The Canadiens are about to run into the kind of lineup squeeze every coach wants and nobody enjoys managing.
Oliver Kapanen is back at practice after an injury he suffered in the preseason, and Ivan Demidov is also tracking toward a return, with a potential comeback by the end of October after playing just two games before a lower-body injury sidelined him. Montreal still hasn’t had its full forward group available in a single game this season, and once both are ready, Martin St. Louis will have some real decisions to make.
The first call may be the easiest one. The Canadiens looked their best when Juraj Slafkovsky, Nick Suzuki, and Cole Caufield were together, and that setup should probably stay put.
Slafkovsky started the year slowly, going pointless in the first two games, but once Demidov went down against the Carolina Hurricanes, St. Louis moved him back to the top line.
Slafkovsky responded right away, scoring his first goal of the season in that game.
That leaves another trio that has quietly earned its keep. After trying Kirby Dach on the second line, St.
Louis shifted Chris Kreider alongside Alex Newhook and bumped Josh Anderson higher in the lineup. The combination has clicked.
Per MoneyPuck, the Kreider-Newhook-Anderson group has been on the ice for three goals for and none against over four games together. Anderson has driven the production with four goals and two assists in seven games, while Kreider has gone four games without a point.
Even so, the line has worked well enough that it feels like only a matter of time before he breaks through.
So where do Kapanen and Demidov land?
St. Louis could split them up, but that seems less likely considering how much time they spent together during their rookie seasons.
Demidov led all rookies in points last season with 62, and Kapanen finished second among rookies in goals with 22. They also spent a significant stretch last season with Slafkovsky, but that door looks closed if Montreal wants to keep its top unit intact.
That makes Zachary Bolduc a very interesting name in the mix. Since Demidov’s injury, Bolduc has stepped up and could be a fit alongside the returning pair.
His first season in Montreal wasn’t perfect - 12 goals and 30 points in 78 games - and he added just seven points in 19 playoff games, but his overall game took a step forward. He became more assertive, won more puck battles, and finished his checks.
He has carried that into this season, where he has three goals and two assists through seven games and is already two-for-two in the shootout.
Bolduc also brings a type of game that would balance out what Kapanen and Demidov do best. He plays physical, which is not a major part of either of their games, and he can create second opportunities by doing the dirty work down low. On top of that, he has a strong shot, and pairing that with Demidov’s passing ability would be an appealing combination.
The bigger question may not be whether Kapanen and Demidov play together, but whether they land on the second line or settle in on the third based on how well the Kreider-Newhook-Anderson unit is going. Either way, two players will have to come out.
Owen Beck likely heads back to the Laval Rocket, and the other spot could come down to Kirby Dach. Of the players who have dressed every game this season, Dach has logged the lowest ice time per game.
Jake Evans is too important to remove, and Alexandre Texier has developed chemistry with Phillip Danault. That could leave Dach as the odd man out.
However St. Louis sorts it out, the return of Kapanen and Demidov gives Montreal more options - and makes the lineup a lot harder to handle.
In Other News...
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For Owen Beck, the timing could be beneficial. What was shaping up as a short stay with the Canadiens may now stretch a bit longer as the club works around multiple absences among its forwards, giving the coaching staff one more roster question to answer while Xhekaj recovers. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Keep Creating Chances But Still Look Exposed In Atlantic Race
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Josh Anderson and Zachary Bolduc have been among the brighter spots, helping keep the offense afloat while the rest of the group looks for a sharper edge. Even so, the bigger issue remains whether Montreal can keep creating this volume of chances and start turning them into goals before the standings gap begins to widen. [Read more 🡒]
Kirby Dachs Canadiens Role Just Turned Into A Bigger Roster Question
Kirby Dachs start with the Canadiens has already become a bigger talking point than anyone in Montreal likely expected. Through seven games, he has managed only one assist and a minus-4 rating, and the reduced ice time has sent him sliding to the fourth line as the club continues to sort through its early-season lineup and roster balance.
What makes the situation more notable is that his name is no longer being framed only around on-ice production. Reports have suggested a trade is becoming a more realistic possibility, with other teams showing interest as Montreal weighs its options. For a player still in the middle of establishing his place with the Canadiens, that kind of attention adds another layer to an already uneasy stretch. [Read more 🡒]