Projected Montreal Canadiens Lineup When Everyone Returns | Full Breakdown
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx7N63HCTBWijHpI-qphK3A/join
What does the Montreal Canadiens lineup look like when everyone is healthy?
With no trades assumed and a fully available roster, Shaun Starr and Marco D’Amico break down the projected Canadiens lineup from top to bottom — forward lines, defensive pairings, and goaltending.
Who plays on the top line?
Who slides down the lineup?
Which players are facing real roster pressure once everyone returns?
This is a full healthy lineup projection for the Montreal Canadiens, sparking debate about lineup balance, ice time, and long-term roles as the Habs continue to build toward contention.
👇 Drop your lineup in the comments and tell us who YOU think cracks the roster.
#MontrealCanadiens #GoHabsGo #HabsLineup #CanadiensHockey #NHL
32 comments
I'm happy with how Arbor is playing…however….If there is such a head ache or question with Arbor's play on D…why not put him as a 4th line winger? He absolutely needs to be in the line up every game.
Go Habs Go
I’d love to see a bigger tougher guy playing with Hutson if he’s not gonna be with Dobson 100% of the time. I love Carrier but wish he was bigger and tougher. He gets knocked down quite easily
Just looking at the schedule I only see 2 back to backs left
Here’s some feedback. Shorter shows are much more appealing to me. The hour shows I don’t even bother with
SV% is such a 2024 stat.
So happy to hear Marco stating that it's totally fine for a 6th D not to play much, I'm going berserk each time I read someone wanting the opposite. Our top 5 is able to take a lot of minutes, the team plays its best defensemen depending on the context (pp, pk, when behind, protecting a lead) unless it has a comfortable lead… no disrespect to the 6th D whoever he is… He's mainly there to give a breather to the best players… same thing with a 4th line. Only way a 6th D gets more minutes is if he's better than Dobson or Carrier on the PK.
It is not that Arber gets around ten minutes a game, it is getting less than 2 minutes in the third period of tight games.
I think Engstrom takes Carrier place when Reinbacher is in the lineup.
I agree with Marco, winning is the only stat that counts. Dobes has demonstrated he wins at a greater rate than the other goalies. I think all the goaltenders save stats will improve as the year goes on.
This is going to sound rough but Bolduc not doing great is not so bad now because he will have to extend cheap.
Put Slaf back in the first line. Put Dach between Demi and Kapi. Put Danault between Bolduc and Laine.
We need a #2 center , kapanen is 4th line center or winger , I would trade for kadri, and throw in valeno for free !
I don’t think Texier is as valuable an asset as we may tend to think he is. He’s had a few good games but I don’t think he’ll perform well enough to be on the roster long term. I hope I’m wrong because I like his game when he’s playing at his peak.
Xhekaj has to be part of this team long term for three reasons: 1) his grit is irreplaceable and all cup contenders have a unicorn like him; 2) His skills continue to improve; and 3) I’ve only just learned how to spell his name.
Caufield Suzuki Dach
Slafkovsky kapanen demidov
Bolduc Newhook Texier
Gally danault Anderson
Veleno Evans Blais
Si le CH tire de l’arrière en série et joue à domicile donc dernier changement je fais jouer les 4 premiers trios ! Si le CH joue away et on les devant ds la série tu fais jouer la 5ieme ligne et tu enlèves la 3 !
slavkoski 2 goals in game 1
Newhook could go back with those 3 guys and slav go on 1st line logical no? unless Newhook cannot find his game he was at when injured??
Let’s not forget Reinbacher by year-end. The better prospect albeit less experience than Enstrom. I trust the Habs leadership not to get carried away with Enstrom over DR.
Thought they were trading Hage for Thomas?
engstrom is a better defenceman that 47. more attack potential
Question Marco, when exactly does a player provide their (modified) no-trade list? Is it once per offseason or can the player update his list at any moment. Thx
Sir Gallagher for every game. He is a liability. He can skate without being punch off stride. He can’t work the corners. He can’t back check once the offensive zone is lost. The only value he has is a sympathetic one. He must either sit, be traded or be released
I think Texier, Gally and Bolduc will have a 3 man rotation until the end if the year if everyone is healthy.
Newhook-Danualt-Texier
Anderson-Evans-Gally
Is a pretty sick bottom 6
texier is overated
Love Marco's suggestion of a Danault-Newhook-Texier line.
Newhook was off to a real nice start playing with Demidov and Kapanen so it’s an option.
That frees up Slaf to reunite with Suzuki and Caufield.
That leaves Danault Evans Anderson as automatics in the bottom 6. Leaving Bolduc Texier Gallagher Blais Laine fighting for ice time.
I can see Bolduc being MSL next project. He did a pretty good job making Cole a 2 way player, and Slaf has thrived under his watch. I do hope that Robidas gives Arber a bit more ice time.
Assuming everyones healthy IMO Veleno is ahead of gally and texier . He kills penalties, more physical and if playing on evans line he can take the left side draws.
Hi guys, would love nick for the selke, but with this crazy schedule, dont give him more minutes on pk, leave that to evans josh philippe and newhook
Sorry, I don't care if Suzuki wins the Selke. Don't risk playing the guts out of him, considering he's playing in the Olympics as well as never missing a game ever.
How is it a given that the first line should be Dach – Suzuki – Caufield? According to moneypuck, the Texier – Suzuki – Caufield line has the most xGoals% (61.6%, which is even better than with Slaf) of any line this year (with Dach its 39.1%). Maybe stats don't mean everything, but even to the eye test, to me it felt like they created much more offense with Texier.
Starr needs to chill with Arber—it’s almost an obsession at this point. YOU NEED HIM FOR THE PLAYOFFS! I REPEAT: YOU NEED HIM FOR THE PLAYOFFS! ALERT! ALERT! CHHHHEEEKKKK! MIC CHECK! ARBER IS DEMANDED AT THE COUNTER!