If the Canadiens go shopping for help up front and come away with a winger instead of a center, the lineup picture changes fast.
That’s the scenario Marc-Olivier Beaudoin laid out, with Will Cuylle as the target and Kirby Dach heading the other way in the deal. Cuylle, a 24-year-old winger who scored 20 goals last season, would bring more intensity and another proven scorer into Montreal’s top six.
In Beaudoin’s version, the top two lines would look like this: Caufield-Suzuki-Cuylle, then Slafkovsky-Kapanen-Demidov. The rest of the forward group would be Newhook-Danault-Bolduc and Texier-Evans-Anderson.
Beaudoin was clear about the catch. He said, “If the Canadiens are able to acquire a winger (like Will Cuylle) and not a center, I'd be more comfortable with Kapanen as the 2nd center if Slafkovsky plays on the 2nd line.
Caufield-Suzuki-Cuylle*
Slafkovsky-Kapanen-Demidov
Newhook-Danault-Bolduc
Texier-Evans-Anderson
*Dach included in the trade.
I'm really not a fan of Kapanen as the 2nd center but if no center is available, we'll have to make do.
Kapanen had his best moments surrounded by Slafkovsky and Demidov, he can handle more of the defensive aspect of the line while the other 2 produce offensively.
Kirby Dach would be the trade chip for Will Cuylle”
Beaudoin even admitted the setup leaves him uneasy. Kapanen isn’t a natural fit as a second-line center, even after scoring 22 goals last season. But the logic is straightforward: he’s already shown his best stretches with Slafkovsky and Demidov, and in that arrangement he can handle the defensive side while the two wingers focus on creating offense.
Cuylle may not be the perfect answer, but in this scenario he would still be a meaningful addition for Montreal.
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