We know that Patrik Laine won’t be back anytime soon, but what we don’t know is who will take his place.
While waiting to know the answer, Martin St-Louis will shuffle his cards a little.
In the immediate future, Joel Armia will have the first audition to the right of Kirby Dach. If this is conclusive, the 31-year-old forward could complete the club’s second trio, along with Dach and Alex Newhook, when the season begins on October 9.
For the moment, obviously, nothing is certain yet, and Armia himself affirms that he has not had any discussions with his coach to this effect.
“I’m happy to play with Dach, it’s exciting, he’s a very good player,” replied Armia Tuesday morning at the Bell Centre. He has skills and he’s also very intelligent… I can’t wait. »
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Joel Armia
We presume that Martin St-Louis is also eager to see what it will be like.
Tuesday evening at the Bell Centre, the Montreal coach will not send his “real” team onto the ice when the Ottawa Senators visit, but for the occasion, this trio with Dach and Armia (Joshua Roy will skate left) will at least give him an opportunity to get his head around.
Also, for the moment, it is out of the question to touch the first trio, that of Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsky. The three men will have Tuesday evening off.
But we will of course understand that everything can change.
“For us, it’s an opportunity to see what’s coming, we’re going to try things,” explained the coach of the Canadian. We’re not looking to have all the answers before the first match… that would be good, but we want to find answers.
“I want to see if I can find something else before splitting up the first line. We don’t know what will happen, we’ll see. But that’s the approach I’m taking now, and we’ll see if we’re led in another direction later. »
Armia says he doesn’t feel any more pressure than usual.
“We don’t really know the club’s plans… there is always competition for a place during the camp. Every time I play with someone, anyway, I know I have to be at my best and show everything I can do. »