Montreal Canadiens: How Can They Make Room For Ryan Poehling, Nick Suzuki?

The Montreal Canadiens have almost all of their forwards returning from last season. They also have top prospects Ryan Poehling and Nick Suzuki on the way. How could they make space for the rookies?

The Montreal Canadiens have been able to re-sign all of their unrestricted free agents forwards thus far. They still have to get Artturi Lehkonen, Joel Armia and Charles Hudon signed, but as restricted free agents, it’s highly likely they will all be back next season.

That will give the Canadiens 16 forwards on the roster who played games for them last season. Most teams carry 14 forwards on their roster and Montreal will likely do that as well. That means they already have a couple of tough decisions to make.

Adding to their decision-making is a pair of rookies who could be able to crack the roster full-time next season. It would not be out of the question to see Ryan Poehling and Nick Suzuki have great training camps next fall and force the management team into tough choices.

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Poehling already made his NHL debut in game 82 this season. All he did was score three goals and add a shootout game-winner for good measure. He won the MVP at the World Juniors and was the driving force behind the St. Cloud State Huskies who were the top-ranked NCAA team for most of the year.

It would not be unrealistic to see Poehling force his way onto the Canadiens lineup next season.

Suzuki also had a tremendous season. He suited up at the World Juniors though he did not dominate in the same way Poehling did. Suzuki saved that for the Ontario Hockey League playoffs. He scored 42 points in 24 playoff games after a 94 point regular season. His ability to dominate the OHL postseason shows he could be ready to step right into the NHL.

So, what do the Canadiens do if they have to make room for two rookies next season? That gives them 18 NHL ready forwards fighting for 14 jobs, including just 12 jobs that actually see ice time on a regular basis.

Taking a quick glance at the list of Habs forwards that are either RFA’s or already under contract, two names jump out as being in trouble. Dale Weise heads into next season with one year left on a contract that pays him $2.35 million. Matthew Peca is set to earn $1.3 million in the last year of his deal.

Both of these players were given opportunities to earn a role on the Canadiens fourth line last season. Neither of them were able to grab that role and keep it. They are both overpaid for guys who don’t have the talent to be NHL regulars and will, therefore, be bought out or sent to the minors next season.

That brings the number of forwards down to 16. I see the line of Tomas Tatar, Phillip Danault and Brendan Gallagher remaining together. Max Domi and Jonathan Drouin will likely play together in the top six as well. Jesperi Kotkaniemi‘s job is safe as one of the team’s top three centres. Poehling will be playing center, and Suzuki could fit on the right wing with Domi and Drouin.

That leaves Kotkaniemi and Poehling as the bottom six centres. Their options for wingers are Paul Byron, Arttuti Lehkonen, Andrew Shaw, Jordan Weal, Joel Armia, Charles Hudon, Nic Deslauriers and Nate Thompson.

I would pencil Thompson in as the fifth center. He does not have to play every night but is a reliable veteran to have around the team who fills in when injuries occur. Jordan Weal could be the 14th forward who fills a similar role. He is a versatile forward who can slide in on any line when a player is injured or struggling.

Nic Deslauriers should be sent to the minors along with Peca and Weise. It would give the Laval Rocket a veteran presence, and it’s not the worst thing in the world to win a few AHL games now and then.

That means the bottom six wingers are Byron, Shaw, Lehkonen and Armia. They could really be arranged in any permutation to play alongside Poehling and Kotkaniemi. Putting the “Finnish line” of Kotkaniemi, Lehkonen and Armia back together would enable Poehling to play with solid veterans in Shaw and Byron.

Poehling starting out on the fourth line is not ideal. You do not want to have a rookie buried and getting lost in the shuffle during his rookie season. However, if he is playing with Byron and Shaw, the trio would be counted on to play against good opposition as a shutdown line that is capable of providing offence as well.

If Poehling shows he needs more ice time, then Domi could be moved back to the wing. Kotkaniemi, Danault and Poehling would be the top three centres, and either Byron or Shaw could move to center on the fourth line.

This means Charles Hudon is the odd man out. He could be dealt at the draft for a late-round pick. If nothing materializes, he could be kept for training camp, and if there are no injuries, he could be put on waivers with the hope he would pass through to help out in Laval.