Opinion: Habs Should Cut Jarred Tinordi

The most telling part about Jarred Tinordi’s unsuccessful 2014-15 preseason is that arguably his best play got him ejected.

Playing against the Washington Capitals last Sunday, Tinordi caught defenseman Nate Schmidt admiring the Bell Centre ice trying to enter the offensive zone.

It was the type of hit Tinordi should have been able to make. And yet, he was given a five-minute major for elbowing (despite clearly hitting Schmidt with his shoulder) as well as a game misconduct.

It was also the type of hit Tinordi needs to make as well, because that’s what he brings to the table, size and physicality. I mean, it definitely isn’t his scoring prowess, with him having scored just 30 points over two Ontario Hockey League seasons and 22 over two in the American Hockey League.

The fact that Tinordi was able to relatively easily handle an overzealous Chris Brown (Tinordi was voted the winner on hockeyfights.com), gives further indication that he is the type of player Montreal needs in the lineup. However, it is becoming increasingly unclear whether or not that player will actually be him.