Montreal Canadiens: Burning Questions Heading Into Habs Training Camp

Defencemen Deployment Decisions

The Montreal Canadiens have changed their group of defenders rather quickly. Not all that long ago they were in the Stanley Cup final while leaning heavily on a top four that consisted of Shea Weber, Ben Chiarot, Jeff Petry and Joel Edmundson.

Now, Edmundson is the only one of the four that remains. He is likely to play a big role, but with who? The trade of Petry leaves Edmundson without his regular partner from the past two seasons.

It is likely that newcomer Mike Matheson, acquired for Petry, will play on the top pairing with David Savard. But who gets to fill out the top four with Edmundson on the second pair?

Chris Wideman is one option, and the fourth player guaranteed to be among the starting six. But will Justin Barron get a chance to break camp in the Habs top four? Is he better suited to start the season in the minors with the Laval Rocket?

Can Jordan Harris turn his late-season audition into a top four role by moving to his off side? Or will he start the season on the third pairing on his natural side with Wideman as a partner? Is there an NHL role for Corey Schueneman or Otto Leskinen to begin the season.

Is Kaiden Guhle ready to start the season with the Canadiens? What about Mattias Norlinder? Madison Bowey is in the organization now, is a right shot D and has 158 games of NHL experience. Could he steal a role as a stopgap for the younger players?

It will be interesting to see how it all shakes out on the blue line in this preseason.