Canadiens: Setting Up The Chessboard

Now, Reinbacher has effectively overtaken them. In the one game he played with Lane Hutson , he looked very good, and Hutson himself spoke about his young partner in glowing terms. In the past, Struble could play alongside Hutson at times, but he was nothing more than a stopgap. Now, with Kaiden Guhle injured, Reinbacher was given an opportunity, and he grabbed it with both hands. He didn't play a spectacular game, but he played a good, reliable one—the kind of game you want from a defensive defenseman.

Where does that leave Stuble and Xhekaj? Well, potentially on the outside looking in. Neither of them has ever had as long a leash as Alexandre Carrier . St-Louis trusts Carrier far more than he trusts them, which makes it clear he'll be the fifth defenseman in Guhle's absence. The question now becomes: who plays better with Carrier? Struble or Xhekaj? Carrier looks better with Guhle or Hutson; that's normal, but the Habs will likely put Reinbacher in the best position to succeed, and right now that means playing with Hutson.

Struble and Xhekaj have both struggled so far at camp, and it's not easy to say which has earned the right to make the opening-night roster. Right now, the answer seems to be: neither. They have one split game left to convince the coach that the spot should be theirs. If things play out as one would expect up front, with the players who have NHL contracts making the roster and the others, including Florian Xhekaj, being sent down, it will give a bit of an advantage to the older Xhekaj, as the Canadiens will need the sandpaper he brings more. If, however, the Habs decide it's time to send a message to some players and keep the younger Xhekaj in the NHL, it could make it easier for the coach to scratch number 72. Isn't that ironic, as one Canadian singer once sang?