A place for Pezzetta next year?

DAY

Michael Pezzetta adds a dimension that very few players are able to offer in the Canadiens locker room. When it comes to providing a touch of toughness or commanding respect, he and Arber Xhekaj are the main volunteers.

Nevertheless, within a healthy team – what do we want for the Canadian next year – will there be a place for the forward with curly hair?

“I think I have succeeded in demonstrating that I can play hockey and that I can contribute at the NHL level,” he argued, before the team boarded the plane bringing him. in Toronto for Saturday's game.

“I'm pretty unique in my style on this team. I like rough play, I like physical play. I bring energy. You don't necessarily need five players like that on a team, but you need at least one or two.”

The Habs' leader with 223 hits, Pezzetta managed to hit the target six times, in addition to adding seven assists.

“Since I made the jump to the professional ranks, I always improved. I think one more summer will give me a few more months to get even better.”

He hung on

The 25-year-old Pezzetta will become an unrestricted free agent in a few months. The ingratitude for players of this ilk is that their status is always precarious. 

At least, in this other season of misery for the Canadian, Pezzetta feels he has made great progress. . If he plays the last three games of the campaign, he will have worn the Habs uniform for 63 games. Only six of them have seen more action than him. 

Yes, he can thank the long list of cripples. Still, it's a great achievement for someone who's only played two of the team's first 15 games.

“I feel like I've become a much better player [during the season]. It was difficult to be excluded from training at the beginning of the year. Morally, it was not easy. But I think I imposed myself towards the middle of the season. I proved that I could play more minutes, that I was effective in my role and that I was not a nuisance on the ice.

The last word, however, will go to Martin St- Louis and the general staff of the Canadiens.