With their exhibition game against the Toronto Maple Leafs coming up, the Montreal Canadiens must decide on their final 31-player roster soon.
At training camp, teams were allowed to bring 30 skaters with an unlimited number of goaltenders. The Montreal Canadiens have had their opt-out options via Karl Alzner and were close to losing out on Max Domi, but are making use of Carey Price, Cayden Primeau, Charlie Lindgren and Michael McNiven at training camp.
So far at camp, we’ve seen what the top-two lines are going to be, which has seen rookie Nick Suzuki get a nice nod from Charle Lindgren. Jesperi Kotkaniemi has also gotten a reassurance in confidence and playing style while the powerplay seems to be trying something new with their units. Additionally, with Domi deciding to take part in Phase 3, it’s not exactly known where he will play.
Domi started out on the fifth taxi-squad line with Ryan Poehling and Alex Belzile but was moved up to center the fourth line with Dale Weise and Jordan Weal.
Today marked the first day since training camp started that all 32 #Habs players on the roster took part in a full practice together.
— John Lu (@JohnLuTSNWpg) July 24, 2020
Is it possible that the Montreal Canadiens choose to go with Phillip Danault, Nick Suzuki, Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Max Domi as their centre lines? That’s not bad of a middle ice configuration for the Habs, and it leaves Claude Julien room to be creative if the time permits. Suzuki, Kotkaniemi and Domi all have experience playing wing on this team, and if things are going south, Julien could bring out the line blender and try out new combinations.
Perhaps we see Domi up with Kotkaniemi and Lehkonen. Or maybe the Habs try to reunite Drouin with Domi and Joel Armia considering how well the 25-year-old started the season. Anything is possible, and if the Habs want to reclaim some of that magic from the beginning of the year, creativity is key.
Unfortunately, they’re running out of time for the experimental phase of training camp. Teams have to start heading to their hub city on Sunday, meaning the end of Phase 3 and nearing the beginning of Phase 4. Roster rules change with the changing of the phase.
Instead of having 30 skaters and an unlimited amount of goaltenders, the Montreal Canadiens will only be allowed to bring 31 players total, including goaltenders. It’s not going to be as difficult seeing as how the Habs only have 32 players at camp. Additionally, they have four goaltenders, so the easy move is to cut one of them, most likely McNiven.
They will need one more cut though, as Alexander Romanov has arrived in Toronto to be in the Eastern Conference bubble with the Montreal Canadiens. There is value in bringing a player like Josh Brook as he’s in a similar camp as Romanov. He’s a drafted player who the organization is trying to develop, and being around for this will be of value. At the same time, he and Noah Juulsen were taking turns on the fourth pair with Gustav Olofsson.
Handedness could factor in. Romanov can’t play, but he’ll practice, and if that’s the case, the Habs have another left-hand shot on the blueline to work with. Perhaps that means Olofsson is on the outs.
Julien will be making a decision soon, but a blueline cut seems to be the most likely scenario. And once they settle on their roster, the next step will be an exhibition match against the Toronto Maple Leafs to test their strength ahead of the Stanley Cup Qualifier.