Martin St. Louis is already dealing with an early-season lineup puzzle as the Montreal Canadiens prepare for Tuesday's home opener against the Carolina Hurricanes. The head coach said he would ideally like some kind of rotation to keep players engaged, but the reality is that not everyone can play, even when the group is pushing for minutes.
The timing makes the decision more delicate. The Canadiens are coming off a sloppy 6-5 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, and this rematch with the Carolina Hurricanes carries extra weight because the Hurricanes eliminated the Canadiens in the Eastern Conference Final.
A rotation is the ideal, but not always the option
St. Louis made it clear that roster management is part of the challenge at this stage. “Ideally, we get on some kind of rotation where we keep everybody engaged, because these players are ready to play, too, and we have to manage that,” he said.
That is a sensible view for a coach at this point in the season. The Canadiens have players fighting for spots and roles, and Tuesday's game arrives with competition for ice time already visible in practice.
On Monday, Florian Xhekaj skated with Jake Evans and Josh Anderson, while Kaiden Guhle practiced in a full-contact jersey. Ivan Demidov missed practice for treatment and rest. It all pointed to a roster picture that is still being worked through, with St. Louis trying to balance form, fitness and the need to keep players involved.
Guhle's return adds another layer
Kaiden Guhle's situation is particularly notable because he had corrective surgery on his adductor muscle this summer and had missed training camp and the first two games of the season. His return to a full-contact jersey suggests progress, but it also adds another name into a lineup conversation that is already tightening.
That is where the Canadiens' early test really lies. It is not only about whether they can respond after Saturday's overtime defeat. It is also about whether St. Louis can settle on combinations that make sense while keeping the bench healthy, sharp and engaged.
There are also encouraging signs in the forward group. Last Tuesday, St. Louis praised Kirby Dach's performance against Toronto, saying, “He was hard on the puck, he was physical, he had an annoying stick, he made some plays, and his intentions were very mature.” That kind of response matters because it gives the coach more confidence in his top end while the rest of the roster fight for their place.
The Canadiens do not need a perfect answer in October, but they do need a workable one. Against a team like the Carolina Hurricanes, even small selection calls can shape the tone of the night. For St. Louis, the challenge is to use the depth without unsettling the rhythm, and to make sure the players pushing for minutes are ready when their chance arrives.
