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Second center: Tony Marinaro mentions Evgeni Malkin as plan B for Montreal
Michaël Petit
Second center: Tony Marinaro mentions Evgeni Malkin as plan B for Montreal
Credit: The biggest debate right now among the Montreal Canadiens is who will be the club’s #2 center for next season. We know that Ivan Demidov needs more support, and a true center for the 2nd line would be ideal. Kirby Dach is still the backup option, but something more needs to be added to this […]

The biggest debate right now among the Montreal Canadiens is who will be the club’s #2 center for next season.

We know that Ivan Demidov needs more support, and a true center for the 2nd line would be ideal.

Kirby Dach is still the backup option, but something more needs to be added to this line.

Several players have been named as possibilities, but nothing concrete so far.

Mason McTavish, Sidney Crosby, Sam Bennett, John Tavares and so on.

Still, it’s fun to talk about, and that’s what Tony Marinaro did during his appearance on TVA Sports’ JiC segment.

Marinaro named an interesting player as Plan B to fill this need: Evgeni Malkin.

At the end of the clip, there’s a brief moment on the famous subject of Montreal’s second center.

As Marinaro mentions, the Habs’ initial goal is to find a center in his prime, in his mid-twenties, so that he fits in well with the team’s core and can stay for a good while.

On the other hand, finding a 2nd line center in his prime isn’t easy and, above all, it would be expensive.

That’s why having a plan B is always a good idea.

Acquiring a veteran of Malkin’s calibre would cost something, of course, but much less than Sidney Crosby, for example.

And Marinaro’s suggestion makes a lot of sense for other reasons too.

Let’s not forget that Ivan Demidov needs a good player to follow him into his first full season, and that’s just as well, since Malkin is Demidov’s childhood idol.

What better way to launch your show career than playing alongside your all-time idol?

Plus, not only would he not cost the moon to acquire, but he’s definitely better than Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook, without taking anything away from them.

And it would be perfect to give Michael Hage time to develop and arrive in two or three years (ideally).

Malkin has great size, even if he’s never played like, say, Corey Perry.

But his imposing size helps him protect the puck (especially when you add his silky hands to that), which would give Demidov plenty of room, and he’d benefit amply from it.

Even though he’s 38, he still managed 50 points in 67 games this year as a 2nd center.

Malkin would definitely be an excellent Plan B.


Overtime

– Ehlers should test the free agent market this summer.

– That’s a good point.

– It really wouldn’t be like that in Montreal.

– To be continued, so far, things aren’t going too well for the Oilers.

– To listen.

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