Patrik Laine on the first line: Mathieu Dandenault’s idea

Before writing your comment (pleasant and constructive, of course

), listen to Dandy’s arguments.

Do you agree with him?

Dandenault explains that he expects Laine to be motivated when he returns to the ice, as he wants to prove his worth in order to sign a new NHL contract this summer. So, placing him alongside Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield could be a way to motivate him.

Dandenault explains that he doesn’t necessarily want to push this at all costs: he just wants to take a chance to see how it would work out… and, in the worst case scenario, to boost his value in order to trade him.

But in reality, there are serious reasons to doubt this. Alexandre Texier has been a goodfit on the right wing alongside these two guys for a while now, and the habs are in the midst of such a tight playoff race that they can’t really afford to experiment like this.

Two or three years ago, when the games were pretty meaningless, the Canadiens could have afforded to do this in order to showcase Laine. But right now, it seems like a gamble that’s not really worth the risk.

In fact, it seems much more likely that Laine will play his next game in a different uniform than on the Habs’ first line.And that’s even though Dandenault’s reasoning isn’t crazy—it’s just not suited to the Habs’ current reality.

Overtime

– Gabriel Landeskog on the ice.

– Today’s waivers.

– News about the next edition ofMLB The Show.