The Montreal Canadiens put Kenny Agostino on waivers Sunday afternoon which could hint at what’s next for Michael Chaput and Nicolas Deslauriers.
We’ve finally seen the other side of things. There’s been a bittersweet sentiment this season when it comes to the fourth line. You could tell Claude Julien had a touching feeling for the trio of Kenny Agostino, Michael Chaput, and Nicolas Deslauriers who brought a lot of energy to the Montreal Canadiens forward corps.
It was a nice story for Agostino and Chaput, but more the former. Agostino spent a number of seasons as a tweener having ridiculous skill in the AHL without being able to find a role for himself in the NHL. That changed this year as he changed the mould of his playing style to match what Julien would want in a fourth liner on the Habs.
Agostino demolished his past season’s game totals seeing 36 matches and scoring two goals and nine assists. However, the points didn’t matter. What Julien wanted from the three was power, execution, and grit. Those kinds of shifts that continue the momentum built from the rest of the team or sparks a quick response after a goal against.
Although it worked, there was always the skilled option which would have Charles Hudon and Matthew Peca in their place. Both players may not have the physicality, but the speed and offensive potential is a similar method to what is seen by several NHL teams nowadays. It also (or at least it should) limit any concern from Julien and the rest of the coaching staff as to how they’re used.
The Montreal Canadiens already have depth as one of their strengths and getting numbers from the fourth line as well via Hudon and Peca would continue to raise their stock.
Now Sunday passes, and Agostino is played on waivers to make room for Andrew Shaw to return to the lineup. Julien likely goes back to the carousel giving an opportunity to Peca one night and Hudon another.
The question is whether the Habs are done? Paul Byron‘s injury isn’t as serious as many thought at first which will force someone else out of the lineup. Odds are it’ll be Deslauriers leaving Chaput as the final stone to drop.
What would be interesting to see is whether Dale Weise is ever called up from the AHL and put on a line with Hudon on the left and Peca down the middle. Weise has produced with both skilled players (Max Pacioretty) and depth players (Tomas Fleischmann) in his early days as a Montreal Canadien.
Those days may be behind him as the 30-year-old’s production has dropped steadily. He does bring that heavy game Julien could get behind and perhaps he’s sparked by the past.
That’ll be something to look out for as we get closer to the trade deadline, but for now, the clock may be ticking for Chaput and Deslauriers.