Is Canadiens forward Jesse Ylonen, limited to 11 minutes of playing time on the fourth offensive unit in Thursday night’s game against the Coyotes in Arizona, really “sitting in the right chair”?

The 24-year-old Finn, who scored a very good goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first game of the season, has been much less visible since then. Even though he wasn’t there in the two games before the one against the Coyotes.

However, there is no denying that Ylonen, a former second-round draft pick, is not lacking in offensive ability. Maybe in a different role he could give the team more and accelerate its development.

Former CH striker Maxim Lapierre shared this point of view on Friday on “JiC”.

“I wonder what we are trying to evaluate in his case (…) Does an offensive player who has a full shot and the ability to play on the power play do business on a fourth line with limited ice time and fewer creative players ? “, asked the former number 40.

“I would be willing to try him out, that player, in the second wave of the power play, I would be willing to give him a presence from time to time with (Nick) Suzuki and (Cole) Caufield just to evaluate him.” , he then said.

The “agitator” then wondered whether the team was slowly losing sight of its goal of developing its young elements.

“Yes, it’s great what the Canadian is doing, we surprise people, we play great hockey, but have we forgotten the plan? At the beginning of the season we said that we would continue with our plan no matter what happens. I think we’re sacrificing a little bit of ice time there for the young guys and their opportunities because we’re a little more focused on winning,” Lapierre concluded.

Watch his full post in the main video.