Montreal Canadiens: Predicting Habs Line Combinations for 2020-21

Tomas Tatar – Phillip Danault – Brendan Gallagher

This is just obvious. These three have combined to become the best possession line in hockey. While their “expected” results don’t always reflect their actual production, this line creates far more chances than it allows and they score far more frequently that the opposition.

This line has become a dynamic two-way threat that is terrific defensively, can match up against the best players in the world on a nightly basis, and can score as well. They don’t score goals like the best lines in hockey, but they defend and limit chances against better than anyone else in hockey.

Having this trio play more than their fair share at even strength makes the Canadiens a dangerous team at even strength.

Gallagher has shown over the past three seasons that he is a consistent 30 goal threat and Tatar’s two best offensive seasons have come in his two years with the Habs. Danault is terrific defensively, but hasn’t been able to score more than 13 goals in a season. If he finds another gear and pots 20 one of these years, this line just reaches an even higher level.

This line has tremendous chemistry, can play against the toughest competition and make matchups a little bit easier for everybody else on the Habs. There is just no reason to break this line up with the added depth behind it now.