Montreal Canadiens Smart To Move Alex Galchenyuk Down Lineup

The Montreal Canadiens shuffled their lines and it resulted in star center Alex Galchenyuk being placed on the third line. Here is why it’s a smart, short-term move.

The Montreal Canadiens shuffled their lineup at practice today. As Habs fans, we of course analyze these things to see what trios will be hitting the ice together in the team’s next game. The Habs have struggled to score for two whole game, so you know panic is setting in in the city.

Though the team remains firmly in first place in the Atlantic Division. However, they lost 4-1 to the PIttsburgh Penguins in their latest outing. Before that, they were shutout by the Detroit Red Wings.

Now, a two game scoring slump is not really a slump. It’s just two games, but again this is Montreal so we get overreactions following every game. People expect perfection from this team, and when those needs aren’t met, there is heck to be paid (on twitter.)

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Yesterday’s loss to the Pens was no exception. Down 2-1 heading into the third period against the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Habs ultimately were outmatched in a 4-1 loss. It’s a two game goal scoring “slump” in the middle of a long season, but it’s apparently enough for some to think Michel Therrien’s job should be in jeopardy.

A bit unrealistic to think a 27-13-6 record, a top 5 possession team and a division leader that’s had to deal with an absurd amount of injuries should replace their coach. Although this is Montreal, team personnel is always on the hot seat.

Galchenyuk off line with Pacioretty and Radulov

Therrien did something else quite unpopular today. In practice, he moved first line center Alex Galchenyuk down to the third line and bumped Phillip Danault back to the top unit. It was a bit of a controversial decision, but makes perfect sense to me.

Galchenyuk is coming off a long-term knee injury. He missed six weeks and though he was the team’s leading scorer when he was hurt, he isn’t in the same game shape he was when he was scoring at a point per game pace.

Galchenyuk was skating alongside Sven Andrighetto and Andrew Shaw at practice. Andrighetto has struggled to find his footing as an NHL winger, but is a highly skilled hockey player. Shaw isn’t going to make many highlight reel plays, but is an excellent complementary player. He will battle for loose pucks, crash the front of the net and annoy the living daylights out of his opponents.

This allows Galchenyuk to work his way back into game shape. He won’t be counted on to carry the team on his shoulders and will be facing lesser competition. The Habs best center wasn’t at his best in three games since returning from injury and can now work his way back to 100% at his own pace.

Danault fit in well on top line, Galchenyuk has pressure taken off

Meanwhile, the team didn’t struggle at all while Galchenyuk was out. A lot of the credit for filling in for a fallen Galchenyuk goes to Danault. He played extremely well and worked his way up to the top line in Galchenyuk’s absence.

Danault will now skate between Max Pacioretty and Alex Radulov. This is a line that was excellent for about four of the weeks that Galchenyuk missed. Danault won’t be a long-term fixture as the team’s number one center, but Therrien will ride the hot hand and allow Galchenyuk to slowly work back to his role.

This will actually give the Canadiens better depth on their scoring lines as well. A line with Pacioretty and Radulov will obviously be able to bring offence. However, a third line with Galchenyuk, Andrighetto and Shaw should be able to score consistently as well.

Surely some fans will once again irrationally want Therrien fired for the lineup shakedown. However, the Canadiens get the most out of their lineup this way. Danault isn’t a first line center, but has been playing like one so leave him there while he is hot.

Galchenyuk is a first line center, but hasn’t been playing like one since returning from serious injury. So move him down the lineup, let him find his game and allow him to take advantage of weaker opponents.

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It’s certainly not a long-term fix. If Therrien were to say this lineup is set in stone and he will not change it in the future, I’d say he’s out of his mind. But, in the short-term, until Galchenyuk starts to play to his potential, this is a brilliant idea by the Canadiens bench boss.