Team: 2022-23 Montreal Canadiens

Initial Creation Date: Sep. 19, 2022

Published: Sep. 21, 2022

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Looking at the opening night roster for my 4 favorite teams (1 from each division).

Man, this is such an incredibly difficult team to make. It just makes no sense. 15 NHL forwards on the team, plus or minus Pezzetta/Slafkovsky. It is at least my understanding Drouin, Monahan and Byron will be healthy to start the year, but maybe I'm wrong (well, I do appear to be wrong, as I wrote this before training camp roster... Byron is listed in the injured/extra section, so I am keeping him off for now). This team just makes no sense, and several trades are needed. But I'm not entirely sure any will be done before camp or to start the year.

I think MTL should want Slafkovsky in the lineup, building chemistry with his likely linemates for the next decade. But of course, he could start in the AHL. I'm just going with what I believe.

Then, you have the Showcase Line... all 3 guys on one year deals. Are they staying, or going?

The third line is probably my favorite, and likely splits equal time with the 2nd line. This is a no-nonsense line, with all players likely being safe from being traded. Maybe Dvorak would be the only one.

The 4th line is 5 players deep, and they likely all switch playing time with one another. Maybe Kirby even switches places on the depth chart with Monahan or Dvorak depending how he plays, and if they want to showcase anyone for trading. I really hate to put Hoffman on the 4th line, but I don't see any other way here. Honestly with his PP ability, I think he should be high on the trade bait chart, but maybe the 2 year deal is making that difficult. Until someone else is traded, I feel like he'll be mostly a power play guy.

For defense... well, I think that's the only lineup that makes sense. You have your stalwart top line, then the bottom two are a veteran and a rookie. They seem to want to give Harris and Barron as much playing time as possible, so they get it here.

TDL wishlist: if the team is somehow competitive in that crazy Atlantic division, try to get better at the defense or goaltending positions with the plethora of offensive talent. Otherwise, simply keep collecting futures.