Music: {allcanada} Sportsnet NHL 2014-15 preview: Montreal Canadiens

Monday, September 29, 2014

{allcanada} Sportsnet NHL 2014-15 preview: Montreal Canadiens

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Montreal is our ninth-ranked team.

Montreal Canadiens
Division: Atlantic
2013-14 finish: 46-28-8, 100 points, ninth overall; lost in Eastern Conference final to Rangers in six games
Leading scorer: Max Pacioretty (60 points)
General manager: Marc Bergevin
Head coach: Michel Therrien
Captain: Vacant
Opening night starter: Carey Price
Key acquisitions: P.A. Parenteau, Tom Gilbert, Manny Malhotra, Jiri Sekac
Key departures: Thomas Vanek, Brian Gionta, Josh Gorges, Daniel Briere, Francis Bouillon, Douglas Murray

Off-season grade: B+. For a guy who didn’t make any big-name additions, Marc Bergevin had a heavy summer. He allowed captain Brian Gionta to walk as a free agent, then traded respected and vocal leader Josh Gorges to Buffalo. Tough negotiations with P.K. Subban included the always-dreaded arbitration hearing, and for a 24-hour period it seemed as though Bergevin’s hardball approach might backfire. However, Subban signed an eight-year deal before the arbitrator’s ruling was handed down and all seemed right again in Habsland. Getting P.A. Parenteau for little-used Daniel Briere was a nice move by Bergevin, who also inked sought-after Czech free agent Jiri Sekac, a 22-year-old winger who played in the KHL last season. Tom Gilbert gives the team another valued right-hand shot, has good possession numbers and costs less than Gorges, while Manny Malhotra has reestablished himself as a big, dependable fourth-line centre.

Greatest strengths: It’s almost easy to forget the Canadiens played most of the East final without their best player, Carey Price. The franchise goalie injured his right knee in game one of the series when New York Rangers left winger Chris Kreider crashed the crease. Price is expected to open camp 100 per cent healthy and build on a season that saw him win Olympic gold with Canada and finish in a tie with Semyon Varlamov for the third-best save percentage in the league. He remains the backbone of the Habs, who aren’t going anywhere without stellar play in goal. Montreal’s power play struggled last year, but with Subban and Andrei Markov at the point, it would surprise no one to see it back in the league’s top 10.

Greatest weaknesses: Don’t let the fact this team won two playoff rounds fool you; there’s still plenty of work to be done. Goal-scoring could be an issue for Montreal, which doesn’t have a real gunner beyond Max Pacioretty. A step forward from third-year winger Alex Galchenyuk would be a huge help. Montreal was a bottom-third team in terms of possession last year and needs to carry the play more consistently. Size down the middle continues to be an issue, with slight David Desharnais and south-of-six-foot Tomas Plekanec holding down the top two spots.

Biggest storyline to watch: With Gionta and Gorges gone, this team has really been turned over to the next generation of Price, Subban and Pacioretty. Can they be the guys who lead Montreal back to elite status? It will be interesting to monitor how the top-nine forward group shakes out. Rene Bourque was a beast, at times, in the playoffs, but is there any chance he returns to 20-goal form? Parenteau will get a real chance to shine offensively, so we’ll see if he can put together a productive season. Sekac is a six-foot-two late-bloomer, and it seems reasonable to assume part of the reason he chose Montreal from a dozen or so suitors is because the Habs indicated there was a roster spot to be had. On the back end, Nathan Beaulieu and Jarred Tinordi both seem primed to make the full-time jump. Beaulieu brings speed and offensive awareness, while Tinordi moves well for a guy who stands six-foot-six. If both hit their stride, it will be a major boon to the blue line.

2014-15 prediction: Montreal will be good enough to make the playoffs but is in for a shorter spring than it experienced last season.

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