Demidov-Laine Duo Sparks Excitement but Exposes Martin St-Louis' Lineup Problem

The acquisition of Dobson, that of Bolduc, the hope inspired by making the playoffs, and the chemistry between the guys-especially between Demidov and Laine, who have been training together in Brossard for a few weeks already.. Everyone can't wait for it to start!

The only dark cloud: the persistent absence of a second-line center in Martin St-Louis' lineup. This is a major issue Martin St-Louis will have to deal with: if he wants to take the risk of putting his two offensive wingers on the same line (Demidov and Laine), he needs an extremely reliable defensive center between them.

Among Dach, Newhook, Evans, and Veleno, only Evans ticks this important box.

Honestly, it's a puzzle for Martin St-Louis. Demidov and Laine have insane offensive talent: Laine, with his shot, can unlock a game in a split second, while Demidov has vision and hands that are a dream.

On paper, it's a perfect match. But putting them together is playing with fire.

Let's be real, Laine has often been criticized for his lack of backchecking effort. He can be a bit static without the puck, and his positioning in the defensive zone often leaves much to be desired.

Demidov, on the other hand, is still young and learning the ropes of the NHL. In the KHL, he shone offensively, but his off-puck game was less tested. In the NHL, where the smallest mistake costs a goal, the two of them together risk getting completely eaten alive by stronger opposing lines.

For it to work, you'd need an ultra-responsible defensive center, ideally a second Nick Suzuki. But the Canadiens lack depth at this position, as we know. A guy like Kirby Dach could eventually be that player, but he's injured and will need several games to get back into shape.

St-Louis will have to cross his fingers and hope that Kent Hughes manages to offload Price's contract and finds a center for his second line.

Speaking of Kent Hughes, in an interview with NHL.com published this morning, he threw praise at Ivan Demidov and highlighted his dedication in training.