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Okay, what do we do with the powerplay and the arrival of Demidov?
Marc-Olivier Cook
Okay, what do we do with the powerplay and the arrival of Demidov?
Credit: The addition of Ivan Demidov to the Montreal Canadiens’ lineup will immediately add some punch to the forward. It always helps when a talented player like him joins a club, and it’s well-timed because the Canadiens’ top-6 isn’t the best in the NHL. The first line does what it has to do, we agree. But […]

The addition of Ivan Demidov to the Montreal Canadiens’ lineup will immediately add some punch to the forward.

It always helps when a talented player like him joins a club, and it’s well-timed because the Canadiens’ top-6 isn’t the best in the NHL.

The first line does what it has to do, we agree. But we can’t say the same about the second unit because there’s a significant hole on the right side. Kapanen, Heineman, Roy… these guys have had their chance but haven’t been able to produce when needed.

Logically, we can really believe that Demidov will take Kapanen’s place on the second line. The Dvorak trio is rolling too well and the Canadiens’ head coach won’t use Demidov on a fourth line.

We’re talking about Martin St-Louis and not Martin Rotenberg, after all.

St-Louis shouldn’t listen to Pierre McGuire…

More seriously, we have to ask a question with Demidov’s arrival and usage. And that question is simple:

What do we do with the powerplay?

I don’t see Martin St-Louis deciding to insert Demidov immediately into the first powerplay unit.

That would be disrespectful to the guys already in place…

But if Demidov arrives and St-Louis judges after a few games that the (new) #93 of the Canadiens can already help the team on the first wave… there will be decisions to make.

Who gets taken out between Slaf, Suzuki, Caufield, Hutson, or Laine?

(Credit: DailyFaceoff)

Let’s settle some things from the start: Nick Suzuki and Lane Hutson are really untouchable.

The captain is too good to take that role away from him, and it’s exactly the same for Lane Hutson.

Then, we have to wonder if Caufield and Laine can coexist together on the ice in a powerplay. We know both have a similar style: both guys have good shots… but Laine’s is really more devastating.

In all of this, we also have to think about Slaf because he plays his role well in front of the net and because he’s good at going to get the puck in the corner.

He creates space for his teammates and has his usefulness in a powerplay.

In my eyes, it’s really between Slaf and Caufield.

Patrik Laine doesn’t serve much purpose when used equally, and the Canadiens must exploit his shot with a man advantage.

With Laine, we’re also talking about one of the (very) good powerplay specialists in the NHL:

(Credit: NHL.com)

The decision to take Caufield off the first wave would be difficult too because we’re talking about one of the best goal-scorers in the NHL this season.

For Slaf, it’s difficult too… because if Demidov takes his place on the first unit, we’ll have to find a guy to fill his role, and it won’t be Demidov, Suzuki, Hutson, Laine, or Caufield who will go position themselves in front of the net to block the goalie’s view.

It’s going to get interesting.

Because if the Canadiens end up with Slaf or Caufield on the second powerplay wave and with Mike Matheson as the quarterback… the team will have the tools to be pretty dangerous with a man advantage.


In Overtime

– The Ivan Demidov jersey craze has arrived in Montreal.

– Me too.

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