Proposing the CH pre-playoff lineup shakeup

The Montreal Canadiens have the luxury of adding the best hockey player in the entire world who hadn’t yet played an NHL game. 

Don’t mistake him for a guy is highly rated, but plays a very overrated game.

No. 93 is an absolute stud, and managing the minutes he is given will be a big job for Martin St. Louis. But some obvious moves need to be made yesterday.

Here is what I propose to Marty, and the fanbase can sign a petition suggesting this iteration of the Habs' top-six, but also the bottom-six.

I think there are some changes that are necessary to really balance the top six, with the talent in the lineup being in positions to maximize their strengths.

Having said that, I have the opinion that the Habs' top six, which has been great, doesn’t need to be gripped onto tightly anymore. 

Patrik Laine would benefit from having a great passer on his wing, someone with size who can drive the puck to the net. A big winger, who is a dog on the bone in the O-zone. 

No. 20, you know him, we know him, it’s the Slovakian ‘man child’ Juraj Slafkovsky. 

Give him a speedy centre, Alex Newhook, and let them split faceoffs down the stretch. Slaf is an anvil, he will do well on faceoffs. 

All that this line needs is a sniper who can devastate. No. 92 is the guy for that, and he ensures that the top six is balanced.

Slaf is built like a god at six foot three, 238-pounds. His CV speaks for itself. He can thrive with Laine (6 foot 5, 216 pounds) who is big, but more of a skilled, small-style big-sized winger. 

This is the perfect compliment to a ridiculous top line, and if it needs to be changed in the future it can. 

But the top line the everybody deserves to watch the Habs climb the ladder for their 25th Stanley Cup in 2025, their first since 1993 with a certain No. 93 ready to explode onto the scene in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

With the Habs clinched, and some time to rest and practice before heading to Washington for a reported Monday night start to their series against Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals.

Washington has been ridiculous this season, and it will not be a cakewalk, but they will be the perfect measuring stick to assess where the Habs are at. 

You also have to keep in mind that there are some big names not in Montreal yet. 

Jacob Fowler is handling his own business in Laval, on a Rocket squad intent on becoming AHL Calder Cup Champions - and the roster is loaded. 

Michael Hage is back home, enjoying his offseason training plan, with high hopes for year two in the NCAA with the Michigan Wolverines, who came up short in the playoffs.

And David Reinbacher is with Laval, where he hasn’t played much, due to lingering knee issues. 

But if he can heal through them, and be ready for the playoffs, I think he has the opportunity to have his coming out party, like Nick Suzuki in the Habs 2021 run to the Stanley Cup final. 

No. 64 for the Rocket has top pair defenseman potential. I will intently be watching his usage during the playoffs

Anyway, back to the top line.

Marty, please prioritize putting your players in the best position to win - loading it up top is a wise decision - and it will pay off.

The Canadiens' best iteration for the top line is one loaded with the Habs' three young stud forward.

No. 14, the captain, locking it down in the one centre role. Sniping, deceiving and stickhandling his way out of trouble. Suzuki is a sniper, two-way centre extraordinaire. 

No. 37 Patrice Bergeron, the captain of the Boston Bruins, I feel, is a good comparable for Suzuki. Though I think Bergeron was better defensively, and Suzuki is a better shooter, and his vision is arguably more refined than the Hockey Hall of Fame centre. 

No. 13 Cole Caufield, the diminutive, speedy winger, who has tons of jump and separation speed. His hands are underrated, and Patrik Kane is good, and his shot pops off his stick, he came three short of his first 40-goal season. 

37 goals isn’t a small number; look for him to be a nightmare to deal with in the playoffs for the Capitals. 

And you just have to add the best prospect in the NHL, who already looks like a 10-year veteran out there, Kirill Kaprizov, Nikita Kucherov vibes. 

With more power play time, I believe that Demidov’s fantastic, all-world shot will be on display. 

Evgeni Malkin comparisons, and influenced by Jack Hughes, Nikita Kucherov, and he broke Kirill Kaprizov’s KHL scoring record. 

His sort of blend of everything is intriguing, and letting him loose with Suzuki and Caufield is what the Habs need to do to make the offence pop. 

Add Arber Xhekaj to the lineup, and take somebody out. For the playoffs, No. 63 in Laval is going to be a nuisance for his opponents.

No. 72 can do the same, and protect Demidov and the Habs in the challenging, career-altering Stanley Cup playoffs. 

Go Habs Go, les Canadiens s’en vien, Alex Ovechkin. Demidov wanted to face him in the playoffs.

You can’t make up a more poetic playoff matchup than this one here. 

Load it up, here’s my lineup by the number’s 

Forwards

13 - 14 - 93

92 - 15 - 20

51 - 28 - 11

91/17 - 71 - 40

Defence

48-21

47-45

8-72

58

Goalie

71

35

Good day folks! Off to the playoffs the CH go.