Canadiens: Dach falters as Demidov replacement, Texier and Bolduc emerge

The Montreal Canadiens are already facing a significant test of their forward depth. Ivan Demidov is expected to miss up to a month with a lower-body injury, creating a sizeable vacancy on the right side of the club’s second line. For their first game without him, a home date against the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday, head coach Martin St. Louis turned to Kirby Dach as a stopgap solution in a top‑six role.

The night underscored how difficult it will be to fill Demidov’s shoes. Montreal dropped a 6–4 decision to the defending Stanley Cup champions and again spent long stretches under pressure. The Canadiens were outshot 34–20, a pattern that echoed their playoff meeting with Carolina, where they were consistently on the wrong side of the shot clock. The discouraging performance followed a day that had already brought bad news with the update on Demidov’s health.

Dach’s top‑six audition raises more questions

Dach, promoted onto the second line in Demidov’s absence, came away from the Hurricanes game without a point. That stands in contrast to opening night in Toronto, where he picked up an assist while used in a bottom‑six role. Against Carolina, it was his linemates who carried the offence while he remained quiet.

Alex Newhook earned a power‑play assist on one of Zachary Bolduc’s two goals, and Juraj Slafkovsky scored into an empty net to pull Montreal within one late. Dach thus ended up as the only member of that line not to hit the scoresheet, reinforcing concerns about his inconsistency when asked to drive offence. For a player whose production has drifted toward modest totals over his four seasons in Montreal, the night added weight to the argument that he is better suited to a depth role.

The contract context further complicates matters. After repeated injury issues, the Canadiens reportedly issued Dach a two‑way qualifying offer, leading him to file for arbitration before ultimately agreeing to a one‑year deal that takes him straight to unrestricted free agency next summer. That short‑term commitment suggests the organization may not view him as part of its long‑range core, making his promotion into Demidov’s spot a curious choice with other candidates available.

Texier and Bolduc fit the profile of long‑term solutions

Two players in particular appear to be better fits to replace Demidov’s minutes: Alexandre Texier and Zachary Bolduc. Both are natural right‑side options and have already shown they can handle offensive usage. Texier, signed as an unrestricted free agent, held his own last season on a line with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, albeit over a small sample. In the playoffs, he produced at a pace comparable to Demidov, while Dach’s overall impact was more uneven.

Texier strengthened his case against the Hurricanes by registering his first two points of the season, both assists. His skill set and history in scoring situations make him a logical internal promotion as the Canadiens search for offence without Demidov.

Bolduc is another compelling option. Although he struggled in previous top‑six auditions last season, he has started this year on a tear, leading the team with three goals in three games, including a two‑goal outing versus Carolina. The organization backed him with a new contract that runs through 2030, underscoring how firmly he sits in the club’s plans compared with Dach’s one‑year deal.

Lineup decision looms with homestand ahead

Montreal now faces a crucial stretch, with three more games at home in the coming days. The coaching staff must quickly decide who truly replaces Demidov on the second line if the Canadiens hope to keep pace in the standings during his absence. Turning to players invested in long‑term roles, such as Texier and Bolduc, appears more consistent with the team’s broader direction than leaning on Dach in a role he has struggled to seize.

Demidov’s importance was already evident in the overtime loss to Pittsburgh, where he helped drive a dramatic rally from a 5–1 deficit with a late tying goal and an assist on Chris Kreider’s marker, both coming with goaltender Jakub Dobes pulled. The flat response against Carolina without him highlighted just how much impact he brings on the wing. For the Canadiens, the next step is clear: identify a sustainable replacement plan now, before their season is defined by the weeks he spends in the press box.