Montreal Canadiens: Predicting Habs Line Combinations for 2020-21
Jonathan Drouin – Nick Suzuki – Josh Anderson
To me, this line, and to a lesser extent, the third line, holds the key to the Canadiens success next season. We all know what we are going to get from Gallagher, Tatar and Danault. They will be great defensively, good offensively and just dominate possession at even strength. That’s awesome, but it hasn’t led to much team success in the past two seasons.
What the Habs need is another line that can score as much, or even more than the Gallagher trio. Gallagher, Danault and Tatar combined for 57 goals last season. That’s basically a goal per game which is good, but it isn’t elite level offence. So, the Canadiens need another line that can score just as regularly.
This line has that potential, but it also has the chance to be a bit of a dud. If these three find chemistry and start scoring, the Habs have an excellent top six. If not, they will be easy to shut down once again.
Drouin has not reached the lofty expectations that were thrust upon him when he arrived in Montreal. He tied his career high with 53 points in 2018-19 and looked great at the start of last season. He had 15 points in the team’s first 18 games but was then injured and needed wrist surgery and finished the season sluggishly after coming back.
Anderson was terrific in 2018-19 as well, scoring 27 goals and 47 points. However, he had just one goal and four points last season in an injury riddled campaign.
Suzuki was great as a rookie and looked better as the year went on. By postseason time, he looked like a great young two-way centre that a team can build around for the foreseeable future.
If Drouin and Anderson can bounce back from their injuries, and Suzuki can avoid a sophomore slump, this line has the potential to have three 25 goal scorers on it. If Drouin and Anderson struggle to get going early and Suzuki takes a step back after a great postseason, this line won’t be able to provide much.
However, as a line, there is a really high ceiling here. Drouin’s speed and ability to move the puck, with Suzuki’s smart play and terrific vision as well as Anderson’s huge frame and speed could combine to be a really tough line to stop.