This summer Montreal Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin signed Manny Malhotra to a one-year contract, giving the face-off specialist another shot at being an NHL-calibre fourth line centre. Having seven seasons above 20 points, having great defense awareness, and being dominant in the faceoff circle has made him one of the better bottom six centres to have on your team. He’s also been effective on the penalty kill throughout his career. But lately his play has left fans asking the question: Should he hang up his skates at the end of the year?
Malhotra has been around for quite some time now, having been drafted in the 1998 NHL Draft by the New York Rangers seventh overall. He also owns the distinction of being the last active player to play on the same team with Wayne Gretzky on the 98-99 edition of the Rangers.
Playing with the Rangers, he was mentored by some notable players such as Gretzky, Brian Leetch, Tim Taylor, and Mark Messier (in 2001-02). His offensive numbers were nowhere to be found though, but he was developing into a well-respected defensive player. The Rangers were finally done with Malhotra a little over halfway into the 01-02 season, sending him to the Dallas Stars in a four player swap. With the Stars, Manny got to play under Mike Modano, Pierre Turgeon, Jason Arnott, and for the remainder of the 01-02 season, Joe Nieuwendyk. He played two and a half seasons with the Stars before being put on the waiver wire nine games into the 03-04 season. He was picked up by the Columbus Blue Jackets and this is where he really started to show just how he can dominate in the face-off circle and putting up some good offensive numbers.
Prior to playing with Columbus, Manny was putting up below average face-off numbers, ranging from 43.9% to 47% and his offensive numbers were nothing to write home about, having a career high of 16 points in his rookie season. But once settling in Columbus, he was able to put up a career high in points, 12 goals and 25 points and a 53.8% in the circle. He spent the next five years, including the 04-05 lockout, with the Blue Jackets, notching 25-35 points a year and consistently putting up 56% and above on the dot, and was regularly amongst the league leaders for face-off percentage. Not only was he winning them, but he was leading his team in total number of face-offs taken each year, being the much sought after all situations shutdown centre, and a good one to boot.
The Blue Jackets failed to see that however, and after his contract expired in the 2009 offseason, Manny was forced to test the waters in the free agency. That didn’t work out so well, not getting a bite from any team until getting a PTO from the Sharks near the start of the season. He was given a one-year contract and again showed the Blue Jackets how foolish they were to let him walk, dominating in the circle to tune of 62.5%, leading all forwards with a minimum of 400 face-offs taken. Granted, he did take a career low face offs with 664 in 71 games, but he was still able to notch 33 points. After his contract ended with the Sharks, they again let him walk, but Malholtra did not have to wait long this time around, instead signing a three-year deal on the first day of free agency with the Vancouver Canucks.
His tenure with the Canucks was not one to remember. His first season was a decent one at his standards, posting 11 goals and 30 points, leading the Canucks with a 61.7% face off success rate and finishing second in league, with a minimum of 400 face-offs taken. With only a handful of games left in the 2010-11 season however, Manny was clipped in the eye while playing against the Colorado Avalanche and this was the start of his problems. He underwent two successful eye surgeries in the next two and a half weeks to salvage his eyesight in his left eye, and while the surgery was successful, the doctors were not able to save his full vision, and it is limited in that eye. He was able to return for the Canucks playoff run, which ended in a Finals loss to the Boston Bruins.
Over the next three seasons, Manny has struggled mightily to be the player he was with the Blue Jackets, Sharks, and before his injury with the Canucks. Losing much of his vision in his left eye has rendered him a player with not much use, unfortunately. His offensive touch has dried up completely since the injury, as well as his physical play. All that remains is his face-off dominance. Canucks general manager Mike Gillis was so concerned with his lack of vision that he refused to allow him to play in NHL games for the Canucks. He eventually went to the Carolina Hurricanes before signing on with Montreal. So now this is the questions that Manny Malholtra needs to ask himself: Should he hang up the skates at season end?
So far in 2014-15, Manny is in the worst season of his career, having played 40 games and only registering one assist. He does have a 61.6% success rate on the face offs, taking a total 648 draws so far. But past his face-offs, Malholtra looks lost and isn’t playing great hockey. He has a horrible CorsiFor rating of 32.1% 5v5 while on the ice, being out possessed on the puck almost every time he steps on the ice. Granted he is playing on the fourth line and is taking more defensive zone starts than offensive zone starts, (81% of his starts in the defensive zone in 5 0n 5 situations to be exact), so a low CF% is to be expected. That said 32.1% is not understandable or acceptable for a fourth liner. Compared to some other fourth line centers in the Habs’ Atlantic division, Gregory Campbell (Bruins) 41.6% CF%, Luke Glendening (Red Wings) 43.5% CF%, Brian Boyle (Tampa Bay) 49.9% CF%, Derek Mackenzie (Panthers) 48.1% CF%, Trevor Smith (Toronto) 43.8% CF%, David Legwand (Ottawa) 46% CF%, and Cody McCormick (Buffalo) 35.1% CF%. As you can see, the possession numbers of these fourth line centres there is a huge drop to McCormick of the Sabres, and an even bigger drop to reach Malholtra. Malhotra is dead last in comparison of these centres in just about all advanced statistics and regular statistics, from PTS/60 to oiSH%, but Manny does lead in one stat, face-off success rate. These six centres are just much better than Manny in all other aspects of hockey, including the most important factor in being a defensive player, puck handling. These fourth liners do not start in the defensive zone as much as Manny, averaging at 60% each, it still doesn’t mean that his possession stats should be excused and that it’s alright for him to post less than average numbers.
Once Manny wins the face off, he looks like a deer in a head lights. He holds no true value on the ice, other than winning the face-offs. So should he win the face-off, then skate up to the bench, and let somebody else take his shift every time? Should he switch to wing and let the natural centers do their work? This is where it gets interesting and where the Habs may not even need Malholtra for what he brings.
They have five centers on the team in total, Malhotra leading the league with 61.6%, Lars Eller & David Desharnais tied with 54.8%, Tomas Plekanec 50.6%, in the top sixty for face off success rate. With the emergence of Alex Galchenyuk (46.3%) as a first line centre, it’s making more and more sense to sit Malhotra, or put him on the wing, and go with the four centres they have now, who are combining for one of the best face off teams in the NHL, currently sitting at third overall with a total 54.1% win percentage.
It wouldn’t be fair to completely write-off this signing made by general manager Marc Bergevin. Malholtra still holds the honour of being one of the top faceoff specialist in the past six years and is no doubt a great veteran voice in the locker room. He is also a great role model to have around the youngsters, including Galchenyuk who is a rising star centre and could definitely pick up pointers from him in winning draws. In fact those face-off numbers for the other Habs centres are higher across the board, suggesting that Malholtra’s tips and pointers in practice may be having an influence. But at this point in Manny’s career, and from the numbers he has posted this far in the season, it is looking as if he should hang up the skates once his contract expires this summer. It is sad, especially since he is still just 34 years old, but with the serious regressing play, it makes sense. Another factor is his eye. You only have two eyes. He only has one left, and I can relate to this, but he shouldn’t risk losing a full eye just for another year or two. He’s made his money, he’s had his fun, he has played 973 games and should reach 1000 this season if Michel Therrien plays him for 27 more games, and with 39 left in the season. He should be reach the milestone if he manages to play out the season. He still hasn’t won a Stanley Cup, but who knows? Maybe this is Montreal’s year to take home the Holy Grail for the 25th time and it could be a very important and crucial faceoff win that Malholtra wins that secures the Cup win.
As cold and harsh as it sounds, Manny Malhotra should seriously consider retiring this year. Take up coaching. He has tons of valuable info to pass on to young players of today’s and future NHL’ers. He is well respected around the NHL for the right reasons. But the bottom line is he shouldn’t risk his health another year. Cheers and Go Habs Go!
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