Diaz's biggest problem IMO is lack of confidence, whether it's to do with his concussions from being hit or just the NA style of hockey, especially in the Habs Division. Having big players that can take the fear aspect out for him might be all it takes for him to excel. Like Phil Kessel and Nazim Kadri of the TML's, before the Leafs became a daunting bunch of thugs those players were playing cowardly. Now they both play like giants without any fear, due to the fact that anyone taking liberties with them, can expect a beating from one of the numerous aforesaid thugs.
So anytime people think that size doesn't make a difference in the way some players produce, just watch how Kessel and Kadri perform knowing their backs are covered. This is why the Habs will be ready to start making serious runs at the SC in 3-4 yrs.
Tinordi, Deitz, Thrower, Beaulieu, McCarron and Crisp arrive to back up players like Collberg, Lehkonen, Andrighetto and so forth. When players with their abundance of talent are able to play unfettered by the thugs of the game, Hab fans can really look forward to entertaining hockey from the new version of Canadiens. A multi-cultural group that plays at full speed, hitting, scoring and breaking in the Bell Centre to a few Stanley Cup thrills and quite possibly the 25th SC parade.
Raphael Diaz may be quarterbacking the Habs 2nd PP and dazzling fans with his stickhandling and playmaking learned from his mentor Andrei Markov.
It's all coming together under Marc Bergevin and his master plan for Hab greatness once again.