Zachary Bolduc is set to play alongside Ivan Demidov

Mathis Therrien
Zachary Bolduc is set to play alongside Ivan Demidov
Credit: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Last season, Zachary Bolduc's debut with the Montreal Canadiens got a lot of fans excited, not only because he's a young Quebec native, but also because he has a lot of offensive talent.

Things got off to a great start for the 23-year-old, who scored three goals in his first three games of the season, but his play quickly faltered as he went through several slumps throughout the season.

In the end, Bolduc finished the season with 30 points, including 12 goals—a fairly modest total that fell far short of the young Quebecer's potential, especially when it came to his goal tally.

In the playoffs, however, Bolduc performed well and played a key role in the team's success with his tenacity and physical play.

All in all, the Habs' #76 had a fairly ordinary season, but I sincerely believe that Bolduc can bounce back in 2026–2027—he just needs to be given the opportunities to shine.

And in my opinion, the best way to allow Bolduc to play with confidence and perform up to his potential is to pair him with Ivan Demidov.

For whatever reason, Martin St-Louis never really tried this combination on his second line last season, even though, on paper, pairing an outstanding young playmaker like Demidov with a sniper like Bolduc seems like a logical fit.

I sincerely believe it would be a very exciting duo to watch play, and above all, I think it would be the best way to restore Bolduc's confidence.

The young Quebecer is capable of producing and performing; he just needs the ice time and the talent alongside him to put the puck in the back of the net.

I can really see Demidov setting up a ton of beautiful plays perfectly tailored for Bolduc, who'll find a way to thread the needle with his superb shot.

At just 23 years old, Bolduc deserves a real chance to shine—not to be left languishing on a third or fourth line.

Bolduc is a talented player, and he needs to play with talented players—which is exactly why the Bolduc–Demidov pairing makes so much sense.

After that, at center—whether it's Alex Newhook, Kirby Dach, Oliver Kapanen, or someone else—I think we'd have a solid second line ready to go for next season.

Let's just hope that contract negotiations with Bolduc are wrapped up soon.


In a Nutshell

– Note.

– Wow.

– That's really too bad.

– Huge disappointment for Verstappen.

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