2023-04-26 14:09:16
Have you noticed how congested the Canadiens will be next year?
Recently, I laid a paper in which I spoke of the fact that already, a dozen attackers have their place in the sun for the next season. And on top of that, a dozen guys will be knocking on the door for an attacking position.
Among the guards, a threesome may be on the horizon.
And among defenders, it is not necessarily more obvious. After all, there are many guys who will want to have their place in the sun and who already have a contract for the next season.
- Mike Matheson
- Joel Edmundson
- David Savard
- Justin Barron
- Kaiden Guhle
- Jordan Harris
- Arber Xhekaj
- Johnathan Kovacevic
- Chris Wideman
In a world where those defenders are healthy and not traded, the top three will always play if they are healthy. The other four deserve their place in the NHL – and Guhle is dominant when he is 100%.
I don’t see the Canadian wanting to get rid of Kovacevic.
Already there, that’s eight defenders…not counting Chris Wideman, who can be placed on waivers, but that the Canadian seems to like for what he brings into the room.
If I understood keeping him this year, I feel like in 2023-24 he might really play somewhere else if everyone is healthy once training camp is over. After all, places are not unlimited (23) within the alignment.
That depth will be complemented by a guy like Jayden Struble or Logan Mailloux, who might start next season in Laval. But you know like me that the CH are not afraid to give a young defender a chance…
There is depth that should scare off some guys in Laval (Otto Leskinen, Frédéric Allard, Corey Schueneman and Madison Bowey are names to watch) and block the William Trudeaus or Nicolas Beaudins of this world.
“I would definitely like to come back. It’s fun to play in front of friends and relatives. It’s fun to play in Laval.”
– Nicolas Beaudin (Media availability – Season report)#GoRocket pic.twitter.com/bipbzDxlH9
— Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) April 23, 2023
All that to say that there will be people at mass and that even if it gets deeper (especially in Montreal, where the injured are as numerous as the orange cones in the city), we must also think regarding doing space.
That’s why if Joel Edmundson doesn’t leave, the Canadiens will have too many guys on the blue line.
Just on the left side, where Mike Matheson has established himself as #1, are Guhle, Harris and Xhekaj. These guys should all be ready for the next training camp and if Edmundson is there more, it will be too much.
Obviously, this is nothing new: Edmundson is in the rumors. Had he been healthy by the trade deadline, he would have gone to another team.
And this summer, he should logically leave… especially since he finished the season in good health.
If he does not leave the Canadian, not only will he likely block a young person, but he would also cut the Canadian’s room for maneuver in terms of its payroll.
After all, at the moment, the Canadian has a lot of money invested next year, especially in terms of its attackers. In all, we are talking regarding $73 million on 20 healthy guys… and on injured guys like Carey Price, which skews the situation.
But with Cole Caufield who will eat part of the amount and the potential arrival of Pierre-Luc Dubois, it takes some loose somewhere.
All that to say that Joel Edmundson is blocking the CH on multiple levels (ice and mass) right now and even though he’s a top quality veteran, trading him wouldn’t just be profitable…
It will be necessary. Otherwise, the CH will still have a great leader on hand, but he will have problems.
A lot of
– Good question.
Friedman at the intermission wonders if there is any chance Brandt Clarke joins the Los Angeles Kings now that he is eligible with the Barrie Colts being eliminated from the OHL playoffs.
— NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) April 26, 2023
– Good reading.
Really interesting read from @MarkLazerus on how the game is being called in these playoffs.https://t.co/hL4ZQoJeGl
— Craig Custance (@CraigCustance) April 26, 2023
– Do we like it or not?
He instead had fun dancing with the Cubs fans who heckled him. https://t.co/qcuY7wMpFJ
— Passion MLB (@passion_mlb) April 26, 2023
– A page turns.
“It was an honor to be your quarterback.” https://t.co/ZunS2GpNH5
— TVA Sports (@TVASports) April 26, 2023
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