The Player That Benefits Most From The Recent Injuries

For the longest time this season, fans were suggesting trying a line of Zack Bolduc, Kirby Dach and Ivan Demidov as a potential 2nd line. However, due to Demidov’s clear chemistry to produce alongside fellow rookie Oliver Kapanen, that line never got a single look before either Dach or Newhook was injured. As a result, Bolduc actually got to play most of his games this season with Dach, but it didn’t result in the Habs sniper getting scoring chances. Instead, Dach was creating offence for himself as he went on a little run a few weeks ago, where he scored 4 goals in 3 games, but Bolduc wasn’t really involved in those goals. 

What Bolduc has proven this season is that he needs an elite playmaker alongside him to create his scoring chances. When he lacks a true playmaker, he can’t seem to score on his own. The Habs sniper needs someone like rookie Ivan Demidov to get him the puck in his wheelhouse. Whereas, yes, Demidov is playing with Kapanen, who has been scoring a lot this season, but no secret playing with a guy that has Bolduc’s shot at even strength will only help prompt up Demidov’s assists as a whole. The only reason that this didn’t happen yet may be because Newhook was the perfect 2-way fit with the Habs rookies, and Bolduc has struggled a lot in his own zone so far this season.

With the inexperience that a line of his, Kapanen and Demidov would have, it could be very risky when the oldest player is 22 years old. However, it may be the best way to create an offensive 2nd line to take pressure off the Habs’ top line with what they have in the organization after all the injuries at forward. This is why Bolduc and Demidov need to be tested to see what they can create. 

Even more proof that Bolduc needs elite talent around him to produce this season, he previously scored 2 goals from his office on the bumper of the first power play unit, being set up by his more skilled playmaking teammates on multiple occasions. At the time, aside from his performance on the power play, everyone else was struggling, so the Habs decided to go back to what worked against the Washington Capitals by swapping him and Demidov around. This resulted in success for the next 6 games, before it got too predictable, which has led to the power play going 0/17 in their last 5 games.

Heading into Monday’s game against the Blue Jackets, Bolduc and Demidov have swapped back units once again. The fact that they are going back to something that didn’t work great except for Bolduc, likely isn’t a recipe for success, but it is a chance for the forward to regain his scoring touch once again. It’s possible that without the injuries, they would have tried Kirby Dach or Alex Newhook, who had been playing much better hockey on the top unit instead. In fact, it’s possible the Habs would have swapped Dach and Slafkovsky instead of removing their most skilled passer from the top unit. With that being said, Bolduc can take advantage of these injuries to find his goal-scoring again.

Even with getting back on the Habs’ top power play again, the biggest break for Bolduc has to be the chance that he could actually play with Demidov. Unfortunately, the lines were not confirmed for Monday night before the writing of this article.

Do you think the Habs will finally give Bolduc and Demidov a chance to play together?