The
Montreal Canadiens will look to build on a strong 2014-15
season that saw them losing in the second round of the Playoffs to the Tampa
Bay Lightning. The Habs finished second
overall in the NHL, second to the New York Rangers with 110 points (50-22-10),
and that couldn’t have happened without the help of their best player, Carey
Price. Price cleaned up at the NHL
Awards in June for his accomplishments throughout the season, which included
and Vezina Trophy and Hart Trophy as the NHL’s Most Valuable Player. Price was no doubt the most important player
on the Habs, ranked 20th in goals scored last year, who relied on
Price and defense every night. His final
stats saw him post a 1.96 GAA, .933 SV% with 44 wins and 9 shutouts. There is no doubt the Habs will be looking
for a strong year from Carey to help propel the team back to the top of the
Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference.
Canadiens
General Manager Marc Bergevin wasn’t too busy in the offseason, making a few
changes that were needed but ones that kept the core group of players
together. Before the offseason started,
Bergevin made sure to re-sign his biggest midseason asset, Jeff Petry. Petry fit in really well since the Habs
acquired him at the trade deadline from Edmonton. Petry’s new deal will keep him with the Habs
for 6 more years at a cap hit of $5.5 million.
Petry will become very important for the Habs once Andrei Markov calls
it a career. His next move came when he
acquired Zack Kassian from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for forward
Brandon Prust. Prust was the fan
favourite but Bergevin wanted to send out his expiring contract for Kassian who
has shown potential for offence along with the grit that will no doubt replace
what Prust brought to the Habs. The
third move Bergevin made was taking a chance on Alex Semin (1 year, $1.1
million), fresh off the Carolina Hurricanes buying out his remaining contract. Semin’s numbers have definitely dropped off
in the past years, however he has shown that in a contract year he can perform,
and if he can’t? Michel Therrien has a
spot for him high about the Bell Centre ice in the pressbox. Semin could bring his potential 20 goal a
year totals to a offensive hungry Habs lineup and should he fit in with his new
teammates, he could be a big offensive weapon for Therrien. Two other deals that Bergevin made was
resigning Torrey Mitchell (3 year deal) and Brian Flynn (2 year deal). They both will provide depth for the Habs,
very much like they did last year after being acquired at the deadline from the
Buffalo Sabres.
The
biggest move that Bergevin did in the offseason that does not involve signing
or trading players is moving 2012 first round pick Alex Galchenyuk from the
wing to centre. Galchenyuk has played
most of his time with the Canadiens on the wing (he played a stint of games at
centre last season), but the Habs feel he is ready to make the full move to centre. Moving him to centre where he is most
comfortable could be a major change in offensive production for the 21 year
old.
The Habs
will be looking for the youngsters in the organization to push the current
roster for a spot in the opening day lineup.
Players like Jacob de la Rose, Sven Andrighetto, Nikita Scherbak, Charles
Hudon and will be fighting to crack the lineup at some point, whether it is
right out of camp or to replace an injured player mid season. Tomas Fleischmann was invited to training
camp, and has looked good, fighting himself not only for a roster spot but for
another opportunity in the league.
Newly
signed Mark Barberio will be looking to crack Therrien’s defensive pairings
along with Jarred Tinordi and Greg Pateryn.
After a
full season without a player wearing the coveted ‘C’ the Habs players decided
at the beginning of training camp that Max Pacioretty is the right choice for
the 29th captain in the Canadiens famed history. Pacioretty will lead the team along with his
alternatives, Andrei Markov, Tomas Plekanec, Brendan Gallagher and P.K.
Subban. Those five players along with
Carey Price not only round out the leadership group of this team but the most
important and the core of this team. All
six players will be relied on heavily in all situations and will lead by
example for the rest of the team.
Forwards:
Max Pacioretty (C) - Tomas Plekanec (A) - Brendan Gallagher (A)
Lars Eller - Alex Galchenyuk - Alex Semin
Tomas Fleischmann - David Desharnais - Dale Weise
Jacob de la Rose - Torrey Mitchell - Devante Smith-Pelly
Extra: Zack Kassian, Brian Flynn
Defense:
Andrei Markov (a) - P.K. Subban (A)
Nathan Beaulieu - Jeff Petry
Alexei Emelin - Tom Gilberg
Extra: Greg Pateryn
Goaltending:
Carey Price
Mike Condon
2015/2016 Outlook and Prediction:
2nd in Atlantic Division, 4th in Eastern Conference
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