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Montreal Canadiens: Analyzing Julien’s Fourth Line Combinations at Training Camp

By Joseph Gentile

Jul 22, 2020; Montreal, Quebec, CANADA; Montreal Canadiens coaches Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 22, 2020; Montreal, Quebec, CANADA; Montreal Canadiens coaches Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports /
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TORONTO, ONTARIO – JULY 28: Paul Byron #41 of the Montreal Canadiens takes the puck in the third period against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an exhibition game prior to the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/Freestyle Photo/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO – JULY 28: Paul Byron #41 of the Montreal Canadiens takes the puck in the third period against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an exhibition game prior to the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/Freestyle Photo/Getty Images) /

Byron – Evans – Lehkonen

As training camp began, HC Claude Julien decided to place F Tyler Toffoli away from his usual right-wing position, playing him on the left side of center Jesperi Kotkaniemi on the third line. This allowed for winger Joel Armia to retain his position alongside his fellow countryman on a crucial third line that brings both skill and grit.

With this sudden change, it seems as though regular middle six forwards Paul Byron and Arturri Lehkonen will become regular fourth liners barring injury or sickness. Jake Evans is no surprise here as he showed last year that he could give the team everything they need from a bottom six center.

Evans played 13 games last season after being called up from Laval in wake of the team’s desperate need for forward depth. He put up three points with an average of 10: 21 minutes of ice time. However, the most important statistic for him is his 51.8 faceoff percentage.

Despite the small sample size, he ranked third on the team in that category behind the long since traded Nate Thompson (55.12) and number one center Phillip Danault (54.49). He can become a solid and reliable faceoff taker for Claude Julien, being able to take defensive zone faceoffs during lead defenses and on the penalty kill.

Arguably one of Marc Bergevin’s best acquisitions of his career (thank you Calgary), Paul Byron has shown in the past that he can be more than your regular bottom six forward.  He posted two 20+ goal seasons (22 in 2017 and 20 in 2018) and reaching career highs in points during his five-year tenure with the team.

However, he is coming off an injury plagued season where he played only 29 games, scoring 10 points. His stock with the team has dropped, especially with this year’s acquisition of forwards. Despite this, he still proves his worth with his unbelievable speed, leadership, and skill that is incredibly valuable to the team’s bottom-six.

One player who seems incredibly out of place here is winger Arturri Lehkonen. He has played the most part of his four-year career on the second and third lines, putting up 20+ point seasons in each one.  He has shown to be one of the team’s best defensive players, averaging 2:25 mins per game on the penalty kill, being a plus player in the last two seasons.

Having Lehkonen on the fourth line will be considered a luxury with the current depth as he can do pretty much anything you ask of him while being able to produce at the same time. However, it will be interesting to see what he can do playing without his fellow Finns in Kotkaniemi and Armia.

A combination of these three will bring in a lot of skill, speed and energy to the team while being able to make defensive zone clearances and crea6te scoring chances.

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