Zachary Bolduc's Role Could Come at Patrik Laine's Expense in Montreal

In his lineup, Martineau placed a first unit made up of Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, Lane Hutson, and Zachary Bolduc. This choice draws attention, since Bolduc, freshly arrived in the organization, finds himself immediately propelled to the heart of the offensive setup.

According to TVA Sports' Martineau, the logic is simple: the young forward has the profile of a sharpshooter capable of bringing a new dimension to the power play, already well-structured around Suzuki and Caufield.

The addition of Hutson on the blue line, with his vision and creativity, completes the picture of a unit that is young, explosive, and bold.

However, this proposal involves notable consequences. Patrik Laine and Ivan Demidov, who were part of the first unit last year, are relegated to the second.

As for the young Russian prospect, his previous season had shown promising flashes, particularly thanks to his speed and quick hands in tight spaces. In a context where the Canadiens want to build a modern offensive identity, the idea of immediately giving Bolduc a chance makes perfect sense.

Of course, nothing is official for now. These exercises remain hypothetical, but they help fuel the debate and measure the range of options available to the Montreal club.

One thing is certain: with offensive depth richer than in recent years, the choices will be tough, and discussions surrounding the power play will only intensify leading up to training camp.