September 17, 2024
The annual golf tournament is a sure sign that a new season for the Montreal Canadiens is about to kick off. On Monday, players, coaching staff and management teed off in Laval, and we can almost smell the rink.
The rookie tournament is done and there were no major surprises. Lane Hutson was dynamic, Logan Mailloux and David Reinbacher look close to ready, and Adam Engstrom may be another left shot defender with an NHL career ahead of him.
Among the forwards, Owen Beck confirmed his place in Montreal, some big men auditioned for an eventual fourth line role, and some guys who needed to shift the narrative surrounding them did not.
On Wednesday the main camp will open, and there is a degree of optimism for this season that has not been a reality for the Canadiens for some time. Here are some critical storylines as we transition to Habs training camp.
Will any of the young defenders force Hughes to make another trade before the season opens?
The only way that Hutson is NOT making the opening day roster is if, in camp, he shows a different version of himself than the one we saw in rookie camp or the end of last season. But he’s not the only young blue liner who looks just about ready.
Mailloux and Reinbacher are both at a stage where another period of seasoning in Laval will never hurt them. But is it possible that either or both of them show enough in camp to make Hughes consider trading David Savard early, or giving up on Justin Barron?
How will the 2024-25 Habs line up down the middle of the ice?
The two top-six centremen are certain. Nick Suzuki and Kirby Dach will pivot lines one and two respectively. After that, it gets a little murky.
Fans and pundits are assuming Alex Newhook will complete the second line with Dach and Patrik Laine. That’s a pretty good bet. But I wonder if the coach recalls what he saw from Newhook last season, driving his own line between two of Joshua Roy, Joel Armia and Brendan Gallagher. Newhook made his trio look good as a second line, which should leave us wondering how they would look as the third line for the Habs.
What about Owen Beck? He’s got tools for the NHL game and we all know it’s a matter of time. Like the young defenders, some seasoning in Laval will never hurt Beck. But it’s also possible that they assess him as ready and he unseats a veteran.
Will a veteran lose their job?
When the 2023-24 season opening night roster was announced, Armia had lost his job. He did eventually earn it back, but Hughes showed he was willing to do the hard thing where it was justified by play on the ice.
All eyes are on the blue line, as already noted. But the forward group may not be as clear as many assume.
Christian Dvorak and Jake Evans might be the likeliest to centre lines three and four, but Beck might surprise, or Marty might like Newhook there. We haven’t even laid eyes on Oliver Kapanen yet. The competition down the middle might be tighter than we think.
Reports out of Montreal suggest Josh Anderson had a very industrious summer. His contract demands that he make that hard work translate to on-ice production. Can he find success in the coach’s concepts, or would he be better served in a simple North-South system?
How will the power play shape up?
With the return of Dach and the addition of Laine and Hutson, it looks like the Montreal Canadiens may ice two legitimate waves this season, for the first time in years. But that might not even be the biggest change.
With the departure of Alex Burrows, we have all been waiting to see if an assistant coach would be added. Last week Roger Grillo was hired as a coaching consultant, but at yesterday’s golf tournament Coach St. Louis confirmed Grillo will not be behind the bench, and Marty himself will take on power play coaching responsibilities.
With the additions, and a power play architect that was an offensive genius as a player, they have to be better on the man advantage. Right?
After a very productive summer, the off-season is winding down and a new season is launching. It promises to be an exciting one as these and other storylines unfold.
Hab At Her 