Stu's Slapshots: Sens proprietor has attention-grabbing feedback about Canadiens
At age 38, has Father Time lastly caught up with the Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin, who might be on the Bell Centre Saturday evening?
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Michael Andlauer grew up in Montreal as an enormous Canadiens fan and remained one till he formally bought the Ottawa Senators final month.
Earlier than the 57-year-old self-made billionaire bought the Senators, he was a minority proprietor of the Canadiens — proudly owning 10 per cent of the workforce — and dreamed of getting one other Stanley Cup parade come down Ste-Catherine St. like those he remembers from his youthful days as a fan.
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Now, Andlauer is hoping to have a Stanley Cup parade in Ottawa.
Andlauer had some attention-grabbing issues to say about his resolution to promote his share within the Canadiens and buy the Senators in a narrative written this week by the Ottawa Solar’s Bruce Garrioch.
“Don’t get me unsuitable, I had a extremely nice 13- or 14-year relationship with Geoff (Molson) and the partnership group,” mentioned Andlauer, who paid US$950 million to buy the Senators. “They’re nonetheless collectively, aside from me, and it’s been collaborative. However my need to be a component proprietor of the Montreal Canadiens was actually to win a Stanley Cup. And I didn’t really feel I had that alignment. I’m not going to enter particulars. Geoff has final say and I respect it. I used to be there for him when he wanted me and there have been instances of frustration. I play to win. I feel Steve (Staios) can attest to that as a result of he’s been with me numerous my hockey profession.”
After buying the Senators, Andlauer employed Staois because the workforce’s president of hockey operations. Staios was basic supervisor of the junior Hamilton Bulldogs from 2015 to 2022 when Andlauer was the workforce proprietor they usually gained two OHL championships throughout that point. Staios performed 16 seasons within the NHL as a defenceman, together with eight in Edmonton, and had been working as a particular assistant with the Oilers earlier than becoming a member of the Senators.
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“I believed, ‘My God, is that this a possibility,’” Andlauer informed Garrioch about buying the Senators. “Ottawa is between two main markets. I really like being the underdog. That really intrigued me, plus Ontario hasn’t had a Stanley Cup in a very long time and I needed to carry one again to Ontario. I used to be sitting in my seats (on the Bell Centre). We (Molson and Andlauer) sort of talked about (shopping for Ottawa), simply the 2 of us, and he mentioned to me, ‘You must most likely personal your individual workforce.’ That took me again a bit as a result of I believed, ‘I assume I don’t personal the workforce.’”
Is age catching up with Ovechkin?
The Washington Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin comes into Saturday evening’s recreation on the Bell Centre towards the Canadiens with no targets in his first three video games and for the primary time in his 19-year NHL profession he has gone two video games with out getting a single shot on objective.
After three video games, the 38-year-old has solely 4 pictures on objective. There are 11 gamers on the Canadiens with greater than 4 pictures after three video games, led by Cole Caufield with 11, Mike Matheson with 9 and Sean Monahan with eight.
Father Time is undefeated in sports activities, however some athletes are capable of combat him off higher than others.
Street to the Cup
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Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis was 39 throughout his remaining season within the NHL when he posted 21-31-52 totals in 74 video games with the New York Rangers to rank fourth in workforce scoring.
“I by no means felt Father Time was catching as much as me,” St. Louis mentioned after follow Friday in Brossard. “I don’t say that being conceited. I performed extra in my 30s than I performed in my 20s within the NHL and I took my conditioning critically and enhancing yearly critically. I do know I scored 21 targets my final 12 months and I felt like I may have achieved extra. I’m not saying that as a result of I’m in a spot of vanity. I’m fairly certain Ovi feels the identical method. He’s proven what he can do at an older age. You bought to look at him when he’s on the ice.
“The minute that you simply suppose that Father Time is catching as much as you, that’s when it begins going the opposite method,” St. Louis added.
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St. Louis needs he may have performed longer than he did.
“I feel I may have stored enjoying,” he mentioned.
It’s far too early within the season to suppose that Father Time has delivered a devastating blow to Ovechkin and it wouldn’t be a shock if he breaks out of his hunch Saturday on the Bell Centre. In 55 profession video games towards the Canadiens, Ovechkin has scored 37 targets, together with three hat tips.
Final season, Ovechkin ranked twelfth within the NHL with 294 pictures regardless of lacking 9 video games.
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“I’d be very shocked if he’s not coming with the mindset that I’m capturing as we speak,” St. Louis mentioned about Ovechkin on the brink of play the Canadiens. “We acquired to be prepared for it.”
With 822 profession targets, Ovechkin is 72 away from tying Wayne Gretzky for the NHL document of 894.
Gretzky was 38 throughout his remaining season within the NHL when he posted 9-53-62 totals in 70 video games with the Rangers.
Newhook becoming in nicely
Alex Newhook is rapidly exhibiting Canadiens followers why GM Kent Hughes was prepared to commerce a first-round decide (thirty first total) and a second-round decide (thirty seventh total) to the Colorado Avalanche the day earlier than this 12 months’s NHL Draft in an effort to purchase him.
Newhook has scored three targets in his first three video games with the Canadiens and his versatility might be an enormous bonus now as he strikes from wing to centre due to Kirby Dach’s season-ending knee harm.
The 22-year-old Newhook has averaged 15:59 of ice time by means of three video games with the Canadiens after averaging 13:57 final season with the Avalanche whereas posting 14-16-30 totals in 82 video games. Final season, Newhook didn’t rating his third objective till his fifteenth recreation.
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“He’s a strong skater,” teammate Brendan Gallagher mentioned about Newhook. “Actually highly effective skater. Particularly when he will get the puck in open ice he can actually make stuff occur. He’s sort of jelled with our workforce very well. He’s a dynamic participant, so get the puck on his stick and good issues occur.”
St. Louis mentioned he knew Newhook had pace, good palms and a excessive compete degree when he was with the Avalanche.
“These had been apparent,” the coach mentioned. “However then you definitely get to be round him day by day, there’s some seriousness about him getting higher and being good. You may see the eagerness, the care, and that’s enjoyable for a coach to have that kind of participant.”
Gallagher nonetheless on the lookout for first objective
Gallagher has failed to attain a objective this season and solely has three pictures on objective after three video games.
When Gallagher set a profession excessive with 33 targets in 2018-19, he averaged 3.7 pictures per recreation. That was additionally the final season Gallagher didn’t miss any video games due to harm.
Matheson is aware of what it’s wish to play towards a wholesome Gallagher since he was with the Florida Panthers in 2018-19.
“He’s like mud on a grimy shirt,” Matheson mentioned. “He simply by no means leaves you alone. I feel that’s been his DNA ceaselessly and it nonetheless is. It’s not enjoyable to play towards, I can let you know that.”
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Communication is vital
St. Louis says communication is crucial factor in relation to teaching as we speak within the NHL.
Gallagher agrees.
“Particularly at this degree,” Gallagher mentioned. “You may have no matter methods. If there’s no communication they’re not going to work. Communication between the gamers and the teaching employees actually is crucial factor. It’s actually what makes all the pieces tick backwards and forwards, whether or not it’s in-game changes. Simply understanding gamers’ personalities I feel is basically vital. I feel the higher communication there’s the faster you see wrongs corrected.
“There’s actually good dialogue with Marty,” Gallagher added. “There’s no secrets and techniques.”
St. Louis is the fourth head coach Gallagher has performed for with the Canadiens since his rookie season in 2012-13 with Michel Therrien behind the bench. Gallagher has additionally performed for Claude Julien and Dominique Ducharme.
Penalty issues
Heading into Friday’s video games, the Canadiens had been main the NHL in penalty minutes with 85 — a mean of 28:20 per recreation.
Twenty-four of the Canadiens’ 29 penalties had been minors, together with three majors and two misconducts.
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It’s an enormous drawback for a workforce that gave up three power-play targets and two short-handed targets in Tuesday’s 5-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild.
Defenceman Johnathan Kovacevic has but to take a penalty whereas averaging 18:59 of ice time.
“I feel numerous them could be averted with a easy preserve your stick on the ice,” Kovacevic mentioned after follow Thursday. “You’re sort of not used to it from summer season hockey, pre-season, coaching camp, you’re not essentially getting referred to as like that on a regular basis. I discover early on in seasons, too, refs are inclined to name extra penalties. I’m unsure if the numbers again it up, that’s simply the best way I really feel. It’s nearly being acutely aware of it, stick on the ice. Nonetheless competing arduous, however possibly being extra into the battle together with your physique versus your stick in order that your stick’s not taking a penalty.”
plus/minus
To me, some of the spectacular stats in NHL historical past is the plus-124 differential Corridor of Fame defenceman Bobby Orr had in 1970-71 with the Boston Bruins whereas posting 37-102-139 totals in 78 video games.
The one different gamers in NHL historical past to submit a plus-100 or higher season are Larry Robinson (plus-120 with the Canadiens in 1976-77) and Gretzky (plus-100 with the Edmonton Oilers in 1984-85).
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Bruins defenceman Hampus Lindholm had one of the best plus/minus within the NHL final season at plus-49.
Like numerous stats, plus/minus must be taken with a grain of salt — generally a big one — and analytics individuals don’t put a lot emphasis on the stat.
“We don’t overlook it,” St. Louis mentioned when requested about plus/minus. “It’s a stat that tells among the story, it’s not the entire story. There’s context to it, but it surely one thing that we regulate.”
The checklist of top-five profession plus/minus gamers is a powerful one with Robinson (plus-722), Orr (plus-582), Raymond Bourque (plus-527), Gretzky (plus-520) and Bobby Clarke (plus-507).
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Heading into Friday’s video games, Kovacevic was tied for second within the NHL in plus/minus at plus-6, trailing solely Philadelphia Flyers ahead Sean Couturier, who was plus-7. Final season, Kovacevic’s plus-3 was the third-best plus/minus on the Canadiens, trailing solely Matheson and Rafaël Harvey-Pinard, who had been each plus-7.
“Plus/minus is a stat that some individuals give numerous weight on, some individuals don’t,” Kovacevic mentioned. “It’s sort of going away. I strive to not put an excessive amount of of my mindset into stats usually. My focus is on being within the recreation. For those who’re serious about stats whilst you’re enjoying you’re most likely serious about the unsuitable factor, you already know what I imply? I hope to be on the ice for not numerous their targets, however for lots of our targets. That’s what I hope to do and if it’s figuring out that’s nice. However that’s not likely the place my focus is, so I don’t put an excessive amount of weight into that.
“Stats can get you paid … plus/minus doesn’t essentially,” Kovacevic added with a smile. “Targets and assists get you paid. After all, you’re going to be into these stats, however plus/minus not as a lot.”
Matheson doesn’t focus a lot on plus/minus.
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“It’s such a well-liked stat, however I’ve performed nice video games and been minus-2 and performed horrible video games and been plus-2,” he mentioned. “It’s sort of an arbitrary stat in that sense.”
There are such a lot of stats as we speak with analytics and Kovacevic mentioned it’s vital to not get too wrapped up in them as a participant.
“They’re monitoring each single play and within the NHL there’s far more metrics than there was within the AHL,” he mentioned. “So now whenever you take care of a recreation there might be like: ‘He was 90 per cent as we speak’ … I don’t even know (what it means). You don’t wish to be considering that. You make a nasty play and then you definitely’re like, s— my metrics are going to be down as we speak. You actually don’t wish to be serious about that. I feel that’s a nasty mindset to get into as a result of then you definitely’re all the time serious about that as a substitute of the subsequent shift, the precise play. You wish to give attention to the precise play as a substitute of what that play will get you when it comes to stats.”
Too cute
You must love this video that Arber Xhekaj’s mom shared on Twitter of a younger fan making an attempt to pronounce her son’s identify.
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Chip of the previous block
It stays unsure when former Canadiens captain Max Pacioretty will make his debut with the Capitals.
Pacioretty tore his proper Achilles tendon for the second time for the reason that summer season of 2022 final January in solely his fifth recreation with the Carolina Hurricanes.
Pacioretty signed a one-year, US$2 million contract with the Capitals on July 1. The 34-year-old can earn an additional US$1 million if he performs 10 video games, plus a US$500,000 bonus if he performs 15 video games and one other US$500,000 if he performs 20 video games.
Pacioretty’s 8-year-old son, Maximus, placed on a present final Monday when he scored three targets in three minutes of a Mites recreation between intervals of a Capitals recreation at Capital One Area.
Pacioretty and his spouse, Katia, have 5 kids — 4 boys and a woman.
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Edmundson goes on LTIR
Joel Edmundson additionally gained’t be within the lineup for the Capitals Saturday evening on the Bell Centre.
The previous Canadiens defenceman was positioned on long-term injured reserve Monday, that means he gained’t have the ability to play till no less than Nov. 8.
Edmundson wanted surgical procedure on Sept. 26 to restore a hand he fractured throughout a training-camp scrimmage.
It looks like the Canadiens’ harm bug follows gamers even after they go away Montreal. Edmundson missed 79 video games over the past two seasons with the Canadiens due to again issues.
Former Canadiens goalie Charlie Lindgren, now with the Capitals, was additionally positioned on injured reserve Thursday with an upper-body harm suffered throughout Monday’s morning skate.
Petry a wholesome scratch
Former Canadiens defenceman Jeff Petry was made a wholesome scratch after enjoying solely two video games with the Detroit Crimson Wings.
Petry was minus-1 and took two penalties in his first recreation with the Crimson Wings — a 4-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils — and was minus-1 once more in his second recreation — a 6-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
With Petry watching from the press field Monday evening, the Crimson Wings beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-0.
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Petry was again within the lineup for Wednesday’s 6-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. He picked up two assists and was plus-2 whereas logging 19:32 of ice time.
Upcoming birthdays
Canadiens defenceman David Savard will flip 33 on Sunday, whereas former Canadien Réjean Houle will rejoice his 74th birthday on Wednesday.
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