Habs Mailbag: Canadiens have some decisions to make on the blue line

My query is concerning the defence. I might assume the locks are Mike Matheson, Kaiden Guhle and David Savard. Who of Arber Xhekaj, Lane Hutson, Justin Barron, Adam Engstrom and Jayden Struble have proven sufficient in pre-season to earn the remaining three or 4 spots in the event that they resolve to hold seven defencemen in the course of the season.

thenumbersguy on X (@numbersguy130)

Guhle informed reporters Friday in Mont-Tremblant he can be prepared to begin the season after having his appendix eliminated the day earlier than coaching camp began, which is excellent information for the Canadiens. I consider you possibly can add Hutson as a lock to begin the season, together with Matheson, Guhle and Savard. Barron must clear waivers earlier than he may very well be despatched all the way down to the AHL’s Laval Rocket, so I count on the Canadiens will maintain him — identical to they saved goalie Cayden Primeau final season for a similar purpose. I feel the seven defencemen to begin the season may very well be Matheson, Guhle, Savard, Hutson, Xhekaj, Logan Mailloux and Barron. Struble may very well be the odd man out due to the waiver scenario with Barron and the actual fact the Canadiens will need to see what Mailloux can do on the NHL degree. They already know what Struble can and might’t do. I additionally assume the Canadiens want Xhekaj’s bodily presence within the lineup.

Final season, the Habs have been merely terrible within the second half of back-to-back video games. That’s loads of factors squandered. Is there any technique being developed for the approaching season that can deal with these challenges?

Dennis Lanthier on X (@dennis_lanthier)

I feel the explanation the Canadiens struggled in back-to-back video games is as a result of they’re such a younger group and plenty of gamers are nonetheless adjusting to the rigours of an 82-game NHL season — together with the troublesome back-to-back video games. With one other 12 months of expertise beneath their belts, I consider the Habs can be higher in back-to-back video games this season. The query is how significantly better?

Who’s your choose for breakout participant on offence and breakout participant on defence for the approaching season?

Canadiens Pulse on X (@CanadiensPP)

The reply on defence is fairly easy: Hutson. It should even be fascinating to see what Mailloux can do if he does, certainly, make the group. On offence, I feel the breakout participant may very well be Joshua Roy. He has nice hockey sense and offensive expertise and must also get some power-play time. Head coach Martin St. Louis likes the way in which Roy performs the sport and can give him each alternative to succeed.

In your opinion, the place do the Habs slot this season within the Atlantic Division? And is that this a playoff hopeful season for Montreal?

Ed Helinski

I didn’t assume the Canadiens have been adequate to make the playoffs this season, even with Patrik Laine within the lineup. Now with Laine out for 2-3 months with a sprained knee, their likelihood is a lot slimmer.

The very fact the Canadiens play within the robust Atlantic Division doesn’t assist. I can’t see them ending forward of the Florida Panthers, Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay Lightning or Detroit Purple Wings. They are going to be in a battle with the Ottawa Senators and Buffalo Sabres to remain out of the Atlantic Division basement for the fourth straight season. I feel the Canadiens are not less than another 12 months away from being a authentic playoff contender.

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