Habs Mailbag: Canadiens won't make Lane Hutson a power-play specialist

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Florian Xhekaj and Luke Tuch could possibly be surprises at coaching camp with Montreal needing so as to add some measurement at ahead place in future.

Writer of the article:

Stu Cowan • Montreal Gazette

Printed Sep 14, 2024 • Final up to date 5 hours in the past • 4 minute learn

Lane Hutson skates in the course of the Canadiens rookie camp on the CN Sports activities Advanced in Brossard on Sept. 12, 2024. Montreal GM Kent Hughes says if the Canadiens consider Hutson shall be higher served in his growth by enjoying within the AHL, then they are going to ship him to the Laval Rocket. Photograph by Dave Sidaway /Montreal Gazette

Will Montreal go along with seven defencemen for stretches of the season to ease in/accommodate Lane Hutson?

Darren — Habs and Avs on X (@DK4lighting)

That’s a risk, particularly early within the season. However it might additionally deliver issues, that means restricted ice time for younger defencemen whereas not with the ability to roll 4 traces up entrance. I believe Hutson can be higher off enjoying large minutes in Laval than restricted minutes in Montreal.

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Tony Marinaro requested Kent Hughes about the opportunity of beginning the season with seven defencemen and 11 forwards when the GM was just lately a visitor on Marinaro’s new Le Discussion board present on the French radio station BPM Sports activities.

“That’s a query extra for the coach, however as GM I see it in a sure method,” Hughes mentioned. “I don’t need to essentially disguise Lane Hutson and make him a specialist on the ability play (with the Canadiens). We need to make Lane Hutson one of the best defencemen he’s able to changing into. If that’s enjoying much less minutes however within the NHL — or possibly not all of the video games — we’ll do this.”

Hughes added if the Canadiens consider Hutson shall be higher served in his growth by enjoying within the AHL, then they are going to ship him to the Laval Rocket.

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Persons are speaking and asking about Patrik Laine’s wage proper now (US$8.7 million cap hit) being greater than Nick Suzuki (US.$7.857 million). Nobody requested the correct query. I used to be questioning if Laine performs good and the Canadiens like him, will they neglect that imaginary Suzuki cap on re-signing? I’ve a sense Laine 2.0 shall be a beast.

Nicolas Dumais on X @ElectronicMan83

Suzuki nonetheless has 4 years left on his contract and Hughes — who didn’t signal Laine’s deal — will certainly signal one other participant for more cash than the captain because the rebuilding course of strikes ahead and the NHL wage cap rises. Laine may undoubtedly develop into that man.

I’ve a sense that an surprising participant could trigger a shock at camp. Do you agree?

Chantal Barbeau

There usually are surprises at coaching camp. Ahead Florian Xhekaj shall be trying to shock the identical method his brother, Arber, did two years in the past when he made the Canadiens after by no means being chosen on the NHL Draft.

Former Canadien Chris Nilan talked about a number of instances on The Gazette’s Hockey Inside/Out Present final season the crew wants “extra males” — large gamers who’re arduous to play in opposition to, particularly within the playoffs. Florian is 6-foot-3 and 196 kilos.

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One other participant who may shock is left-winger Luke Tuch, the Canadiens’ second-round decide (forty seventh total) on the 2020 NHL Draft who’s attending his first NHL coaching camp after spending 4 years at Boston College and posting 10-20-30 totals in 39 video games final season. Tuch is 6-foot-3 and 209 kilos.

If each Samuel Montembeault and Cayden Primeau keep wholesome what do you assume the sport break up shall be between them. I determine 52-30 with Monty carrying the load. In fact, how they play will dictate how that works out.

Sheri Taylor

I consider you’re right on each counts. The No. 1 job shall be Montembeault’s to lose when the season begins, whereas Primeau appears to be like to enhance his consistency and present he’s a reputable NHL goalie within the final season of his contract. Primeau additionally needs to push Montembeault for the No. 1 job.

“We push one another,” Primeau mentioned on the finish of final season. “I’ve been saying all of it yr. We now have a pleasant competitors, a pleasant aggressive spirit. We need to see one another succeed. However, on the finish of the day, we each need the online. We’re each pushing one another and it’s a very good camaraderie and relationship.”

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Offered that the offence makes a leap this season with gamers wholesome and able to reaching even profession normals do you assume goaltending may presumably be higher than low .900 save share and a 3.16 goals-against common? And if no, does HuGo (Hughes and Jeff Gorton, the chief vice-president of hockey operations) step in to expedite issues?

LePetitViking on X @halfnthebag

Montembeault completed final season with a 16-15-9 file, a 3.14 GAA and a .902 save share, whereas Primeau was 8-9-4 with a 2.99 GAA and a .910 save share.

The Canadiens allowed the third-most photographs within the NHL, giving up a mean of 33.4 per recreation. The one groups that allowed extra have been the San Jose Sharks (35.1) and Columbus Blue Jackets (34.4).

With extra younger defencemen within the Canadiens lineup this season after buying and selling Jordan Harris to Columbus and Johnathan Kovacevic to New Jersey, I anticipate the 2 goalies to face much more photographs, which can make it troublesome to enhance on their GAA and save share.

I consider HuGo shall be affected person with the goaltenders in the event that they battle as they proceed to watch the event of Jacob Fowler at Boston Faculty, the place he posted a 32-6-1 file final season with a 2.14 GAA and a .926 save share.

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