The Montreal Canadiens and The Recent Struggles of Mike Komisarek

This past January, many shook their heads at how the NHL fans voted Montreal Canadiens defenseman, Mike Komisarek, into the All-Star game.

They may have had reason to.

Going into this season, Canadiens fans were expecting a big season out of the Long Island, N.Y. native.

Last season Komisarek was first in the league in blocked shots (227) and second in hits (266).

Despite coming off an injury at the end of last season and arguably meeting his match in the Bruins' Milan Lucic, Komisarek seemed to be starting the season off well.

After a Nov. 13 loss to the Bruins, Komisarek's fist caught the helmet of his rival Lucic during a fight.

He would miss 16 games with a hand injury.

Komisarek showed he is a team player during his time off, spending time behind the bench as part of the coaching staff and became an alternate captain on his return.

He led the Canadiens in hits and blocked shots through January and February, but his game was clearly not all there.

Going into March, his hits-per-game seem to have tallied off and his defensive awareness seems to be in question.

Saturday night's loss to New Jersey was a clear example of another night poor coverage and positioning.

Not to mention, he had six giveaways in the game and 62 in 53 games already this season. Last season, he had 68 giveaways in 75 games played.

It's been debated as to whether or not Komisarek's injury has fully healed, or he has another injury that is keeping him off his game.

He also found himself relegated by then coach Guy Carbonneau to the second, and even third, defensive pairing.

An unrestricted free agent at the end of this season, many debated if he would be traded before the trade deadline. 

Canadiens' GM and now interim coach Bob Gainey was asked before the deadline if Komisarek's potential UFA status affected his trade decisions, Gainey replied, "No."

In any event, the twenty-seven year-old's struggle is just a part of a current malfunctioning unit that is the Montreal Canadiens.

Hopefully, both he and Gainey can work to find the form that made him a No. 1 draft pick in 2001, and earn back the respect of fans who once deemed him as the next Scott Stevens.

If that works, Gainey's next job will to re-sign him.