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Canadiens: With Dach Out, Where Do Canadiens Go From Here?

By Ryan Praught

MONTREAL, CANADA - OCTOBER 14: Jarred Tinordi #25 of the Chicago Blackhawks pushes Kirby Dach #77 of the Montreal Canadiens into the Blackhawks bench during the first period at the Bell Centre on October 14, 2023 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, CANADA - OCTOBER 14: Jarred Tinordi #25 of the Chicago Blackhawks pushes Kirby Dach #77 of the Montreal Canadiens into the Blackhawks bench during the first period at the Bell Centre on October 14, 2023 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, CANADA – OCTOBER 11: Alex Newhook #15 of the Montreal Canadiens skates by the team bench and celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period of an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on October 11, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA – OCTOBER 11: Alex Newhook #15 of the Montreal Canadiens skates by the team bench and celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period of an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on October 11, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

Alex Newhook has started the season playing on Kirby Dach’s wing, but he has played centre in the NHL before and is capable of doing so here if needed. With Dach now out, it would not surprise me at all to see the Canadiens opt to slide Newhook inside for the foreseeable future.

Newhook played centre in Colorado previously, and with his speed, he’s more than capable of doing so with the Canadiens. He’s shown good chemistry with Juraj Slafkovsky so far, so I’m sure the Habs would like to keep that duo together for now.

Of course, with Newhook in the middle, that now leaves a spot to fill on the wing. Fortunately, the Canadiens have options here as well. As of the time I’m writing this, Michael Pezzetta is slated to play tonight versus the Minnesota Wild. He’ll almost surely play on the fourth line, with Raphael Harvey-Pinard the likely candidate to move up in the lineup. Harvey-Pinard has the skill to play there and could complement Newhook and Slafkovsky nicely.

Or…

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