Line Combos: Opening day roster predictions

[SakuKoivu11]

Opening day:
14 forwards
Slafkovsky Suzuki Caufield
Newhook Dach Laine
Roy Dvorak Anderson
Armia Evans Gallagher
Pezzetta Heineman (potential waiver if don’t make team)

7 defensemen
Matheson Guhle
Hutson Savard
Xhekaj Struble
Barron

2 goalies
Montembault
Primeau

23 man roster


By the end of season:
Slafkovsky Suzuki Caufield
Newhook Dach Laine
Roy Kapanen Anderson
Armia Beck Gallagher
Heineman Pezzetta

Matheson Guhle
Hutson Mailloux
Xhekaj Struble
Barron

Montembault
Primeau


I think Evans, Dvorak, Savard will be traded. Evans is very valuable for a playoff team looking for playoff experience bottom 6 smart penalty killer. Evans will be get us a prospect and maybe a 2nd round pick. Savard is extremely valuable for a contender. He shut downs players and kills penalties. Big heavy playoff defenseman will get us a 1st round pick for sure since supply is low. Dvorak is a face off specialist, smart kills penalties for bottom 6 contender. I think he’ll get us a little more value than Evans so expect a 2nd round pick and prospects.

I think by February March, Kapanen and Beck should be on the team. I think they are almost NHL ready. Kapanen I think has untapped offensive potential. There’s an Elias Lindholm in his game. Beck is a coaches’ player. I don’t think his offense game with transition to the NHL. He’ll be a very good 3rd or 4th line center. Kills penalties and shutdown players. I think both Kapanen and Beck are 30-35 points players, Kapanen is a little more mysterious as his offensive game could sky rocket and he’ll be our 2nd line center if he turns out to be Elias Lindholm. Mailloux is almost NHL ready, he’ll need to correct some of his game in Laval. Needs another 30-40 games down there. Should be a 30-35 points defenseman. I don’t think his offensive game will transition from AHL/Junior to the NHL simply because NHL players are much faster and there’s no time like AHL/junior for Mailloux to setup his game.

Also I wouldn’t be surprised if Dobes takes over for Primeau.


Ideally contender roster:
Slafkovsky Suzuki Demidov
Laine Dach Caufield
Newhook Kapanen Hage
Roy Beck Anderson (if)
Tuch Xhekaj

Guhle Reinbacher
Hutson Maillouix
Xhekaj Konyushkov
Struble Engstrom

Montembault
Dobes

Click to read more...

 

[WeThreeKings]

They are going to go with the past of least resistance and afford as much development to everyone.

Slafkovsky-Suzuki-Caufield
Newhook-Dach-Laine
Roy-Dvorak-Anderson
Armia-Evans-Gallagher
Pezzetta

Matheson-Guhle
Hutson-Savard
Xhekaj-Barron
Struble

Montembeault
Primeau

 

[1909]

They are going to go with the past of least resistance and afford as much development to everyone.

Slafkovsky-Suzuki-Caufield
Newhook-Dach-Laine
Roy-Dvorak-Anderson
Armia-Evans-Gallagher
Pezzetta

Matheson-Guhle
Hutson-Savard
Xhekaj-Barron
Struble

Montembeault
Primeau

They will keep 23 players. Add Barré-Boulet as another extra forward.

 

[SlyIslands]

Montreal

Caufield-Suzuki-Slafkovsky
Newhook-Dach-Laine
Roy-Dvorak-Anderson
Gallagher-Evans-Armia
Pezzetta-BB

Matheson-Guhle
Hutson-Savard
Xhekaj-Barron
Struble

Montembeault
Primeau

Laval

Heineman-Gignac-Mesar
Farrell-Dauphin-Simoneau
Kidney-Beck-Davidson
Tuch-Condotta-Xhekaj
Perreault, Arseneau

Trudeau-Mailloux
Engstrom-Reinbacher
Wotherspoon-Jacobs
Sevigny-Hayes

Dobes
Hughes

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

There's zero use in keeping ABB to sit him on the press box, he's much more of an asset with Laval. I'd rather keep Condotta up if they absolutely need 14 forwards.

 

[VanPuck]

Hate to say it, but your second line really lacks a driver. Hope I'm wrong and someone takes the needed step up. All I want is Canadian team wining the cup for change. It has been far too long.

 

[Captain Mountain]

Caufield-Suzuki-Slafkovsky
Newhook-Dach-Laine
Roy-Dvorak-Anderson
Armia-Evans-Gallagher
Pezzetta, ABB (RHP)

Matheson-Struble (Guhle)
Hutson-Savard
Xhekaj-Barron
Mailloux (Struble)

Montembault
Primeau

I think eventually Roy will be moved to 2LW and the 3rd line will become Dvorak-Newhook-Anderson.

 

[Captain97]

CC - Suzuki - Slaf
Newhook - Dach - Laine
Roy - Dvorak - Anderson
Armia - Evans - Gallagher
Pezzeta - ABB (sent down when RHP is back)

Matheson - Guhle
Hutson - Savard
Xhekaj - Struble/Barron
Struble/Barron

Monty
Primeau

I could also see a Forward traded out to make space for Kapanen.

 

[LaP]

Hate to say it, but your second line really lacks a driver. Hope I'm wrong and someone takes the needed step up. All I want is Canadian team wining the cup for change. It has been far too long.

The rebuild is not over. Demidov will join our 2nd line next season.

 

[Vachon23]

CC - Suzuki - Slaf
Newhook - Dach - Laine
Roy - Dvorak - Anderson
Armia - Evans - Gallagher
Pezzeta - ABB (sent down when RHP is back)

Matheson - Guhle
Hutson - Savard
Xhekaj - Struble/Barron
Struble/Barron

Monty
Primeau

I could also see a Forward traded out to make space for Kapanen.

Sent down ABB and Pezzetta if Kapanen show he can make the team

 

[Milhouse40]

Sent down ABB and Pezzetta if Kapanen show he can make the team

Kapanen will need some ice-time and not 4th line minutes either.
I would keep it around if it wasn't for the heavy contract we carry on the bottom 6.

Leave him another year develop with good quality minutes, next year, there will be some open spot for sure.

 

[HuGo Sham]

Hate to say it, but your second line really lacks a driver. Hope I'm wrong and someone takes the needed step up. All I want is Canadian team wining the cup for change. It has been far too long.

Demidov was mentioned (fr next season), but I wouldn't discount Hughes making another trade sometime in the next couple of weeks for another scoring forward. I also wouldn't say Newhook is a lock on the 2nd line

 

[Vachon23]

Kapanen will need some ice-time and not 4th line minutes either.
I would keep it around if it wasn't for the heavy contract we carry on the bottom 6.

Leave him another year develop with good quality minutes, next year, there will be some open spot for sure.

Matter of time before they are injuries so he would quickly get minutes

 

[Captain97]

Sent down ABB and Pezzetta if Kapanen show he can make the team

Pezzetta won't get waived. He is top 10 in hits super cheap and is a decent 4th liner. He's the perfect 13th forward and would get claimed.

 

[26Mats]

Opening day:
14 forwards
Slafkovsky Suzuki Caufield
Newhook Dach Laine
Roy Dvorak Anderson
Armia Evans Gallagher
Pezzetta Heineman (potential waiver if don’t make team)

7 defensemen
Matheson Guhle
Hutson Savard
Xhekaj Struble
Barron

2 goalies
Montembault
Primeau

23 man roster


By the end of season:
Slafkovsky Suzuki Caufield
Newhook Dach Laine
Roy Kapanen Anderson
Armia Beck Gallagher
Heineman Pezzetta

Matheson Guhle
Hutson Mailloux
Xhekaj Struble
Barron

Montembault
Primeau


I think Evans, Dvorak, Savard will be traded. Evans is very valuable for a playoff team looking for playoff experience bottom 6 smart penalty killer. Evans will be get us a prospect and maybe a 2nd round pick. Savard is extremely valuable for a contender. He shut downs players and kills penalties. Big heavy playoff defenseman will get us a 1st round pick for sure since supply is low. Dvorak is a face off specialist, smart kills penalties for bottom 6 contender. I think he’ll get us a little more value than Evans so expect a 2nd round pick and prospects.

I think by February March, Kapanen and Beck should be on the team. I think they are almost NHL ready. Kapanen I think has untapped offensive potential. There’s an Elias Lindholm in his game. Beck is a coaches’ player. I don’t think his offense game with transition to the NHL. He’ll be a very good 3rd or 4th line center. Kills penalties and shutdown players. I think both Kapanen and Beck are 30-35 points players, Kapanen is a little more mysterious as his offensive game could sky rocket and he’ll be our 2nd line center if he turns out to be Elias Lindholm. Mailloux is almost NHL ready, he’ll need to correct some of his game in Laval. Needs another 30-40 games down there. Should be a 30-35 points defenseman. I don’t think his offensive game will transition from AHL/Junior to the NHL simply because NHL players are much faster and there’s no time like AHL/junior for Mailloux to setup his game.

Also I wouldn’t be surprised if Dobes takes over for Primeau.


Ideally contender roster:
Slafkovsky Suzuki Demidov
Laine Dach Caufield
Newhook Kapanen Hage
Roy Beck Anderson (if)
Tuch Xhekaj

Guhle Reinbacher
Hutson Maillouix
Xhekaj Konyushkov
Struble Engstrom

Montembault
Dobes

Probably the only battles going on now:

- Who wins the 6th spot next to Xhekaj (probably down to Barron or Struble)?

- Will Kapanen stay and we keep 14 forwards, 7D, and 2 goalies?

- Will Laine be on the 1st wave of the pp (and can Dvo or Armia please beat out Gallagher on the 2nd wave)?

You don't think Armia gets traded?

 

[BehindTheTimes]

I’m surprised a bit by Kapanen. Never expected him to be an NHLer at all tbh. He’s better and further along than I realized. I love when these kids can prove you wrong.


After my dislike of the Slaf pick and watching it unfold in real time I have learned to eat some humble pie and have a bit more trust in the experts. That’s not to say we can’t be critical of poor decisions or voice a contrary opinion, but li have seen enough of this management to trust the process.

I think I suffered some PTSD from the MB era and our drafting record after 2008 and defaulted to the sky is falling mentality for most of draft picks because it was pretty much true for the better part of a decade.

I’ve seen enough to know there is clear separation from the past regime to this one and I’m not going to hold them accountable for decisions made before they got here.

I’ve been a pretty negative poster for a long time and rightfully so imo . There was an awful lot not to like, but for the first time since at least a healthy Bob Gainey we are being run by a group that is clearly competent. It’s hard to be vulnerable and put your trust into a group after all the abuse we have endured as a fanbase, but I trust this group more than any other in my lifetime. The future is finally bright in Habs land.

 

[yianik]

They are going to go with the past of least resistance and afford as much development to everyone.

Slafkovsky-Suzuki-Caufield
Newhook-Dach-Laine
Roy-Dvorak-Anderson
Armia-Evans-Gallagher
Pezzetta

Matheson-Guhle
Hutson-Savard
Xhekaj-Barron
Struble

Montembeault
Primeau

Agreed. The only change I had to the OP roster was Barron in for Struble, which you have. We should have 23 guys up though, not sure about the extra forward.

 

[morhilane]

I'm surprised by how many have Xhekaj in the line-up considering his camp. Struble and Barron have both looked better so far and I'm expecting a Struble/Barron 3rd pairing personally.

I'm still annoyed at
Roy-Dvorak-Anderson
Armia-Evans-Gallagher

But that is what it is...

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

Hate to say it, but your second line really lacks a driver. Hope I'm wrong and someone takes the needed step up. All I want is Canadian team wining the cup for change. It has been far too long.

Kirby Dach is a definitive play driver

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

I'm surprised by how many have Xhekaj in the line-up considering his camp. Struble and Barron have both looked better so far and I'm expecting a Struble/Barron 3rd pairing personally.

I'm still annoyed at
Roy-Dvorak-Anderson
Armia-Evans-Gallagher

But that is what it is...

It is way too early in camp to even start thinking about Xhekaj sitting. They played him on the right side last game and that imo says more about them trying to make sure that he is in the lineup.

Guhle likely starts the season in the press box as typically appendectomy patients have restrictions put on their physical activities for a month or more so. I believe that our starting 6 should be easy to predict unless Mailloux/Reinbacher insert themselves into the conversation.

 

[xX SEYF Xx]

I'm still annoyed at
Roy-Dvorak-Anderson
Armia-Evans-Gallagher

But that is what it is...

That's a good bottom 6 in my book, decent secondary scoring ( 10-15 goals each except Evans? ) and defensively responsible

 

[Harry Kakalovich]

Sent down ABB and Pezzetta if Kapanen show he can make the team

Kapanen making the team is SO 4 days ago... #eyeroll

 

[WeThreeKings]

I’m surprised a bit by Kapanen. Never expected him to be an NHLer at all tbh. He’s better and further along than I realized. I love when these kids can prove you wrong.


After my dislike of the Slaf pick and watching it unfold in real time I have learned to eat some humble pie and have a bit more trust in the experts. That’s not to say we can’t be critical of poor decisions or voice a contrary opinion, but li have seen enough of this management to trust the process.

I think I suffered some PTSD from the MB era and our drafting record after 2008 and defaulted to the sky is falling mentality for most of draft picks because it was pretty much true for the better part of a decade.

I’ve seen enough to know there is clear separation from the past regime to this one and I’m not going to hold them accountable for decisions made before they got here.

I’ve been a pretty negative poster for a long time and rightfully so imo . There was an awful lot not to like, but for the first time since at least a healthy Bob Gainey we are being run by a group that is clearly competent. It’s hard to be vulnerable and put your trust into a group after all the abuse we have endured as a fanbase, but I trust this group more than any other in my lifetime. The future is finally bright in Habs land.

Hey man, props for the post and for actually recognizing that.

I think every poster here has awesome qualities and I've certainly been in the negative nellie tailspin before, so no one is immune to that either.

But being able to recognize hey this is what I'm doing, this is actually different and I need to have a different perspective here - that's the mature thing to do.

Kudos man and looking forward to discussing more Habs hockey with you now that you've refreshed your perspective. Hope some others follow your example!

 

[BehindTheTimes]

Hey man, props for the post and for actually recognizing that.

I think every poster here has awesome qualities and I've certainly been in the negative nellie tailspin before, so no one is immune to that either.

But being able to recognize hey this is what I'm doing, this is actually different and I need to have a different perspective here - that's the mature thing to do.

Kudos man and looking forward to discussing more Habs hockey with you now that you've refreshed your perspective. Hope some others follow your example!

Thanks WeThreeKings. I appreciate the well thought out reply. MB caused lasting damage to this organization and its fan base. I’m not exaggerating, for the first time in my life I completely stopped watching Habs games for a couple of seasons. I feel like I’m just beginning to heal now.

I’ve never been more excited about a young group of talent and the direction the team is finally heading. It’s a breath of fresh air, they’re not perfect, they will make mistakes like everyone else, but they actually have a plan that is very evident even to a casual observer. Even if we miss the playoffs they are doing the right things. I was big fan of taking a flyer on Laine, if it works, fantastic, if not, not a big deal. Management, clearly puts a price tag on talent. What a contrast to MB.

I’m having a hard time finding decisions that I haven’t liked with this group. There are some, but at least the thought process can be understood. With MB there were red flags from the moment he hired Therrien. I’m confident this group would never undertake such a poor decision.

 

[salbutera]

Per MA Godin last D spot is between Xhekaj vs Mailloux