Montreal Canadiens sit at 9-3, but which players need to elevate their game to sustain this hot start? Arber Xhekaj faces mounting pressure as Jayden Struble emerges as a legitimate enforcer with strong defensive play, threatening Xhekaj’s roster spot once Kaiden Guhle returns healthy.
Laura Saba and Ian Boisvert break down the week ahead against Philadelphia Flyers, New Jersey Devils, and Utah Mammoth, debating goalie deployment strategies for Sam Montembeault and Jakub Dobes. The hosts analyze Martin St. Louis’s surprising line changes that moved Brendan Gallagher up to play with Kirby Dach while demoting Joe Veleno, and defend Jake Evans and Josh Anderson’s third-line checking role against social media criticism. Key discussions include Nick Suzuki’s leadership, Cole Caufield’s scoring touch, Lane Hutson’s development, and why Struble’s fight with Nick Cousins sends the exact message this young Canadiens roster needs.
Discover why the Evans-Anderson line’s real value isn’t measured in points and what Xhekaj must do to secure his future in Montreal.
0:00 Intro
1:16 Weekly forecast and upcoming games
2:48 Philadelphia Flyers matchup and goalie decision
4:25 Montembeault vs Dobes debate for Flyers
7:20 New Jersey Devils high-scoring matchup
9:00 Utah Mammoth game preview
10:15 Power play key to success
14:06 Gallagher moves to Dach-Bolduc line
16:16 Valeno’s role and replacement level play
19:08 New lines impact on offensive production
23:14 Arber Xhekaj needs to be better
25:45 Struble stealing the spotlight from Xhekaj
28:01 Jake Evans and Josh Anderson’s defensive role
30:52 Trivia question and closing remarks
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5 Comments
We are all really hoping Dach gets dialed in more and more. Doesn't Gallager seem done? If Veleno doesn't get it going bring up Davidson and/or Beck?
The season is going to get rougher now as teams try and take a piece out of the Habs, and they play much better teams like Jersey and Utah.
For strength, try Struble and Arber. Carrier should sit.
They have to make changes, as they are all close games. So many one goal games. They have had one game that was very decisive. Time to shuffle the deck.
Kirby Dach is a big bodied center who bloomed in his last year of junior scoring 25 goals and 73 points in 62 games. He was taken third overall by Chicago in 2019 and made the Blackhawks that season. He is in his 7th NHL season and has 124 points in 278 games. .He is 24 now. His "best" season was his first with Montreal 14 Goals, 38 Points in 58 games. He cant stay healthy. He played 70 games in Chicagp once. That is his career best. I think the boat has sailed on Dach being a useful NHL player. Maybe he is a big fourth liner? This is a little like the highlighting of Robertson in Toronto They want to trade him for something. Veleno is another guy who isnt working.
Utah actually has more high end talent than Montreal. I think Montreal might have more depth.
This fanbase is weird about goalies but just as weird about Xhekaj. I don't agree his role is under threat from Struble, who is strong but only fights down. Other than that he's a strong grappler. I think Anderson is the better fighter. What does Arber offer now, he's slow to react, slow to clear the net front and often plays the man instead of the puck. His passes out of defence are over hit 2 out of 3 times. He rarely throws a check of any significance. People say we need him for the playoffs but Caufield and Hutson were hit hard with him on the ice. His value is a trade piece that most teams would take. I love the guy and his story but don't think he will be a Habs player when he hits his ceiling. I think the real threat is his brother. When he's ready, we no longer need a D man taking fighting penalties.
I wish the unfortunate injury riddled Kirby “the pane of glass” Dach all the best… this will be his last season with the Habs.