For the majority of the season, the Montreal Canadiens have had to account for injuries to key players. One of those players was Kirby Dach, who missed about two months before returning in the middle of January. He has played in 17 games since his return, but he could miss more games coming up after leaving the game against the Anaheim Ducks with an upper-body injury.
After the game, there wasn't an update really given, and with the Canadiens off on Monday, fans won't have an idea of how severe the injury is probably until tomorrow, ahead of their game against the Boston Bruins. However, the coaching staff is probably working through ideas now in terms of how to replace Dach on their third line.
When looking at the current roster, it really comes down to three players who make sense as options to replace Dach on the line with Alexandre Texier and Jake Evans.
Zachary Bolduc
The obvious choice is Zachary Bolduc, who has been in and out of the lineup since the team returned after the Olympic break. The young forward's production picked up in March as he had four points in five games on either side of the Olympic break, but went without a point in each of the last three games he played.
Bolduc was a healthy scratch against the Ducks but could easily slot right back in on the line that he was rotating in on.
This season has not gone the way the Canadiens or Bolduc would have expected when they traded for him this summer. Last season with the Blues, Bolduc had 36 points in 72 games and a +/- of +20 but this season has only 26 points in 64 games with a +/- of -7.
However, Bolduc has been one of the more physical forwards on the team with 138 hits, which is second on the team, and this would be great to get back into the lineup. An extended stretch on the third line could help Bolduc get back on track and finish the season strong.
Joe Veleno
Earlier this season, Joe Veleno was consistently in the lineup for the Montreal Canadiens and played in 49 games with two goals and two assists. However, he hasn't played since February 4th and been a healthy scratch for a majority of the games since that point.
Veleno isn't much of a goal-scorer but is a physical presence that the Canadiens could use, as he had 119 hits through 49 games this season. On top of that, he has done a solid job in the face-off circle with a faceoff win percentage of 51.4%.
The question for the Canadiens is what Veleno brings that Bolduc wouldn't on that third line. Bolduc is more of an offensive threat and still adds that physicality, so between these two, it should be Bolduc ahead of Veleno.
Patrik Laine
The elephant in the room is Patrik Laine and whether an extended absence of Kirby Dach creates an opportunity to get Laine back in the lineup and see what he might be able to bring. The former second-overall pick has played in only five games this season after suffering an abdominal injury early in the season.
However, he has appeared ready to return for a few weeks now but the Canadiens have not activated him. It was one of the reasons it seemed almost obvious that the Canadiens would move him at the trade deadline.
They didn't go that route and he still is on injured reserve but Laine could make a Canadiens offense that has already been really good even better. Last season, Laine had 20 goals in 56 games and a shooting percentage over 17%.
The concern with Laine has never been what he can do on the offensive end, but rather being a liability on the defensive end. He has had a subpar xG% that has barely broken 40% in each of his two seasons prior to this one, according to Natural Stat Trick.
A motivated Laine, one who wants to get back on the ice, could be a difference maker for the Montreal Canadiens going into the playoffs. This could be the perfect time to determine if that is the case over these final regular season games.