Montreal Canadiens: Predicting Habs Opening Night Lineup

The Montreal Canadiens offseason is not over just yet, but most of the heavy lifting is likely done. Every summer there is a flurry of activity in the early days of free agency and then the activity grinds to a halt.

That is pretty much what has happened so far this season, but the surprise this year is that Nazem Kadri and John Klingberg are still unsigned. The Canadiens are not in the market for those two free agents who were among the best available this offseason.

The Canadiens do still need to come to terms on a contract with Kirby Dach and Cayden Primeau. Those two restricted free agents need new deals before training camp begins, but that might be it from the Habs between now and opening night.

The Canadiens first game of the season will be played on October 12th at the Bell Centre where they will host the Toronto Maple Leafs. What will the Canadiens lineup look like that night? Assuming the only transactions between now and then are re-signing RFas, the Habs lineup could look like this:

Line 1: Evgeni Dadonov – Nick Suzuki – Cole Caufield

Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield are certain to be on the top line together, but who joins them? Why not Evgeni Dadonov, who is a skilled winger capable of putting up points, in the final year of his contract so he will be looking to impress so he can earn a big contract somewhere next season, and he can get a bigger return at the trade deadline the better he performs?

Line 2: Jonathan Drouin – Christian Dvorak – Josh Anderson

Almost nothing went right for the Canadiens last season. One thing that looked pretty good early on was the line of Drouin, Dvorak and Anderson. Then there were injuries and more injuries and they were never really reunited. Giving them a chance together again makes. a lot of sense.

Line 3: Rem Pitlick – Kirby Dach – Brendan Gallagher

Kirby Dach is a big, skilled centre but he hasn’t put up many points in his three year NHL career. A third line role with defensively responsible wingers who are capable of putting up a few points could make for a great third line.

Line 4: Mike Hoffman – Jake Evans – Joel Armia

Call it the leftovers, I suppose, but Mike Hoffman and Joel Armia have to play somewhere. At least until Paul Byron is healthy, then one of them could find themselves in the press box. Jake Evans is the obvious fourth line centre and he gets a couple of veteran wingers looking to bounce back.

Where is Juraj Slafkovsky? I think it makes sense to have him start the season in the AHL with the Laval Rocket. Let him get his skates wet at the minor league level in North America before throwing him into the deep end of the pool. It would be way better if he starts in the AHL and plays so good he has to be called up rather than starting in the NHL and needing to be sent down after a few weeks.

Paul Byron likely starts the season on injured reserve, but even if he doesn’t he would be the extra forward who works his way into the lineup whenever there is an injury.

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