Lucas Condotta to Start the Season in Montreal: Grant McCagg Makes Way

Marc-Olivier Cook
Lucas Condotta to Start the Season in Montreal: Grant McCagg Makes Way
Credit: Capture d'écran / X

The Canadiens have virtually the same roster as they did at the end of last season.

Brendan Gallagher and Joe Veleno have left the team… and that's about it.

Kent Hughes wasn't able to add a player to his roster this summer. We were all expecting a big move, but it never happened.

That's why there should be a battle at training camp for the 13th forward spot. Jared Davidson, Owen Beck, Florian Xhekaj… these guys are likely hungry and will want to prove their worth to start the season in the NHL.

That said, in Grant McCagg's view, there's another guy who could spring a surprise: Lucas Condotta.

And, honestly, if it comes to that, it won't exactly be a sign of a successful summer in Montreal. Just to be clear: this is absolutely nothing against Condotta.

The guy works hard, he's reliable, he knows his role, and he's already seen action with the Canadiens… But if the Canadiens truly aspire to take their game to the next level, is that really where we want to end up?

When we talk about the Habs right now, we're talking about a team coming off a season in which it took a significant step in the right direction.

So we expected Kent Hughes to use the summer to add an offensive player capable of solidifying the bottom of the lineup—or to bring in help for his top-6…

Instead, we might (according to McCagg) start the season with Condotta as the 13th forward because there's simply no one better or more ready behind the regulars.

That's where it gets hard to defend… because we know the Canadiens want to be better.

And for a team that claims to want to become a serious Stanley Cup contender, let's just say that would make for one hell of a “crappy summer.”


In a nutshell

– I like that.

– Interesting.

– Good for him.

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