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Martin St-Louis confronts a growing line dilemma after Tampa thriller
Photo credit: AP Photo/David Zalubowski
On Sunday in Tampa Bay, the Canadiens once again picked up a point, but the debate over line combinations is heating up.
In a 5-4 shootout loss to the Lightning, Montreal erased a 3-0 deficit, then a 4-1 deficit.
Juraj Slafkovsky scored two goals, including the tying goal with 3.8 seconds remaining. Ivan Demidov also scored, while Noah Dobson added a goal and an assist.
What stands out is the five-on-five production of the Slafkovsky-Demidov-Oliver Kapanen line. After 38 games, Demidov has 32 points, Kapanen has 20, and Slafkovsky has 28. It's a young line, but one already capable of swinging a game.
Top-Line Production Becomes a Talking Point in Montreal
While that trio is making noise, Nick Suzuki's unit is losing some bite at even strength. Suzuki still leads the club with 42 points in 38 games and sports a +12 rating. Cole Caufield follows with 37 points, including 18 goals, and a +8 rating.
Both are well paid-$7.875M per season for Suzuki and $7.85M for Caufield-so the pressure remains very real. The issue is what has been happening at five-on-five since December 1.
During a nine-game stretch in which the Canadiens scored 14 even-strength goals, the top line produced only two. When the star duo no longer dictates the pace, you quickly feel the engine sputter.
Zachary Bolduc finds himself at the center of the debate because he's been sitting in the hot seat since November 19. At 22 years old, he has 17 points in 38 games, including 10 goals.
He's not the one who asked to be given the assignment of replacing Slafkovsky on the top line. And now the name Alexandre Texier keeps coming up more and more in discussions. Texier has seven points in 24 games this season, and his one-year contract is worth $1 million.
St-Louis ultimately made the switch, replacing Zachary Bolduc with Alexandre Texier alongside Suzuki and Caufield, while keeping the Slafkovsky-Demidov-Kapanen trio intact.
With the lines now adjusted, the Canadiens will get an immediate chance to see whether this new look can deliver results.
Montreal is back in action tomorrow night in Florida against the Panthers, a tough test that will quickly reveal whether the decision to elevate Texier and keep the Slafkovsky-Demidov-Kapanen trio intact can help rebalance the attack.