HABS' LINEUP READY TO GO
Waivers are only unknown left
The Canadiens, who open the NHL season against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday in Toronto (7 p.m., SN, TVA Sports, TSN 690 Radio), have until 5 p.m. Tuesday to declare their season-opening roster, but the lineup has been cast in stone since training camp opened on Jan. 3.
With the shortest training camp in team history and no exhibition games, head coach Claude Julien set his lines and defence pairings on Day 1 and made only two minor changes.
With two left-handed shots on his third defence pair, Julien started Russian rookie Alexander Romanov on the left side with Brett Kulak on the right, but moved Romanov to the right side after one practice.
Julien has two right-handed shots playing on a line with Jesperi Kotkaniemi. He had used Tyler Toffoli on left wing for most of camp, but he moved Joel Armia from the right side for the past two practices.
The additions of Toffoli and Josh Anderson allowed Julien to keep the top line of Tomas Tatar, Phil Danault and Brendan Gallagher intact.
“We understand each other,” Tatar said during a video conference call after practice in Brossard on Monday. “This is going to be our third year (and) it helps a lot. We know where we are on the ice and we're talking off the ice. We're really happy that we're together.”
The other lines have Nick Suzuki between Jonathan Drouin and Anderson, while Jake Evans will centre Artturi Lehkonen and Paul Byron.
Ben Chiarot and Shea Weber will be the top defence pair followed by newcomer Joel Edmundson and Jeff Petry. Carey Price and Jake Allen will share the goaltending duties.
Because of salary cap limitations, the Canadiens have room or only 21 players and the extra body on the active roster will be defenceman Victor Mete.
The only question mark will be the composition of the taxi squad, the reserves who will practise with the team and be available in case of injury or, heaven forbid, an outbreak of COVID-19.
Veterans Corey Perry and Michael Frolik are ticketed for spots on the taxi squad, but first they must clear waivers. The Canadiens waited until Monday to put them on waivers, which was a smart move because most teams have set their rosters and might not be in a position to claim a player. If a team claims a player on waivers, it must add that player to its NHL roster.
If Perry and/or Frolik clear waivers by noon Tuesday, they will be added to the taxi squad. Charlie Lindgren will join the squad as the third goaltender and veteran defenceman Xavier Ouellet is a likely candidate.
Ryan Poehling has been on a fifth line with Perry and Frolik, but it's more likely he'll start the season with the Laval Rocket, where he can get playing time.
We know that defence prospect Noah Juulsen will not be part of the taxi squad. Juulsen was placed on waivers Sunday and was claimed by the Florida Panthers.
The Canadiens will practise on Wednesday before flying to Toronto for the start of a six-game, 11-day road trip.