Oct 28 The Choice Should Be Clear, Choose Picard Over Spacek

Andrei Markov, arguably the Montreal Canadiens' best player is slated to make his anticipated return Saturday and the debate as to which defenseman should sit in his place is slowly gaining steam. Heading into the regular season, it seemed pretty simple. It would be either Ryan O'Byrne or Alex Picard, pencilled in as the seventh and eighth defensemen on a fully healthy depth chart. But in a span of just nine games, O'Byrne's status as a potentially bruising stay-at-home defenseman is growing ever dimmer whereas Picard, the journeyman, has excelled in his limited role.

In fact, Picard has excelled to the point where by now, he should've leap-frogged other Canadiens defensemen previously thought to be rock-solid lineup regulars. I'm speaking most notably of Jaroslav Spacek. On the surface, it would appear that Spacek hasn't played that bad. He has two assists and is a +2 while averaging a little over 20 minutes of ice time per game over the team's first nine games. But those who have watched the team can see that Spacek is a step behind everyone else on the ice and that nothing is coming easy for him right now. He's showing every single day of his 36 years of age and has come nowhere close to justifying his sizeable $3.8 million salary, which I should remind you only expires at the end of the 2011-2012 season. Ouch. 

Picard, on the other hand, has accumulated an impressive +6, most among Habs defensemen, despite averaging about five fewer minutes of ice time per game than Spacek. It would be unreasonable to assume Picard will maintain his strong level of play over the course of the entire season. After all, there's a reason he's playing on his fifth team despite being just 25 years old. But it would be foolish to assume Spacek will keep being the turnover machine he's been over the course of the entire season.

Spacek is an ideal candidate to come out of the press box when the defensive corps needs a shakeup. He's obviously no longer a developing player, therefore misses nothing by sitting out. And seeing as he's in the golden years of his NHL career, prolonging the life in his legs by sitting him will serve him well.

History shows that the Canadiens base lineup decisions on salary before actual performance but at this point, Jacques Martin owes it to his team and the fans to put the best possible lineup out there and keep his team's strong play going. Right now, despite the differences in salaries, despite the fact that Picard has a two-way contract whereas Spacek has an albatross of a salary, Martin would be wise to play the hot hand. And right now, that hot hand is undeniably Alex Picard.

Will Martinez runs the 'Hey, My Name is Will' blog and is a contributor for TheFranchise.ca. You can follow Will on Twitter @heymynameiswill

Tags: Alexandre Picard \ Andrei Markov \ habs \ hockey \ Jaroslav Spacek \ Montreal Canadiens \ NHL

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