Back on home ice after their Western road swing, the Montreal Canadiens hit the practice rink in Brossard today, and head coach Martin St. Louis wasted no time in unveiling his updated lines to kick off December.
Let’s start up top: Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and Zachary Bolduc were reunited as the first line, a trio that’s seen some rotation lately. Bolduc is back in that top-line role after Juraj Slafkovsky briefly filled the spot to close out the game against Colorado.
It’s clear St. Louis is keeping his options open, showing a willingness to shuffle Bolduc and Slafkovsky depending on game flow and matchups.
Here’s how the full forward group shook out at practice:
- Cole Caufield - Nick Suzuki - Zachary Bolduc
- Juraj Slafkovsky - Oliver Kapanen - Ivan Demidov
- Alexandre Texier - Jake Evans - Josh Anderson
- Florian Xhekaj - Joe Veleno - Brendan Gallagher
Jared Davidson skated as the extra forward. Given his current role, a return to Laval could be on the horizon if roster needs shift.
On the blue line, the big absence was Jayden Struble, who missed both the Avalanche game and today’s skate due to an upper-body injury. No official update yet, but it’s something to keep an eye on as the Habs prepare for their upcoming slate.
In Struble’s absence, expect to see more of Adam Engstrom, Arber Xhekaj, and Florian Xhekaj-the latter continuing to get reps as he adjusts to the NHL pace. Alexandre Texier, typically a forward, has also shown his versatility in recent games, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him take on more responsibilities in hybrid roles if needed.
As for the top line, don’t be surprised if the Bolduc-Suzuki-Caufield trio continues to rotate with Slafkovsky jumping in from time to time. St. Louis has made it clear he’s not married to any one combination-he’s reading the game, adjusting on the fly, and putting his young players in positions to succeed.
With a few lineup question marks and some intriguing forward combinations, the Canadiens head into December with flexibility, youth, and a coach who’s not afraid to mix things up. We’ll keep an eye on Struble’s status and any potential roster moves as the week unfolds.