The New York Islanders are set to play against the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday, Dec. 3, in a crucial matchup for both teams as they try to salvage their seasons. Sitting near the bottom of the standings, both teams have struggled, particularly offensively. The Canadiens are averaging 2.83 goals per game, but the Islanders are even worse at only 2.56.
Defensively, however, there is a clear distinction between the two teams. While the Islanders have faced some challenges, they currently allow an average of 2.96 goals per game. In contrast, the Canadiens’ defense is struggling considerably, giving up 3.74 goals per game. This difference can be attributed to the strategies employed by their general managers (GMs), Lou Lamoriello for the Islanders and Kent Hughes for the Canadiens, since they took the helm of their respective teams.
Lamoriello has prioritized strengthening the Islanders’ defense since losing Devon Toews and Nick Leddy in the 2020 and 2021 offseasons. In the 2022 offseason, he brought in Alexander Romanov via a trade during the NHL Entry Draft, which has proven beneficial as Romanov has emerged as one of the team’s top defensemen. Additionally, Lamoriello extended Scott Mayfield’s contract and added Mike Reilly during the 2023-24 season, though Reilly is currently out with an injury. Overall, the Islanders’ defensive efforts have been enough to limit opponents and secure wins in low-scoring games, even if the defense is not among the league’s elite.
Conversely, the Canadiens have been undergoing a rebuild since the 2021-22 season, but some of Hughes’ decisions, particularly regarding defensemen, have set them back. Trading Romanov left a void, although it did bring in young center Kirby Dach. Similarly, Hughes traded Johnathan Kovacevic and Jordan Harris, further depleting the defense. As a result, the Canadiens are left with a young defensive group that has struggled, aside from a few standouts like Lane Hutson, Kaiden Guhle, and veteran Mike Matheson. The players traded by Hughes have performed well elsewhere, and having them could have significantly improved the Canadiens’ chances of being playoff contenders.
While the Islanders have maintained a consistent defensive presence since Barry Trotz’s coaching era, the team still grapples with problematic contracts for Mayfield, Adam Pelech, and Ryan Pulock, all of whom have no-movement clauses. Although Pulock leads the team in defensive point shares and Mayfield is experiencing a bounce-back season, age is catching up with this trio. Consequently, the Islanders’ defense can appear stagnant and vulnerable at times, hindering their progress in the standings.
On the other hand, the Canadiens are experiencing the consequences of moving on from dependable defensemen. However, the young players currently receiving ice time could develop into top-tier talents. Hutson, in particular, has demonstrated great potential. The challenge lies in balancing the roles of veterans Matheson and David Savard, who could be limiting the development of younger skaters. Ideally, trading these veterans would open up opportunities for the young players, but it may lead to the same pitfalls of previous offseasons.
The Canadiens’ forward prospects have shown significant improvement recently, but establishing a strong defense takes time as these players adapt to the NHL’s pace and skill level. Once the Canadiens’ younger defensemen adjust to the professional game, they have the potential to forge a top-tier defensive core.
