Since Oliver Kapanen‘s departure to Europe, the Canadiens’ lineup has been relatively stable, especially on offense.
That stability could quickly change as Rafaël Harvey-Pinard and Patrik Laine might return to the lineup sooner rather than later.
These returns mean the team’s management will have to make tough decisions in the coming days if they want to reintegrate both players into the lineup. Who will the Canadiens sacrifice?
Are the Canadiens About to Lose a Player to NHL Waivers? A Possibility to Consider with the Potential Returns of Patrik Laine and Rafaël Harvey-Pinard
The easiest solution would be to send Lucas Condotta back to Laval, as he’s the captain of the farm team.
However, be cautious, Condotta must go through waivers if he has played more than 10 games since his call-up (he has played 6 so far).
Moreover, as Renaud Lavoie recently noted during an appearance on the show JiC on TVA Sports, Condotta is performing very well on the team’s fourth line.
«If he keeps this up, the impression he’s leaving is a very good one» – Renaud Lavoie
Another solution would be parting ways with Michael Pezzetta.
The forward has only played 3 games this season and hasn’t been dressed against tough opponents.
It raises the question of whether he’s only there to serve as a good veteran presence and be the 13th forward while waiting for a better option.
Letting him go could also mean placing him on waivers.
What if RHP Doesn’t Return to the Canadiens?
However, there’s no guarantee Harvey-Pinard will rejoin the Canadiens anytime soon.
While he’s currently conditioning with the Rocket, his stint in Laval could very well be extended.
Given all the games he has missed since last year, getting back into rhythm might take more than three games.
After all, Harvey-Pinard hasn’t proven much yet in the NHL.
Yes, he had a good 2022-2023 season with 20 points in 34 games, but he didn’t stand out last year.
His 10 points in 45 games fell far short of many expectations.
Even with a one-way contract, the forward wasn’t a lock to make the team at the start of the season, even if he hadn’t been injured.
In this scenario, the Hughes-Gorton duo could buy themselves some time and only need to move one player, not two, upon Laine’s return.
They could very well wait for a veteran forward like Joel Armia or Christian Dvorak to leave via a trade.
The developments ahead will certainly be interesting to follow
| POLL | ||
| Who would you place on NHL waivers if you were in Kent Hughes’ position? | ||
| ▢ Harvey-Pinard | ||
| ▢ Michael Pezzetta | ||
| ▢ Lucas Condotta (if more than 10 games) | ||
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