Habs Power Play Units Changed At Practice

The biggest move that the Canadiens coaching staff made to the top power play unit is that Zack Bolduc has been brought back up to the first unit, whereas Ivan Demidov has been delegated back to the 2nd power-play. The Habs have pretty much elected to go back to the power play formation that often struggled before the move to switch Demidov and Bolduc, which led to the Canadiens being the hottest man advantage in the entire league, before everyone figured just how predictable their play was. 

Since their game against the New Jersey Devils on November 6th, the Habs have gone 0/17. This includes an abysmal 0/7 on Saturday against the Boston Bruins, where the Habs had 3:18 at 5-on-3. During their time being up 2 men, the Habs mustered just two shots on goal. They passed the puck around playing a passive game where nobody but Noah Dobson wanted to take the shot. To make matters worse by adding Dobson on the 5-on-3 removed Slafkovsky, who is the main guy in front of the net. The fact that Nick Suzuki and Demidov spent a good 20 seconds passing the puck behind the net during that time just shows how safe they are playing. If the team wants to score, they need to actually not be afraid to shoot the puck and be less selfish. It’s gotten to the point where Cole Caufield is afraid to shoot the puck because of the placement he is in on the ice.

The fact that Demidov has the best overall playmaking ability among the Habs forwards is why they shouldn’t have taken him off the first unit. Given his skill set, he can be adaptable if need be. In fact, only he and Hutson were in the right places of where they should be at all times on the power play. Suzuki would have been a good bumper because he could be a double threat as a shooter or passer in that role. Sometimes the Habs have tried Caufield in the bumper, but he is too small to take the contact that comes 

While Bolduc was good during his time on the 1st unit last time, his skillset is limited to just being a shooter through the bumper meaning that he holds the other guys back as he becomes the sole shooter that the penalty kill needs to focus on for a shot because he will rarely pass it and also seemed to get in the way of the cross crease pass when it is available. 

Another issue that St. Louis has gone back to is that Juraj Slafkovsky will be playing along the right half wall, and he has shown time and time again that he struggles from that spot, as he often tries to make passes outside of his playmaking ability. The best player in that role is definitely Demidov, who will no longer be playing on that unit. Slafkovsky really is the best fit in front of the net, but by playing him where the coaching staff seemingly had him placed in Sunday’s practice, there won’t be a guy who will be battling for loose pucks in front of the net after the inevitable Bolduc shot set up.  

Meanwhile, Suzuki and Caufield being on the same side of the ice means that the Habs captain won’t have the right angle to get Caufield the puck for his best shooting opportunity. Sure, Caufield can score from the goal line, but it’s not an ideal shot to beat a goaltender. All in all, it seems like St. Louis is being stubborn with its top power play unit and would rather try things it’s tried before that don’t work rather than try something new with a new strategy. In reality, St. Louis needs to prove that he can even set up a new power play strategy, as it seems like he only has a few plays that keep going back to. If someone like Demidov is told to shoot more when the strategy calls for it, he may actually do it properly.

As for the 2nd unit, Demidov will be joined by Dobson, Brendan Gallagher, Oliver Kapanen and a rotating player between Caufield or Suzuki. The talent level next to Demidov has been diluted a lot thanks to the injuries to Alex Newhook and Kirby Dach, but having Suzuki or Caufield double shift may be the x-factor on whether that unit has some success. It just sucks that the team’s most skilled playmaker will only play on the 2nd unit. If the 2nd unit needs a boost, there is also the potential of someone like Jared Davidson who can come in and play in Gallagher’s place. 

As sad as it is, Gallagher’s body seems to be slowing down again this season, and it may be better to bring in another younger workhorse to play his role in the front of the net. Nonetheless, the 2nd unit will definitely need a guy like Suzuki or Caufield to double shift on the power play to add much-needed skill out there. Only time will tell how these units work out.

Do you think the current power play units could work, or did St. Louis fail to address the issue properly?