Zack Bolduc’s top-line opportunity comes two years after Juraj Slafkovský maximized his – The Athletic
BROSSARD, Que. – We’ve seen this playbook before, and there is a particular symbolism attached to it this time around.
When Montreal Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis moved Zack Bolduc to his top forward line with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield in Columbus on Monday night, it was part of an overall effort to snap his team out of a six-game funk where the team had gone 1-3-2, a funk that now sits at 1-3-3 heading into Thursday night’s home game against the team that eliminated them from the first round of the playoffs in the spring, the Washington Capitals.
But it was also an attempt to get more out of Bolduc, one of the team’s prized off-season acquisitions who, by his own admission, is still trying to find his way in Montreal in his second full NHL season.
For most of this season, Bolduc has not been able to make an impact consistently. And now, with the injury to Kirby Dach, he had lost his primary linemate this season as well.
Flash back to two years ago, right around the same time of year, when a young Juraj Slafkovský was also trying to find his way with the Canadiens in his second NHL season.
On Nov. 2, 2023, the state of Slafkovský’s game had become a topic of national debate. He had lost his primary linemate early that season as well, and Slafkovský was struggling to find a permanent home in the lineup as a result.
Bolduc is confident his offensive production will return: “I know I need to keep working hard, and eventually things will fall into place.” (Russell LaBounty / Imagn Images)
And that primary linemate was, once again, Kirby Dach.
Instead of demoting Slafkovský lower down the lineup or even to the AHL, St. Louis promoted him to the top line with Suzuki and Caufield on Nov. 4, 2023. And he did so on the road against the St. Louis Blues, Bolduc’s former organization.
Slafkovský never really looked back.
Now, two years later, it is Bolduc being promoted to that line to replace Slafkovský, but the version of Slafkovský leaving that line is far different than the one that arrived on that line two years ago.
How similar are the two situations?
Here is what St. Louis said two years ago after Slafkovský’s first game with Suzuki and Caufield: “I feel like the one thing that he’s done this year, for me at least, the tremendous improvement he’s made is away from the puck defensively. He still has moments where he’s a 19-year-old, but I feel comfortable (with him on the ice) because he’s aware defensively. Playing on that line, you’re going to get tougher matchups, and he was not exposed in that department tonight, and I wasn’t expecting him to be. Offensively, really happy for him.”
And here is what St. Louis said about Bolduc playing with Suzuki and Caufield after practice Wednesday: “He started the season on the first power-play unit, he had some success early. Then we changed that, and it took away those touches. Does it affect his game at five-on-five? Maybe a bit, offensively. But to me, during that time, I liked his commitment on the other side of the puck. Now he’s back to playing on the first power-play unit, he’s playing with Cole and Suzy, so offensively I think he’ll find himself. But I think he’s in a better place defensively for us to be able to do that.”
The other thing that has allowed St. Louis to do this is Slafkovský being ready for it.
His first game away from Suzuki and Caufield on Monday, playing on a line with rookies Oliver Kapanen and Ivan Demidov, resulted in a season-high 56 seconds of offensive-zone puck possession for Slafkovský, according to Sportlogiq. And 50 of those seconds of possession came at five-on-five, which was one second shy of his career high, and was the second-highest total for any Canadiens player this season (only Lane Hutson’s 61 seconds has him beat).
That increased puck possession in the offensive zone paid off. It would be hard to see Slafkovský starting off a play like this when he was with Suzuki and Caufield.
Bourdonnement
93 → 8 → 91 🚨#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/kjIvZeOBGN
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) November 18, 2025
“I was more on the puck, and honestly, I liked it,” Slafkovský said Wednesday. “I’ve played with the puck my whole life, I have it a little more now and I think that could be a good thing.”
There is also a natural tendency to defer to star players like Suzuki and Caufield.
“I was playing a lot around the net and I wouldn’t carry the puck as much because they were always open in the corners, so I’d move it to the corner and go back to the net,” Slafkovský said. “I would say I was giving them the puck more, yeah.”
This could be an opportunity for Slafkovský to spread his wings after leaving the Suzuki-and-Caufield nest that nurtured him the last two years, to drive his own line and become more of a leader. Kapanen is the oldest player on that line, but Slafkovský’s NHL experience makes him the veteran presence there.
“In my own experience, if you’re young and playing with two established, veteran, offensive guys, you’re probably going to defer early,” St. Louis said. “I think Slaf went through that with Cole and Suzy when we first put him there. I think that’s normal.
“But now Slaf, being on that line and having a leadership role on that line, so to speak, that adds value.”
And replacing Slafkovský in that Suzuki-and-Caufield nest is Bolduc, right around a time he most needs it, similar to how Slafkovský first occupied that spot in the nest. Slafkovský had one assist and 10 shots on goal in 10 games back then; Bolduc enters the game against Washington on Thursday with one assist and nine shots on goal in his last 11 games.
“It definitely gives you a little boost, it’s exciting to have the opportunity to play with these two guys,” Bolduc said. “I know I can help them, I know what I can bring to the table. I’m excited. I know I need to keep working hard, and eventually things will fall into place.”
The added boost for Bolduc is being re-inserted onto the top power-play unit, something that was supposed to happen in Columbus except the Canadiens did not draw a single penalty against the Blue Jackets. Bolduc wasn’t willing to blame being taken off that unit for the way he’s played of late, but he didn’t hide his excitement over the promotion.
“I don’t know if it was linked to that, but for sure it’s disappointing,” he said. “You always want to be on the first power-play unit, you always want to help the team perform and get the best out of yourself. But those are things you can’t control, and I try to focus on things I can control. There’s always a certain amount of disappointment, but I understood the decision also.
“I just want to focus on myself, and I’m excited. I have some nice opportunities in front of me, so it’s up to me to seize them.”
