Canadiens may have found a new top line without Suzuki or Caufield

In recent outings, the Canadiens' top line at even strength has changed its look. On paper, Martin St-Louis continues to give the heavy assignment to Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield.

They're still the ones starting the night as the "top line," based on the announced line combinations. But when you look at what's actually happening at even strength, a different story is being told.

The line of Ivan Demidov, Oliver Kapanen, and Juraj Slafkovsky has taken over games. No need to get poetic about it, you see it in the key sequences.

What really stands out is that Demidov is already producing like an established player. He has 32 points in 38 games. When a rookie brings that kind of production night after night, it's easy to understand why his line becomes the one everyone watches most at even strength.

Kapanen, for his part, is in the right place at the right time. He's 22 years old, stands 6-foot-2, and was a second-round pick by the Canadiens in 2021. Even if his numbers don't always grab headlines, he stays engaged in the play, and that helps a line stay alive from shift to shift.

And Slafkovsky completes the picture. He's 21 years old and coming off a 51-point season, which is no small feat for a young player in a Canadiens uniform. He has 8 points in his last 4 games.

When you add his presence to a line where Demidov is already an offensive engine, you get a combination that can quickly become the team's reference at even strength (especially since Slafkovsky has been absolutely incredible over the past few games).

Meanwhile, Zachary Bolduc's spot has slipped, then shifted again. You understand why St-Louis tried it, and you also understand why he's adjusting.

If the Demidov, Kapanen, and Slafkovsky line keeps delivering, it's the one that will eventually wear the "top line" label, even without Suzuki and Caufield.

Who would have predicted this at the start of the season?