The Montreal Canadiens have not had their full forward group on the ice in a single game this season. Oliver Kapanen has yet to play after suffering an injury during the preseason, while Ivan Demidov played just two games before going down with a lower-body injury. Both are getting close to returning, with Kapanen back at practice and Demidov progressing well ahead of a potential return by the end of October. The Canadiens' forward lines have gone through many changes since opening night, with some players making the most of their opportunities. When Kapanen and Demidov return, Martin St. Louis will have some difficult decisions to make about his lineup.
Lines St. Louis should leave untouched
It will be interesting to see how St. Louis integrates Kapanen and Demidov into the lineup. Before the season started, both were pencilled in on the Canadiens' second line alongside Juraj Slafkovsky. Slafkovsky struggled in the first two games, going pointless. After Demidov went down with his injury against the Carolina Hurricanes, St. Louis moved Slafkovsky back to the top line. It was like he never left, recording his first goal of the season that game against the Hurricanes. After nearly two years of trying different line combinations, it is clear that the Canadiens are at their best when Slafkovsky, Nick Suzuki, and Cole Caufield are together, and that should not change when Kapanen and Demidov return.
Slafkovsky's move to the first line pushed Chris Kreider down the lineup. After initially trying Kirby Dach on the second line, St. Louis decided to shake things up, moving Kreider alongside Alex Newhook and elevating Josh Anderson higher up the lineup. The trio has worked well together. They bring speed, physicality, and a scoring touch. According to MoneyPuck, the Kreider-Newhook-Anderson trio has been on the ice for three goals scored and none against across four games together. Leading the way on the goal front is Anderson, who has had a hot start to the season, recording four goals and two assists in seven games. The only real question with this line has been Kreider, who has not recorded a point in his last four games, but with the line playing this well, it is only a matter of time before he finds his stride.
Where do Kapanen and Demidov fit in?
With those two lines theoretically remaining untouched, that leaves two lines to work with. St. Louis may decide to split Kapanen and Demidov, but after playing nearly their entire rookie seasons on the same line, it is more likely they stay together. Demidov led all rookies in points last season with 62, and Kapanen was second in rookie goals with 22. The two spent a significant portion of last season playing alongside Slafkovsky, but with his importance to the first line, it is unlikely the Canadiens move him off that trio. Since Demidov went down, Zachary Bolduc has stepped up his game and could be an intriguing option to play alongside the two.
Bolduc’s first season with the Canadiens was not perfect, finishing with just 12 goals and 30 points in 78 games. Although Bolduc recorded just seven points in 19 playoff games, his overall play improved. He was more aggressive, winning puck battles and finishing his checks. He brought that momentum into this season and has looked more like the player the Canadiens thought they were acquiring. He has three goals and two assists through seven games this season. He is also two-for-two in the shootout this season, and if there is anyone who has played their way to playing with a dynamic player like Demidov, it is Bolduc.
Bolduc brings elements that the line would be missing without Slafkovsky. He is physical, which is not prominent in either Kapanen’s or Demidov’s game. Bolduc will help create second-chance scoring opportunities by winning puck battles. He also has an elite-level shot, which, combined with Demidov’s playmaking abilities, is a scary thought.
When Kapanen and Demidov return, it will be interesting to see if St. Louis immediately has them playing on the second line or has them act as the team’s third line, given how well the Kreider-Newhook-Anderson trio is playing. With the two coming back into the fold, two players will have to exit the lineup. Owen Beck likely would be sent back to the Laval Rocket once they return, but who will be the other player leaving the lineup? Out of all the players to play in every game this season, Dach has played the lowest ice time per game. Jake Evans is too important to the Canadiens to take out of the lineup, and with Alexandre Texier developing chemistry with Phillip Danault, Dach could find himself as the odd man out. Whether Demidov and Kapanen are playing on the team’s second or third line, having the two back in the lineup will make the team that much harder to play against.
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