ANA:

2

VAN:

2

3rd

10:30

MIN:

4

WPG:

2

Final

CHI:

3

DET:

4

Final

Another brutal season awaits the Montreal Canadiens

After a season where the team finished at the bottom of the Eastern Conference and an offseason that raises a lot of questions in two weeks, the Montreal Canadians will begin another long season.

Last year this writer went on a Habs podcast and even wrote an article saying they would miss the playoffs after reaching the cup final and was outnumbered by five people saying I was wrong and they would.

I ended up being right, and again I feel the same way about this season due to the moves and decisions made by management.

Kent Hughes, the newly appointed and inexperienced general manager and former agent working with Jeff Gorton, the former general manager of the New York Rangers, since he doesn’t speak french thanks to the language rule which forces politics into sport.

Let’s take a deep dive into the offseason that, while it looks promising, still shows a lot of concern for a team lacking consistency.

This summer, Montreal hosted the 2022 NHL Draft at the Bell Centre. While everybody thought Shane Wright was the top pick at number one, overall, Hughes went with the Slovak Juraj Slafkovsky, who is now getting major criticism after only three games of preseason action.

They traded Alexander Romanov, a young Russian with a bright future in the organization, thanks to his powerful shot from the blue line and physical play. Marc Bergevin would automatically say no in any phone call regarding trading him.

In return, the Canadiens got the 13th overall pick, which they then traded to the Chicago Blackhawks for Kirby Dach, a young Canadian who had a dismal season last year and lost an edge after suffering a severe injury.

Jeff Petry, who wanted out of Montreal, was shipped to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Montreal native Mike Matheson but again, without Romanov or Shea Weber, whose contract was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights for Russian veteran Evgeni Dadonov the defense now is pretty slim.

They also acquired Sean Monahan from Calgary, who spent the majority of the season having surgery and recovering from knee surgery and also has taken a step back, mostly playing on the fourth line or a healthy scratch.

The most significant factor has to be Carey Price, who mentioned last year in the last game of the season at home against the Florida Panthers that he had prepared for this game like it was his last. PRP injections didn’t work for his knee, and he was now placed on LTIR.

Jake Allen, who didn’t have a good season last year, is now the de facto number one goaltender despite so many pundits on social media bringing up rumors he would be traded. Samuel Montembault is back, and his play last year didn’t convince me.

It seems Hughes has loaded up on offense, weakened his defense, and the goaltending is questionable as the Habs are 0-3 so far in the preseason. The only bright spot seems to be Cole Caufield, who continues to be a goal-scoring machine.

The sense is that this team will score a lot of goals, but they will give up even more, and even if Habs fans are excited about another season, this one could be even more painful than the last and don’t be surprised if this team finishes at the bottom again.

Gorton did something smart in New York; he wrote a letter to the Rangers faithful warning them painful seasons were ahead and their rebuild seemed to have gone a lot quicker than expected, and now they are a team ready to compete for a cup.

The run last year in the playoffs proved they are well past rebuild, and we can now put them as a top-cup contender. Hughes should do the same thing and blow up his team and suffer for the next five years so the future can be salvaged.

I provide my exact prediction as I did last year the Montreal Canadiens will not make the playoffs and will probably be in the mix for the number one draft pick, and this season will be the tank for Connor Bedard, who could be ten times the player Shane Wright is.

Another long season begins in 13 days when their arch rivals, this time, make the trip to play them at the Bell Centre.

Trade Deadline Eve Cue’ the Duck Boats Pod

Episode 54 is here and the boys break down the Bruins adding Tyler Bertuzzi, Taylor Hall and Nick Foligno Injury updates, and Pastrnaks contract extension. Followed up with a tour around the NHL and breaking down the MOUNTAIN of trades that happened since last episode.DraftKings Sportsbook – Boston’s hometown Sportsbook will be LIVE – soon – right here in Massachusetts! Bet local on all your favorite sports from the comfort of your own home with DraftKings. To celebrate, ALL new customers will receive up to TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in BONUS bets when you sign up for DraftKings Sportsbook using code insidetherink! Soon you’ll be able to bet local on money lines, spreads, props, and more with one of America’s top-rated Sportsbooks – DraftKings Sportsbook!  Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and sign up with code ITR to get up to TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in BONUS bets to use once mobile sports betting hits Massachusetts. That’s code insidetherink only at DraftKings Sportsbook.  If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, call (800) 327-5050 or visit (https://helplinema.org/) to speak with a trained specialist free and confidentially twenty four seven. 21+. Physically present in MA. Eligibility restrictions apply. Subject to regulatory licensing requirements. Eligibility and deposit restrictions apply. Opt in required. Bonus issued as free bets. Terms at draftkings.com/ma.
  1. Trade Deadline Eve
  2. Donny Deals Strikes Again
  3. Trade Winds are Swirling
  4. Interview w/Bruins' Jack Ahcan
  5. Half Way There

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

No Excuses: NY Rangers Season Starts Now

As we sit here at this point of the season with nineteen games left, it’s crazy to think how many twists and turns the path took to get here. From the moment our eyes were laid upon “The Letter” just over five years ago, the journey has been paved with good fortune. Pick your favorite. […]

Read More

Injury Update On Three Capitals Defensemen

The Washington Capitals have been dealing with injuries all season long as it has hampered their success. Recently the Capitals’ injury woes have affected the blue line, as three players are working their way back to the starting lineup. Two players were banged up during the March 1st game against the Anaheim Ducks, while one […]

Read More

An Idea for a New Show For the NHL Network

From 2013 to 2019, NBA TV had a show called “The Starters.”  It was a show with four ordinary Canadian basketball fans discussing all things NBA. They would show highlights, interview players and other NBA personalities, do NBA trivia, and they always had a good time on the show as they made it a lot of fun […]

Read More