Renee: Chris Kreider is wearing the Montreal Canadiens uniform. Thirty-five years old, 348 career goals, and he just signed a one-year deal after parting ways with the Anaheim Ducks. That is not a minor acquisition. That is a statement.
Joel: And it changes the entire dynamic of this forward group. We’ve talked about Ivan Demidov’s eight-year extension for days now, but Kreider brings a veteran presence that’s going to test every other player on this roster immediately.
Renee: Welcome to today’s episode of Beatline! I’m Renee, and alongside me as always is Joel. If you’re new here, we are your daily source for everything Canadiens. Today, we are diving straight into the trenches: Roster Battles. We have three things coming up. First, we break down the intense competition at center ice—there are eight guys listed there, folks. Second, we look at the defensive corps, which has grown significantly with names like Noah Dobson joining the fold. And third, we predict who makes the opening night lineup against Toronto on September 29th and who gets sent down.
Joel: It’s going to be a long training camp if they keep this many bodies around. But that’s good news for the fans because it means competition is fierce. You want to see Lane Hutson play? He’s going to have to outplay Kaiden Guhle and David Reinbacher every single day.
Renee: Before we get into the nitty-gritty of these positional battles, I want to take a quick second to talk about this show. We put hours into breaking down these rosters, tracking these injuries, and analyzing these matchups so you don’t have to guess. If you’ve enjoyed our deep dives into the Demidov extension or the Gallagher trade fallout, please consider supporting us. It keeps the show free and daily. Just head to the link in the episode description. Your support helps us keep bringing you this level of detail. Now, let’s get to work.
Renee: Okay, Segment One: The most important position battle right now. Center ice. We have Nick Suzuki anchoring the top line, obviously. But look at this list: Owen Beck, Kirby Dach, Phillip Danault, Jared Davidson, Jake Evans, Oliver Kapanen, Alex Newhook, and Nick Suzuki. Eight centers. Who is fighting for the bottom-six spots?
Joel: This is where it gets interesting. You have experience in Danault and Evans, but then you have the young guns. Beck and Kapanen are playing hard minutes. My question is, does the coaching staff trust Newhook enough to play him alongside Kreider? Because if they do, that line could be deadly.
Renee: I love that idea. Kreider, Newhook, and maybe Caufield? No, wait, Caufield is RW. So Kreider, Newhook, and... who? Maybe Belzile? Or is Newhook moving to wing to make room for someone else in the middle?
Joel: That’s the tactical puzzle. Newhook has played both sides. But if you want speed and forechecking, you look at Beck. He’s hungry. He wants to prove himself after seeing his minutes fluctuate last year. I think Beck starts on the third line, pushing Danault to fourth. But Danault won’t go quietly.
Renee: Right, Danault knows how to win. He’s a vet. But Kapanen? He’s got that skill set. If he can win the faceoff battle, even a little bit, he stays. What about Olivier Kapanen’s two-way game? Do you trust him in the neutral zone?
Joel: He’s fast. Faster than most of the veterans. But his decision-making under pressure is still developing. That’s why I think he’ll compete for a spot but might start the season as the emergency call-up if things get tight. Unless... unless they trade one of the older centers. Is anyone listening?
Renee: I don’t think they trade anyone yet. They need depth. Let’s talk about Alex Newhook. If he doesn’t win a regular spot, does he move permanently to the wing to play with Kreider? That line looks scary for opponents.
Joel: If Newhook moves to wing, you lose some versatility in the middle. But you gain a power-play unit that could score 50 goals between those three. Kreider creates space, Newhook finds seams, and if you had Caufield on the other side... wait, Caufield is RW. So maybe Kreider, Newhook, and Sam Poulin? No, that doesn't feel right. It has to be Newhook on the wing, and someone else in the middle.
Renee: So who takes the middle spot? Jake Evans? He’s reliable. But is he explosive enough for a top-six role if Newhook is gone? I feel like Evans is the glue guy. He’s going to be on the fourth line, killing penalties, and winning matches. He’s the heart of this team.
Joel: Exactly. Evans is the definition of a fourth-line center. He gives you energy. But if you’re looking for production, you’re looking at Beck or Kapanen. I think Beck wins the job. He’s been waiting for this moment. He’s going to skate circles around everyone in camp.
Renee: Beck it is. So, Suzuki top, Newhook maybe wing or second line, Beck third, Evans fourth. Where does Danault fit? He’s too good to just be a locker room guy.
Joel: He plays. Every night. Maybe he shifts to wing occasionally to give the kids a rest. But he’s in the lineup. You don’t bench a guy with his track record unless he’s injured. So, eight centers, four likely spots. The other four are competing for call-ups or trades.
Renee: Jared Davidson and Owen Beck seem to be the ones watching each other closely. It’s going to be a war in practice. Stick with us, because we’re not done with the forwards yet.
Renee: Segment Two: Two more battles. First up, the Left Wing slot next to Chris Kreider. We have Brett Berard, Juraj Slafkovsky, Alexandre Texier, and Florian Xhekaj. Kreider is a power forward. Who complements him best?
Joel: Slafkovsky is the obvious choice. He’s big, he’s skilled, and he’s only getting better. If you put Slafkovsky on the left with Kreider, you have a wall of muscle. But do you want to clog the middle? Maybe Berard is the better fit because he’s faster. He can chase pucks and create turnover opportunities.
Renee: Berard has that hustle. But Slafkovsky is your franchise LW. You don’t hide him on the fourth line. He needs to play top-nine minutes. I think Slafkovsky wins this battle outright. He’s too talented to sit.
Joel: Agreed. Slafkovsky is a lock. The real battle is for the second spot. Berard vs. Texier. Texier has size, but Berard has edge. In the NHL, edge matters. Especially against a team like Toronto. You need guys who aren’t afraid to drop the gloves if needed, or at least body people up.
Renee: Florian Xhekaj is also in the mix. He’s huge. Does he have the hockey IQ to play with Kreider? Or is he just a enforcer type?
Joel: Xhekaj is raw. He’s learning. I think he starts in the AHL unless he shows significant improvement in camp. Berard and Texier are closer. I’ll take Berard because he’s younger and has more upside. Texier is solid, but Berard is exciting.
Renee: Okay, so Slafkovsky and Berard win the LW spots. Now, Right Wing. This is the crowded section. Josh Anderson, Alex Belzile, Zack Bolduc, Cole Caufield, Ivan Demidov, Patrik Laine, and Sam Poulin. Seven guys. Who makes the cut?
Joel: Caufield and Demidov are locks. Caufield is your goal scorer. Demidov is your rising star with that eight-year deal. You can’t bench either of them. The question is who plays with whom. Does Demidov play with Caufield? That’s a lethal duo.
Renee: Demidov and Caufield together sounds amazing. But what about Laine? He’s a sniper. Does he play? Or is he a liability defensively?
Joel: Laine is a streaky player. If he’s hot, you play him. If he’s cold, he sits. But with Demidov and Caufield locked in, Laine is fighting for the third spot. I think he starts on the bench. He needs to earn his minutes. Poulin and Bolduc are also in the mix. Bolduc has speed. Poulin has size.
Renee: Anderson is the vet. He provides toughness. Do you trust him in the playoffs? Or is he just a regular-season guy?
Joel: Anderson is great for physicality. But in today’s game, speed wins. I think Bolduc edges him out for the final spot because he can play both ways better. Anderson might be the first man out if they need to trim the roster.
Renee: So Caufield, Demidov, and Bolduc? That’s a fast line. What about Belzile? He’s a grinder. He might be the fourth-line RW.
Joel: Belzile is perfect for the fourth line. He’s smart, he’s tough, and he won’t make mistakes. So, your top six RWs are Caufield, Demidov, Laine (maybe), Bolduc, Belzile, and Anderson. The seventh spot is up for grabs. It’s going to be brutal.
Renee: Sam Poulin is the dark horse. If he scores in preseason, he stays. But I think Bolduc is the safer bet. Let’s shift to defense. We have a lot of bodies here. Alexandre Carrier, Noah Dobson, Adam Engstrom, Kaiden Guhle, Lane Hutson, Joel Matheson, Owen Protz, David Reinbacher, Ethan Samson, Jayden Struble, Maksymilian Szuber, Arber Xhekaj. Twelve defensemen. That’s a lot.
Joel: Twelve. Yes. Dobson and Guhle are your top pair. Hutson and Reinbacher are your second pair. That leaves four spots for six players. Carrier, Engstrom, Matheson, Protz, Samson, Struble, Szuber, Xhekaj. Wait, I miscounted. There are twelve total. So four make the team. It’s going to be a camp battle for every single spot.
Renee: Lane Hutson is the buzzword. Everyone wants to see him. Can he handle the NHL pace? Or is he too small?
Joel: Hutson is small, but he’s incredibly skilled. He sees the ice differently. If he can survive the hit, he’s an All-Star. But physically? He’s vulnerable. Reinbacher is bigger and smarter. I think Hutson and Reinbacher start on the second pair. It’s their job to lose.
Renee: What about Arber Xhekaj? He’s massive. Do you play a giant defenseman in the modern game?
Joel: You play him when you need to protect a lead or shut down a physical team. He’s a specialist. But he can’t log 20 minutes a night. He’s probably a healthy scratch early on unless they get hurt.
Renee: Noah Dobson is the superstar here. He’s going to play 25 minutes a night. Does he need help? Or is he carrying the load?
Joel: Dobson is elite. But he needs a partner who can clear the front of the net. Guhle is that partner. They’re the top pair. The rest of the team is chasing them. It’s a steep hill to climb.
Renee: Goalies. Jakub Dobes, Jacob Fowler, Kaapo Kahkonen, Sam Montembeault. Four goalies. Who starts?
Joel: Montembeault is the veteran. He knows the system. Kahkonen is the wild card. He has talent, but consistency issues. I think Montembeault starts unless Kahkonen dominates camp. Fowler and Dobes are likely AHL starters.
Renee: Kahkonen has injury history though. Does that affect his standing?
Joel: It makes him risky. But teams take risks on talent. If he’s healthy, he’s the starter. If he’s not, Montembeault steps in. It’s a coin flip.
Renee: We’ll see how camp goes. Stick with us, because we’re predicting cuts next.
Renee: Segment Three: Roster-cut predictions. Who is trending up and who is trending down? Based on what we’ve discussed, who do you think gets sent down to the AHL?
Joel: Trending down: Florian Xhekaj and Arber Xhekaj. They’re too raw for the NHL right now. Also, Owen Protz. He’s a project. Trending up: Brett Berard and Lane Hutson. They’re making plays.
Renee: I agree on Xhekaj. He’s too inexperienced. But what about Patrik Laine? Is he trending down because of his contract or his performance?
Joel: His performance is inconsistent. If he doesn’t score in the first five games, he’s trending down. But his name sells tickets. So he might stay. It’s a business decision.
Renee: True. Let’s talk about the defense. Who gets cut? I think Jayden Struble is the odd man out. He’s too similar to Guhle but less skilled.
Joel: Struble is safe. He’s a defensive defender. You need that. I think Ethan Samson is the one who gets sent down. He’s young and needs more development.
Renee: Samson it is. So, final roster prediction: Goalies: Montembeault and Kahkonen. Defense: Dobson-Guhle, Hutson-Reinbacher, Carrier-Engstrom. Forwards: Suzuki-Newhook-Caufield, Kreider-Demidov-Berard, Beck-Slafkovsky-Bolduc, Evans-Belzile-Poulin. That’s 23 players. Who’s the last cut?
Joel: Alex Newhook. If he doesn’t win the center job, he’s the last cut. But I think he makes it as a sixth-center. So maybe Sam Poulin is the last cut. He’s versatile but not elite.
Renee: Poulin is the last cut. He’s a nice depth piece, but with so many RWs, he gets squeezed out. Final thought: How do you see the Atlantic Division race? We predicted second place before. Do you still believe that?
Joel: Yes. With Kreider and Demidov locked in, plus the young core, they’re dangerous. But Toronto and Boston are strong. I still say second place. And the opener against Toronto? Still overtime. These teams are too evenly matched.
Renee: Overtime it is. Thanks for joining us for this deep dive into the Canadiens’ roster battles. We covered the center ice war, the LW/RW showdowns, the defensive logjam, and our final cut predictions. If you enjoyed this breakdown, please subscribe, rate, and review us on your favorite platform. Share this with a fellow Habs fan. Go Habs Go!