Bold Predictions #5: Habs Have A Top 5 PP

Having two offensive defensemen as good as Lane Hutson and Noah Dobson on separate power-play units is something that no other team has the luxury of doing. This is why the Canadiens need to take advantage of using them separately to create a massive threat at all times on the power-play. What makes it better is that both defensemen will provide a different type of quarterback style. For Hutson, you get a crazy, shifty skater who uses his hockey IQ to find his teammates in open high-danger spots and also can skate through opposition defenses with his elusiveness. Whereas Dobson is a strong skater, he also has a good shot from the point, which means he may get set up for a one-timer from his teammates, which gives the opposition another shooting lane to cover. When the two units switch and go with their respective styles, it can throw off the penalty killers, as they may struggle to study two completely different power-play units that can be used at any time. 

Then on the left half wall, they will have Cole Caufield ripping his fast wristers, while there will be the heavy one-time shot of Patrik Laine on the other. Their shots are released much differently, but can be equally as deadly on the power play.

In front of the net, there will be Juraj Slafkovsky, who will use his big body to screen the goalie from incoming shots. He will also be a good option to bang home rebounds or send the puck cross-crease for an easy tap-in goal for one of Caufield or Nick Suzuki, who will go towards the net from the bumper spot. Suzuki will also move around between the bumper and the point to help direct the puck to the right players throughout. 

This is also not including Ivan Demidov, who will play along the right wall on the team’s top power-play unit. Demidov will be a dual threat who can use his underrated one-timer off a pass from Suzuki or Hutson, but he could also use his elite playmaking ability to set up his teammates for the best scoring chances possible. 

Along with Dobson and Laine, the Habs should be running newcomer Zachary Bolduc at the bumper spot where his great left-handed wrist shot was best put to use on the power-play during his rookie season with the St. Louis Blues. Normally, a left-hand shot would be better from the right half wall, but in Bolduc’s case, he has proven to be a threat in the slot on the power play, so that will be his role. Then there will be a spot for Brendan Gallagher in front of the net. He may not be as big as Slafkovsky, but his feisty style has proven great to bang in pucks throughout his 13-year NHL career, and as long as he’s healthy, he will play that role. If somehow Gallagher isn’t available, but Kirby Dach is, then he and his big body can serve that role on the power-play. The last guy depends on whether the Habs want to go with a 2nd defenseman (Mike Matheson) or just allow Suzuki to take over the role on the right point, where he has been known to have a dangerous wrist shot throughout his career as he approaches the circle. Personally, I’d run Suzuki for the full 2 minutes unless they find a suitable 2nd line centre that could play that role effectively. 

With all this star power on the man advantage, the Canadiens could easily score at 25% efficiency. With that being said, it should put them within the top 5 power plays in the entire NHL. 

What are your expectations for the Habs’ power-play this upcoming season?