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Join Shaun Starr and Marco D’Amico as they talk about the defensive pairings for the upcoming Montreal Canadiens NHL season. What are your D pairs to start to the year? What are your pairings and which Habs defensemen is most likely to move over to the play the right side?
What do you think?
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#montrealcanadiens #nhl #sports #shaunstarr
10 Comments
I don’t like Hutson / Carrier due to size
But to me it would be way better than seeing Hutson / Matheson again brutal in D zone without the puck getting hemmed in their zone for whole shifts at a time … no thx don’t want Hutson getting run down due to Matheson avoiding contact
Everyone imagines the pairings with puck possession starting from behind their net or at the opposing blue line
But very few people out there ever think of imagining the pairings separating players from puck, clearing the front of the net
2 things Matheson can’t seem to do and relies his D partner to do all the heavy lifting to get him the puck so he can use his elite skating to skate the puck up
To me
Ghule – Dobson
Hutson – Strubble
Matheson – Carrier
Xhekaj 7th
Makes the most sense while Matheson is still here … much to my chagrin..
Reinbacher will be a wildcard if he makes team
If he does Matheson will be blocking 2 much grittier young D in Strubble & Xhekaj from the line up
Xhekaj + Strubble + Reinbacher =
3.599,500 in AAV this year
Matheson 4.875,00
That’s 1 million more for a guy that only brings puck moving to the line up and that’s if he is paired with a reliable D first partner
Math is simple in my books
Rather have 3 young D rotate, even have the space for an Engstrom or even a Trudeau who is a lost prospect locked out due to depth
Than a guy in the wrong side of 30 who can not be trusted to be the defensive D on a pairing
Nothing against Mike the person, but if his best assets are good in the room, is local & speaks the language
C’mon… building a contender not handing out 🇫🇷 participation ribbons
Every time Marco talks about Pickford as a future NHL player I smile. The kid has such a bright future. Just the perfect example of how certain draft-eligible players get overlooked. He barely played that year in Seattle but was absolutely pivotal in the playoffs for Medicine Hat this year. The forward group is going to be very young next year in the Hat, but Pickford has defenceman of the year capabilities this season.
Kaiden Guhle. Noah Dobson 23 minutes
Jayden Struble. Lane Hutson. 21 minutes
Arber Xhekaj. Alex Carrier. 16 minutes
Mike Matheson Will be traded
David Reinbacher. Right Side Call Up
Adam Engstrom Left Side Call Up
Here is my take on Arber Xhekaj…
AX72 brings a unique and valuable profile to the Canadiens' blue line — one that no other defenceman (or player) on the roster offers. His size and physical potential are rare, and as a late bloomer, he’s shown impressive growth, adaptability, and a hunger to improve. That’s why the team values him so highly.
To reach his full potential in the NHL, AX72 needs to embrace the enforcer role with purpose and intelligence. It's not about chasing hits or reacting emotionally — it’s about being a physical presence that wins battles, protects teammates strategically, and makes opponents think twice. Retaliation doesn’t need to be immediate; it needs to be effective. A smart, patient enforcer shapes the game.
AX72 has the tools to redefine the modern enforcer– not just as a fighter, but as a deterrent by presence alone. The old-school approach is fading for a reason. If he leans into a more intentional, disciplined style, he can become an impactful protector who contributes without hurting the team.
Combine that mindset with his above-average skating, powerful shot, and improving decision-making, and you’ve got the makings of a highly valuable third-pairing defenceman — none that not only would help the Canadiens, but could change how the enforcer role is viewed in today’s NHL.
I totally agree with Marco's pairings (1:46)
Shaun…..Xhekaj…6'4", 240lbs….that why you pick Xhekaj over Struble.
Guhle Dobson
Matheson Hutson
Xhekaj Carrier
Struble
Please deal Matheson
From Habs Digest : Hutson-Struble THE BEST pairings for expected goals for and expected goals against for pairs that played 150+mins together.
dont forget he has shot the puck 108 mph , maybe work on that also 72 all the way .
We need Arebr to protect Demidov and Hutson