As the Montreal Canadiens head into a crucial Game 2 against the Washington Capitals, all eyes are on head coach Martin St-Louis and his controversial lineup decisions. The buzz around the team has only intensified with the surprising demotion of young star Ivan Demidov to the fourth line, a move that has left fans and analysts alike questioning St-Louis’s strategy.
While the Canadiens continue their pursuit of playoff success, the handling of Demidov’s ice time has become a major talking point, fueling debates about player development and team priorities. With the pressure mounting and the spotlight shining brighter than ever, the choices made behind the bench could have significant implications—not just for tonight’s game, but for the future of the franchise.
Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
Head coach of the Montreal Canadiens, Martin St-Louis, is clearly making decisions to win right now. He’s choosing what he believes gives him the best chance to win, and he’s clearly not making the popular decisions.
We can think of how he’s handled the Arber Xhekaj situation.
But we can also think about how he’s managed young Ivan Demidov, whose ice time keeps shrinking with each game.
Ivan Demidov and his tiny ice time continues to spark discussion, and I’m really curious to see what happens tonight in Game 2.
Very Disappointing Usage of Ivan Demidov by Martin St-Louis
For a team that’s looking for offense, it’s frustrating to see Demidov being used so little.
In his first game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Demidov played around 17 minutes. In his second game against the Carolina Hurricanes, that dropped to around 11 minutes, and it fell even further during Game 1 on Monday in Washington.
We’ll be keeping an eye on that tonight, but I truly believe that better usage of Demidov could be a game-changer (in a good way) for Martin St-Louis and the Canadiens.
It’s a bold move by MSL not to use Demidov more, and it’s certainly not a decision that has unanimous support.. Let’s see if anything changes tonight for Game 2 against the Washington Capitals!
Last-Minute Update: Ivan Demidov has just been demoted to the fourth line minutes ahead of game 2
Caufield-Suzuki-Slafkovsky
Anderson-Dvorak-Gallagher
Laine-Newhook-Armia
Heineman-Evans-Demidov
Matheson-Carrier
Guhle-Hutson
Struble-Savard
Montembeault
Dobes
News
JUST BRUTAL. In a devastating turn of events no one saw coming, Patrik Laine has suffered another HEARTBREAKING setback in his recovery. This unexpected complication has completely derailed his timeline, and sources are now whispering that his season—and potentially his career in Montreal—is in serious JEOPARDY.
Just when it seemed things couldn’t get any worse for Patrik Laine, another devastating blow has struck the Montreal Canadiens…
IT’S OFFICIAL. Martin St-Louis just made a SHOCKING lineup change, giving young phenom Ivan Demidov a massive promotion that will change EVERYTHING. This bold move signals a new era for the Canadiens’ offense and has sent a clear message that the youth movement has truly begun.
The wait is finally over. For weeks, Montreal Canadiens fans have been catching tantalizing glimpses of a significant shift on…
Martin St-Louis has delivered a ruthless and public message to Arber Xhekaj after his DISASTROUS game in Vancouver. His brutal benching is a clear sign that the coach’s patience has completely run out, leaving Xhekaj’s future with the Canadiens in serious JEOPARDY.
Martin St-Louis’s patience has finally run out, and he sent a message to Arber Xhekaj so loud and clear it…
Has Martin St-Louis finally had ENOUGH? His shocking new lineup decisions have sent a clear and brutal message to Arber Xhekaj, suggesting the enforcer’s time in Montreal could be over. Fans are in disbelief as this move hints that a trade is now IMMINENT.
A seismic shift is underway on the Montreal Canadiens’ blue line, and Martin St-Louis’s latest lineup decisions have sent a…
This is INSANE. A bombshell report has exposed the gargantuan contract demands for Mike Matheson, a deal that would make him one of the highest-paid defensemen in the league. Fans are in disbelief over the STAGGERING numbers, and it could force a franchise-altering decision: pay up or lose him FOREVER.
The Montreal Canadiens are facing a monumental decision that could define their defensive corps for years to come, and it…
CANADIENS’ $18 MILLION WAR CHEST EXPLODES INTO NHL CHAOS – SECRET MEGATRADE TO SNATCH A SUPERSTAR FRANCHISE KILLER FROM RIVALS IN A SHOCKING MIDNIGHT HEIST THAT WILL BURN THE LEAGUE TO THE GROUND AND CROWN MONTREAL THE NEW DYNASTY OVERNIGHT!
Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes just flipped the NHL’s power grid upside down—without lifting a finger. While the hockey world…
End of content
No more pages to load
