Canadiens: What to Expect from Christian Dvorak

Christian Dvorak had a tough season last year, he battled numerous injuries and recovered from knee surgery and torn pectoral muscle surgery. As a result, he could only suit up for 30 games and registered nine points. Projected on 82 games that would have amounted to 25 points, the worst total of his career.

How He Arrived

Dvorak didn't exactly come to Montreal in winning conditions, having lost Phillip Danault to the Los Angeles Kings in free agency and Jesperi Kotkaniemi thanks to a Carolina Hurricanes offer sheet, Marc Bergevin had to find a center somewhere. The Arizona Coyotes were willing to part with the American pivot and he was brought in as the cavalry.

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The fact the trade was announced on the same day as Kotkaniemi officially becoming a Hurricane (September 4, 2021) just goes to show how much of a reactionary move the trade actually was. In five seasons in the desert, Dvorak had never picked up more than 38 points, just four more than KK's most productive campaign at the time and it's fair to say expectations were wildly unreasonable.

How It's Gone So Far

In three seasons in Montreal, Dvorak has never played more than 64 games in a year and put up 33, 38 and nine points. There's one difference this upcoming season though, he will be playing out the last campaign of his current contract which saw him earn $26.70 M in six years. In other words, he will have to perform well if he intends to keep playing in the NHL.

Generally speaking, contract years have been great motivators for NHL players. The odds of seeing him play on the top two lines are slim to none, as they should be really considering how little he has produced over the years, but it means he shouldn't be playing with top talent which could make it challenging to boost his own stock.

What Could Happen

I personally see the top six being filled by the usual suspects on the first line (Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsky) and the "show me guys" on the second line. You know, those who are on a bridge deal and want to earn themselves a long-term deal (Alex Newhook and Kirby Dach). The remaining spot should, at least in my mind, go to Joshua Roy who has good offensive instincts and has deserved at least an audition there.

Meaning that Dvorak should find himself on the third line, in all likelihood between Brendan Gallagher on one side and Josh Anderson (or Joel Armia) on the other. While the alternate captain had a good year last season all things considered, it was without a doubt Anderson's worst campaign and he will be looking to bounce back in a big way.

Related: Canadiens: What to Expect From Brendan Gallagher

Can this combination produce in today's NHL? It can, but the expectations have got to be managed. Gallagher is no longer a 30-goal a year guy and Anderson has looked like a power forward who has lost all of his powers of late. Since coming to town in return for Max Domi, he has never put up more than 32 points in a season and he hasn't been playing anywhere near as well as he did in his 47-point campaign in Columbus.

There comes a time when players must be accepted for what they are. Dvorak wasn't a center who could replace Danault and Anderson is not the power forward Bergevin hoped he would be when he signed him to a seven-year deal. Still, Dvorak is only two years removed from a 33 points effort in 56 games. If he can find a way to remain healthy, I believe Dvorak is capable of producing between 35 and 40 points.

If he does that, he might even make himself attractive to a team who's getting ready for the Spring dance, allowing Kent Hughes to flip him for an asset at the deadline. Yes, I believe the Canadiens will once again be sellers this year. Patience Habs fans, all good things come to those who wait...

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