Something UNREAL is cooking and no one is talking about it...

The Habs have something sneaky cooking under the surface right now as some updates out of Laval are genuinely insane with the production of one certain defenseman that played very well in training camp. We're going to dive into that but also some major decisions coming with the roster especially in net as the Habs defense in the NHL has been a big story as of late and even Martin St. Louis had something to say about it all. We're going to dive into all of that on the first ever live show in person with both of us here at Habs Digest. Thank you guys for watching every single day just this is kind of surreal it really is like this is the first time we've met in person isn't that insane too long long overdue and again we just need to get together we're doing this more for you for the people because we just appreciate the support so very much we're coming live and direct let's go we're keeping it up every single day and hey if you guys want to help us out here on the channel the best thing you can do is click that free subscribe button we're on the road to 30k we'd love to hit it before the calendar turns to 2027 so if you're enjoying the daily content hey it's the nicest thing you could do for us let's dive into some stuff we got to talk a bit about the goalies right now and I mentioned a bit about it yesterday but there is a bit of a dilemma we'll take a little look at the Habs upcoming schedule take a look here we you know had these last few games but this week we got a back-to-back we got Sabres on Tuesday we got the Capitals on Wednesday and then again against the Sabres on Saturday Jesse I mean both of our goalies have been great Marty San Luis had some great stuff to say about Fowler Hey, he proved we made a good decision, gave us a chance in the shootout. It's not easy. It was long before we scored and gave him an opportunity to close it out. The first Habs ever to get a shutout and then also not let in a goal in the shootout. How are you feeling for this first game against Buffalo? What are the fans feeling too? Because I don't know who Marty should or shouldn't go with. It's a tough choice right now. He's going to be starting Jacob Fowler. He's going to ride that hot hand. If Jacob Fowler didn't have enough of a big enough chip on his shoulder again, maybe being passed over in the draft at some opportunities where he's just won at every single level. He then comes to Montreal, has a decent cap, and then his spot gets taken from him again. He gets his opportunity right now, and he showed his last game. He's not willing to settle anymore. He is done with the Laval Rocket, with the AHL. Respectfully, he is here in Montreal to stay, and I expect another hot start from him. I think so, too. I think against Buffalo, it's just, why not let it ride? That's kind of the thing. You're winning games, just keep going out there. I mean, I know Dobesh is great. I know he's had a rougher start to the year. It's been a bit chaotic for him. But, I mean, you just got to ride the hot hand, right? I mean, even though I know it's a back-to-back, they'll each get one of these starts. But to me, I think it's as simple as Fowler won our last two games. He's going to be on multiple nights of rest. Why not just run with him again? And the thing is, we knew this was coming for Jacob Fowler. We knew that he was going to start making waves in Montreal. But, again, we're not saying that there's a goalie controversy. But Jacob Fowler is just that type of elite goalie. we have two very competitive guys and it's going to be an interesting battle see as they look to really assert themselves here in the Habs roster I do believe that Fowler is going to continue to play very well and there is going to be a certain point where we will need to make a decision here I think both these goalies are very much aware of that so what it really comes down to from Jacob Fowler is can he really continue to challenge those shooters in the slot I think that's going to be so important again just playing with that confidence that we know he has if he can do that I think he's going to be at the root of the Montreal Canadiens defense yeah well exactly right? And the defense has been a major focus for the Habs. I mean, this year, I mean, there have been some, I don't know, I don't want to say complaints, but over the last year or two, it's been a bit, uh, if a certain defenseman may be getting more flack than others, but the Habs defense has been very important. And Martin St. Louis has been talking about that. It's actually really improved this year and we got some numbers to back it up. So first off, uh, in a recent article from Arthur Basu, he was talking about how Montreal kind of views the defense. And we'll show you this quote here. Friday after practice, Marty mentioned some of the numbers they didn't like from last season and how they're improving and so after that answer saturday asked what he's referring to i'm not going to go into it but i would tell you it's not in the offensive zone then when prompted for a follow-up an example marty said no but but uh we also have this here but the reaction going back man to man to come back protect the slot he said that if you don't have the alarm sometimes the slot's open i find we have a better alarm and the improved numbers actually are really showing. We take a look at JFresh. Right now, HockeyStats.com, 5v5 expected goals against per 60. Currently, Montreal ranks fifth in the NHL. Really, our problem now is special teams. It's not even 5v5 defense. Did this number shock you as much as it shocked me? Because when I saw that number, I was like, really? But then you look at the games, especially that one versus Detroit, it's like, you're not giving up many chances. And when you have a guy like Fowler behind you, if you can continue that kind of 5v5 defense, who's going to score on you? Well, that's just it. And again, this should be very encouraging for Habs fans, again, that the game is going to bounce back. This is what it really comes down to. It's about putting forth that solid effort. Of course, the results are going to come. These underlying analytics are so important indicators of how the Habs game will progress. I see this. I see Derek Lalonde's influence very early on. For me, again, Josh, this is extremely encouraging because we know this team can score goals. Demidov's injured right now. They're going to come back. We can do this. If there's one thing, not only can we score, we can do it in quick fashion i am not worried about this team's offensive capability so again this is Martin St. Louis identifying what they need to prove them along with their cologne and putting a focus on that and the fact that we are seeing the stats backing up is so important again i think that the habs did a good job in the playoffs last year of really defending the slot and i think it's really coming back to that again we're going to get to a second is isn't there maybe some personnel that we could bring in to help with that i do believe so as well again i think that it really comes down to is playing that strong defensive game we just need to protect that front of the net and i think that needs to be the memo for all six canadian defensemen we want to play that offensive game but really playing that strong owning that center of the ice in that defensive zone it's just going to be key for the habs going forward yeah and we've been really lucky to have good centermen as well controlling the center of the ice to know evan suzuki i mean whoever else is playing but those are the three main defensive guys i mean and even captain to some extent when he's out there and you know the habs still see him as having high defensive upside but controlling the middle of the ice controlling the entries That's been really good. And hey, yeah, I agree. We haven't given up as many slot chances. The slot chances has been, thankfully, down a little bit because that's been, I remember the last few years, it's been tough. But speaking of defense, right, we obviously know we have a stacked decor for now and for the future. We did just move off of Jaden Struble. Sucks to see him go. But there have been some guys cooking in the AHL right now. We got to give you guys an update. Luke Middlestad and David Reinbacher have been absolutely shining. Now, Reinbacher's numbers are not as brilliant as Middlestad's, as we'll show you. Two points in four games, but 14 pims, a bit of a mean streak, plus three. But he's creating chances. As you saw in the intro, if I play this again, you can see him taking the puck all the way up the ice. He creates this play on the same play where Middleton scores the goal. So not only has Rheinbacher been doing what we've wanted him to do, the stats have followed, especially for Middleton. He has six points in his last three games. He got an assist on Josh Nadeau's first goal. He has been unreal. Six points in his last three. Jesse, he's second on Laval in scoring, which is insane. He was tied for first before last game. He has seven points in four games following five points in nine games last year. I know how many good prospects we have and how it's already a logjam in the NHL, but the fact that we have both of these guys eating minutes, producing constantly, just makes us feel like we're so confident for our decor for now and for the future. Look, if we need to make an adjustment, if something's not working right, we have someone ready to come up and take the reins. Especially when it's people like you don't expect here. And Luke Middlestad, again, the wealth of riches for Canadian prospects, for the Montreal Canadiens, it just continues right now. And the fact, again, here that we're just seeing the training camp, the solid play was not an apparition. Being able to build on that and what he's doing is tremendous, not only for him, but also for David Reinbacher. Because you have to feel there is some preparation here. Luke Middlestad playing a little bit more of that offensive role. we know with David Reinbacher very much going to be to support Lane Hudson in his offensive endeavors as well so again getting so much practice fact of the matter has agent David Reinbacher deserves to be with the Montreal Canadiens and Kent Hughes cannot wait too much longer before I see just the best possible team for this team to really start the season that includes Jacob Fowler it does include David Reinbacher who's going to be joining them very shortly as well again what he's doing right now is again it's the defensive play he he's obviously providing a very strong plus minus game for the Laval Rocket right now and that's exactly what we need protecting a little bit more of that front of the net and I think also just creating that defensive mobility just to get the puck out because we know it's so much of Marty how we like to play defense is moving the puck quickly out of our zone there so I think David Reinbacher can really help with that in a big way and he's going to be in Montreal in very soon time yeah I would agree I mean look Adam Engstrom is uh he's holding his own he was fine you know a rough first period in the NHL but it was fine this year he's he's gonna figure it out the players like Gulevsky recently said how much he liked playing with them it was a weird 11 forward 7d and that could very well continue with Florian and Jack I believe leaving practice early today Kapanen and Matheson taking therapy days I hope Matheson's not hurt I mean maybe some of you anyway I'm not I'm not going to speak more on that but like but still like if Kapanen still hurt if Jack is still hurt Demi is still hurt you might have to run 11-7 again and I can't help but wonder could Rheinbacher be sort of that next guy to come up I don't know leave your thoughts on all this down below that'll do it though for this episode a historic episode might I just say like so I want to just take a second here at the end of this video just thank the fans for tuning in every day making this possible right I mean it's you guys you're the reason that we're here talking in person I mean I'm hoping we can do a lot more of these in the future it's coming and again at the Montreal Canadiens game again this is my first time coming back here in Canada in such a long time really and again we just have to come and really show our appreciation and thank you guys so much for the support we truly appreciate it and if you enjoyed the episode make sure you're subscribing on the way out as well because don't you forget we have a goal of hitting 30,000 by the end of the year thank you to every single one of you that tunes in every single day I'm Josh Koscheck, Jesse Poirier, we'll catch you all in the next one