Renee: The Canadiens are loaded. I mean, seriously loaded. And that means some very good players are going to be watching from the press box this season.
Joel: Or worse, packing their bags for Laval. Training camp battles are about to get real.
Renee: You're locked into Beatline Podcast Network, and this is your Montreal Canadiens show. I'm Renee, joined as always by Joel. And today we're breaking down the biggest roster battles that will define this team's opening night.
Joel: We're talking the crease, the second line, and the blue line logjam. Plus, we'll give you our predictions on who's in and who's out.
Renee: And stick around, because we're going to tell you who's trending up and who's trending down as we get ready for that season opener in Toronto on September 29th.
Renee: Let's start with the position battle that's got everyone talking: the goaltending. Joel, you've been saying this is a three-man race for two spots. Is that still the case?
Joel: Absolutely. Sam Montembeault is the incumbent, Jakub Dobes is the young gun who stole games last year, and Kaapo Kahkonen is the veteran brought in to push both of them. It's a real competition.
Renee: And what about Jacob Fowler? He's the future, but is he ready to jump into this mix?
Joel: Fowler is the wild card. He had a great season in college, but he's probably not ready to be an everyday NHL goalie yet. I think he starts in Laval, but he's knocking on the door.
Renee: So, who's the odd man out? If you're making the call today, who's the odd man out?
Joel: Honestly, I think Kahkonen is the odd man out. Montembeault has earned the starter's job, and Dobes is the future. Kahkonen is a solid insurance policy, but he might not want to be the third stringer.
Renee: You think they'd trade him? Or maybe they carry three goalies?
Joel: Carrying three goalies is tough in the salary cap era. I think they try to move Kahkonen before the season starts. If not, he'll be in Laval.
Renee: I've got to say, this is the deepest goaltending group I've seen in Montreal in a long time. And it's a good problem to have.
Joel: Exactly. But it's also a distraction if it drags into the season. They need to settle this in camp.
Renee: Alright, let's move to the forward group. The top line is set with Suzuki, Caufield, and Slafkovsky. But the second line is up for grabs. Who do you see there?
Joel: That's the big one. You've got Kirby Dach, Alex Newhook, and Patrik Laine all fighting for top-six minutes. And don't forget Ivan Demidov, who just signed that huge extension.
Renee: Demidov is a lock for the top six, right? He was runner-up for rookie of the year.
Joel: Absolutely. Demidov is a lock. But that means someone else is getting bumped down. Laine and Dach have the pedigree, but Newhook had a solid season too.
Renee: So, who centers that second line? Dach or Newhook?
Joel: I think Dach gets the first crack. He's got the size and the playmaking ability to complement Demidov's skill. Newhook can slide to the wing or center the third line.
Renee: And what about Laine? Is he a top-six winger or is he better on the second power play unit?
Joel: Laine is a shooter, plain and simple. He can score from anywhere. But if he's not on the second line, he's still a weapon on the power play. I think he ends up on the third line with a chip on his shoulder.
Renee: That's a pretty expensive third line, but I like the depth. Now, the bottom six is another battleground. Who's fighting for those spots?
Joel: You've got Jake Evans, Owen Beck, Oliver Kapanen, and veterans like Josh Anderson and Brett Berard. It's a logjam of guys who can play center or wing.
Renee: I feel like Evans is a lock for the fourth line. He's a penalty kill specialist.
Joel: For sure. Evans is a lock. But Beck and Kapanen are the future down the middle. They might need to wait a bit longer, or they could force their way onto the roster.
Renee: So, you're saying there's a real battle for the last couple of forward spots?
Joel: Absolutely. Guys like Alex Belzile, Zack Bolduc, and Sam Poulin are in the mix too. It's going to be a tough call for the coaching staff.
Renee: Alright, let's shift to the blue line. This is where it gets really interesting. You've got a ton of defensemen and not enough spots. Joel, what's the pecking order?
Joel: The top four is pretty clear: Lane Hutson, Kaiden Guhle, Noah Dobson, and Alexandre Carrier. Those are your locks.
Renee: And then you've got guys like David Reinbacher, Arber Xhekaj, Jayden Struble, and Adam Engstrom fighting for the last two spots.
Joel: Exactly. Reinbacher is the future, but he's young. Xhekaj brings the physicality. Struble has shown he can play. Engstrom has offensive upside. It's a tough call.
Renee: We talked about this in yesterday's mailbag, but I still think they make a trade to address this logjam before the deadline. What's your prediction?
Joel: I think they keep Reinbacher up because he's waiver-exempt, and they send Xhekaj down if they need to. But it's going to be uncomfortable either way.
Renee: Let's make some bold predictions. Who's trending up and who's trending down as we head into camp?
Joel: Trending up: Owen Beck. He's a young center who's ready to push for a spot. He's got the two-way game that coaches love.
Renee: And trending down? I'd say Josh Anderson. He's been in trade rumors for a while and his role is shrinking.
Joel: I'd agree with that. Anderson is a veteran who's being squeezed out by younger, faster players. He might be on the move before the season starts.
Renee: Alright, let's wrap up with our final roster cut predictions. Who's in and who's out?
Joel: In goal, I've got Montembeault and Dobes. On defense, the top six are Hutson, Guhle, Dobson, Carrier, Reinbacher, and Xhekaj. Up front, the locks are Suzuki, Caufield, Slafkovsky, Demidov, Dach, Newhook, Laine, Evans, and Anderson.
Renee: So that leaves three forward spots open? That's where the real battles are.
Joel: Exactly. Those spots go to guys like Beck, Kapanen, Berard, Texier, or maybe a veteran like Belzile. It's going to be a tough decision.
Renee: That's a wrap on today's episode. We broke down the goaltending battle, the second-line puzzle, and the blue line logjam.
Joel: Make sure to subscribe, rate, and review the show. And share this episode with your fellow Habs fans.
Renee: We'll be back tomorrow with more analysis. Until then, go Habs go!