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It’s been said for some time now, and even though the habs are still far from the finished product, they seem to have already succeeded in their reconstruction, less than eight years after the acquisition of Nick Suzuki and the “reset on the fly” by Marc Bergevin.
This isn’t as quick as the Penguins of the 2000s, who only took six years to make the playoffs between the trade of Jagr in July 2001 and their return to the playoffs in 2007. However, it’s not bad considering the habs didn’t have the chance to draft Malkin and Crosby back-to-back, not to mention Fleury and Jordan Staal before and after.
Moreover, the habs just qualified for the playoffs without really being able to count on Demidov (5th, 2024) and still without having seen Reinbacher (5th, 2023) play in the NHL.
In addition to the Suzuki, Caufield, Guhle from the Bergevin era – to which we can also add Montembeault – we must therefore look to the 2022 draft to better understand the already solid foundations of this reconstruction.
We’ll surely remain calm with Mesar (26th) and Beck (33rd), but their two big selections in this draft, Slafkovsky (1st) and Hutson (62nd), are already very important players.
Hutson is already playing at the level of a superstar in his rookie season.
Then, even if he’s still far from reaching his ceiling, Slafkovsky is already an impact player. Although he’s not as consistent as we would like, he greatly helps Suzuki and Caufield play to their strengths since his arrival in the trio.
This habs goal by Nick Suzuki doesn’t happen without the big hit & board battle win by Juraj Slafkovsky
— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) April 17, 2025
Thus, Martin St-Louis may say that “this year the plan was to learn to win,” but without these two players from the 2022 draft, the habs aren’t even close to a playoff spot.
Or, if you prefer, his plan could only be “to learn to win” because he finally had enough ammunition to put it all into action. Because, yes, since the wise words of Pat Burns, humanity has understood that you don’t go bear hunting with butter knives.
These players who make the difference…
For a “cinderella” team like the habs to be successful in the playoffs, it often takes players who can surprise the opponent with outstanding performances.
In Montreal, we can think of Claude Lemieux and Patrick Roy in 1986, or Paul DiPietro in 1993.
Then, in 2021, the intriguing arrival of Cole Caufield and the under-estimated impact of veteran Corey Perry had certainly contributed to the unexpected run to the finals.
Finally, for the 2019 Blues, Jaden Schwartz and Jordan Binnington are others who have exceeded expectations and made a difference for a team that wasn’t “supposed” to go very far.
Two secret weapons…
With Slafkovsky and Demidov, we’re far from the modest profiles of Pisani and Dipietro.
For one, in his own words and in front of his future bosses, Demidov frankly said he saw himself as a “franchise player”!
Big shocker that the guy who knows he’s viewed as a “franchise player” embraced the fanatic welcome he received.
Demidov is gonna love it in Montreal, we know this. https://t.co/I6b0MeJIfM pic.twitter.com/tglU18wxgW
— Sean (@seanhhm) April 11, 2025
Yes, Suzuki, Caufield, Hutson, and Guhle are all still young, and the last two have never played in the playoffs.
But, in general, even if nothing is guaranteed, we already know what to expect from these four, ultra-consistent and performing players this season.
We can thus anticipate that Suzuki and Caufield will still be the spearheads of the Montreal offense.
Then, for Hutson and Guhle, even if the pressure will be high on them, we expect puck control and offensive dominance for the first, and robust and flawless defensive play for the second.
The Caps will try to counter these four players, knowing very well who they’re up against.
But what about Slafkovsky and Demidov?
That, nobody knows. We’re in complete mystery.
Martin St-Louis doesn’t know.
The players themselves don’t know!
The reason is simple: these two are so far from having shown us everything!
If this last observation is obvious for Demidov, with only 26 minutes of play in the NHL, it remains very relevant for Slafkovsky after exactly 200 games in the “show”.
While NHL players reach this mark on average around 23-24 years old, the big Slovak has just turned 21 on March 30th.
Meanwhile, we’ll note that power forwards with similar profiles in the draft usually take around 3-4 years to reach their full potential, often starting their careers at 19 and not 18. We think, among others, of Tkachuk, Rantanen, Meier, and Draisaitl.
After a certain eruption in winter 2024 and a more or less constant level of play in 2024-2025, it’s possible that Slafkovsky – who only has two and a half years of experience in the NHL – will experience another eruption soon, maybe as early as this spring.
In any case, it’s very certain that the habs’ decision-makers chose a sturdy player who wants to “own the stage” like Slafkovsky in 2022. The young man breathed confidence and presented himself as a player who wants to make a difference in crucial moments.
As for that, let’s say he didn’t disappoint in the last two games of the season, with a big goal at the end of the game against Chicago and several solid plays against Carolina…
So, less than three years after his selection, the young man will already have the chance to prove to his bosses and some observers that they weren’t just dreaming when they went against the tide in 2022.
As for Demidov, since the city was already thrilled at the idea of “making the playoffs”, his late arrival is nothing other than the cherry on the proverbial sundae for the organization and fans.
And for him, well, he’ll face his legendary compatriot.
Like the young Ovechkin in 2005, the #93 of the habs is already making plays that only a handful of elite NHL players can make.
Ivan Demidov has his 1st NHL point, an assist, on just his third shift. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/hGtf3yLPV9
— NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) April 14, 2025
We all expect Martin St-Louis to want to protect him and put Demidov in favorable situations or give him more playing time when his team is trailing or has a comfortable lead.
But will the habs’ coach use him in a way that will surprise the opponent?
Will he send him out on the first power play unit, even though his talent seems a bit wasted on the second unit?
Will it be by giving him surprise appearances on other lines than the one he completes with Laine and Newhook?
But unlike Truman, the decision to use them doesn’t entirely rest on his shoulders.
It’s up to Slaf and Demidov to show him what they’re capable of.
