Being a depth defenseman for the Montreal Canadiens isn’t easy. The team is loaded with defensive prospects, and it’s easy for a young defenseman to worry and ask himself how he can make himself stand out enough to get to play regularly. This past season, Jayden Struble understood how.
It’s not about playing a flashy play of landing insanely big hits; it’s about being consistent and safe, playing in a way that means the coach knows what he’s getting when you step on this ice. It doesn’t mean not to take any risks, but not risks that could take you entirely out of the play. That’s what Struble did better than Arber Xhekaj this season, and that’s why Xhekaj struggled to get back in the lineup once everyone was healthy.
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Struble skated in 56 regular-season games with the Sainte-Flanelle this season, the same number he played in a year ago, but he played better. He recorded 13 points (up from 10 the season before) and spent 52 minutes in the box (down from 57 the year before). He also finished with a plus-two rating and looked much more confident when playing defense. His play, when paired up with Lane Hutson, was impressive.
In short, Struble is a good player all-around but isn’t great in any particular skill, in that sense, he does remind me of former Canadiens blueliner Jordan Harris and if the rumours about the Habs being interested in acquiring Nicolas Hague are true, I wouldn’t be shocked if the 23-year-old was part of the package going the other way.
Despite Martin St-Louis sometimes appearing to have issues getting through to Xhekaj and keeping him on a relatively short leash, I do not see Kent Hughes giving up on the rugged defenseman. His physical play and ability to fight if needed give him an edge over Struble, in my opinion.
We also know that Hughes isn’t in the business of buying high and selling low, and Struble raised his value with his safe play this past season. Furthermore, the rearguard is only 6 feet and 207 pounds, while Xhekaj is 6 feet 4 inches and 240 pounds. The Canadiens can’t afford to sacrifice that kind of size; we’ve seen how important it is in the playoffs.
For his performance this season and the way he was able to seize his opportunity when he was finally given a chance in the play, I believe Struble deserves a B for his season. His entry-level contract is now over, and he’s an RFA with arbitration rights. It will be interesting to see how Hughes handles that situation and what kind of contract he signs Struble to.
Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
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