It’s no secret that, coming into the off-season, the Montreal Canadiens were looking to add a second line center to slot in behind captain Nick Suzuki and to play with rookie phenom Ivan Demidov. So far, general manager Kent Hughes has been unable to land the ideal player for the right price.
Montreal gave up considerable assets in two first round picks and a potential top-four, right-shot defenseman to acquire rearguard Noah Dobson and forward Zach Bolduc. These two players have undoubtedly upgraded the lineup but has Hughes used the capital he needed to achieve this goal of upgrading his top-six forwards? Does Hughes have one more trade in the hopper that will be completed just before training camp?
As the summer draws to a close and players return to the ice, there are still several questions about the roster that remain unanswered. In this week’s episode of the Canadiens Connections podcast. we touch on seven key issues that remain outstanding.
NEW PODCAST: Habs Biggest Storylines: 7 Burning Questions Facing the Canadiens | Canadiens Connection ep 361
We also covered a few other topics in this week’s show:
- Which Canadiens prospects are already tallying points in pre-season action?
- Without fanfare, the Montreal Canadiens have hired a new amateur scout.
- Habs alum is named an assistant coach in Canadian junior hockey.
CC Question of the Week: Does the uncertainty of Kirby Dach’s health increase the chances that Kent Hughes will make a trade in September?
It is our eighth season, with a new episode of the podcast dropping every Saturday afternoon throughout the summer. Be sure to subscribe using your favorite podcast app! Or watch our episodes on YouTube!
Canadiens Connection Podcast: 7 Pressing Questions Facing the Habs
Have you missed any episodes? You can find our complete catalogue of shows here at HockeyHotStove.
I do not believe the uncertainty around Dach leads to a trade in early September.
Dach, if healthy, will get the first shot at the second line center role. Otherwise, I think they will look internally first to see who can fill the role or do it by committee – rotating players in and out ’til they find a group that works.
Newhook, Bolduc, Kapanen or maybe even Demidov or Beck would likely be given a chance before a trade.
Last year, the Habs made the playoffs with a barely functioning second line (although career years for some guys on the 3rd and 4th line and much improved specialty teams helped push them over). If a Frankenstein-in-the-making of a second line can give them any level of improved offense, that will be better than last year.
I just do not see the Habs management panicking into making a trade that involves Reinbacher or Hague, which would likely be the cost to get a second line center that fits the short-to-long-term needs the Habs would face if Dach is not the solution.
If nothing seems to work into mid-November, I could see them trading for a vet center on an expiring contract to fill the roll for the rest of the season, if it is a reasonable price.
Thanks for your comment! It is entirely possible that the Canadiens use a committee approach to fill their second line center position this season and you have listed some of the possible candidates.
However, there are differences this season from last that make us question that approach. We know that Canadiens management is not comfortable with an ever-changing cast of characters throughout the season next to Demidov. They have high expectations for Ivan and want to ensure that his transition to the NHL is done right.
Also, after getting a taste of playoff hockey last year, the head coach and captain have higher expectations for the season so won’t be satisfied with barely functioning second line again.
For those reasons, we know that Hughes has been reaching out to teams for a top-6 forward. You’ve heard the name Jared McCann recently and others in recent weeks. You can be reassured that Hughes has little interest in trading Hague or Reinbacher but he would like to get something done at a manageable price. Whether it happens before the start of the season, in November, at the trade deadline, or whether an internal candidate steps forward to grab the spot we’ll have to wait and see.
Thanks for listening to the Canadiens Connection podcast!