Canadiens: The Jacques-Beauchamp-Molson Trophy

I’ve been writing about the Montreal Canadiens for quite some time, but this year was my first season as a credentialed writer, meaning that for the first time, I have a say in who should win the Jacques-Beauchamp-Molson Trophy.

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The trophy is awarded annually to the team member who played a dominant role during the regular season without earning any particular honor. Day in, day out, we all write and discuss Nick Suzuki’s leadership, Cole Caufield’s goals, and Lane Hutson’s shifty manoeuvres. Still, without an efficient supporting cast, the Canadiens wouldn’t be on the verge of qualifying for the playoffs.

Last season, David Savard was awarded the trophy for a second consecutive season. He was the fourth player to achieve the feat after Mark Streit (2006-2008), Mike McPhee (1989-1991), and Craig Ludwig (1984-1986).

Media members are asked to nominate players for first, second, and third place, with the top spot worth three points, the second two, and the third one. Last season, Savard gathered 62 points, beating Jake Evans (40 points), Joel Armia (30 points), and Kaiden Guhle (30 points).

It’s safe to say that we won’t see a three-peat, as Savard had a diminished role this season, but there are still plenty of great candidates on this Habs team. It’s been a long time since this team had 12 players in the 10-goal club, and some players have seen their roles altered this season and have stepped up to the challenge.

I don’t know how my fellow journalists will vote, but I’m reasonably confident that Evans, Brendan Gallagher, and Josh Anderson will receive votes. Personally, Evans best exemplifies the trophy’s definition.

He’s on the ice on the fourth line every game, and that bottom line became a force to be reckoned with this season, one Martin St-Louis knew he could trust at all times. He won 53% of his face-offs, scored three shorthanded goals (the third-highest total in the league), and scored five game-winning goals (third on the team behind Suzuki and Caufield). He’s spending 30 seconds less on average on the ice than last year, but he still managed to have a career year in points with 33 and seven games left to be played. 

He's also a real team player, on Thursday, he could have scored in an empty net but selflessly passed the puck to Nick Suzuki to get the captain his 81st point, knowing he wants to get to a point-per-game this season. There are still a few games left to go, but the more the better. 

For all of these reasons, and especially for his impact on the team’s penalty kill (which is 12th right now but was in the top 10 almost all season), I think he’s the player most deserving of the honor.

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