The second line is a problem, what is the solution?

Watching the Montreal Canadiens second line play has been mood altering, you hope for something better, but it remains the same.

Kirby Dach has struggled mightily to shake off the rust and find his game again, at the level that he is used to. Joel Armia is playing above his pay grade and is infamous for underperforming, and scoring in spurts. While Alex Newhook, who was playing great last year has struggled also, and the second line hasn't done a whole lot of positive for the Canadiens offense.

I think if the plan is for Dach to be a centre, then he should be left on the second line as the centre, but I think adding some energy would be helpful. Personally, I think that integrating Brendan Gallagher into the top six would be a great way to get Dach feeling inspired. Gallagher is all heart and his infectious personality is sure to get the adrenaline pumping in Dach.

It would mean that things would need to shift around, and while it might not be universally loved, I think the importance of sparking the second line is quite high. Now, I think that moving Slafkovsky down to the second line and Newhook to the top line would be an ideal move. Then swapping Armia with Gallagher would be a good way to bring some energy to the top six, and Armia would be in a more suitable role for his skillset.

It's a tough conversation that needs to be had

Nobody wants to see the top line touched, if it's not broken then don't fix it, right? But at some point, the Canadiens need both of their top two lines contributing if the team wants to be successful. Getting Dach sparked is so important for the Canadiens attack, that I think such a bold move is necessary.

Giving Dach a pair of wingers with the energy and personalities that Slafkovsky and Gallagher have should be a huge push in the right direction. Gallagher will run through a wall every shift and if there is a loose puck or an offensive zone opportunity, he will be in the centre of the action. As for Slafkovsky, his playmaking and physical game will open up space for Dach and give him space to create offence.

Making changes isn't always easy, it is admitting that there is a problem, which we already know to be true, but that is tough for the coach to admit. But the NHL isn't a place for the feint of heart, and for a team to be successful it takes any means necessary. If that means swapping players around to ignite a flame, then that is exactly what Martin St. Louis should do.