Josh Anderson Faces Lowered Ice Time as Martin St. Louis Loses Patience
Photo credit: Montreal Gazette
Josh Anderson's 2023-2024 season is a real disaster. The 29-year-old forward, who is in his fourth season of a seven-year deal at $5.5M annually, is on track to have the worst complete season of his career.
He has essentially become a hot potato in Martin St-Louis's lineup, who is at his wit's end trying to jumpstart a player who is in a nearly unprecedented slump.
With only 18 points, including eight goals, in 62 games this season, it's fair to say that his recent performances are a major concern for both fans and the organization.
Indeed, Anderson has become a real management problem, to the point where even the patience of the head coach has reached a significant limit. St-Louis has completely cut precious minutes of playing time for number 17.
Anderson has officially become one of the least used players of the Canadiens
As Renaud Lavoie points out, the average playing time of the power forward has plummeted this season.
"This year, it's 1 min 08 sec less on average per game [compared to last year]. I salute Martin St-Louis because that's also coaching. It's not an easy decision to leave a veteran at the end of the bench." - Renaud Lavoie
However, he hit rock bottom in the last match against the Boston Bruins, being used for only 11 minutes and 19 seconds during the game. It was an outcome that had never been seen for him since he started in Montreal in 2020.
Despite the fact that the CH was playing an emotionally charged match against its eternal rival, with plenty of physical play and high intensity, Anderson was one of the players least used by his coach.
He hardly touched the ice in the third period, when the score was tied. That speaks volumes about St-Louis's depleted patience with Anderson.
| POLL |
16 MARS | 245 ANSWERS Josh Anderson Faces Lowered Ice Time as Martin St. Louis Loses Patience Do you think Anderson will bounce back next season? |
| Yes | 141 | 57.6 % |
| No | 104 | 42.4 % |
| LIST OF POLLS |
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