Canadiens roster rounding into form

With the arrival of penalty killing and faceoff specialist Blair Betts today, the Canadiens roster is begining to round into form. At the same time, the Canadiens sent Engqvist to Hamilton, meaning that they have now demoted Palushaj,Blunden, Engqvist, and Woywitka in the past few days. Picking up Betts is a clear sign that management does not believe that the youngsters were up the task of playing in the NHL this year.

The Canadiens now have 24 players on the roster when everyone is healthy, an unlikely scenario, and might have to clear a spot on their roster at some point this year. The only players who don't need to pass through waivers or won't leave for Russia are Diaz and Subban. I think it is safe to say that, barring a trade, the Habs will send Diaz down if they need to make space on the roster once Markov is healthy.

With the first game of the season so close, I will post both my hope for the opening night lineup and for the long-term lineup when everyone is healthy.

Lineup for the opening night

Left		Center		Right
Cammalleri		Plekanec		Cole
Pacioretty		Gomez		Gionta
Darche		Desharnais		Kostitsyn
Moen		Betts		Weber
Injured: Eller, White
Left Defence			Right Defence
Gill			Subban
Campoli			Gorges
Spacek			Diaz
Extras: Yemelin Inj: Markov
Goaltender
Price
Budaj

Lineup once everyone is healthy

Left		Center		Right
Cammalleri		Plekanec		Cole
Pacioretty		Gomez		Gionta
Desharnais		Eller		Kostitsyn
Moen		Betts		White
Extras:  Darche, Weber
Left Defence			Right Defence
Markov			Gorges
Gill			Subban
Campoli			Spacek
Extras:  Diaz, Yemelin
Goaltender
Price
Budaj

The question I am left with is what will the Canadiens do with Yemelin long term? He clearly needs game time to adjust to the small ice surface and he will not get that being a healthy scratch. If the Habs don't try and develop him or frequently scratch him, then they run the risk that he will go back to the KHL. My solution would be to platoon him with Diaz to start the season to make sure the gets as much game time as possible. It is not everyday that the Habs have a 6'2 d-prospect who can hit and skate.

Lets hope that the Habs have a good year as they have far more forward depth then they have had in a long time. I am expecting a breakout year from Eller, Desharnais, and Kostitsyn with at least 40 points from each player.

Go Habs Go!