Not only did the Montreal Canadiens manage to qualify for the playoffs ahead of schedule in their long-term rebuild plans, they also happen to own the youngest roster in the NHL.
That doesn’t guarantee the team will once again qualify for the playoffs in 2025-26, as there’s a chance a few players with something to prove fade to the background, but the youth movement also improves the odds fans will witness certain players enjoy a breakout season.
The most obvious candidate is newcomer Zachary Bolduc, who was acquired in an off-season trade that saw Logan Mailloux join the St-Louis Blues. Bolduc will face a lot of pressure now that he’s playing in his native province, but his underlying numbers point to a player who should be given a healthy increase in ice time to give him a legitimate opportunity to flourish.
Ivan Demidov is the next obvious choice for a breakout candidate, with some suggesting the Canadiens have an opportunity to have two consecutive Calder Trophy winners in the lineup for the first time in franchise history. It’s a tall order, even if Demidov may represent one of the most talented prospects to hit the ice at the Bell Centre.
Fortunately, his underlying numbers alongside certain linemates point to a player who was able to make a positive impact with little to no NHL experience, doing so while participating in North American playoff hockey for the first time in his career.
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In that vein, the bar is set rather high, but that’s just how Demidov likes it. Rather than shying away from the spotlight, he’s the type of athlete who embraces pressure, and his impressive summer workout regime confirms that he’s doing all he can to prepare for his official rookie season.
As for the final breakout candidate, it’s very tempting to place Lane Hutson on the list, but as per tradition, he wasted no time establishing himself as a top talent in the league, with his record-setting rookie season serving as his breakout campaign. We could also look to a player like Juraj Slafkovsky as a good breakout target, but given his track record, a series of small, yet important improvements are more likely than a jaw-dropping season from a production standpoint.
In the end, I settled for Kirby Dach, despite his history of unfortunate season-ending injuries.
On top of dealing with health issues, Dach’s stats collapsed last season, as he forced the issue rather than relying on his instincts whenever he had the puck on his stick. It led to a series of bad decisions, not to mention a laundry list of unforced turnovers, quite the turnaround compared to his first year in Montreal.
That being said, Dach did not forget how to play hockey.
Rather, he misplaced the confidence that powered his encouraging results as a 22-year-old.
There’s a chance he won’t be at 100 percent for training camp, which could delay his potential breakout season slightly. However, this is less important than prioritizing his injury recovery and mental health before his latest, and hopefully final, return to play.
A healthy Dach could end up being the deciding factor as to Montreal’s growing playoff hopes.