Hockey

Richard Labbé: The Habs may have too weak a center line to make the playoffs
Marc-Olivier Cook
Richard Labbé: The Habs may have too weak a center line to make the playoffs
Credit: Getty Images

Nick Suzuki, Kirby Dach, Alex Newhook, Oliver Kapanen and Jake Evans – what do these players have in common? It's pretty simple: all five guys are likely to play center in the first stretch of the Habs' season.If the lineup remains intact, Suzuki will play on the first line, Dach on the second, Newhook and Kapanen should share the role of third center and Evans will be in his chair on the team's fourth unit. But when you look at it, it's easy to see that the Canadiens don't have a big line of centers. Suzuki is one of the best players in the league at his position, Evans is capable of filling an important role… but on the second and third lines, it's thinner. And that explains why Richard Labbé(BPM Sports) doesn't see the Habs qualifying for the playoffs with a line of centers like that. We know, after all: good NHL clubs have quality players at center… and that's not necessarily the case right now for the Canadiens, especially in the middle of the lineup.

The Canadiens' plan this summer was to go after a player who could play center on the second line, but the market turned out to be quieter than we thought and it was harder for Kent Hughes to move.is it too late to see the GM improve his center line, though? The answer is no. Kent Hughes has time to make a trade between now and the trade deadline, and I have a feeling that the team's start to the season will dictate what happens next. A bit like we saw last year with the defense. There was a problem on the right, Hughes solved it by bringing Alexandre Carrier to Nashville… and the Québécois quickly became an important player for the Habs, stabilizing the club's defense. But in reality, Richard Labbé is right: it's easy to believe that the Habs will make the playoffs with the recent additions… but if the center line doesn't hold up, it's going to be harder too.

'Overtime'

– Of note.

– Everyone's happy!

– Happy reading.

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