The Canadiens implemented several adjustments during the summer, and the team'sbottom six has changed significantly.
Specifically, the team released forwards Christian Dvorak and Joel Armia, both of whom have signed agreements with the Philadelphia Flyers and Los Angeles Kings respectively.
These two forwards frequently participated in the short-handed situation and created a successful penalty-kill partnership.
They contributed to the Habs securing ninth place in the NHL last season, achieving an 80.9% effectiveness rate on the penalty kill.
With the departure of David Savard, who stepped away from hockey after the previous season, it's clear that the Canadiens face multiple challenges in filling key roles.
It's unclear who will take their place next season.
In a perfect scenario, Nick Suzuki should participate in four-on-five situations as infrequently as possible (ideally not at all).
The latest addition to the Habs, center Joe Veleno,could potentially be included in the response.
The Montreal-born player states he's willing to take on the challenge if that's the position the Canadiens wish him to occupy.
Grant McCagg addressed the matter on the Recrutes Draftcast podcast and thinks that two athletes might take the place of Dvorak and Armia: Brendan Gallagher and Alex Newhook.
In Gallagher's situation, he has previously skated on the power play.
Furthermore, he is the type of athlete who isn't hesitant to get physical and put his body on the line, such as by blocking a shot – qualities that are beneficial when it comes to converting penalties.
Regarding Newhook, McCagg thinks his speed might be his key asset in limiting the opponent's strong offensive play.
On the other hand, the forward must enhance his performance in the face-off circle, as his 42.8% success rate last season suggests he will frequently rely on his speed to pursue the puck.
It's somewhat improved for Veleno, who secured 46.9% of his face-offs, but this is still significantly less than Dvorak's 55.8%.
In a nutshell, it will be intriguing to observe who will take part in the Habs' power play this fall, and remember that the team also needs to find a replacement for Savard on defense.
In Overtime
– A few free agents remain available.
– The two survivors.
– What an incredible night for Tarik Skubal!
– Ridiculous…
– A return at 46?
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