The Canadian | Five check boxes during the summer

The Canadian season has just concluded that already, there is room for optimism for the next one. Here are five boxes that the club management must absolutely check during the summer to continue on the right path, and to get closer to another place in series.

Posted at 7:00 a.m.

Find a second center

It will be the number one of summer priority. Kirby Dach was to be this guy, but in 57 games this season, the 24-year-old striker had time to prove that he is not made for this work. In the immediate future, we do not see anyone in the organization of the club which would be able to land in the camp in September and play this role. There is therefore the market for autonomous players, or that of transactions, where the Canadian management could use creativity to fill this void. It is possible to do so, and we still recall that the acquisition of Ryan O’Reilly by the Blues of St. Louis in the summer of 2018 immediately changed the face of this team … with the happy results we know.

Get defense help

Of course David Savard was no longer the player he was once, but his departure to a well -deserved retirement will leave a huge emptiness in the Montreal blue line. David Reinbacher, fifth choice at the 2023 draft, will end up one day, but injuries have delayed his progress this season. This is the only name in Laval which could help immediately, and again, there is nothing to believe that its place is assured with the Canadian next season. If the Canadian wants to target higher, this defense will have to look a little more like that of 2021, and less to it.

Relancer Juraj Slafkovsky

We can obviously remember that the young attacker is only 21 years old, and that he has just finished his third season in this league. Either. But some evenings, Slafkovsky did not seem to be what he is, that is to say a first choice, and if the Canadian wants to move upwards, this young man will have to be more than a marker of 20 goals (18 goals this season, to be very precise). A first choice must become an impact player, and so far in any case, Slafkovsky does not give the impression of being this player. Management must find a way to restart it as quickly as possible.

Add a veteran goalkeeper

Is Jakub Dobes really ready to jump in this league? It’s hard to say because at times, the 23 -year -old goalkeeper seemed well, but also, there were these evenings when it was very difficult. Since Cayden Primeau no longer seems to be one of the plans here, it might be wise to add another goalkeeper, a veteran who could support Samuel Montembeault while allowing Dobes to progress normally in the American League. Dobes, as we recall, was a choice of fifth round at the 2020 draft. It remains a “project”, as they say in the environment.

Imitate capital

It is often a good idea to copy the best, and if the Canadian is looking for a little inspiration, he only has to look at the Capitals. A year ago, the capitals were in the same place as the Canadian right now, quickly released in the first round of the series after a 91 -point season. But the Washington club took advantage of the summer to add seven players to its training, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Andrew Mangiapane, Logan Thompson, Jakob Chychrun, Matt Roy, Brandon Duhaime and Taylor Radady. There are some players in this list who knew how to make a difference this season … and in the series against the Canadian. This is proof that a good summer can change everything.