After four games, the Montreal Canadiens have a 2-2 record, securing victories against rivals Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators. Most of the offensive pressure has been handled by the top line, particularly Cole Caufield, who has scored four goals. Overall, the team has maintained a balanced offensive effort, with contributions from depth players like Josh Anderson, Emil Heineman, Christian Dvorak, and Brendan Gallagher. Additionally, Lane Hutson and Kaiden Guhle have excelled on defense. However, the second line has faced difficulties in generating scoring. Let’s explore the reasons for their struggles and how coach Martin St. Louis might resolve the issue.
The second line is led by center Kirby Dach, who is joined by Joel Armia and Alex Newhook. Dach and Newhook have only registered a single point each so far, while Armia has two assists. Dach’s slow and underwhelming start can be attributed in part to his nearly year-long recovery after a serious injury last October. Given the length of his absence, it’s understandable that he needs time to regain his form.
Kirby Dach Regaining His Edge
Before his injury, Dach was a formidable player, providing hope that he can return to that level with time. He is receiving significant ice time on the second line and with the first power play unit, which is beginning to find success, aided by Lane Hutson’s skills in facilitating play. This could help Dach score and rebuild his confidence soon.
Missing Important Players
At training camp, it was anticipated that Dach would play alongside Patrik Laine and either Joshua Roy or Newhook. Currently, Newhook fills that role, but Laine will be out for two to three months due to a knee sprain from a preseason incident. Roy, on the other hand, performed poorly during training camp and is starting the season back in Laval.
While Armia is a competent player, having Laine on the wing would significantly benefit Dach. With the current trio struggling, giving Joshua Roy an opportunity in that position would be reasonable, should he be on the NHL roster. The absence of these two players has been detrimental to Dach’s performance early in the season.
Potential Line Adjustments
Although the Canadiens’ bottom six isn’t ideal, there are ways to rearrange the lines to help Dach revive his game. One possibility is to place Emil Heineman or Josh Anderson on his wing for their size and speed, aiding Dach as he adjusts back to game intensity. Another option could be moving Dach to the wing, with Oliver Kapanen as center for the second line; this would allow either Dvorak or Kapanen to center the line with Dach and likely Newhook on the sides. Given Dach’s struggles in faceoffs, starting on the wing could help him regain confidence before returning to center.
Finally, splitting up the top line of Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and Juraj Slafkovsky could create more offensive threats by pairing one of them with Dach. However, if the top unit continues to perform well, it may be challenging for Martin St. Louis to break them up.
Regardless of the decisions made by the Canadiens and coach St. Louis, it’s important for fans to remain patient with Dach, who was a third overall draft pick just five years ago and has faced considerable challenges in his young career. His potential remains high, and once he adjusts back to game speed, Dach is expected to be a significant contributor on the Canadiens’ second line.
