The return of Kirby Dach combined with the addition of Patrik Laine to the top-6 will help, Lane Hutson could have a major impact if he’s as good as we saw at the end of last season, there won’t be a ménage à trois to start the campaign…
Laine’s arrival could really help get things rolling, and we seem to be getting a glimpse of how things might look in the first game of the season.
I’m talking about Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Patrik Laine, Juraj Slafkovsky and Mike Matheson.
All in all, it looks like a formation Martin St-Louis would use with the man advantage…
A preview of the Habs’ 1st man advantage?
Caufield, Suzuki, Slafkovsky, Laine and Matheson spent nearly an hour on the ice with Adam Nicholas this morning pic.twitter.com/MtmsbbbUXk
– RDS (@RDSca) September 11, 2024
After all, you’ve got the team’s top line, the team’s best defenseman… And possibly the team’s best maverick.
But if this is really the first wave of the powerplay, it’s going to be interesting to watch.
Because on the second wave, there could be…
Roy – Dach – Newhook
Hutson – Guhle / Xhekaj / Barron
There’s also the question of whether the possibility of Hutson taking Matheson’s place on PP1 at some point is real.
At least, if the Habs realize that the smaller defenseman is more effective than Matheson with the man advantage, Martin St-Louis will have some questions to ask himself…
It’s going to be exciting, to say the least.
It’s good, too, because it’s been far from glorious when the Habs have found themselves on the power play in recent years!
Overtime
– Big cash!
There’s “reason to believe” Igor Shesterkin’s camp is “aiming for” $12 million per year in his next contract with the Rangers, per @MollieeWalkerr
That AAV would make Shesterkin the highest-paid goaltender in the NHL. pic.twitter.com/C0FuIRvM5w
– B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) September 11, 2024
– Easton Cowan makes his mark at the Toronto rookie camp.
Cowan clicking
– Mark Masters (@markhmasters) September 11, 2024
– A PTO in Florida for Matt Luff.
The Panthers have signed forward Matt Luff to a PTO.
Story @TheHockeyNewshttps://t.co/tVj4SrTQuV
– David Dwork (@DavidDwork) September 11, 2024