Montreal Canadiens: Torrey Mitchell or Jacob de La Rose

As it stands, Torrey Mitchell is set to be the 4th line center for the Montreal Canadiens, but is it possible that Jacob de La Rose takes his spot?

There isn’t very much time left for anymore hardcore maneuvering within the line-up with the regular season starting next week. Most head coaches already have an idea of who will be playing with who on the team. These last few remaining preseason games have the least amount of significance as a result. However, the Montreal Canadiens can still try a few things out.

Although we have an idea of how the four lines and three pairings will shake up, there’s no guarantee Claude Julien sticks with them. It’s not because he’s being picky or indecisive, but because he needs to figure out a way to make the team better.

This “improving” process has two implications. The first being to get more goals out of the team and the second takes into account waivers. In a weird way, goal scoring could be a fairly easy thing to deal with and doesn’t really need as much attention at this moment. 

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Waivers is the more immediate concern. Teams need to have their 23-man rosters finalized soon, which includes placing players on waivers to either be claimed or send to the AHL. Montreal have two players who may not clear, one them being Jacob de La Rose.

It was a disappointing start to training camp, but de La Rose has been much better as of late. Could he possibly contest Torrey Mitchell for that fourth line center position?

Battle for 4C

If you were to gauge the competition for the spot, Mitchell already has the edge. This is based on what he’s done for the team in the past, and especially because he’s all defence and is good on the draws. A possible problem, that really isn’t a problem, is that Mitchell is what he is.

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He’s an established 32-year-old veteran center. On the other hand, de La Rose is younger and still has room for growth. Even though Montreal lost the game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, he showed what he can bring to the team. The 22-year-old is fast, creative with the puck, and was good in the face-off circle as well.

That was only one game though. Expect the Montreal Canadiens to give de La Rose more time at center for the remainder of the preseason. If they sent him down back when he was struggling, then he would probably clear no problem. Now that the sparks of what he can do are out there, it’s possible a team takes a flyer on him.

It would be poor asset management if the Habs lost the 2013 2nd round pick for nothing. Perhaps de La Rose makes the team as an extra forward and is sprinkled into the line-up during the first month of the season.

Personally, I’d do what I could to ensure that he could play in that fourth line role. Mitchell is on his last year of his contract and possibly his last year in Montreal. Losing a young prospect in exchange of keeping a pending UFA, be it a responsible one, doesn’t make too much sense.

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Can de La Rose make the team? Would you be upset if they lost him to waivers? Let us know what you think down below