Photo credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
The TVA Sports journalist, Anthony Martineau, put forward what the new Montreal Canadiens lines could look like once Michael Hage is signed.
If the playoffs started tomorrow, the Habs lineup would still get people talking.
In a scenario where everyone is healthy and Michael Hage has signed, Martineau likes the idea of keeping Cole Caufield with Nick Suzuki at the top, then adding Kirby Dach to that trio.
We’re talking about a captain who finished 2024-25 with 89 points, and a Caufield who scored 37 goals that same season. The real debate starts after that.
Juraj Slafkovsky with a center like Oliver Kapanen and a winger like Ivan Demidov, on paper, is very appealing for lineup balance.
He would also keep Phillip Danault in the middle of a line capable of eating minutes, with Alex Newhook and Zachary Bolduc alongside him, without forcing anyone to play 22 minutes a night.
Interesting lines for the Montreal Canadiens
At the bottom of the lineup, Jake Evans would be in a support role, especially if you want a team that can survive a tight game. Evans posted a 36-point season in 82 games in 2024-25, and he already has 10 points in 34 games in 2025-26.
That holds up very well on a fourth unit with Josh Anderson and a player like Alexandre Texier. As for extra options, The idea of keeping Patrik Laine and Michael Hage as ready-to-go depth pieces if you’re looking for a spark.
In the playoffs, the Canadiens need a bench that doesn’t get you into trouble, game after game.
This would Martineau’s lineup:
“Caufield-Suzuki-Dach
Slafkovsky-Kapanen-Demidov
Newhook-Danault-Bolduc
Texier-Evans-Anderson
Extras:
– Hage
– Blais
– Laine
– Gallagher
– Veleno
Notes:
– Blais comes in if the Habs are being physically overmatched.
– Gallagher, whom I respect greatly and whose importance to this team goes far beyond the on-ice impact mentioned above, is also a good option if the energy level isn’t high enough.
– Anthony Martineau”
And for Dach, that’s where things get fascinating. When he’s available, he’s already shown he can produce, with 38 points in 58 games in 2022-23. Even in a shorter 2025-26 season so far, he had 7 points in 15 games before going down.
Here’s how we’d line up the team this season:
Caufield-Suzuki-Texier/Dach
Slafkovsky-Kapanen-Demidov
Newhook-Danault-Hage
Bolduc-Evans-Anderson
Extras (Assuming there are no trades):
– Blais
– Laine
– Gallagher
– Veleno
And you, with a 100% healthy Montreal Canadiens roster and a signed Michael Hage, what would your lines look like?
Previously on Montreal Hockey Fanatics