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Montreal Canadiens: How To Replace Jesperi Kotkaniemi If He Lands in Carolina

By Ken MacMillan

Mar 4, 2021; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens Jesperi Kotkaniemi. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2021; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens Jesperi Kotkaniemi. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 31, 2019; Montreal Canadiens Ryan Poehling. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2019; Montreal Canadiens Ryan Poehling. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports /

Promote From Within

This is essentially the “Let’s hope Ryan Poehling is ready for prime time” plan. Or, alternatively, the “we got thrown a curveball at the end of August and there wasn’t much available” plan. Either way, it’s not likely ideal.

Poehling did have a terrific AHL season in 2020-21. He led the Laval Rocket in scoring even though he was injured for eight of their 36 games. His 11 goals trailed only Yannick Veilleux and his 25 points were one better than Jordan Weal’s 24 to finish atop the team.

That is great news for Poehling who was drafted in the first round of the 2017 NHL Draft and struggled in his first full pro season. However, does it mean he is ready for a top nine role at the NHL level right now?

Maybe. But does it make sense to just hope he can handle without a Plan B? Not at all. Just promoting Poehling from within would leave the Laval Rocket with Laurent Dauphin and Lukas Vejdemo as their top centres and most likely to be called up if needed on the Habs roster.

That is pretty thin. Though Poehling may prove to be a steady two-way player on the third line, banking on it would be foolish and would leave the Canadiens extremely thin down the middle.

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