Ivan Demidov shines but many still take Cutter Gauthier as debate explodes
|
Cimon Asselin
Mar 25, 2026 (8:24 PM)
|
|
Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
Ivan Demidov delivered under Martin St-Louis, but TVA Sports host Jean-Charles Lajoie says he'd still take Cutter Gauthier over him.
Demidov was electric in Montreal's 5-2 win against Carolina. Every time he touched the puck, something was happening.
Mid-game, he sliced through the Hurricanes' blue line and walked in alone on Frederik Andersen. The finish didn't come, but the play stood out.
Later, with pressure mounting, he stripped a defender and broke in again. This time, he buried it with a calm move.
That's the kind of sequence that shifts momentum on the bench. Teammates notice. Coaches trust it.
Martin St-Louis kept leaning on him in key moments, even with the game tightening late.
Still, Lajoie didn't hesitate when the debate came up on TVA Sports.
He picked Gauthier.
A style clash that splits opinions
Lajoie's angle is rooted in projection and role. Cutter Gauthier brings a heavier, more direct game.
He has 36 goals in 70 games this season. That production jumps off the page for a young forward.
Demidov counters with 54 points in 70 games. His impact runs through puck control and offensive creativity.
Gauthier plays a north-south style. He drives the crease, leans on defenders, and shoots first.
There's also the center question. Lajoie believes Gauthier could shift to the middle full-time, which raises his value.
That matters in today's NHL. A scoring center who can handle tough minutes changes a lineup.
But timing matters too. Gauthier is 22 and in his second full season. Demidov is 20 and still adjusting to the pace.
Montreal isn't rushing him. He's already locked into the top six and helping shape a dangerous second unit.
Inside the Canadiens' room, there's zero hesitation about his importance moving forward.
Lajoie made it clear his take isn't a knock on Demidov. It's about what Gauthier could become in a different role.
That distinction won't calm the debate.
Because now fans are weighing upside against production, skill against power, winger against potential center.
And every head-to-head moment from here on out will only fuel it.
Also read on Puck Reporter :
Michael McCarron gives the Wild a jolt in heated Corey Perry clash
Michael McCarron gives the Wild a jolt in heated Corey Perry clash