Loose puck | Predicting the Canadiens’ trios, a perilous exercise

Predicting the Canadiens’ roster heading into training camp is always a fun exercise. However, it remains futile, as surprises and injuries change plans. Let’s break down last season in four phases.

Even if Emil Heineman, Montreal’s current darling, plays the first intrasquad game with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, no one is fooled, there probably won’t be a spot for him in the lineup, barring an injury, especially with the arrival of veteran Tanner Pearson, acquired from Vancouver in the trade for goalie Casey DeSmith. Josh Anderson still represents the least bad solution on the right for Suzuki and Caufield, since Juraj Slafkovsky’s first season was difficult. But we see a great bond between Kirby Dach and Slafkovsky in the preseason games.

The absence of Christian Dvorak will likely allow new forward Alex Newhook, acquired from the Colorado Avalanche for late first- and second-round picks, to play center on the third line.

On defense, the arrival of Gustav Lindström, acquired from the Detroit Red Wings for Jeff Petry, will fill a gap, the lack of right-handers. If all goes well, he could be in the opening game on the third pair. We could start the season with three goalies since Cayden Primeau must be subject to waivers in the event of a demotion.

Surprise, veteran Joel Armia is sent back to the AHL! Jesse Ylönen, younger, less expensive, was likely to be claimed on waivers and will start the season on the fourth line. Heineman had a mixed camp and was unable to secure a position.

Head coach Martin St-Louis has put together three veterans on the same line, Sean Monahan, Tanner Pearson and Brendan Gallagher. The experiment will not last due to the lack of speed of these three warriors…

On defense, Lindström was also lukewarm and sent back to Laval. Mattias Norlinder and Logan Mailloux surprised and were able to stay in camp until the end. At one point, we even thought that Norlinder could be an option on the second wave on the power play.

Kirby Dach went down in the second game against Chicago. Josh Anderson was already performing poorly (2 assists in his first 23 games) and was no longer on the top line when he was injured in early January.

Joel Armia responded well to his demotion and earned a recall. Joshua Roy wasn’t in the plans for this year, but his extraordinary first half of the season with the Rocket forced the Canadiens to give him a chance. Injuries allowed Mitchell Stephens to play about 20 games, after spending the previous season in the American League.

On defense, the sending back to the American League of Xhekaj, a player very popular in Montreal, was surprising. Jayden Struble, who was cut among the first in camp, is recalled and will hold on to a position. Jordan Harris and Johnathan Kovacevic have regressed compared to the previous season and remain in the lineup somewhat by default.

Jake Allen and Sean Monahan were traded before the trade deadline. The three-way goaltending has finally come to an end. Slafkovsky, Suzuki and Caufield had a great second half of the season. Gallagher had a tough year but bounced back late in the season. He would put up 10 points in his last eight games and finish the year with Armia and Newhook on the second line. Keep in mind. Evans would spend most of the season on a second or third line by default, but the offensive production wasn’t there. Ylönen never took his chance. He would give way to Pearson in the final game. Both would continue their careers elsewhere.

Lane Hutson will play the final two games of the season after his career at Boston University, and will not disappoint expectations. Logan Mailloux will participate in the final game after a solid year in Laval: 47 points, including 14 goals, in 72 games, and a clear improvement in the defensive department.

Struble slowed down in the second half of the season, but he will have the honor of playing the final game on a third pairing with Justin Barron. Barron will play 48 games in Montreal, sometimes very solid, sometimes quiet. Jordan Harris and Johnathan Kovacevic will watch the final game from the press box. Harris will continue his career in Columbus, Kovacevic in New Jersey. Kent Hughes got second- and fourth-round picks for them.

The Canadiens will look very different this season. Sean Monahan, Tanner Pearson, Jesse Ylönen, Johnathan Kovacevic, Jordan Harris and Jake Allen, all of the starting lineup for the 2023 opener, are gone. That’s still a third of the club!

Caufield, Suzuki and Slafkovsky make up the undisputed first trio. Patrik Laine is added, as is Joshua Roy, unless there is a lapse in camp. Joel Armia with his renewed confidence, 17 goals in 66 games, is no longer a black sheep. Two offensive pillars of recent years, Josh Anderson and Brendan Gallagher, are no longer assured of a spot on the first three trios.

In defense, Lane Hutson could interfere in the top 4. If he plays like he did in the last two games, the CH will be much better equipped than with Jordan Harris or Jayden Struble in a fourth defenseman role. Let’s see if Justin Barron, at 22, can get into the lineup, but he has Logan Mailloux and David Reinbacher in the rearview mirror.

In goal, Samuel Montembeault took the number one job from Jake Allen last winter and Cayden Primeau finally proved he belongs in the NHL.

The Canadian is progressing. Now, will he be in the mix ?