Massive W. If we didn't sign him right now, he would want 3-4 Million after this season... just watch

Cale Fleury somehow passed through waivers

Surprised we didn't take another chance on him since Niku is out indefinitely

Here's the "best player" we could make with our current players' abilities:

Speed: Josh Anderson
Skating: Paul Byron
Shooting: Cole Caufield
Hands: Joel Armia
Passing: Jonathan Drouin
Clutch: Artturi Lehkonen
Offense: Cole Caufield
Defense: David Savard
Leadership: Brendan Gallagher
Physicality: Josh Anderson
Passion: Brendan Gallagher
Size: Joel Edmundson

and flow goes to Niku

The Canadiens have agreed to terms on a three-year, two-way contract with defenseman Arber Xhekaj.#GoHabsGohttps://t.co/gfyrHR1VaF

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) October 4, 2021

As expected.

Although what is unexpected is that Xhekaj is going back to the Kitchener Rangers for an overage season.

So that opens a spot for Goloubef or Dello to make Laval’s lineup in Brook’s absence. Or maybe they plan on sending Norlinder to Laval.

Cody Goloubef was released from his tryout with the Canadiens.

— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) October 4, 2021

So not Goloubef then.

Lines today at practice:

Toffoli - Suzuki - Caufield
Drouin - Dvorak - Anderson
Armia - Evans - Gallagher
Lehkonen - Perreault - Belzile
Harvey-Pinard - Poehling - Ylönen
Romanov - Petry
Guhle - Savard
Chiarot - Wideman
Kulak - Fairbrother
Allen
Montembeault
Primeau

PP:
Gallagher
Caufield - Toffoli - Suzuki
Petry

Dvorak
Armia - Anderson - Drouin
Romanov/Wideman

Caufield is back! Still no Edmundson though.

This likely means Michael Pezzetta has been sent to placed on waivers/sent to Laval and Bourque has been cut.

It’ll be interesting to see how Perreault plays at C, because it could spell disaster for Poehling if he doesn’t step up.

The fact that Fairbrother has lasted this long shows that he’s shot up the depth chart to being Laval’s #1D.

, it kinda works too, that's a great meme

First Canadiens headshots for these players --

So I couldn’t watch the game, but I just watched the extended highlights.

It seems like Brett Kulak might have upped his spot on the depth chart by not even playing. Looks like it was a rough game for Wideman in his own end. Guhle and Savard looked fairly ineffective defensively on the plays that I saw. Maybe they’re still trying to find their way around the crackdown on cross-checking.

Montembeault obviously wasn’t good, but he had a sub-.900 save percentage in the AHL last year, so his save percentage wasn’t all that bad against an NHL roster. Let’s just hope that he won’t have to play any games.

For anyone who did watch the game, what did Perreault/Poehling/Guhle etc. look like overall?

Right now if I had to guess, the opening night lineup would look like this: (assuming no one gets back from injury until then)
Toffoli - Suzuki - Caufield
Drouin - Dvorak - Anderson
Armia - Evans - Gallagher
Lehkonen - Perreault - Belzile
Romanov - Petry
Kulak - Savard
Chiarot - Wideman
Allen
Montembeault

Perreault has been 50% and 58% in the face off dot in the past 2 games, so that doesn’t seem to be a problem for him. I think that if no one steps up, the habs go with the solid predictability of Alex Belzile. He’s not going to do much offensively, but he’s also not going to be a defensive liability. Plus he likely won’t be with the team for long, because Hoffman is out 1.5 weeks maximum and Paquette should hopefully be returning soon.

Perreault - Probably the best forward last night (Pezzetta was close). Played physical and threw a few big hits. Overall decent game.

Poehling - Might've been his best game, but that's a bad thing considering how bad we were. He has 0 interest and looks like he's laval bound. Very disappointing.

Guhle - Deserves to play a few regular season games before going back to the WHL. He's clearly too good for the WHL, but not good enough for the NHL.

Belzile stood out in a bad way IMO. Was bad in his own end and offense died whenever he touched the puck. I'd rather give the spot to Pezetta or Ylonen

I agree! But I want to also add my views on the first two periods

on Perreault - I liked him near the net, I got Perry vibes. But being a center is more than taking faceoffs and IDK if he has the speed to cover lots of ground. But I would want him in the lineup. Great signing IMO

on Poehling - We have to remember that he can be sent to Laval without a problem - no waivers - so he had to WIN a spot. Paquette kinda won 4th line C spot by not playing, or Perreault showed enough at center to win the spot, but clearly Poehling didnt win a spot.

on Guhle - Even with Eddy out, IDK why MTL wouldnt use Kulak. He showed nice things (closing well the gap) but it's way too early to give him games.

on Belzile - I didnt like what I saw too. I didnt see a predictable player. I wouldnt give him games

Training Camp cuts:

Pezzetta (has to clear waivers)
Harvey-Pinard
Fairbrother
Bourque

Let's be real here, if his name was Alexandar Belzilov he'd be among the first cuts. I love the guy and respect his path, but come on.

Maybe, but I feel like we’re having Michael Frolík/Dale Weise syndrome here where the veteran depth forward is more trusted than the youngsters, so they get playing time in spite of their offensive ineptitude.

The difference, in this case, is their history in the league. Both Weise and Frolík were good secondary scorers at some point and carried more name value than Belzile who is as inexperienced in the big league as the youngsters.

So unless Paquette is back from injury (Which is possible since he skated today) one of Belzile or Poehling will be in the opening night lineup.

Ylönen is still with the team, but he still can’t cross the border, so he won’t be on the NHL roster.

Also, Chiarot and Savard played together today, which I really hope isn’t permanent.

My guess is Guhle stays on the NHL roster as the 7th D until one of Edmundson/Niku returns.

@Kotkaniemi15 @A_Habs_fan @HabsFan77

here is the link for the fantasy league
feel free to mention anybody else that might be interested on this site

https://fantasy.espn.com/hockey/league/join?leagueId=121140691&inviteId=309b934e-8832-4e1b-af80-0d5ad739824e

Ducharme says Paquette skated today for the first time since getting injured and that he's confident he'll be ready to start the season. Not guaranteed, but strong possibility.

— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) October 6, 2021

Dominique Ducharme says Joel Edmundson could miss another two or three weeks. His injury is not progressing/healing well.

— Arpon Basu (@ArponBasu) October 6, 2021

So good news on Paquette, not as good news on Edmundson.

Can we like not get injured, Price, Hoffman, Niku, Brook, Teasdale, Edmundson, Byron, Caufield had one, Paquette, etc

I'd say Guhle gets to see NHL action based on this.