The Montreal Canadiens made it to the Eastern Conference Final this season. That’s farther than almost anyone expected. They lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in five games, but the message is clear: this team is not a fluke.
Now general manager Kent Hughes is looking at the roster and figuring out where the holes are. According to a report from David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, the organization has three specific positions it wants to upgrade before next season starts.
A second-line center. A second-pair right-shot defenseman. And a second-line left winger.
That third one is interesting because Montreal apparently tried to address it at the trade deadline. They had a deal in place for Matthew Knies from the Toronto Maple Leafs, a big power forward who would have fit nicely on the left side. But the trade was submitted too late and got voided. So that need carried over into the offseason.
The center situation has been a talking point for months. Captain Nick Suzuki is locked in on the first line and playing at a high level. But behind him, the Habs have been running Jake Evans and Phillip Danault in roles that might be better suited for depth guys. Adding a legitimate second-line center would push everyone down a slot where they’re more effective. It would also take some of the offensive pressure off Suzuki, who had to carry a heavy load this year.
On defense, Montreal has some young talent that’s exciting. Lane Hutson looks like a future star. Mike Matheson is a steady veteran presence. But the blue line is heavy on left shots, and they need a right-handed defenseman who can log second-pair minutes. Martin St. Louis needs more options back there, especially when the games get tight in the playoffs. A reliable right-shot defender would help stabilize things and give the coaching staff more flexibility in matchups.
The good news for Hughes is he has options. The Canadiens have cap room to play with, and their prospect pool is one of the deeper ones in the league. That gives him the ability to make a trade or go after a free agent if the right guy is available.
Montreal plays in the Atlantic Division, which is still a brutal neighborhood. Florida, Tampa, Boston, Toronto — none of them are going anywhere. But the Canadiens just proved they can hang with the big boys. If Hughes can fill these three spots, this team could be a real problem for the rest of the conference.
Leave a Comment