“Why not?”: The idea of removing Zachary Bolduc from the lineup is causing a stir

Charles-Alexis Brisebois
“Why not?”: The idea of removing Zachary Bolduc from the lineup is causing a stir
Credit: Getty Images

Recently, I've been wondering if it's time to think about sending Zachary Bolduc to the AHL.

I'm not one of those people who thinks he should be traded, but I am one of those people who doesn't see how going to the AHL to dominate for a bit could hurt him in the long run.

And since the Habs have a surplus of forwards, don't have 36 possible solutions to solve their problem, time is running out to send the Québécois down, and Bolduc isn't rolling these days, I think the idea makes sense.

But could something less drastic take place? Perhaps.

Steve Bégin, on Martin Lemay's show, said he was in favor of the Canadiens sending the Québécois to the stands for a few games, to give him a break. Of course, this would have to come out of the payroll…

Because the fact is, right now, the injured players don't have 145 opportunities to get back into the lineup. There are probably nine guys who can't be switched after Tuesday's game.

And Bolduc isn't one of them.

Caufield – Suzuki – XXX
Slafkovsky – Kapanen – Demidov
Anderson – Danault – Gallagher
XXX – Evans – XXX

Note that I put Gally there because I don't think Martin St-Louis will want to destroy his veteran line after the Wild game. But in my eyes, he could use a rest.

So who's left for those three positions?

  • Kirby Dach
  • Joe Veleno
  • Zachary Bolduc
  • Samuel Blais (currently the forward extra)
  • Patrik Laine (not back yet, but getting healthier)
  • Alexandre Texier (day-to-day injury)

Of the lot, Bolduc is the only one the Canadiens can send to Laval and avoid the waivers. And the way he's playing, he's not helping the Canadiens win games.

Whether it's the gateway or the AHL, Bolduc needs time to find his game. But I think doing it with a coach other than Martin St-Louis (who can't offer him consistency this season) might help.

Since the Habs will potentially have too many players (a 23-player limit exists at this time of year), Bolduc is a candidate to temporarily lose his place, which shouldn't be a tragedy in my eyes. But why?

Because a youngster's development is never linear.

To be continued between now and the Olympic break. But if everyone is healthy (except Alex Newhook) and a deal doesn't go through, it's decision time for at least one unhappy member of the gang.

Because if Texier and Laine were to return without anyone else getting hurt, the Habs would have 24 players. Someone would have to be cut… and at that point, simply sending a player to the stands wouldn't be enough to comply with the rules.


overtime

– Too bad for Luke Hughes.

– Yes.

– It's still the talk of the town.

– Yes.

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