Les Anti-Leafs

February 21st, 2008

For What it’s Worth: $92.70-The Montreal Canadiens have built a Stanley Cup contender the old-fashioned way…by drafting well.

It’s down right depressing how hockey is covered in Canada. Since our major sports networks are all based in the “Centre of the Universe,” i.e. Toronto, we’re constantly hammered with Maple Leafs mania. Win, lose or draw, the Buds get top billing more often than not. Granted, the club has the most fans here in the Great White North, and there must be some sort of constant thirst for all things Leaf. However, our nation’s other teams often get short changed media wise. It probably explains how the Montreal Canadiens snuck up on Canadian NHL fans outside of Quebec (and I’m guessing, in reality, the majority of La Belle Provence).

Heading into late February, the Canadiens are vying for first place in the Eastern Conference. A year after missing the NHL’s playoffs, and many seasons of mediocrity, Les Habitants have emerged into a power. How has Montreal become a contender? It’s simple--great scouting. Of the 23 players currently on the Canadiens roster, the club drafted 14 of them.

Here’s the breakdown: (player, round and draft year).

Forwards

Chris Higgins-1^st Round 2002.

Saku Koivu-1^st Round 1993

Andrei Kostitsyn-1^st Round 2003

Sergei Kostitsyn-7^th Round 2005

Maxim Lapierre-2^nd Round 2003

Guillaume Latendresse-2^nd Round

Tomas Plekanec-3^rd Round 2001

Michael Ryder-8^th Round 1998

Steve Begin-Waivers

Tom Kostopolous-Free Agent

Alexei Kovalev-Trade

Bryan Smolinski-Free Agent

Defence

Patrice Briesbois-2^nd Round 1989

Mike Komisarek-1^st Round 2001

Andrei Markov-6^th Round 1998

Ryan O’Byrne-3^rd Round 2004

Mark Streit-9^th Round 2004

Francis Bouillon-Waivers

Mathieu Dandeneault-Free Agent

Josh Gorges-Trade

Roman Hamrlik-Free Agent

Goaltender

Carey Price-1^st Round 2005

Christobal Huet-Trade

Also, Kyle Chipchura (1^st Round 2004) has played 35 games this season in Montreal. There’s just something better about homegrown talent (or vegetables).

The Canadiens are one of the NHL’s highest scoring clubs, in the top 5 in goals for. Of the team’s top 10 scorers, only Kovalev (it’s not even my contract season…eat that naysayers!) and Hamrlik weren’t drafted.

Most of the credit goes to Bob Gainey. Since taking over the Habs General Manager duties in 2003, 7 of his draft picks (Kostitsyn x2, Lapierre, Latendress, O’Byrne, Streit, Price, 8 if you’d like to include Chipchura) are on the roster. Andre Savard (2000-2003), Gainey’s predecessor selected 3 current Canadiens (Higgins, Plekanec, Komisarek). Rejean Houle (1995-2000), the GM before Savard has 2 of his picks still around (Ryder and Markov). And here’s a shout out to Serge Savard, the long-time head honcho who preceded Houle, still has two guys he picked wearing le blue, blanc et rouge (Brisebois, Koivu).

Contrast how Montreal has built its roster with Toronto. The Maple Leafs have just a handful of drafted players on its current roster, with only Tomas Kaberle, a top NHLer. If the Buds are lucky, they’ll earnestly start a rebuilding process before the 100^th anniversary of the club’s last Stanley Cup victory. Even then, the Leafs are years away from contending.

Meanwhile, Montreal is the here and now. Most hockey publications before the season had the Canadiens missing the playoffs. Perhaps the experts should have forecasted the side’s rise sooner. Hamilton, the Habs’ AHL affiliate, has been a strong club in recent years. The Bulldogs won the Calder Cup a year ago and were runner-ups in 2003.

It will be interesting to see how the Habs approach Tuesday’s NHL trade deadline. There’s always pressure to win in the City of Saints. The team does have the assets to move to acquire a rental player or two; however, even without any major moves, it’s set up to win for years to come.

15 years have passed since Les Canadiens last won le Coupe Stanley. There’s no assurance this year’s squad will end the drought. But for the first time in a long time, there’s real hope for this storied franchise.