The Montreal Canadiens enter this season with lots of promise. The team has young players like Lane Hutson, Logan Mailloux, and Joshua Roy looking to join the fold. They also have players already on their roster who are poised to take the next step in development, like Juraj Slafkovsky, Cole Caufield, and Kirby Dach. There’s a lot to be excited and hopeful for this season from the Montreal Canadiens faithful. But, there are also some guys on the team who underperformed last year and are looking to rebound. Here are three Montreal Canadiens players who look to bounce back this season.
Canadiens Bounce Back Candidates
Josh Anderson
Josh Anderson has the most to improve upon of any player on the Canadiens roster. He is a guy who can typically be a lock for twenty goals and has posted a career-high of twenty-eight in the past. However, he has struggled in the past couple of seasons, going on prolonged goal-scoring droughts and failing to finish high-danger chances in bunches. The 30-year-old posted only nine goals and eleven assists in 78 games last year. However, with all of the Habs injuries last year, he saw lots of ice time and was a regular in the top six. This makes Anderosn’s low totals even more staggering.
This year, however, the Montreal Canadiens will have a much deeper team than in the past couple of seasons. Anderson has typically thrived on competitive habs teams and will be slotted in a role more suited to his skill set. He is currently projected to slot in alongside Christian Dvorak and Joshua Roy on the team’s third line. He may also see time on the second powerplay unit, likely as a net-front option. In a better role, we could see Anderson return to twenty-goal form which would be a welcome sight for a team starved for depth scoring.
Justin Barron
Justin Barron has the most to gain from a bounce-back year out of any player on this list. Unlike other players on this list, Barron’s spot as a regular in the lineup isn’t assured. With the emergence of Lane Hutson, Logan Mailloux, as well as David Reinbacher in the wings, Barron’s spot is in jeopardy. The final spot in the lineup likely comes down to Barron, Struble, and Mailloux. Barron is waiver-eligible so he should be on the Canadiens roster as they don’t want to lose him for nothing. However, as of now, he may be the seventh defenceman. He has a lot to prove this year if he doesn’t want to be in a rotation with Xhekaj, Struble, and Mailloux.
Barron has always been a capable offensive threat. He activates on the rush regularly and has a heavy wrist shot. He had seven goals and 13 points in only 48 games last year in a limited role. The main issue with Barron has always been his defensive capabilities. Too often he is lost and misses assignments in the defensive zone. Barron has stated that his defensive game is improved heading into this year. However, with Hutson, Matheson, and Mailloux, poised to take on more offensive roles and powerplay time, it’s unclear where Barron fits in if he can’t be reliable defensively.
Patrik Laine
After coming over in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Laine is looking to return to form with Montreal. The former 44-goal scorer wants to regain his scoring touch. Over a full season, he has nearly always been a lock for thirty goals. Injuries and off-ice issues have often hindered Laine. He is getting thrust into the perfect opportunity as he’s joining a young, skilled top-six. He will also be under the tutorship of Martin St. Louis. For a player who claims to thrive under pressure, as Laine does, there is no better place to play than Montreal.
Laine should be a big help on the team’s powerplay, playing alongside, Suzuki, Caufield, Slafkovsky, and Hutson. At 5v5 he is currently slotted on a line with Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook in camp. Laine and Dach add a lot of size and skill to the team’s second line. If they can find chemistry, the Canadiens have a potentially lethal top-six. If Laine can return to forty-goal form, it could be enough to help the Montreal Canadiens be in the playoff contention picture.
Main Photo: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
