Bob Hartley Proposes Intriguing Lineup Move for Martin St-Louis and the Canadiens
Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
The Montreal Canadiens have become a transformed team since the arrival of the Jeff Gorton/Kent Hughes duo. With the help of their coach, they've brought a more offensive dimension to the team, something that certainly doesn't displease the fans.
However, the downside of this change lies in the physical aspect.
Few players in the current lineup can throw their weight around and intimidate opponents.
We got a good example of that last Tuesday during the game against the St. Louis Blues.
The Habs' opponents made things difficult for them with their toughness and physical style of play.
Bob Hartley makes a proposal for Martin St-Louis and the Montreal Canadiens
This issue caught the attention of former NHL coach Bob Hartley, who would like to see more grit from the Habs, particularly on the 4th line.
"The Canadiens lack resources.
The Canadiens lack a disturber up front.
Xhekaj can't play that role because it's too risky for a 6th defenseman.
He can act as an enforcer, but in the most recent game, not only did the Blues take control of the game, they took control of the Canadiens' emotions.
You need a 4th line guy who brings energy.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
He hits, and he gets under the skin of the other team's top players."
- Bob Hartley
The Canadiens lack a disturber up front.
Xhekaj can't play that role because it's too risky for a 6th defenseman.
He can act as an enforcer, but in the most recent game, not only did the Blues take control of the game, they took control of the Canadiens' emotions.
You need a 4th line guy who brings energy.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
He hits, and he gets under the skin of the other team's top players."
- Bob Hartley
The Habs have players like Florian Xhekaj and Luke Tuch who can change the game
As Jeremy Pearman of HabsolumentFan reminds us, Montreal is actually doing fairly well in the hits department.
In fact, they rank 7th in the NHL in that category.
While the numbers may look good, the hits aren't mainly coming from the 4th line. Here are the stats for that unit, made up of Joel Armia, Jake Evans, and Emil Heineman:
Armia: 85 hits (207th)
Evans: 103 hits (138th)
Heineman: 149 hits (54th)
The trio of Armia, Evans, and Heineman doesn't resemble the traditional 4th lines of the past that featured energy and rugged players.
However, that could soon change, as the organization has players who could fill that role perfectly.
Just think of Florian Xhekaj and Luke Tuch, who bring a physical edge with the Laval Rocket while also knowing how to play hockey.
Check out this clip that shows how Arber's little brother can be a pest while using his hockey IQ!
Now that's an interesting idea!
| POLL | ||
MARS 27 | 1201 ANSWERS Bob Hartley Proposes Intriguing Lineup Move for Martin St-Louis and the Canadiens Would you call up Florian Xhekaj to the Habs to add energy and grit to the fourth line? | ||
| Absolutely | 937 | 78 % |
| No | 264 | 22 % |
| List of polls | ||
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