We’re officially in the dog days of summer, which means it’s time to take a look at the projected depth charts for the Montreal Canadiens heading into the 2024-25 season.
We recently evaluated the forward situation, and while it’s certainly improving, the team could still use more offensive punch on the wings and down the middle. The Habs are reluctant to sign older free agents to long-term contracts, complicating efforts to bolster the forward group.
However, the defensive situation is a different story. The Montreal Canadiens have an abundance of talented defensemen. This depth allowed them to trade the underrated blueliner Johnathan Kovacevic to the New Jersey Devils for an unspectacular return. Yet, as we’ll discuss when we look at the defensive depth chart below, moving Kovacevic did not resolve the defensive logjam.
Montreal Canadiens 2024-25 Projected Depth Chart – Defencemen
Despite having numerous defensemen with above-average potential, the Montreal Canadiens have struggled statistically. Arber Xhekaj, Jordan Harris, and Johnathan Kovacevic have had stretches with better-than-average underlying numbers, but the Canadiens’ top pairing—rotating among Kaiden Guhle, Mike Matheson, David Savard, and others—has often been outplayed.
It’s naturally easier to excel on the second or third pairing than to face the opposing team’s best players consistently. However, until the Habs can establish a top pairing that wins more possession battles than it loses, victories will be elusive.
The good news is that three of the team’s top defensive prospects—Lane Hutson, David Reinbacher, and Logan Mailloux—are eager to secure permanent NHL spots. Additionally, the smooth-skating Adam Engstrom, though less talked about, deserves consideration for NHL lineups due to his professional hockey experience and recent entry-level contract with the Habs. This next wave of defensive talent could significantly bolster the team’s performance.
To help Kaiden Guhle produce solid numbers, the Canadiens should keep him on the left side of the ice. Last year, he played on his offside too often, a challenging demand for a young player already facing tough situations in his first two NHL seasons. Given the Habs’ history of using him in difficult scenarios, there’s a decent chance Guhle might again play on his offside this season.
However, this might change if either David Reinbacher or Logan Mailloux makes the team out of camp. The removal of Johnathan Kovacevic could indicate that Kent Hughes, Jeff Gorton, and Martin St-Louis are creating opportunities for these prospects. Alternatively, Harris and Xhekaj might be asked to play on their offside, allowing Mailloux and Reinbacher more time in the AHL to improve their speed of execution and positioning when defending the rush.
Montreal Canadiens Brass Tacks
It’s worth noting that we only briefly discussed Lane Hutson’s potential role on the team next year. This isn’t due to doubts about his NHL potential but because his readiness will need reassessment once training camp begins. Despite his impressive two-game audition at the end of the 2023-24 season, where he earned two points, the Habs might opt to start him in the AHL. This would allow him to absorb important minutes and give the Canadiens more time to address their defensive logjam since Hutson does not require waivers to be assigned to the AHL. This could even lead to a Hutson-Reinbacher pairing, giving AHL fans a preview of two of the organization’s most crucial prospects.
Nevertheless, it’s clear the Canadiens haven’t yet determined the optimal path forward for their right-side defense. They are considering using key players on their offside while evaluating the readiness of some prospects for full-time NHL action.
As the season approaches, the Habs once again face several defensive question marks. However, unlike previous seasons, there is a sense that some younger players might finally step forward in their careers if used correctly, potentially improving the team’s defensive metrics to a more respectable level.