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Emil Heineman has not collected a single point in his last 13 games
David Kirouac-Imagn Images

I wrote it yesterday… and I’m saying it again today: the Canadiens’ top line is on fire over the past few weeks.

Nick Suzuki (17 points in 10 games) is the top scorer in the entire NHL since the Four Nations Confrontation. Juraj Slafkovsky and Cole Caufield are also playing inspired hockey, averaging over a point per game since the international matches (which they did not participate in).

The problem is that the other three lines are not producing.

Joshua Roy, Alex Newhook, and Brendan Gallagher do not form a real second line.

Roy has not had a point since his recall and is slow in every sense of the word…

Alex Newhook has only one point in six games…

And Brendan Gallagher has no points in eight games.

Honestly, it’s probably the worst line on the top six of any NHL team right now…

Alex Newhook doesn’t have what it takes to be a second center in the NHL. (Credit: Getty Images)

The other problem is that the bottom six is not doing much better right now; the depth players are not taking over.

Christian Dvorak has only two points in eight games and Josh Anderson has only one point in the same period.

Jake “$2.85 million” Evans has two points in his last 12 games, while Joel Armia, currently injured, has only one point in his last 11 games.

But the one whose production worries me the most is definitely Emil Heineman. The Swedish winger has not scored a point since his accident in Salt Lake City (0 points in nine games). If we go back to before his injury, Heineman has not scored a point since January 3, in his last 13 games.

The Canadiens are in the midst of a fierce playoff race. Their top line and Lane Hutson are firing on all cylinders, but the other players on the team are unable to lend a hand.

Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton chose not to trade Evans, Armia, Dvorak, and Savard to give the team a chance to make the playoffs…

But they also decided not to provide them with any help in their quest for the playoffs.

Unless a player like Emil Heineman – who was highly praised this season – wakes up soon, the status quo of the Montreal management may cost the Habs a playoff spot.

With a draft pick around 15th overall and several unrestricted free agents who will be leaving…

History will tell us if Kent Hughes made a good decision last Friday.


In a nutshell

– Éric Duhaime can’t believe that a billion dollars was spent to redo the Olympic Stadium roof.

– How did the Bruins decide on their trade deadline strategy? [RG Media]

– The CF Montreal coach spoke.

Adin Hill: six years, $6.25 million per year.

– Sabres fans are fed up.

This article first appeared on Dose.ca and was syndicated with permission.

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