Montreal Canadiens: 2021-22 Current Projected Lineup

Tyler Toffoli – Nick Suzuki – Cole Caufield

This line was put together in the first round of the playoffs and they clicked fairly quickly. They stuck together for most of the postseason after being put together and there is no need to change anything heading into next season.

Suzuki took another huge step this season and looks like he is ready to be an elite two-way centre. Saddling him with wingers who can score goals and are smart defensively as well makes this a dangerous line at five on five. Toffoli had 28 goals in 52 games this season and Caufield has the potential to be an even better goal scoring threat.

No matter what happens this offseason, there is no need to try and fix this line.

Jonathan Drouin – Jesperi Kotkaniemi – Brendan Gallagher

There may not be any question marks on line one, but they arrive fairly quickly with the current lineup. With Tomas Tatar and Phillip Danault potentially leaving as free agents, there is going to be a huge shakeup in the team’s top six. Brendan Gallagher has been an excellent defensive winger who can score 30 goals but he needs new linemates.

Jonathan Drouin makes sense if healthy but will he play another game for the Canadiens? Your guess is as good as mine but I’d lead heavily towards no on that one. If he doesn’t play, that puts either Artturi Lehkonen or Paul Byron in the top six and that’s just not going to be good enough to find consistent offence.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi has been through a lot in three NHL seasons. He’s still just 21 and though he has had his ups and downs he has shown enough to be given an opportunity to be a second line centre with offensive linemates. Gallagher is one, but the team needs to find another. I’d say second line left winger is a huge need right now, especially if Drouin is gone.