This coming fall will see the Canadiens attempt to replicate a pretty solid 16-17 season. There have been some big departures and additions in all areas of the roster and with that there maybe only be a need for one Forward and Defenseman to fill out the roster.
The Canadiens will likely find these players from within, or from the recently signed. In saying this I would like to present some players I think have the biggest shot at staying with the team this fall.
I will get this out of the way early, the Canadiens need a first line Center. I am almost at the point where I believe it doesn't need mentioning anymore. We all know they don't have one. We all know there isn't one coming through the pipeline, unless Ryan Poehling can take his offense to the next level.
The first line C will likely be filled by Danault with the possibility of Drouin and Galchenyuk getting their shot at it too. None of this is certain, aside from Danault playing top 6 Center, so we will all wait and see if there is a deal to be made or if Julien and Co. will mould one of the gifted youngsters into a top 6 C. So, let's move on.
There is likely a RW and C bottom line spot available this spring along with a 6-7-8 D/press box spot. Not terribly difficult positions to fill but when the wear and tear of a NHL season starts planting guys in the doctors office and on IR the test of a teams depth becomes the game within the game.
First, I would like to speak about a player who should start with the Canadiens, injuries or not: Charles Hudon.
The 2012 5th round, 122nd overall pick Hudon is an undersized LW (5'10", 195 lbs) but today's NHL should provide him with a smoother transition to The Show, especially if the NHL is genuine about its next initiative: curbing slashing to the hands and wrists.
He has spent the last few seasons in the AHL and last year put up 27 goals, 22 assists in 56 games while adding 4 points (1g/3a) in 4 playoff games. He has also had a cup of coffee at the NHL level the last two seasons playing 3 games in each season and posting 2 assists in each season as well.
Hudon has the hands, the skill, and the drive to stay in the NHL. Leaving him in the AHL any longer may not help him realize his NHL potential. He deserves his shot, he needs a shot to become an NHL regular. His small NHL body of work is not enough to confidently say what type of NHL'er he can become, but it would make sense that he will get a chance in a 4th line role with the opportunity to jump into lines 2 and 3 when injuries occur. He has displayed the scoring ability at all levels and he needs a long look at the NHL level. I think this season is when it happens and hopefully he makes the most of it.
The Canadiens LW spots all appear to be accounted for with the likes of Pacioretty, Galchenyuk, Drouin, Byron, and Lehkonen. One or two of Galchenyuk or Drouin could be shifted to a Center position to open up a opportunity for Hudon this season or he could be shifted to the far weaker right side.
Most Canadiens fans have viewed Nikita Scherbak as the next big scoring right winger since he was drafted 26th overall in 2014, but the large winger has yet to show consistency and maturity at the pro levels.
Scherbak is a large 6'2", 190 lbs left shot RW who can display some schwifty moves in the offensive zone. His defensive play and effort has left a lot to be desired though and that's why the 21 year old hasn't been told to find a place to live in Montreal.
This upcoming camp is a huge opportunity for Scherbak to take control of his career and show the Canadiens he has the skill to produce at the next level. In junior, Scherbak showed amazing skill. I hope he has put himself in a position by the end of summer to take those skills to the next level.
The role for Scherbak isn't on a checking or PK unit, it's a scoring role. He must show this year, whether it's in NHL or AHL, that he can produce offense at these levels or he might find himself on the outs for good in Montreal. He only produced 13 goals and 28 assists in 66 games last year with St. John's and 1 goal in 3 games with the Canadiens. With the Habs RW currently occupied by only Gallagher, Shaw, and Hemsky (and Shaw could possibly be shifted to 3rd line C) the time to act is now for Nikita. You can expect that depth chart to be even shorter once Hemsky reaches his 20 game a season limit and is lost to a season ending injury, as is tradition. As I mentioned earlier, I think Hudon might be shifted to this side to get finally get him in the NHL, but even if that happens there is still a top 9 role available on that side for Scherbak, barring any further moves by Marc Bergevin of course.
The last forward I can see getting one of the first call ups would be C Jacob De La Rose (DLR). The 22 year old 2013 2nd round pick (34th) does not appear to be destined for a top 6 NHL role, and that's fine. He plays a very responsible two way game that should see him as next in line to take a 3rd or 4th line C position. In only 9 games of NHL action DLR did not record a single point but put up 14 goals and 17 assists in 62 AHL games. So, while he has some offense, it's not a dominant part of his game. His play as a responsible two way center will be his ticket to Montreal and perhaps he will become what we all hoped Lars Eller would become.
Montreal's center depth is not elite with Danault, Plekanec, and Mitchell, but a shift of Galchenyuk or Drouin could change that pretty quickly. Both of those players have elite potential and Danault is a perfect 2nd line C, in my opinion. Shaw could also be moved to 3rd line C, if needed. If no one internally is moved to Center, and Bergevin does not address this need during the rest of summer, then it will be another season with underwhelming Center depth likely leading to an inability to score when it counts.
On defense, the opportunities are not there to start this season. The blue line will be occupied by: Weber, Alzner, Petry, Benn, Jerabek, Schlemko, Davidson, and Morrow. There simply isn't any room for someone to step in from the the AHL level until there are two or three injuries at the same time, which we all hope won't happen.
However, the likely call ups if/when injuries occur on the back end should be the 28 year old, right hand shooting Zach Redmond and 30 year old, left shooting Matt Taormina. Both of these players have had productive AHL time, by point production standards, and both haven't been able to earn a full time NHL job. Their AHL stats show they are offense oriented defensemen and if they are called on to platoon in while others heal then hopefully they can be serviceable at worst, surprisingly productive at best.
I will mention that there is a good possibility that C Michael McCarron makes the NHL roster as well, but at this point I think he needs more AHL time to be the number one guy and prepare for a second or third line role. I think DLR brings a better, more consistent game right now and that's why I listed him as someone who could make the team come October.
OVERTIME
I was finished with this post and then saw the Duchene update on the main page. So I'll give my thoughts.
This site is reporting Montreal is back into the Duchene-Debacle. At this point, if I was a GM, I wouldn't be answering Sakic's calls. He seems hell bent on pulling another GM's pants down in a trade and there just isn't many GM's lining up to participate.
Sakic is slowly painting himself into a corner with terrible asset management and other competent GM's are sitting back and waiting. If you are a GM trying to acquire Duchene you can plainly see that Sakic and his crew are being completely unreasonable with all negotiations and you can sit back and wait for the inevitable price drop or watch as one of your peers puts his job on the line by paying Sakic's ridiculous price for Duchene.
I have no doubt Duchene can be a 60+ point player but he's only under contract for two more years and then he can walk out the door. Is any team going to give up a top 4 D, a top prospect, a first round pick, plus the GM's first born son for a player that could walk away in two years? Big nope. He will get a top prospect and probably a first round pick but it won't be much more than that.
Look at Drouin for Sergachev as an example. Drouin is an elite impact player in the making and he was dealt for a blue chip defensive prospect in Sergachev. I would also say that I would take Drouin over Duchene on my team, if I had to chose. So, to me Drouin is a more valuable asset. So, if Drouin gets Sergachev, Duchene gets what?
Colorado has no other choice now but wait until a GM cracks (unlikely) or until Sakic cracks. You know what? I change my mind about what I would do if Sakic was calling and trying to destroy me in a deal. I would answer and always politely decline because eventually he will run out of time to make a deal and I would be waiting with open arms to give him a first, second, and prospect (not Mete or Poehling) for Duchene.
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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