Three Montreal Canadiens Just Playing Out The String With Organization

Colin White

The Montreal Canadiens picked up Colin White from waivers earlier this season, and it was understood it would be a stopgap solution at the time.

Right now, the Canadiens have centers Kirby Dach and Christian Dvorak on injured reserve and they also traded Monahan earlier in the season. It left them pretty thin down the middle of the ice and they have been forced to use Rafael Harvey-Pinard at center at times though he would be much more well positioned on the wing.

So, they scooped up Colin White when the Pittsburgh Penguins placed him on waivers. He had played 11 games with the Penguins and was held scoreless and has since played five games for the Canadiens and has also been held scoreless. He is clearly a placeholder for the remainder of the season while the Canaidens have a few injuries they are dealing with.

By the time next year's training camp rolls around, Dach and Dvorak will be healthy, Nick Suzuki and Jake Evans will still be under contract and those four will have the opening night lineup spots nailed down at center.

The team also has Brandon Gignac signed and though he is likely to start the season in the AHL, he could be the extra center that gets called up when the first injury occurs. They will also have Owen Beck playing pro for the first time and don't want to have too many veteran centers blocking his path to an NHL spot if he earns it in training camp, or pushing him down the depth chart with the Laval Rocket if he does not make the NHL right away.