Montreal Canadiens inter-squad games on Thursday marked the Habs brass’ first time to see new faces blended in with some regulars. First-round picks played together, giving a first glimpse into the potential of high picks meshing together for the future. It can be taken with a grain of salt; as it was just the first day of scrimmages, but the combinations were nonetheless nice to see.
The offseason, like the others before it, was long and gave players the time they needed to heal and prepare for another season. But today’s A, B, C and D squads allowed fans to have questions about which players might develop chemistry together, answered. Rookies and new acquisitions got to show their stuff, and newly healthy players got back into game action.
Here are a few line combinations and a couple of defensive pairings that would have caught the eye of Canadiens fans.
Forwards
Caufield-Suzuki-Heineman
One thing has been a constant for the Canadiens, and that is Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield playing together on the top line. Another thing has been equally as constant, and that is the carousel of wingers that have been tested on this line, without any sustained option emerging. To be a strong fit with the Canadiens all-star duo, the player who would fit best needs to be able to keep up with their pace; in terms of speed, and be able to connect plays and retrieve pucks.
The latest player to have an audition as the top-line right wing was Emil Heineman during the inter-squad game. He has great playmaking skills, and having him opposite Caufield could make this line a huge threat with two very capable snipers. Heineman adds a bit of size to this line at 6’0” and 194 lbs, and he is also no slouch defensively, leveraging his swift skating to keep pace with the opposition.
With a need on the top-line right wing, Heineman could prove to be a fantastic piece for the Canadiens, and his three seasons of professional hockey experience form a great foundation for a player ready to take the next step. Suzuki and Caufield are young in their own right, but with their playoff pedigree, they could prove to be great mentors for Heineman. Aside from Jesse Ylonen, he has the best shot, and release of the prospect pool, and the confidence that he would gain from playing with two talented players like 22 and 14, could help him break out in the NHL.
Harvey-Pinard-Beck-Gallagher
Let’s cut to the chase right away, this line gives us a glimpse of Brendan Gallagher and the guy who has been compared in length to Gally, Rafael Harvey Pinard. Think speed, tenacity and in-your-face play, that’s exactly what you get with this line. Their bread and butter is hardnosed, blue-collar work in the trenches, and they will very likely get under opponents’ skin.
The one-game audition may be all that we get, but, I’m in the group that would love to have more of this trio injected into the lineup throughout camp, and the preseason. Yes, the line lacks size, but I don’t think that it would affect their plays all that much. The undying motors will present headaches for the opposition all over the ice, and defences and goalies will get all they can handle from these three guys.
Owen Beck will benefit greatly from playing alongside these two high-compete wingers. And the two wingers will benefit from Beck’s strong play at centre ice. They can play with pace, battle hard every shift and even chip in some nice complimentary secondary offence.