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NHL Montreal Canadiens

Montreal Canadiens’ Defensemen Showing Skill Trumps Age

By @LissaRantSports

Andrei Markov of the Montreal Canadiens

Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Recently, a sports-talk radio announcer asked the question: “Are you concerned with the age of the defensemen on the Montreal Canadiens‘ blue line?” The Habs have Andrei Markov (who turns 35 years old next month), Mike Weaver (36), Sergei Gonchar (40) and Bryan Allen (34). In hockey terms, those are advanced ages.

In past seasons, the Habs have been known as “small” and referred to as “Smurfs,” but that perception is changing along with the roster.  Now, the age of defensemen is in the forefront of discussion. Are older defensemen a concern for a team which has been outscored in losses this season 33-5?

I’m not particularly concerned. I believe that skills speak for themselves. The Canadiens have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to defensemen; so much so that head coach Michel Therrien has been playing with seven on the blue line for the majority of the season so far and assigned Nathan Beaulieu and Jarred Tinordi to the Hamilton Bulldogs for further development. Let’s look at the skills the team can boast about on defense.

P.K. Subban, young and with a long-term contract of eight years, is an elite player. Many believe he has not yet hit his stride this season, and while he hasn’t been as explosive as in years past, he still has a respectable 13 points so far. He’s not only productive but exciting to watch.

Alexei Emelin is a dynamic player; he did not acquire his fan-bestowed nickname of “Boom” for nothing. He hits when he needs to, he blocks shots and he stands up for his teammates. In other words, he does what a good, tough defenseman is asked to do.

Tom Gilbert‘s first season with the team is showing promise. When paired with Markov, he can be solid, but he’s a wild card in terms of skills. He has yet to prove himself.

What about the older players?

Markov has played his entire career with this team and scored his 100th goal last week, putting him in such company as Larry Robinson, Guy Lapointe and Serge Savard, the only other Montreal defensemen who hit that mark. He is known as “The General” among fans and it fits. He is a take-charge guy on the ice, sharing alternate captain duties with Max Pacioretty, Subban and Tomas Plekanec. He possesses a calm demeanor, but when crossed, he has been known to explode in defense of himself, his goalie and his teammates. Markov has a strong shot (evidenced by his record), is a fast skater and can hold his own against any team. Therrien pairs new defensemen with Markov to learn from him.

Weaver came into the organization last season and was instantly embraced by fans. He is clearly a coach’s favorite too, playing every game (unless injured). Weaver is fearless; he is the Habs’ shortest defenseman at 5-foot-10, but he plays big and hits hard. Weaver is reliable, smart and always in the game.

Gonchar has been a delightful surprise. Those unhappy with the acquisition disparaged his age and skills, but I see only strengths. At 40, he plays a strong defensive game, has three points in his 10 games so far and is extremely effective in special units. He has taken the top power play spot alongside Markov, and the Canadiens saw an instant change in the effectiveness of their struggling unit. His time on ice has increased from 12 minutes in his first game to a solid 17-20 minutes each game, illustrative of the coach’s confidence in him. He is a workhorse and isn’t showing that age is a factor.

Allen has just begun with the team; it’s hard to assess his skills yet, but his size (6-foot-5) can be used as an asset when the team plays opponents that use their size.

In terms of the question of age, all one has to do is watch the Canadiens play. Their record is 16-6-1, they’ve held top spot in the NHL for longer than anyone thought they would, given their blowout losses and power-play problems, and they don’t seem to be doing too badly.

The Habs are only getting better and have not slowed down at all. Time will tell, of course, but to me, time and age are less a factor than skills.

Lissa Albert is a Montreal Canadiens writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow her on Twitter @LissaRantSports. “Like” her on Facebook and/or add her to your network on Google. 

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