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Montreal Canadiens: What Does a Healthy Habs Lineup Look Like?

By Ken MacMillan

Dec 23, 2019; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Montreal Canadiens Tomas Tatar Brendan Gallagher. Mandatory Credit: James Carey Lauder-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 23, 2019; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Montreal Canadiens Tomas Tatar Brendan Gallagher. Mandatory Credit: James Carey Lauder-USA TODAY Sports /
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Montreal Canadiens injuries are starting to pile up a bit right now.

A team that has been quite healthy for most of the season, is suddenly dealing with a litany of bumps and bruises. Now only are the trainers busier than ever, they are dealing with mostly key players.

Carey Price was knocked out of the lineup last week when he was hit in the head by Edmonton Oilers winger Alex Chiasson. He is undergoing concussion protocol and has missed the past three games.

In that time, a few wingers have joined him on the sidelines. Jonathan Drouin sat out the last two games with a virus. Paul Byron missed the Canadiens 5-2 loss on Saturday night with a lower body injury. Tomas Tatar missed most of the second half of that game as he was dealing with a nagging injury heading into the contest and couldn’t finish it.

With Ben Chiarot back, the defence is healthy. The same can’t be said for the forwards or the goaltenders at this time.

The good news is none of the recent injuries appear to be long term. Price is supposed to be back sometime this week, and it sounded like Drouin and Byron were basically game-time decisions on Saturday night. Tatar was dealing with something heading into that game and couldn’t finish it, but it doesn’t seem like he has a broken bone or anything that would keep him out for weeks.

The only player out long term is Brendan Gallagher. While that is a huge piece to be missing, he could be back just in time for the playoffs.

Which means the team could be healthy again just in time for the postseason. Aside from Gallagher, they could all be good to go later this week. I wouldn’t expect Price back tonight, but it shouldn’t be long and the trio of banged up forwards might be back even sooner.

If this team does get healthy, what would the lineup look like? Hopefully they can get out of this current tailspin and get going in time for the postseason.

Assuming they are fully healthy and get into the playoffs, what will their lineup look like in Game 1? Well, they won’t have to worry about the salary cap anymore or the number of call ups allowed. They can just play anyone and everyone once the postseason begins.

So, let’s take a look at this team’s ideal playoff lineup.

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