Do you believe the Habs have a legitimate chance to win a Stanley Cup or two before 2030? If so, on what basis?
Mitch Lafon on X — @mitchlafon
Yes.
Before the start of last season, I wrote a column predicting that the Canadiens would win the Stanley Cup in 2030 – although it now appears that could happen sooner, with the team ahead of schedule in the rebuilding process.
I wrote that the reason to believe the Canadiens could win the Stanley Cup in 2030 was because “the players accept the systems/concepts St. Louis is putting in place and enjoy playing an offensive style of game for the Hall of Famer.”
I also wrote that the reason for the skepticism was: “Defense and goaltending are the two biggest question marks.”
The reason to believe and the logic for the skepticism now remains the same, although adding Noah Dobson to the defense this season has been a big plus.
If GM Kent Hughes can find a power forward to play with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield on the No. 1 line, and Jacob Fowler develops into the goaltender of the future, the Canadiens should be Stanley Cup contenders in 2030.
What will the Habs do to get more sandpaper for the playoffs?
Benoit Pigeon on X — @BenoitBirdman
As noted above, adding a power forward to play with Suzuki and Caufield would help.
Kirby Dach has been given a chance to fill that role since returning from his broken foot, but he seems hesitant when it comes to being physical and playing with sandpaper – perhaps because of all his injuries. Zachary Bolduc got some time on the No. 1 line in Thursday’s game against the Sabers and he does have some natural character in his game.
Arber Xhekaj brings a lot of sandpaper to the lineup and it was surprising to see him make a healthy scratch for a second straight game against the Sabers in favor of Jayden Struble.
The Canadiens need Xhekaj in the lineup for the playoffs.
When the Habs get back to full health, do you see any kind of suitability for Patrik Laine on this roster?
Andrew Sutherland on X — @AndrewSuth9
That’s one of many tough questions St. Louis will have to answer once everyone is healthy.
“The decisions you make … to be a leader means you have to make decisions that negatively impact the people you love,” St. Louis said this week when asked about the tough roster decisions he will face. “But that’s the position… the position has a price. You pay the price. It’s not easy conversations, but it starts with the truth.”
“The easiest thing for a coach is certainly six defensemen who don’t get injured for 82 games, 12 forwards who don’t get injured for 82 games, and two goalies,” St. Louis added. “Then you have zero conversations. But that’s impossible. The job has a price. It’s an important job. It’s not easy. There’s not one player who likes to be told he’s not playing. But it’s the NHL.”
The Canadiens’ power play is 0-for-6 over the last two games and a big reason for that is because they aren’t shooting the puck enough. Laine likes to shoot the puck on the power play and could help on that front.
This is the final season of Laine’s contract with a US$8.7 million salary cap hit and you have to think Hughes would like to get something in return for the 27-year-old forward before the March 6 NHL trade deadline if he doesn’t have a future with the Canadiens. Laine should also be highly motivated if he returns as he looks for a new contract from Montreal or another NHL team.
So I expect the Canadiens to find a spot for him in the lineup – even if it’s temporary.
Do you see Michael Hage playing meaningful games for the Habs this year? Does Filip Mesar also have a future with the Habs?
Paul O on X — @nanerc_paul
I would be surprised if Hage doesn’t turn pro after his sophomore season at the University of Michigan and after being the leading scorer at the IIHF World Junior Championship with a 2-13-15 total in seven games for Team Canada. In 24 games at Michigan this season, Hage has 12-20-32 totals.
The Canadiens are at center with Suzuki, Oliver Kapanen, Phillip Danault and Jake Evans. If Hage turns pro, he certainly wants to play at least one game in the NHL to burn off the first year of his entry-level contract, but that could depend on where the Canadiens find themselves in the playoff race after his college season ends.
Danault has one season left on his contract, and playing a full year with the Rocket next season would be a good next step in Hage’s development.
As for Mesar, he has struggled again with the Rocket this season, posting 4-10-14 totals in 40 games after 4-14-18 totals in 42 games last season.
The 22-year-old forward has not lived up to expectations after being selected in the first round (26th overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft. That’s the same year the Canadiens took Slafkovsky with the No. 1 overall pick, Owen Beck with the 33rd pick, Lane Hutson with the 62nd pick, Adam Engstrom with the 92nd pick and Jared Davidson with the 130th pick. Mesar is the only one of those players who hasn’t played a game with the Canadiens.
The 6-foot-1, 181-pound Mesar has one season left on his NHL entry-level contract, and at this point I don’t see him having a future with the Canadiens.
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