The Canadiens’ latest defensive look in Brossard put Jayden Struble on the outside of the regular pairings, at least for now.
During practice and the intrasquad game, Lane Hutson and Noah Dobson were lined up together, with Struble rotating in behind them. That setup strongly suggests Struble is being viewed as the extra defenseman, and possibly behind Arber Xhekaj in the pecking order.
The rest of the defensive combinations offered plenty to watch. Alexandre Carrier skated with Xhekaj, while Adam Engström was paired with David Reinbacher.
That Engström-Reinbacher duo stands out because of the competition around them. Xhekaj, Struble, Engström and Reinbacher are all in the mix for roster spots this season, making every pairing choice worth noting.
Xhekaj remains without a contract, but that hasn’t kept him out of summer training sessions this week. Reinbacher has also made his goal clear: he wants to make the NHL immediately rather than head back to Laval for another season.
Hutson and Dobson were already a dangerous pair last season, and they played a major part in the team’s success. That familiarity gives Montreal at least one pairing that looks set heading into camp.
Mike Matheson was the other notable absence from the intrasquad game, skating on his own without taking part. No reason was given.
That’s a situation worth watching closely, given how important Matheson has been as one of the Canadiens’ defensive pillars over the past several seasons.
The first real test arrives on September 16, when official training camp begins and these combinations get a more competitive look.
In Other News...
Canadiens Face A Pricey Adam Fantilli Decision They Can't Ignore
Montreals center picture already looks crowded enough for next season, with Nick Suzuki, Oliver Kapanen, Jake Evans and Phillip Danault expected to hold down the middle and Kirby Dach still in the mix as another option. Even so, the Canadiens are keeping an eye on a bigger swing if the opportunity ever opens up, and that means watching the situation in Columbus closely as Adam Fantilli works through his contract talks with the Blue Jackets.
For Montreal, the appeal is obvious: Fantilli is the kind of young center who can change a lineups ceiling. The problem is just as obvious, too. Any serious run at him would come with a steep price, and the kind of move that could pry him loose would not be a simple cap maneuver or a minor trade adjustment. It would be the sort of commitment that forces a team to decide how badly it wants to chase a franchise piece. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Suddenly Have A Bruins Trade Chance Fans Will Debate
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For Montreal, the appeal is obvious: Zacha would bring a useful middle-six presence and give the club another option in a spot it wants to strengthen. For Boston, moving a veteran forward in the right deal could make sense if the roster reshuffle continues to tilt in Mintens direction. The real question is whether two teams that rarely deal with one another can find a framework that both sides can live with, because the history between them suggests this would take more than a passing phone call. [Read more 🡒]
Lane Hutson Just Added To A Canadiens Debate Fans Love
Corey Pronmans latest 2022 NHL Draft re-ranking gave Canadiens fans plenty to chew on, especially because it centered on the same class that already shapes so much of the teams future conversation. Juraj Slafkovsky stayed at No. 1 in Pronmans view, and the exercise was built around long-term upside rather than a simple do-over of draft night, which is why these lists tend to ignite the kind of debates that linger well beyond the original selection.
The most intriguing part for Montreal is Lane Hutsons rise from a second-round pick to a level usually reserved for the drafts elite, joining Cutter Gauthier in the upper tier of the re-rank. Logan Cooley landed ahead of him, which only adds another layer to the discussion about how teams should value skill, projection and development, and why the Canadiens draft haul remains such a favorite topic whenever these rankings surface. [Read more 🡒]