{"id":17616,"date":"2017-10-12T15:20:59","date_gmt":"2017-10-12T19:20:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=17616"},"modified":"2017-10-12T18:09:04","modified_gmt":"2017-10-12T22:09:04","slug":"montreal-canadiens-defence-transition-ahead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2017\/10\/12\/montreal-canadiens-defence-transition-ahead\/","title":{"rendered":"Montreal Canadiens Defence in Transition After Slow Start"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/nhl-teams\/canadiens\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Montreal Canadiens<\/a> are making some changes on the blue line. TSN reports <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/s\/schleda01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">David Schlemko<\/a><\/strong> &#8220;could&#8221; be back this week. As Schlemko told the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/montrealgazette.com\/sports\/hockey\/nhl\/montreal-canadiens\/canadiens-relegate-winger-alex-galchenyuk-to-fourth-line-duties\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Montreal Gazette<\/a>. \u201cI\u2019m not a trainer and I haven\u2019t been cleared [to play], but I\u2019m hoping for Saturday.\u201d This news came around the same time it was reported that\u00a0<strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/s\/streima01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mark Streit<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0had been placed on waivers.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Mark Streit has been placed on waivers by the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/habs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#habs<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/reporterchris\/status\/918507518107799553?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">October 12, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2>Montreal Canadiens Defence in Transition<\/h2>\n<p>The Canadiens <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2017\/07\/25\/montreal-canadiens-sign-mark-streit\/\" target=\"_self\">signed defenceman<\/a>\u00a0<strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/s\/streima01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mark Streit<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>to a one-year contract in July. However, the Streit news should surprise no one. Always a gamble, he never found his feet in Montreal. Today, he was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbssports.com\/fantasy\/hockey\/news\/canadiens-mark-streit-placed-on-waivers\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">placed on waivers<\/a> after two uninspired games, and a poor pre-season, with the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/nhl-teams\/canadiens\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Montreal\u00a0Canadiens<\/a>. The experiment appears to be over. Whether it was Streit&#8217;s age, speed, or the complexity of Montreal&#8217;s\u00a0nascent defensive system, his long and notable\u00a0career in the NHL may be over. The Habs will find out tomorrow at noon whether he cleared waivers.<\/p>\n<p>As <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/2017\/07\/25\/montreal-canadiens-sign-mark-streit\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ben Kerr noted<\/a>, Streit\u00a0was originally drafted by the Canadiens in 2004. In 11 NHL Seasons, he scored 96 goals and 338 assists for 434 points in 784 career NHL games.\u00a0He has played for the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/nhl-teams\/canadiens\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Montreal Canadiens<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/nhl-teams\/flyers\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Philadelphia Flyers<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/nhl-teams\/lightning\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tampa Bay Lightning<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/nhl-teams\/islanders\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">New York Islanders<\/a>. Last year, he was part of a Stanley Cup Champion team with the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/nhl-teams\/penguins\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a>.\u00a0As LWOH&#8217;s own <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/author\/nick-lwos-news\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nick Lariviere<\/a>\u00a0points out, the NHL is a league of youth and speed. There is not a lot of room for a defenceman who cannot skate or contribute offensively.<\/p>\n<h2>Waiting for David&#8217;s Debut<\/h2>\n<p>If reports that\u00a0<strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/s\/schleda01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">David Schlemko<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0could play against the Toronto\u00a0Maple Leafs come to fruition, the Canadiens defence will add an essential off-season acquisition. General manager\u00a0<strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/b\/bergema01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Marc Bergevin<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2017\/06\/22\/david-schlemko-traded-montreal-canadiens\/\" target=\"_self\">acquired Schlemko<\/a>\u00a0from the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/nhl-teams\/knights\/\" target=\"_self\">Vegas Golden Knights<\/a> in exchange for a 2019 fifth-round draft pick. He put up two goals and 18 points in 62 games with San Jose. Overall, in a career spanning 360 NHL games, he has scored 17 goals and 87 points.<\/p>\n<p>Sam Feder, of Cerebral\u00a0Puck,\u00a0suggests <a href=\"https:\/\/cerebralpuck.com\/2017\/06\/23\/puck-moving-defensemen-series-montreal-canadiens\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Schlemko&#8217;s possession numbers<\/a> and ability to improve his teammate&#8217;s play classifies him as a puck-moving defenceman, behind the struggling <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/p\/petryje01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jeff Petry<\/a><\/strong> and dearly missed <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/m\/markoan01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Andrei Markov<\/a><\/strong>. In a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/nhl\/2016\/11\/15\/david-schlemko-san-jose-sharks#\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Sports Illustrated feature,<\/a>\u00a0Schlemko&#8217;s strong skating and shot attempt differential numbers were reportedly key elements in the negotiations that led him to sign to a four-year, $8.4 million contract\u00a0in San Jose.\u00a0The <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/nhl-teams\/knights\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Vegas Golden Knights<\/a> claimed Schlemko from the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/nhl-teams\/sharks\/\" target=\"_self\">San Jose Sharks<\/a> in the expansion draft.<\/p>\n<h2>A New Top Four?<\/h2>\n<p>As I suggested <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/2017\/09\/29\/shea-weber-not-ready-start-season\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">in previous articles<\/a>, the Habs are struggling to adapt to Julien\u2019s defensive zone system this season. In short, moving from a man coverage system to a zone system requires splitting the ice into zones. By working together, successful teams manage puck possession and force low percentage shots on goal. To be successful, Julien&#8217;s system requires constant\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.tsn.ca\/radio\/montreal-690\/ward-habs-new-defensive-system-a-major-shift-1.867612\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">communication and adaptation<\/a>. The biggest challenge is that defensive players need to understand their partners.<\/p>\n<p>There simply hasn&#8217;t been enough time to settle into the new roles and responsibilities associated with this whole-team defensive system. New defensive partnerships mean the growing pains will continue.\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/montrealgazette.com\/sports\/hockey\/nhl\/montreal-canadiens\/canadiens-relegate-winger-alex-galchenyuk-to-fourth-line-duties\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Pat Hickey<\/a> suggests Schlemko could get a look on the top pair with <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/w\/webersh01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Shea Weber<\/a><\/strong>. This would displace <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/m\/metevi01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Victor Mete<\/a><\/strong>. While Mete has looked good, overall the defence has looked uneven at times and poor at others. As LWOH&#8217;s own <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/author\/nick-lwos-news\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nick Lariviere<\/a>\u00a0has observed <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/2017\/10\/12\/early-season-defensive-woes-for-the-montreal-canadiens\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">improving the Habs defensive core<\/a>\u00a0is essential.<\/p>\n<h2>Toward Stability<\/h2>\n<p>Despite the defensive challenges so far this\u00a0season, the Canadiens are slowly finding out what defensive personnel is most likely to mount a successful campaign this year. It remains an open question about whether they have the talent, the speed, and agility required to compete in a league in which teams are getting faster and faster.<\/p>\n<p>In the interests of stability, <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/m\/metevi01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Victor Mete<\/a><\/strong> may stay on the top pair with <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/w\/webersh01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Shea Weber<\/a><\/strong>. This would mean Julien is hoping Petry and Alzner can start to play better together. This partnership looked good on paper but neither defenceman has played well so far this season. The pairing has been on the ice for 4 goals against and contributed only one assist.\u00a0This would mean Schlemko will start on the third pairing, likey with <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/b\/bennjo01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jordie Benn<\/a><\/strong>. Benn has looked shaky and struggled on the first pairing with\u00a0<strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/w\/webersh01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Shea Weber<\/a><\/strong>. In the home opener, it was Benn&#8217;s clearing attempt that was picked off by <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/s\/sharppa01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Patrick Sharp<\/a><\/strong>. He set up <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/d\/debrial01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Alex DeBrincat<\/a><\/strong> for the first goal of the game.<\/p>\n<h2>Upcoming Game<\/h2>\n<p>The first test of this new look defence will be this weekend. The <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/nhl-teams\/canadiens\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Montreal Canadiens <\/a>face the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/nhl-teams\/maple-leafs\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Toronto Maple Leafs<\/a> at the Bell Center on\u00a0Saturday, October 14. Game time is 7:00 pm EST.<\/p>\n<p>Main Photo:<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"Q79apxSaQ-9YI1rOAUpTDg\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/860716388\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'Q79apxSaQ-9YI1rOAUpTDg',sig:'a63vZL5r0dqKgM7nfukjyNDGpPoRUZoOtuGcxO-3oyY=',w:'396px',h:'594px',items:'860716388',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Montreal Canadiens are making some changes on the blue line. TSN reports David Schlemko &#8220;could&#8221; be back this week. As Schlemko told the\u00a0Montreal Gazette. \u201cI\u2019m not a trainer and I haven\u2019t been cleared [to play], but I\u2019m hoping for Saturday.\u201d This news came around the same time it was reported that\u00a0Mark Streit\u00a0had been placed [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2253,"featured_media":17651,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[954,1158,520,269,264,753,254,481],"class_list":["post-17616","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-canadiens","tag-andrei-markov","tag-claude-julien","tag-david-schlemko","tag-jeff-petry","tag-marc-bergevin","tag-mark-streit","tag-shea-weber","tag-victor-mete"],"modified_by":"Johannes Wheeldon, Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17616","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2253"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17616"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17616\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17651"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17616"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17616"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17616"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}