Team: 2024-25 Montreal Canadiens

Initial Creation Date: Dec. 30, 2023

Published: Dec. 30, 2023

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

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Line 1 : Holloway could be a fit alongside NiCole. Could also be Slaf, but I really want to see what he can do with Dach and Newhook. Obviously this 1st line is a longshot, because we would need to trade for Holloway.

Line 2 : They were dynamite during the first two games of the season, before Dach got injured. Feels like this line is big and balanced, and has lots of upside.

Line 3 : Monahan takes faceoffs on his strong side. Beck does the same. Toffoli is a great leader and a great two way player. He loves MTL and would most likely accept to sign here. The AAV is high because its only two years. I think this line is very solid offensively and defensively.

Line 4 : Just three guys that are there because we can't scratch them. I would move any of the three if we receive a decent offer. We just can't scratch them because of their salaries.

Scratches : I will give one more year to Ylonen before giving up on him. RHP deserves to be in the NHL.
First call up : Roy, Pezzetta and Heineman.

1st pair : Matheson will most likely be the only real veteran on defense next year. We pair him with Reinbacher because Barron is too offense-oriented to play with Matheson.

2nd pair : Team Canada pair. They complement each other great.

3rd pair : Struble deserves to play. Xhekaj too. This duo would be soooo physical.

Scratch : Hakanpaa is there as a Wideman kind of player. Adds experience and leadership, and wouldn't mind being healthy scratch most nights. Could be someone else that fits this profile.
First callup : Hutson (LD) and Mailloux (RD)

Goalies : I would run Montembeault-Primeau and see what they can do while waiting for Fowler in 2-3 years. Could sign a veteran backup to play with Dobes in the AHL.

Lots of cap space to take on bad contracts and continue to pile up assets. One more year for development before signing UFAs in 2025.

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