Montreal's camp just got tighter. Two young forwards are squeezed. Martin St-Louis has little room. Owen Beck and Florian Xhekaj face the worst-case path.
The Canadiens have created a serious numbers problem up front, and the timing couldn't be worse for two prospects trying to force their way into the NHL lineup.
Chris Kreider's arrival adds another established forward to a group already carrying plenty of NHL options. That leaves fewer openings for anyone trying to win a job through training camp.
For Beck and Xhekaj, that changes the equation. A strong camp may no longer be enough to earn an opening-night spot if Montreal prefers experience throughout its forward group.
The toughest part is that neither player necessarily controls the outcome. They can produce, skate well and earn St-Louis' trust, yet still run into a roster that simply doesn't have an available chair.
Montreal is coming off a 48-24-10 season, so management isn't dealing with a lineup that needs wholesale changes. The Canadiens can afford to make young players force the issue.
Montreal's roster squeeze leaves little room
That makes Laval the obvious fallback. Beck and Xhekaj could receive major minutes there instead of battling for limited bottom-six shifts or spending nights outside Montreal's lineup.
Development-wise, that route has value. But from the players' perspective, returning to the AHL after pushing for a full-time NHL job would still qualify as the worst-case result of camp.
The frustrating part is how narrow the opening has become. Kreider gives Montreal another experienced option who can occupy meaningful minutes, reducing the need to rush either prospect into a role.
And unlike a rebuilding club desperate to audition prospects, these Canadiens finished with 106 points. Jobs have to be taken from players already trusted at the NHL level.
Beck's battle will revolve around showing he can handle NHL pace and responsibility every night. Xhekaj needs to make his size, pressure and physical identity impossible for the coaching staff to ignore.
The door isn't completely shut. Injuries, preseason performance or an unexpected roster move could reopen the race quickly.
But entering camp, the message is clear: Beck and Xhekaj aren't just competing against each other. They're fighting a crowded depth chart that may already have their Laval assignments waiting.
Should Owen Beck and Florian Xhekaj start the season in Montreal?
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