Canadiens Missed Out on Their True First-Line Center: A Costly Mistake by Hughes, Says JIC
When Kent Hughes acquired Kirby Dach, many thought the GM had found his second-line center.
More than two years later, it's becoming clear that the former Blackhawks player might not have been the answer they expected.
While he performs well on the wing, he's definitely not the savior for the team's second line that everyone had hoped for.
Seeing that Dach isn't the solution, TVA Sports host Jean-Charles Lajoie even regrets the selection of Juraj Slafkovsky.
Did the Canadiens miss out on their true future top-line center by not selecting Logan Cooley with the first overall pick in 2022?
According to him, the Hughes-Gorton duo should have turned to the player who was ultimately selected third overall, Logan Cooley.
Dach was only 21 and still full of promise, even though he was slow to get going. He was presented to us as a big right-shot center, perfect for the team's second line.»
- Jean-Charles Lajoie
Lajoie points out that Cooley had only six fewer points than Slafkovsky last year. But Cooley currently has more points than Slaff this season.
Cooley is also leading his team's first line, while it seems they haven't found the right spot for Slaf this season.
These are harsh words from the host, and he doesn't stop there. He throws criticism at management, which has mostly received praise since their arrival.
According to him, the Hughes-Gorton duo has made mistakes that ultimately weigh heavily in the team's results. The underperforming Dach and Newhook are part of this.
However, the Habs may have the solution to its problems right in front of them. Recently, Tony Patoine from the DLC site suggested the CH take a chance by placing Juraj Slafkovsky at the center of the second line.
The idea isn't crazy, and the club has nothing to lose by giving it a shot. Imagine if Slaf turned into a Kopitar, Barkov, or Hintz-type player.
With his size, he can certainly play a heavy game. We've also seen that he's capable of both passing and receiving the puck.
He also has, without ever practicing, a face-off win rate of 48.2%. Over the same period, Dach's rate is 38.6%
With yet another tough season beginning, the CH now has the chance, once again, to run some tests. These tests could be very beneficial for the organization if Slaf manages to fill the center role.
By proving Jean-Charles wrong, the CH wouldn't need to search for a center again through the trade market.
With his talent and size, aren't the chances that he'll succeed pretty high?
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