After the Trade: Roster Projection for the Montreal Canadiens

The trade of Mike Hoffman and Rem Pitlick may open opportunities for forwards but the Montreal Canadiens prospects on defense may be limited by the arrival of Jeff Petry.

After the initial wave of free agency signings concluded in July, I generated an early projection of the Canadiens' roster for their opening night matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

It was clear at the time that Kent Hughes would be making moves, and indeed he did, orchestrating a three-team trade that marked Jeff Petry's return to the organization. Now, let's dive into an evaluation of how this transaction will impact the team's lineup.

Here are the assumptions that will apply across the board for this exercise:

It's worth acknowledging that the probability of all four assumptions coming to fruition is low. Given the Canadiens' recent history of significant man-games lost due to injuries in the past two seasons, relying on a completely injury-free training camp and exhibition games is quite optimistic.

Since the initial roster projection, the organization has undergone changes. Both Mike Hoffman and Rem Pitlick are no longer part of the team, they were respectively traded to the San Jose Sharks and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Notably, Pitlick's departure does not have any bearing on Montreal's lineup, as the plan was for him to begin the season with the Laval Rocket if he cleared waivers.

The removal of Hoffman from the roster creates an opportunity for prospects to step onto the ice in the National Hockey League (NHL.) In my previous projection, Jesse Ylonen was projected to start as a scratch, but the updated situation indicates that he is now likely to begin on the fourth line.

The team boasts significant flexibility regarding the 13th forward slot on the roster. Sean Farrell, Emil Heineman, Lias Andersson, and Owen Beck are all strong candidates. While all four stand a fair chance, I believe Beck holds the advantage for opening night. The rationale behind this choice is that Beck isn't eligible to play in the American Hockey League (AHL). If he doesn't stay in Montreal, he would need to return to the Canadian Hockey League (CHL.)

However, it's important to note that Beck beginning the season in the NHL doesn't guarantee his presence there for the entire season. In the 2022-23 season, the 19-year-old was called up on an emergency basis by the Canadiens for a single game in Ottawa. This year, the organization might decide to prolong his exposure to professional players before sending him to the Peterborough Petes.

Petry's addition to the blue line introduced an extra player to a defensive unit that was already well-stocked. With veterans like Petry, Mike Matheson, and David Savard taking a substantial amount of ice time, the responsibilities of the team's younger defensemen are likely to be limited. 

In this particular scenario, I anticipate that Jordan Harris, Arber Xhekaj, and Johnathan Kovacevic will rotate for the two spots on the third pairing. For opening night, Xhekaj might have the edge over Harris due to the potential need for a physical player to counter the Maple Leafs' Ryan Reaves.

Notably, Justin Barron and Chris Wideman will not be included in the already crowded defensive unit. Should Wideman successfully clear waivers, he would be reassigned to the Laval Rocket. Coach Jean-Francois Houle is undoubtedly excited about the prospect of having both individuals on his roster. 

The arrival of Casey DeSmith won't disrupt the duo of Jake Allen and Sam  Montembeault. Similar to Cayden Primeau, DeSmith will need to pass through waivers before being assigned to the American Hockey League (AHL.) He will be an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of the season. 

Montembeault is also entering the final year of his contract, but he received assurance from Hughes after the recent trade that his position remains secure.

The trade between the Canadiens and the Penguins has liberated the forward group, providing some room for prospects to take on significant responsibilities.

On the defence, Hughes faces the task of moving the team toward a similar situation. Ideally, he might explore the option of trading Petry while retaining a portion of his salary in exchange for a draft pick. 

In terms of goaltending, there exists a possibility of the team exposing two netminders to waivers. It's quite likely that the general manager is already actively seeking a trade partner to mitigate this situation.