Canadiens’ young core will be leaned on during Stanley Cup playoffs
The Montreal Canadiens have made their way back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second season in a row and enter with dreams of ending Canada’s Stanley Cup drought. Yet, the first goal is knocking off the Tampa Bay Lightning and securing the team’s first series win since losing in the 2020-21 Stanley Cup Final.
Led by a young core featuring Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovský, Lane Hutson and Ivan Demidov, the hopes remain not only for this season, but in the years to come. Still, making a significant run could have massive implications in the short- and long-term futures.
On Friday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, associate editor and DFO prospect analyst Steven Ellis joined the host, Tyler Yaremchuk, to break down what the young talents might have in store for the Canadiens.
Tyler Yaremchuk: Taking a look at the Canadiens and Lightning, rookie goalie Ivan Demidov…that’s what’s interesting about this Habs team, is that they are young, but again, they made the playoffs last year. I don’t think we should mistake youth for inexperience. These are guys who’ve been playing key roles now for two seasons, at least.
Steven Ellis: Suzuki was there when they went and almost won the Stanley Cup…. That was a really good learning experience for him, a very good one for Cole Caufield, who was playing in the NHL for the first time, and it was a surprise to go on a Stanley Cup run. So those guys do have some experience there.
When you look at Lane Hutson, his defensive evolution over the last year is very impressive. Juraj Slafkovský had a career season for him as well, and you saw him in those big moments at the Olympics — that’s a guy playing with a lot of confidence. Then you look at those young guys, whether it be Demidov, whether it be Oliver Kapanen…I know he really struggled down the stretch, but that’s still a guy that if you give him open space, he’s going to make the most of it, and he’s very good on the penalty kill.
The question mark for me is a net… we know that both Jacob Fowler and Jacob Dobeš have been very good this year, but it’s still a lot for a young goalie to go out there and try to lead a team here in the playoffs. I think with Dobeš, as you look at the numbers, he was a top-five Calder Trophy candidate of this year, arguably maybe number four. Just the ability to go out there and go on these super hot runs is extremely impressive.
Looking at Jacob Fowler, his advanced numbers are not far off from what Dobeš was doing. When it comes to young guys, you don’t know what you don’t know. I think for these two goalies, they’re just going to treat it like just other games.
I still think Tampa Bay will win the series. I don’t think it’s Montreal’s time yet, but this is going to be one where Tampa has to be really perfect…So it’s gonna be very interesting. This is my favorite series to watch, and I hope the crowds are really good at both rinks.
You can catch Steven Ellis’ full appearance on Daily Faceoff LIVE and the rest of the show right here…