Bergy to come to light. His inability to function as a GM in the NHL was there some time ago. Please fire him and his coach as the next move taken by this franchise.

  • Kevin says

    I really think Brian you don’t understand the effects of 1Cs in this league and there availability. 95% of the time you have to draft a legititimate #1 C. They dont grow on trees, nor does anybody want to trade there 1C unless they already have another one or have one coming up in the system. Of the current top 30 Cs in the league, I think maybe 3 are on different teams they were drafted by. One of them is Eric Staal. Look it up.

    • Richard says

      Did you not read the article at all?
      Effects of 1C’s “Win the middle, win the game.”
      Availability: “There are fewer than 31 first-line centres in the NHL”

  • Kevin Kennedy says

    Good stuff, as usual Brian.
    I assume by now you can just project the phrase “win the middle…” to the page with your mind?
    Pierre Turgeon seems so-o-o long ago.

  • Moishe Eigner says

    I don’t mean to sound rude but I watch all your videos and you and grant keep on saying that drouin is a 1c furthermore you tweeted out last week that all the media r hypocrites because MB never said he got drouin as a C so why after all that even after Julien said he likes the way drouin is progressing do you say that he is not a C and MB made a mistake by getting him when you loved the trade just a few months ago?

    • Brian Wilde says

      I certainly have not said I don’t like the trade. You won’t find that in the article. I have said that they have still not acquired a first line center and that is the article. If they believed in Drouin as a center then then would have him there. Again I have not said it and you won’t find it in the article. So that’s twice. Also, Grant and I were the ones who broke to the media that the Habs did acquire Drouin with the intention of playing him at center. So you must have us confused with someone else. We are the ones saying they think they have a center here. In fact, Grant and I have more faith in Drouin at center than they do. I have been saying now is a good time to play both of them at center, Galchenyuk too, with the playoff hopes next to zip. The bottom line is they don’t believe they have a center and that makes six years now. So I have not contradicted myself once but you have leapt to thoughts I don’t have and did not write.

      • Morris Eigner says

        I agree with you that he’s a center that’s why I was confused when you said that they believe he isn’t a center, which after listening to Julien I still think he believes that, that’s why I was confused when you said that they didn’t get a center.
        And I do remember you guys saying that he was a center since I listen to every podcast and I love it.
        Best of luck

  • Wayne Clark says

    One of the problems is the way the NHL draft works- which basically rewards teams and GM’s for being bad at their job . It’s improved a bit with the new odds, but if there’s a cap then I don’t think horrible teams should be rewarded that much. If you look at teams like recent Cup winners Pittsburgh, Chicago, etc and this year’s #1 team TB, they make some good moves, but they have also had a huge head-start with all their top picks. In many ways, the Habs biggest problem is that they had some success recently without a #1 C which means they couldn’t really win the Cup, and it also meant they would not be getting high draft picks. It’s a no man’s land. I have long advocated that the bottom 10 teams should have an equal shot at picks #1-10, had this rule been in place, it would have been interesting to see who would have won the Cup each year post cap NHL.

  • Cameron Grant says

    Trading PK for a #1 C leaves a hole at #1 D. How are the Oilers making out in that situation? Trading Sergachev (who had almost no NHL experience) for a #1 C? Not likely.
    Great article, but i disagree with your solution to fixing the problem, but thats just me.😁

    • Brian Wilde says

      Sergachev for a 1C already established. Nope. Not likely. Let’s see where I said that he was already established.

      Nope can’t find it.

      A 1C prospect for a 1D prospect. For sure. A 1D prospect was already worth an established NHLer. You’re gonna argue with me that you couldn’t get a prospect? I’m gonna defer to all of the people I talk to in the NHL. You defer to who you talk to.

  • Mike says

    All we here from bergevin,is well its not easy centers dont grow on trees and yes im sure even if one maybe pryed from a team why would they want to come play in a french city with super hype,crazy coverage and insane pressure,high taxes. Blah blah blah. Yes weve been hearing excuses for 20 years.
    Solution: overpay a 1c,2c and 1d .
    Currently theres what 9 mill capspace right,ok,so add to that say another 3 mill room as the cap is going up next ssn. Thats 12 mill room.trade price before july 1st when his stupid deal kicks in,because we overpaid the WRONG position.no one builds around a goalie.so play lingren,trade price thats another 9 mill savings for a total of 21 mill room.trade plek is off the books after this ssn so thats another 6 mill.total now of 27 million in cap room to go fill the holes.
    Now take that 27 million $ and get a 1c ,overpay him to play in mtl,because money talks and b.s walks,overpaying lands you who you need bergy. Dangle 11 million to tavares.leaving 16 mill to get a 2c and 1d. Also trade patch67 for a 1st rounder and a C or D. See if you can throw in grampa alzner into a deal to unload that huge mistake signing.

  • Joel says

    Hi Brian,
    Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou for Max ( who would give St Louis 2 post season attempts ) would be a good trade. Blues don’t give up a roster player and add a top player for 1 or 2 playoff runs.

    Another trade target would be L.A. They have Gabe Villardi, a big first round draft pick (2017), offensive center and Memorial cup champ, who unfortunately sprained his back after looking real impressive at training camp. Cale Clague, WJC 2018 champ on defence, looked real good ( 2nd round pick 2016 ). These two plus a first pick in 2018 would be a good return for Max. Imagine Pacioretty skating with Jeff Carter or Kopitar .
    Again, no roster players for a genuine star for 2 cup runs.

    Would Bergevin be able to pull it off ? Unfortunately, I have zero faith in him, so I doubt it. He will have to screw up again before he is let go, and
    the Habs will sink further still.

    • Grant McCagg says

      It wouldn’t make sense for the Blues to give up their top two center prospects. One perhaps..but both? Most scouts see Vilardi as a winger in the NHL…certainly there are few who think he has the speed to be a #1 center…which was why he dropped out of the top ten.

      I don’t see teams looking to surrender their top two prospects for Pacioretty. A roster player, prospect and a pick perhaps..but their top two prospects? Unlikely.

  • Yannick says

    Habs are running pretty bad..No really good Center in the top 10-15 draft. We might have to go with an offensive D. Lots of option there. If we want to go the UFa route we could hope to sign Backlund, Tavares or Stastny. But this is pretty unlikely. Other subject but playing Price 21 out of 22 games when he is your franchise player/injury prone and you are way out of the playoffs is soooooo stupid.