The Montreal Canadiens have put their name in the conversation of NHL teams with a bona fide top line. But now they require a second line to take some of the weight off the top trio's shoulders.
Kirby Dach appears to be a lock for the top line and all signs point to him assuming the role as second-line centre. This will be very important if the Habs want to take a step forward this season and possibly make some noise in the playoff race. He has the skills and while faceoffs may not be his strong suit, if he stays healthy it is something that he can battle through.
But the big question mark is who will fill one of the vacant winger roles alongside Dach? I am of the belief that Patrik Laine is going to slot in on one of the wings, with little pushback for that comment. But the other wing is the biggest question mark, and there are two options - Joshua Roy and Alex Newhook.
So who gets the spot?
This decision will likely come down to training camp, which is like saying that the skunk smell must have come from the skunk running through the yard. But it will be an interesting scenario to watch unfold - Newhook gets the edge because he has more NHL experience than Roy. However, Roy presents some intriguing tangibles - anticipation, defensive play and he is a dual threat in the attacking zone.
Newhook's speed stands out, simply because he can turn on a dime and in a few strides he clears the neutral zone. The issue is that he is more of a straight line player, whose playmaking is decent, but his vision isn't on par with Roy's. If Roy had Newhook's speed he would likely be battling for a spot on the top line, but that isn't the case.
The good thing is that if Newhook slots onto the third line behind Roy-Dach-Laine, the Canadiens have a very good forward added into the mix for the third line. Throw in Christian Dvorak and a big winger like Joel Armia or a gritty guy like Brendan Gallagher and that won't be a fun line to play against. It will all come down to who plays best at training camp, but Newhook and Roy are still developing, so there could be other changes in the future.
For the time being, I think that best fit for the second line winger role with Dach and Laine is Roy. I would love to see how he plays with two talented forwards and how his skills blend with the two lanky forwards. I love Newhook's speed and his quick release, but I think Roy and Dach setting up Laine is too good to pass up, and Roy can shoot the puck pretty well, too.