weak-link game theory<\/a>, where a team whose worst players are better than the other team\u2019s worst players will eventually win out.<\/p>\nA strong-link team leans heaviest on its best players, and Newhook\u2019s loss might force St. Louis to switch game theories. Because for the first time in a long time, the Canadiens have the option of being a strong-link team, to load up as much talent as possible in their top-six and ride them a bit harder than they have this season.<\/p>\n
One way to do that would be to put Demidov with Dach and Bolduc and create two checking lines behind them, going to more of a traditional top-six\/bottom-six setup.<\/p>\n
The decisions St. Louis and Canadiens management were making after the game, leading St. Louis to arrive later than usual for his news conference, might be more of a philosophical decision than strictly a personnel one.<\/p>\n
Before Thursday\u2019s game, St. Louis was asked about his philosophy when deciding to switch up his forward lines or maintain the continuity the Canadiens have largely benefited from this season. For someone as superstitious as St. Louis to talk openly about how healthy his team has been a few hours before playing a game was a bit surprising.<\/p>\n
He will likely think twice before saying something like this ever again.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like you always have ideas,\u201d St. Louis said Thursday morning. \u201cAnd sometimes you\u2019re forced to (make) changes due to personnel being out of the lineup. Sometimes that will create a scenario where now you can actually try something because there\u2019s something totally new. So you might mix two lines now just because of one guy getting out. But we\u2019ve been somewhat, pretty healthy. Our team has performed pretty well as a whole.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t get consumed by that, but I\u2019m always prepared with what\u2019s next.\u201d<\/p>\n
What\u2019s next is now upon us. Newhook has searched for an NHL role and identity his whole career, and this year, he found it. He\u2019s become an important part of the Canadiens, and he deserves a lot of credit for making that happen.<\/p>\n
But his absence allows St. Louis to try something because something new exists. It allows him to lean more on the quality of the talent available to him and less on the depth of the talent, going from a weak-link approach to a strong-link one.<\/p>\n
It is something Suzuki would seemingly welcome.<\/p>\n
\u201cTheir line was scoring a lot of big goals for us, and Newy\u2019s doing a really great job,\u201d Suzuki said. \u201cIt\u2019s up to the guys to fill in spots, and we\u2019ll see what happens moving forward, but I\u2019d love for my line to affect the game on the scoreboard.\u201d<\/p>\n
Suzuki\u2019s already playing 20 minutes a night, so there are limits to how much more the Canadiens can lean on him. But Bolduc playing just over nine minutes in New Jersey last week was what led St. Louis to admit he could do a better job doling out ice time.<\/p>\n
That job could be simplified with a more simplified talent split, a top-six\/bottom-six approach that puts the team\u2019s six most offensively talented forwards in one group, and their six best checkers in another. It\u2019s not that simple, of course, but the new setup is one worth at least exploring.<\/p>\n
Because the Canadiens are no longer performing pretty well as a whole. And because there is a player out, it creates something totally new.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, I have to re-assess,\u201d St. Louis said of Newhook\u2019s likely prolonged absence. \u201cBack to the drawing board a little bit and go from there.\u201d<\/p>\n