Canadiens Training Camp Battles: Wild Card Wingers, Dark Horse Picks
While most of the attention heading into training camp has focused on the lack of a bona fide No. 2 centre, the Montreal Canadiens also face several question marks among their wingers.
There is a clear imbalance on the left side of the ice, seeing as Juraj Slafkovsky and Alexandre Texier were the only full-time left-wingers last season. It should be noted that Texier produced very encouraging underlying numbers, and may end up being one of the best-value forwards on the team by the end of the upcoming season.
Zachary Bolduc can play on the left, though he has yet to lock down a permanent role in the lineup, and he’s yet to sign a contract extension less than a week out of the start of training camp, scheduled for September 16.
Alex Newhook is another option on that side, but he has been used all over the ice with the Canadiens, most notably as a centre for a significant stretch of games last year.
On the right, the Habs will once again rely on Cole Caufield as their primary goal-scoring threat, with Ivan Demidov representing the most talented player on the second line. Josh Anderson is expected to fill a bottom-six role; at this stage of his career, reaching 30 points would represent a solid accomplishment.
The Wild Cards
As with the evaluation of the available centres heading into training camp, Kirby Dach stands out as a potential solution to the Canadiens’ lack of top-nine winger depth.
He views himself as a centre, but his struggles at the faceoff dot, reflected in a paltry 36.5% career success rate, make it increasingly clear that he is better suited on the wing. A low faceoff percentage does not automatically diminish a player’s value at centre; it remains one of the most overvalued statistics in hockey, particularly for someone who can still dictate the flow of play. When a player continues to dominate possession metrics despite losing draws, faceoff work is clearly not a significant drag on overall performance.
In Dach’s case, however, the underlying numbers are also poor, mirroring his difficulties whenever he takes a draw. Moving him to the wing would therefore simplify his responsibilities, ease the defensive burden, and allow him to concentrate more fully on his offensive game.
Beyond Dach, fans should keep a close eye on Sasha Pastujov, acquired in a summer trade for Sean Farrell. Pastujov posted 21 goals and 36 assists in 71 games for the San Diego Gulls (AHL), finishing the year as the team’s most productive player. A strong training camp may not secure him an NHL roster spot to open the season, but it would place him at the front of the line for call-ups from the Laval Rocket.
Dark Horse Candidate
There’s been considerable movement within the Canadiens’ lineup in recent years, resulting in a series of auditions for players hoping to finally secure a permanent NHL roster spot.
Had the Habs re-signed Samuel Blais, he would have been the immediate choice as the team’s dark-horse candidate on the wing. In a 13-game stint with Montreal, he produced five even-strength points while posting good underlying numbers. With Blais now in the Ottawa Senators organization, the door has opened for other players in a similar position.
Samuel Poulin, selected 21st overall in 2019, will be hungry for both success and a redemption arc. He has yet to live up to his draft position, and at age 25 the pressure is mounting to finally crack an NHL lineup. Promising young players can quickly become aging tweeners, a fate Poulin will be eager to avoid.
Florian Xhekaj is another intriguing depth option, particularly because of his rough-and-tumble style. He still needs additional time in the AHL to refine his consistency, but Canadiens management will almost certainly give him ample opportunities to prove himself throughout training camp. Xhekaj, as well as Jared Davidson, and Tyler Thorpe, will likely be cut prior to the start of the Rocket’s training camp, but all three bring a very interesting mix of talent and truculence to the table.
Montreal Canadiens Brass Tacks
While evaluating the available winger options, it becomes clear why the Canadiens continue to shop for offensive reinforcements. Adding a veteran willing to accept a short-term deal may prove the ideal solution for a team that could be severely compromised if one or two key wingers go down with injury.
Although I maintain that the blue line remains in more urgent need of defensively responsible reinforcements, bringing in a player like Vladimir Tarasenko could still represent a wise investment for Jeff Gorton and company.
After all, the NHL’s best teams boast depth and talent at every position, including the often-overlooked wings.
Montreal Canadiens statistics are 5v5 unless otherwise noted. Via Natural Stat Trick.
