There\u2019s no doubt the Montreal Canadiens upgraded their roster by trading for Noah Dobson and Zachary Bolduc, but there are still questions left to be answered when it comes to the actual details of the projected lineup.<\/p>\n
We\u2019ll start by discussing the forward situation with Bolduc<\/a> in the fold.<\/p>\n Montreal Canadiens Projected Lines<\/p>\n The first line is the only easy combination to predict, with Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and Juraj Slafkovsky serving as the teams top trio. On that note, I wouldn\u2019t be surprised if Ivan Demidov gets a shot on the top line at some point in the season, especially since he has the ability to execute plays at full speed, and that may match Caufield and Suzuki\u2019s modus operandi a little better.<\/p>\n The second line is where things become a little more complicated.<\/p>\n The good news is that Kirby Dach was skating in Brossard on Wednesday. He still needs more runway to recover from his latest season-ending injury, and it\u2019s questionable whether he could fill that second-line centre role even if he does recover his 2022-23 form. As of now, I would consider Dach a winger upon his return to play, and it has nothing to do with denigrating his value. It\u2019s simply much easier to play as a winger in the NHL, as it allows players to focus on generating offence rather than putting all their energy into defensive responsibilities. But the Habs may have no choice but to return him to the centre position.<\/p>\n Canadiens\u2019 Kirby Dach \u2013 recovering from knee surgery \u2013 on the ice now in Brossard #Habs<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/OT4dcPmcck<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Stu Cowan (@StuCowan1) July 2, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n