Emil Heineman promotion would be wise for playoff-hopeful Habs team

The Montreal Canadiens top line gets by when Juraj Slafkovsky isn't at his best, but when he is, well they do as they have been since the NHL's return to play following the Four Nations Face-Off.

Martin St. Louis's second line, however, while it has an all-world shooter in Patrik Laine, and a speedster in Alex Newhook, it lacks some bite. Joshua Roy isn't going to bring that sort of grit to the line. But their is a viable option playing in the bottom-six.

Emil Heineman is exactly what Newhook and Laine need, and I believe that change should be made before the playoffs, should the Habs hold on and qualify. I understand that St. Louis is infatuated by his fourth line, but No. 51 is much more than a fourth-line player. There is a toolkit, that would thrive if he could play consistent minutes on the second line.

Joshua Roy would do well on a line with Jake Evans and Joel Armia, and I like the idea of the two veterans lending their knowledge to the 21-year-old. He isn't quite as aggressive as Heineman - understatement of the year, I know - but he is smart, and his vision and understanding of how to clog up the neutral zone is very advanced.

I think a swap now would be wise, in that it would allow both players to adapt to their new linemates before the Canadiens tighten their grip a little extra, in hopes for the playoffs. Heineman and Laine can work the puck around, while Newhook pushes back the opposition with his speed. The variables of this potential line, make so much sense.

Heineman is heavy on the forecheck, and Newhook is very aggressive, whereas Laine sort of comes in a second wave to collect loose pucks and extend plays with his reach and six-foot-five frame. If the top-six is going to work, Roy isn't the answer on the wing, he has great qualities but is too inexperienced and unproven at this juncture.

No. 51 seems to be the guy who can be inserted into a duo and make it pop off as a fantastic trio. Laine thrives with space, and Newhook, along with Heineman will create it, in two different, yet effective ways. You need to have the sandpaper, in-your-face type of attitude sprinkled throughout the lineup to excel, and Heineman brings it.

And if you have watched Heineman you know that the only thing that his held him off the scoresheet is a lack of playmakers on his line. If he is passed the puck, and has an opportunity to use his rapid, heavy release, he doesn't shy away from it. I think that he has top-six potential, and would thrive in that spot right now.

Heineman, a former second-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft by the Florida Panthers, was acquired, in a package for Tyler Toffoli from the Calgary Flames. Calgary has been awfully generous to the Habs in recent years, with a 2025 first-round pick from the Flames, yet to be used.

Putting Heineman in a position to thrive, and show his offensive skills more consistently will only encourage his offensive game to grow. The off-puck and defensive aspects of his game are fantastic and will continue to get better. But the shooting, passing and vision will add another dimension to Montreal's second line.

Balancing the attack is essential

The Canadiens don't have a second-line centre option in the lineup, so their effort will have to be by committee. Christian Dvorak, Jake Evans and Alex Newhook (current 2c) will do their best to support Nick Suzuki and help the Habs make a big push to play in the postseason dance.

Without a second-line centre in the fold, the lineup is going to have to do everything with a pack mentality. Adding a physical forward into the top six, even if he isn't a natural centre, could take some weight off Newhook's shoulders. Heineman plays like a bull, and I think his physical nature could allow him to thrive, if leaned on to take faceoffs.

For now, the Habs will have to do everything as a pack, and in the playoffs, with the energy the Bell Centre will provide, Montreal shall thrive by coming together and fighting tooth and nail for every inch of ice.