Oliver Kapanen’s status has turned into one of the more puzzling storylines around the Canadiens this week, and his latest absence from practice in Brossard only adds to the uncertainty.
Guillaume Lefrançois reported that practice was underway with Kapanen as the only player missing, other than injured Demidov. Kapanen’s pattern has been hard to pin down: he returns to the ice, skips a session, comes back again, then disappears once more, and no reason was given for why he was out today.
Demidov’s situation is clearer, even if it’s a tough blow for Montreal. The injury will keep him sidelined for another 2 to 4 weeks. The 20-year-old had already produced one goal and one assist in two games, good for a point per game, and he has appeared in only two of the Canadiens’ three games this season.
That leaves Martin St-Louis with more lineup questions to sort out before tomorrow night. If both absences continue, the Canadiens’ coach will have less room to maneuver when he sets his group for the next game.
Kapanen’s stop-and-start presence makes it difficult to know where he stands. Being out of practice does not automatically point to an injury - it could be rest, a minor issue or a personal matter - but for now, there’s no clear answer.
The Canadiens’ attack hasn’t been the problem so far. They’re averaging 4.0 goals per game, and the bigger concern sits on the other side of the puck. The question is less about whether Kapanen can help the offense and more about where he would fit, and what kind of role he would have if he does return.
Montreal’s schedule is coming fast, with the Nashville Predators visiting tomorrow night and the Detroit Red Wings next on Saturday. The lineup announced before puck drop will be the key thing to watch. Puck drop against Nashville is set for 7 p.m.
In Other News...
Canadiens May Have Found The Answer To A Big Top-Line Debate
Juraj Slafkovskys place in the Montreal Canadiens lineup has been one of the more interesting debates around the clubs recent stretch, and it took a twist when he was shifted onto the top line with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. The move came with Ivan Demidov sidelined, forcing the Canadiens to adjust their forward combinations and giving Slafkovsky a chance to show how he fits beside the teams two most established finishers.
The appeal is obvious: Slafkovskys size, puck protection and improving play can help drive a line that already has skill to burn, while the alternative is sending him back down to a second unit where he might carry more of the puck and the playmaking load. Montreal now has a decision to make about whether the experiment is a short-term fix or something worth keeping in place once the roster is back closer to full strength. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Suddenly Face A Goalie Decision They Didn't Expect
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Jacob Fowler is the name that naturally enters the conversation if Montreal needs help from Laval, where the young netminder has already made a strong impression in limited looks at both the NHL and AHL levels. If Montembeault is sidelined, the Canadiens could be looking at more than a short-term patch, with a possible extended evaluation in the crease depending on how Dobe holds up in the meantime. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Blue Line Just Put One Tough Roster Decision In Focus
The Canadiens blue line was tested hard in a 6-4 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, and the early damage came from a third pairing that has been under the microscope. Jayden Struble and Arber Xhekaj were on the ice for two goals in the opening stretch, a rough start that only sharpened the concern around how Montreal is covering the back end while Kaiden Guhle remains out with an injury.
Guhles return will force the kind of lineup conversation teams usually prefer to postpone, but Montreal does not have that luxury right now. The defense has to be sorted with an eye on both stability and development, and there is already a sense that the decision could come down to one of the young left-side options. Adam Engstrom is part of that discussion, which is exactly why the next roster move on defense will be worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]