Team: 2024-25 Montreal Canadiens

Initial Creation Date: Apr. 22, 2024

Published: Apr. 26, 2024

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Watching the playoffs it seems obvious that Lane is going to get destroyed playing in front of his net, especially when the refs put the whistles away.

He was dynamic in the two games against Detroit but also ended up costing us both those games because he couldn't defend against elite talent. This can't be chalked up to inexperience or poor choices. He is miles ahead in terms of IQ. Nor can the goals against be attributed to volition. Despite the fact that he gave it his all, he lacks the physical tools (speed + size) to keep the opposition in check at this level. The NHL is not NCAA or like anything else he's ever experienced. That's okay, he doesn't to be perfect to be a game changer for us.

I think he is a really special player and special players need to be put in the best place to exploit their speciality.
That is not on defence.
Harris has thirty pounds on Hutson and is way too small and soft. Even Struble, who is rock solid a la Francis Bouillon, gets beat because he lacks range.
Habs need more size to keep the net clear in order to limit the goals against because we don't have Price to bail us out anymore (until the playoffs...) With this lineup, Barron is the smallest (6'2" 200lbs).

Habs are desperate for offensive talent. We need to score way more goals as much as we need to concede far fewer.
People keep talking about trading for talent up front and using depth D to obtain it. I understand the need to add elite talent but the cost of doing so is high. Just look at how exorbitant the cost is to obtain guys like Zegras, Johnson, Necas, and Lundell. It's not going to happen. Other teams aren't trading those guys away.
We need elite talent. I say that we already have that elite talent with number 48.

Time for people to start thinking originally.
I know, this is hockey, where there is almost no room for creativity but Lane is very creative. And so is Marty. If there is anyone who can innovate, it's him.
Time to innovate a new position.
Time for the hybrid. The Libero, if you will.

Lane is listed infra as C, but he would play freely, allowing the offensive defensemen to also activate, knowing that Hutson can cover against counter attacks. By playing with Monahan and Dach, two smart players with size who can handle the faceoffs, he would excel. His excellent rush defending would also be more useful with two defenders behind him, allowing him to be as aggressive as possible, without reservation, thus starting counter attacks further up ice.
He could also play some shifts on defence as need arises; for example, when we are losing late in a game, when a certain Dman is in the box for laying down the law, or when someone gets hurt, as that does happen to us from time to time.
This is how I would use him. Eliminate his insurmountable weakness and exploit his elite polyvalence.

Hopefully Coach St Louis is thinking along these lines too. I thought this idea might be more interesting to consider than the usual nonsense I often see on CF. Cheers!

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