On Thursday, NHL.com independent correspondent Sean Farrell laid out his projected Montreal Canadiens lineup for the start of the 2024-25 season. While it follows the typical predictions that have thus far graced the Google search engine, there are a few takeaways to dissect.
Go Forward Once More
It’s not a stretch to assume Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky will be the three forwards on the top line for Montreal next season. The captain is coming off an all-star campaign, the big Slovak is hoping to improve on a 50-point sophomore year and Habs fans are eager to see if the young American will come out of the starting gate firing.
It’s the second line that not everyone agrees on. Farrell’s prediction features the regular choices in Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook, but it’s the third forward where he believes Josh Anderson will fill the role. I don’t have anything against Anderson on the second line, but I’ve grown more accustomed to the thought of Joel Armia playing the wing.
Anderson hasn’t been as productive as the front office had hoped when they traded Max Domi and a third-round pick for him. Last season, it was the two-way game that seemed to plummet statistically, as he collected a minus-18 rating. Armia on the other hand, had a plus-four rating and had five more points in 12 fewer games than Anderson. Training camp will prove who rightfully belongs, and I’m sure the Burlington-born attacker is working hard to have his most productive season as a Hab yet.
Related: Did the Canadiens Win the Anderson/Domi Trade?
What to do about Roy
There is no logjam on the front line like there is on the back. Kent Hughes did not acquire the veteran scorer he had hoped to get this offseason, and while there is still time for a trade to happen, the 12 forwards you would expect are projected to start in October.
That’s why we should talk about Joshua Roy. Farrell listed the young forward from Saint-Georges as on the cusp of making the NHL. While I agree with the analysis, it would be nice to see Roy in a Habs sweater sooner rather than later.
There are a few factors that may prompt a promotion for Roy. For starters, and I’m sorry to use this word, injuries could open up a roster spot. Rafael Harvey-Pinard was rumored to have endured a lower-body injury on the same leg he struggled with last season.
There is time for RHP to recover, but if it takes longer to regain health, and/or another player needs time off, coupled with a strong showing in training camp, Roy could make the show on opening day.
Life in the Fast Lane
Outside of the ongoing developing story of Ivan Demidov and the will-they-won’t-they commitment between playing in the KHL and SKA St Petersburg having him playing in the highest level of Russian hockey, Lane Hutson is the most anticipated prospect to watch in the Canadiens system.
Hutson, like Roy, was listed as on the cusp of a promotion. If it wasn’t for that pesky logjam on the blueline, there’d be a good argument to make in support of the young defenseman making the NHL roster. He’s already in the Calder trophy conversation and did impress in the two games he played in the NHL at the end of last year. Yes, it was the end of the season and the games didn’t matter, but the ease to which he danced around top-level defenders puck-in-toe had the fanbase foaming at the mouth eager for a full year of participation.
Farrell’s list of defensive lines is sound. Veterans Mike Matheson and David Savard are at the top, Kaiden Guhle and Justin Barron in the middle, and Arber Xhekaj with Jordan Harris as the third-line pair.
I’m tired of talking about Barron needing to clear waivers to be sent to Laval, so let’s glance over that. In this scenario, it’s fair to assume Jayden Struble would be called up before Hutson, only because he’s paid his dues and the organization has voiced multiple times that they won’t rush the development of their prospects. While fans will pine for the magical misdirection and shiftiness the Boston Terrier brings to the table, they may have to wait and lower their expectations of him hoisting the Calder Trophy.
