This performance earned him a two-year contract, and he proved to the organization that he could play anywhere in the lineup. A true versatile player or a Swiss army knife, as Martin St-Louis likes to say.
However, the honeymoon ended abruptly this season, marked by injuries and a more subdued role. RHP finished the campaign with 2 goals in 45 games.
The reality is that his place in the lineup is far from secure, and according to TVA Sports, which predicted the Canadiens' lineup for the start of the next season, RHP is not part of it.
There are two pleasant surprises with Joshua Roy on the 2nd line and Emil Heineman on the 4th, but no RHP in sight. He would thus be the 13th forward, and Michael Pezzetta the 14th.
Heineman is appreciated and very good, but he is a scorer. I don't know if he would bring as much energy as RHP on a 4th line. Despite the good service he's provided, this lineup is a real slap in the face for the small forward.
Nothing is set in stone, and this lineup is just an idea of the team's composition for the 2024-25 season opener. However, it's true that RHP will have to double his efforts during training camp to keep his spot.
Source: TVA SportsCanadiens: une première formation projetée pour 2024-2025
POLL | ||
6 JUILLET | 336 ANSWERS Montreal Canadiens: A real slap in the face for Raphaël Harvey-Pinard Do you think RHP deserves to start the season in Montreal and have the benefit of the doubt from Martin St-Louis? | ||
Yes | 173 | 51.5 % |
No | 163 | 48.5 % |
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