Canadiens Balanced Scoring is a Plus

The Montreal Canadiens are leading the NHL with 11 forwards with ten or more goals. That’s impressive. I saw it on Reddit, and I had to think: When did I last remember that happening? I found the team. The 2008-09 Pittsburgh Penguins. That team won the Stanley Cup. I covered that Cup and now I’m seeing good things from the Canadiens so what’s the reason it’s happening?

Five of these players are homegrown. That’s a testament to the Canadiens’ drafting and development. Those are good signs but there’s still work to be done in this area. To me, this is a nice glimpse into the future when Ivan Demidov comes over, Michael Hage, Owen Beck, and David Reinbacher are everyday players. That time is drawing near.

Martin St. Louis deserves some credit. He gets the most out of players offensively. Cole Caufield is a perfect example. He has excelled under his tutelage. The team currently has a .525 winning percentage and that’s real progress considering the tough times the organization has faced in recent memory.

Kent Hughes deserves some credit for acquiring Emil Heineman’s rights in the Tyler Toffoli trade. He may have scored 20 this year if that freak injury didn’t happen. Heineman is heading into an RFA year and if the Canadiens are smart, they offer him a three-year contract. I think he’s finally reaching some of his potential.

When you consider Patrik Laine and Juraj Slafkovsky, I think the Canadiens could have five 20-goal scorers next season. Let’s see what happens over time but this is a good sign for the organization that they are moving forward.