Canadiens Face No Option But Moving Dvorak After Laine Trade – Hockey Writers –

In a perfect world, Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes would be able to trade Josh Anderson and the remaining three seasons for $5.5 million each, after acquiring Patrik Laine. However, as much as Hughes has made great strides in realizing the perfect, offensive-minded world he envisioned when he was recruited, the hiccups remain.

Laine vs. Anderson

For example, Anderson, who had a good chance to play on the Canadiens' second line had Laine not been acquired, would have been assigned there to redeem something in his contract. After a difficult season with nine goals and 20 points, playing with Anderson center Kirby Dach, who showed the ability to make his teammates better, it makes sense.

However, Laine is in the picture. Considering his skill set, it's hard to envision the offense-Finn starting anywhere but at the top of the list (with a starting lineup of Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky all but officially confirmed). Therefore, there is no room for Anderson, unless the Canadiens have withdrawn from crippling themselves from the point of view of management and play forward with a cap hit of $ 5.5 million in the role of the bottom-six, with little offensive expectations.

Unfortunately, all 31 other GMs have eyes. They saw that Anderson had been struggling. Rarely do they face an expensive player with limited size in his offensive game. Of course, if you see the defender Jordan Harris, who returned to the Columbus Blue Jackets, as a compensation for Laine, they paid the Canadiens a second round to take the question mark of the forward (who scored 8.7 million dollars. ). So, in theory, it is possible.

However, Laine and Anderson are apples and oranges. Laine, 26, has the potential to score a point per game. Anderson, 30, has never scored more than 32 points with the Habs. Translation: No one takes him.

And, if no one takes Anderson, Hughes' focus should shift elsewhere. Because, finally, the Canadiens just added another forward to an already crowded situation up front. It's not even the $8.7 million hit that should be the biggest concern. With Habs beat writer Marco D'Amico, they have a ways to go before goaltender Carey Price goes down with a season-long injury, taking his $10.5 million out of the equation.

Dach Between Laine and Who?

As mentioned, it's best to have one roster spot that's a little bit ahead of Laine. Looking at it another way, Laine gives the Canadiens a chance to spread the offensive wealth across the roster to a large extent. If you think you can't put all your big-bodied eggs in one basket or playing Anderson (6-foot-3, 224 pounds) and Laine (6-foot-5, 215) and Dach (6-foot-4) . , 217), that leaves the Habs with two viable alternatives: Alex Newhook and Joshua Roy.

Putting Newhook at center, where he surprisingly filled in for the injured Dach last season, on the third line would be one way to spread that aforementioned offensive wealth. Putting Roy on that second line with Dach and Laine would be the way to currently put the prospect in the best position to succeed, with his defensive stance, “ability in transition, good vision … and nose for the net,” Montreal Hockey Nowby Marc Dumont. His strength and Dach's defense should also help limit Laine's tendencies alone, putting Laine in a much better position to succeed. This may work very well.

Unfortunately, there is a cog in this plan by the name of Christian Dvorak. Laine exacerbates the Dvorak conundrum Hughes is facing, where injuries, including the one in question, have forced the Canadiens to look to move down the middle. The result is that there is no place for Dvorak himself on the list if everyone else is healthy.

Revisiting the Dvorak Conundrum

To be clear, Dvorak is not a bad player. That, at $4.45 million a year, in his final year under contract, is not part of the team's long-term plans, especially playing a bottom-six role, when he was acquired by former GM Marc Bergevin. to be the team's No. 2 center. He has since been replaced by Dach (when healthy), Newhook (in reality) and possibly Jake Evans, his pending unrestricted teammate, who scored 28 points last season in an expanded role.

Related: Canadiens still bothered by Bergevin's contracts

Maybe the Canadiens don't trade Dvorak. Maybe they trade Evans and his 1.7 million hit rate instead. Maybe that means a 2013-14 London Knights reunion with Anderson on the fourth line, which could be “a thing.”

After all, Anderson and Newhook have played together before with less-than-stellar results. So, Anderson would be to that fourth line of thought, and, if he already has a cap hit of $5.5 million, you probably don't want Dvorak's $4.45 million to be followed as well. Since the latter is more marketable than Anderson as a tackle center with one year left under contract, he's the logical odd man out here, assuming Hughes can find a taker.

It has to be someone. Rafael Harvey-Pinard could be injured to start the season. However, you're still looking at eight names that make up the bottom six: Anderson, Dvorak, Evans, Newhook/Roy, Joel Armia, Alex Barre-Boulet/Emil Heineman, Brendan Gallagher and Michael Pezzetta (not including Harvey-Pinard if he does. come back).

Finally achieving a top six finish like Laine is glorious. In contrast, losing forwards was a priority in the offseason before. Now, unless you've moved on back to the Jackets, it's more than one. Actually it is only there is one left. Hughes must see that. And, with so much time left in the offseason, Hughes should have plenty of time to see it. It's fair to say that his vision so far has been spot on.