Montreal Canadiens

[ericdaoust]

Some experiments are happening:
-Cale Fleury paired with Kulak
-Suzuki centering Hudon and Drouin

[evans334]

Some experiments are happening:
-Cale Fleury paired with Kulak
-Suzuki centering Hudon and Drouin

I'm getting the feeling that Fleury and Suzuki will make the team.

[ericdaoust]

I'm getting the feeling that Fleury and Suzuki will make the team.

The more interesting part is if either of them makes it then either a follow-up trade will happen or a surprise player will go on waivers. Based on line combos I don't think it will be Hudon on waivers if Suzuki makes the team.

[Kofax]

How has Jordan Weal looked and where is he anticipated to play? Read some promising notes in the guide and am hoping on him in a deep cap league.

[tweetdrivr]

Weal has looked good and should be bouncing between third and fourth line maybe with time on the wing and at center and even some PP2 time...particularly if the PP sucks once the reg season starts.

[tweetdrivr]

The more interesting part is if either of them makes it then either a follow-up trade will happen or a surprise player will go on waivers. Based on line combos I don't think it will be Hudon on waivers if Suzuki makes the team.

Weiss on waivers? He seems fairly likely to clear. That is unless a trade can be arranged.

[ericdaoust]

Waivers:

Peca
Varone
Weise
Ouellet
Alzner

[niconasr]

They'll all clear no problem.

The only one who might get claimed is Varone as he's a known commodity in the AHL but even then, I don't believe it'll happen.

[evans334]

Per John Lu:

#Habs practice:
Tatar - Danault - Gallagher
Lehkonen - Domi - Suzuki
Drouin - Kotkaniemi - Weal
Byron - Thompson - Armia
Hudon - Poehling - Cousins

Mete - Weber
Chiarot - Petry
Kulak - Fleury
Reilly - Folin

Kinkaid
Lindgren

I think this is pretty close to the opening night roster, plus Price of course.

Fleury and Suzuki look to have made the team.

I'd wager Cousins swaps in and out with Thompson as the last two forwards.

[tweetdrivr]

Fun game last night. Suzuki’s OT winner was a nice bit of hustle.

So in looking at capfriendly it’s showing the Habs with roughly $3.85 mil in cap space. Hudson ($800k) is still on the books as are all 9 D still on the roster. I expect Fleury to be sent down ($771k). He’s earned a spot I think but as he doesn’t have to clear waivers I think he goes. Folin ($800k) and Reilly ($1.5mil) appear to be the other bubble guys but both would be exposed on waivers if demoted. Heck, I’d send Reilly down. The Jets would probably claim him? That’s a little more cap space though. When they drop to 7 D they’ll have roughly $5.4 to $6.1 mil in cap space to start the season. Not bad.

[tweetdrivr]

Crud - I forgot Juulsen. I’m not sure where he’s at with testing but I assume he’s going on LTIR? That still leaves one D to be sent down but frees up another $800k in cap space. It would be good to know what’s going on with Juulsen. He’s been through a lot already. I hope he gets healthy.

[niconasr]

Crud - I forgot Juulsen. I’m not sure where he’s at with testing but I assume he’s going on LTIR? That still leaves one D to be sent down but frees up another $800k in cap space. It would be good to know what’s going on with Juulsen. He’s been through a lot already. I hope he gets healthy.

Dealing with migraines. So hard to get a read on what will happen next with him. I also hope he simply gets healthy and can turn his focus on hockey again.

[ericdaoust]

Poehling sent to minors. Makes sense considering he just had a concussion. Depending on his start I could see him back up by the end of the month.

[ericdaoust]

Practice lines up front:

Tatar-Danault-Gallagher
Lehkonen-Domi-Suzuki
Drouin-Kotkaniemi-Armia
Byron-Thompson-Weal

Cousins looks to be the extra.

[ACC90]

Switching Thompson for Poehling in a few weeks could results having three 2nd lines and one 3rd line.
Could be really hard for other teams to match their shutdown line against MTL this season