Martin St. Louis May be Forced to Make a Major Change Quickly with his First Line

This is a suggestion recently made by journalist Brian Wilde during his appearance on The Sick Podcast hosted by Tony Marinaro.

Wilde proposed an intriguing combination: Patrik Laine alongside Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsky, moving Cole Caufield to a second line with Kirby Dach and top prospect Ivan Demidov.

This scenario would mark a shift in philosophy for St. Louis, who has often kept the Caufield-Suzuki duo intact due to their natural chemistry.

But with the potential addition of an elite scorer like Laine and the raw talent of Demidov, the head coach might be tempted to spread out his offensive weapons to create more problems for opposing defenses.

Nothing is set in stone yet, but one thing is certain: with the depth emerging up front, the Habs will have some intriguing decisions to make this fall.

The arrival of Zachary Bolduc from St. Louis has raised promising expectations about his place in the Canadiens' top six next season.

Since being acquired in exchange for Logan Mailloux on July 1, 2025, many believe he could quickly establish himself as a legitimate second-wave offensive threat.

Paired with the rise of Ivan Demidov or Kirby Dach at center, his presence in the top six appears not only possible but realistic. His versatility, offensive instincts, and defensive reliability could make him a valuable asset in Montreal's attack next season.