Credit: HabsolumentFan
The Montreal Canadiens are now in year 3 of their rebuild. They have made three selections in the first round so far in two years of drafting, picking Juraj Slafkovsky (1st overall in 2022), Filip Mesar (26th overall in 2022), and David Reinbacher (5th overall in 2023). However, many fans believe that the team is still a few pieces away from future contention, so we take a look at what a lineup could look like in 3 years.
Note: this lineup includes projected draft picks in 2024.
Forwards
Credit: MontrealHockeyNow
First Line
Cole Caufield -- Nick Suzuki -- Juraj Slafkovsky
To absolutely no one's surprise, the first line is the lineup that Habs faithful believed would come together upon hearing Slafkovsky's name in Montreal on the night of the 2022 Draft. This line is currently together, and they've been producing extremely well since being put together.
Second Line
Joshua Roy - Kirby Dach - Ivan Demidov
This lineup has Montreal selecting Ivan Demidov with the 6th overall pick in 2024, which would create a lethal duo of Dach and Demidov, because of Dach's playmaking & zone entry abilities and Demidov's ability to be a passing and shooting threat. Ideally, you have a pure shooter who's better than Roy as your other winger, but you have to do with what you have.
Third Line
Emil Heineman - Alex Newhook - Filip Mesar
The aim of this lineup is to create a line that can provide energy and create offense. Heineman is a decent-sized, physical forward who can score and play a good 200 foot game. We've already seen what Newhook can do, which is play a good, fast, and smart 200 foot game. Mesar is the wildcard on this line, because he's not a big player, but he is very skilled and creative like the rest of the guys on this line. If not him on this line, you could have players like Sean Farrell, Owen Beck, or Jesse Ylonen in his spot, but we feel he provides the best fit.
Fourth Line
Filip Eriksson - Owen Beck - Oliver Kapanen
This line's aim is to create energy while having a good sense of defense responsibility and offensive creation. All three of these players are having good years in their respective leagues while maintaining a good defensive presence.
Defensemen
Credit: Saltwire
First Pair
Lane Hutson - David Reinbacher
I don't think there will be many that would be surprised by this pairing. It seems like the Habs picked Reinbacher to be a perfect partner to Hutson, considering one plays a very offensive game (Hutson) and one players a more defensive game (Reinbacher). It seems like these two will be the cornerstones of the Habs defensive core for years to come.
Second Pair
Kaiden Guhle - Logan Mailloux
In years prior, many thought that this pair would have Justin Barron instead of Logan Mailloux, but with Mailloux's positive developmental curve, it seems like he'll be the one on this pair - he's outproduced Barron at nearly every level. Mailloux had 62 pts in 75 OHL games (0.83 PPG) while Barron had 112 pts in 186 QMJHL games (0.60 PPG) in an easier league. In the AHL, Barron has 51 pts over 105 games (0.49 PPG), and Mailloux has 47 pts in 70 games (0.67 PPG). If Mailloux can put his past behind him, he'll be a good complement to Guhle on this pair.
Third Pair
Jayden Struble - Arber Xhekaj
There is a huge list of players that can be considered to play on the third pair, which includes, but is not limited to: Adam Engstrom, Bogdan Konyushkov, Jordan Harris, Justin Barron, William Trudeau. However, we feel that Struble, a two-way defenseman, will pair well with Xhekaj, another two-way defenseman, but more offensively minded. Struble and Xhekaj are both physical players, which is required for a team with some players on the smaller side (Caufield, Hutson) and they can both provide offense and defense.
Goaltending
Credit: Dave Sidaway, Montreal Gazette
Goaltending Tandem
Samuel Montembeault / Jacob Fowler
The Habs, thankfully, have lots of promising goaltenders in the system, including Cayden Primeau and Yevgeni Volokhin. However, both of those players project to be backup goaltenders, while Montembeault and Fowler could both make up a good tandem in the future once Fowler reaches the NHL and Montembeault gets closer to his older age. They can both split the games, and there's plenty of third options if one of the goalies goes down.
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