CH may have to use Jake Evans or Ryan Poehling on the wing in 2022-23

Over the past few weeks, we’ve been talking a lot about the glut of wingers at the Canadiens. In fact, when we look at the current situation, we quickly realize that the list of guys who will compete for the eight available spots at small forward is considerably longer than eight names.

Cole Caufield, Josh Anderson, Brendan Gallagher, Jonathan Drouin, Evgenii Dadonov, Mike Hoffman, Joel Armia, Paul Byron, Michael Pezzetta and even Juraj Slafkovsky if he makes it to the club – there are currently 10 guys fighting for these eight spots.

However, we also tend to forget a little bit that it is not only in the wing where there is currently congestion, but also in the center. In fact, with the acquisition of Kirby Dach, there are now five centers in Montreal: Dach, Nick Suzuki, Christian Dvorak, Jake Evans and Ryan Poehling.

Therefore, it is no longer a surplus ofattackers anything else.

Ultimately, as Grant McCagg points out, expect Evans or Poehling to be traded to the band next season. And that further increases the congestion at the level of the sides.

These 11 candidates to play on the sideline are 11 good reasons that lead me to believe Rem Pitlick will hit it off with another team on the free-agent market, and imagine if the Canadians ever signed Colin White on the market this week. But let’s get back to the concrete for now.

Obviously, if Christian Dvorak is transferred this summer, the problem will be solved and we will see Evans Y Poehling at the center next year. However, with the playoffs behind us, I tend to believe that the chances of seeing Dvorak again in Montreal next year are greater than seeing him go.

And although there is the idea of ​​moving Dach to the band considering his poor performance in the face-off circle, I don’t think the CH will acquire him to make him a winger. He is only 21 years old and he has time to correct this facet of his game.

Evans and Poehling have experience on the wings. It is true that they are natural centers, but they are capable of playing on the wing. And since this will probably be their best chance to make the big club next year (surprisingly), expect one of the two to make the transition.

I tend to believe it will be Poehling, but the fact that Evans played on the sideline during the team’s 2020-21 playoff run could mean he’ll be the one who will have to move.

Basically, having five centers on a team isn’t a bad idea, especially since Dach and Evans have been plagued by injuries in recent years. But clearly, if both want to be in the lineup for next season’s opener, one of them will likely have to be signed as a winger.

A dossier to watch, therefore, but barring big deals, there will be plenty of battles for offensive positions in upcoming training camp. However, on a positive note, it means CH won’t have to pressure Slafkovsky in the NHL like Kotkaniemi did, at least…

A lot of

– Evgeni Malkin never had a four-year offer from the Penguins on the table.

Speaking of Malkin, the latter should attract nothing bad of interest in the market.

– By the way.

– Awesome.

Many of you watched the Canadian election last Thursday; More than 850,000 of you were on our airwaves when Juraj Slafkovský was selected, and 600,000 stayed with us through the night. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/AbfdKwRcIe

— TVA Sports (@TVASports) July 11, 2022

– We may have to wait for John Klingberg to sign his next contract before we see Jeff Petry being traded.