2024 Montreal Canadiens season preview

With the 2024 NHL season starting in just over a week, I'm here to preview your 2024 Montreal Canadiens.

The Canadiens enter the season looking to build on the positives from last year. Barring injury, the Habs had a successful year of growing young talent, capping it off by acquiring even more at the draft and during the offseason. In this season's preview, I will be focusing on four storylines in the upcoming season. Young players, offseason acquisitions, issues within the team, and a season prediction. 

Young Players 

The 2023 season saw serious advancements from almost all of the Canadiens' young talent. Cole Caufield took a step forward in his goalscoring and defensive play before his season was cut short due to a shoulder injury. Nick Suzuki showed that he was the right choice for captaincy, showing great poise, maturity, and proving he can step up in key moments to win games. Kaiden Guhle showed that he has legitimate top-four potential, playing a seriously solid two-way game. Kirby Dach proved that Chicago mishandled his development and that his potential is a top-six scoring forward. Arber Xhekaj burst onto the scene as a physical defenceman with a blistering shot from the point. The young man from Hamilton, ON. showed he may have more offensive upside than anyone imagined. Of course, the biggest story from last year was first-overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky. The 18-year-old hailing from Slovakia had trouble getting accustomed to the fast, physical play of the NHL before a knee injury cut his season short. Slafkovsky put up 10 points in 39 games, not the number Habs fans wanted to see. 

The story that connects all of these players (except Suzuki) is that none of them finished the season. In fact, none of them played more than 60 games (once again excluding slick Nick). If these players and the Canadiens are going to find any success this year, it will rely on these future keystones staying healthy through an entire NHL season. Even though there were positives for all of these players mentioned, games need to be played in order for them to progress. 

*note Jordan Harris was left off this list purely because he got very little media attention last year. He had a great year and will be an NHL defenceman for many years. 

Offseason Acquisitions 

The two-headed monster of Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton certainly weren't sleeping this offseason. The duo made some fantastic moves, all on the theme of asset management. Being a facilitator in the Eric Karlsson trade. Re-acquiring Jeff Petry, as well as Casey Desmith, just to flip both of them, all while acquiring a horde of middle-round picks. 

Alex Newhook

The most exciting acquisition this summer (Other than Mr. Reinbacher, of course) was Alex Newhook. Drafted 16th overall in 2019, the 22-year-old centerman was a staple on the Avalanche's bottom six for the last two seasons. He scored 14 goals and 30 points in 2023 while playing just under 14 minutes a night. 

Newhook struggled slightly with the Avalanche, as a contending team is not always the best place for a prospect to develop. Newhook had to battle to be a part of one of the best top-sixes in the league, and he oftentimes was not up for the task. The Avalanche have a system ingrained in their forwards, and is not easy to come into that system as a rookie and find success. 

The Habs will look to keep Newhook in the top six all season, but if Anderson and Slafkovsky both break out, Newhook may have his work cut out for him. 

Tanner Pearson

Tanner Pearson is an interesting pickup for the Canadiens. He was acquired from the Canucks for Casey Desmith in September. Desmith of course, was acquired from the penguins along with Jeff Petry and Nathan Lagare. Petry was flipped days later for defenceman Gustav Lindstrom. 

Pearson has not played since November 2022 due to a post-surgery infection in his left hand. The 31-year-old winger is a two-time 20-goal scorer and has broken the 40-point plateau three times. Pearson is looking to reignite his career with the Canadiens. Expect to see him jumping around the middle six.

Issues with the team

The most obvious issues in this team are the over-saturated center position and the question mark around goaltending. Too many centermen is not a bad thing per se but it's certainly not ideal. As for goaltending, Habs fans are acutely aware of how important a solid goalie is. 

Too many centermen

Montreal currently has six active centermen. Nick Suzuki, Kirby Dach, Sean Monahan, Jake Evans, Alex Newhook, and Christian Dvorak (currently injured). At least four of these centermen are good enough to play in the top six consistently. Suzuki is a natural center, as is Monahan. Manegment has expressed their desire to have Dach playing the middle, and Alex Newhook has been playing center for most of his professional career. Unfortunately, this means that at least one of these centermen are going to have to switch to the wing to stay in the top nine. Newhook is the first and most obvious choice, he played the wing for periods of time with the Avalanche and seemed fairly comfortable doing so. The biggest issue is figuring out who the 2C is going to be this season. With both Dach and Monahan, the Habs have a bit of an issue on their hands. Monahan is a natural center, one of the best draw-takers in the league, and an excellent two-way player. Kirby Dach has struggled mightily in the faceoff dot but plays the position excellently. I don't have the answer when it comes to who should start, but I will say that Monahan WILL be taking draws for the Canadiens this season. The move may be to make Monahan into a hybrid center. He can play the wing 5-on-5 but can be the go-to guy for defensive draws and penalty kills. The downside with this agreement is that Dach's confidence may take a hit if Monahan takes over for him in big moments. This is not ideal. 

Do we have a goaltender?

Yes? No? Maybe so? Yes. We do have a goaltender, just only for the foreseeable future. Jake Allen has continued to impress during the preseason, but it's obvious that he is playing the back-nine of his career. Samuel Montembualt is a huge question mark. If he can take serious strides forward from last year then he may be a solid number one, but I think it's been proven that in order to win the cup, you need all-star-level goaltending. Montembeault will never be that. Cayden Primeau also comes into question, but he continues to disappoint in big moments.  To me, the most interesting name is Jacob Fowler. The kid from Florida grabbed the Habs' fans' attention with his post-draft interview and with the draft video released by the Canadiens. Fowler is a goaltender who just seems to win at every level. Fresh off an incredibly successful season with Boston College of the NCAA which saw him win the USHL championship, USHL playoff MVP, as well as USHL goaltender of the year. The 6'2 goaltender uses his lateral movement to make extremely acrobatic saves. He posted a .952 save percentage through nine playoff games to secure the Clark Cup for Boston College. Fowler looks to have the potential to be a legit NHL starter but that will remain to be seen. For now, it seems like Allen is 1A, and Montembeault is 1B. 

Season prediction

I'm sure that everyone wants the Canadiens to compete for a playoff spot this year. No matter the circumstances of the season that will not be the case. This is not a playoff team, nor is it a bubble playoff team. Odds are, this is a bottom-10 team in the NHL. And that's okay! It takes years to build a contending team, and we are only entering year three of the build. My biggest worry, though, is that the Canadiens lack true all-star talent. I believe the Habs may need another bottom-three finish in order to pick up a true number-one winger. I think Reinbacher was a great pick; would I have preferred Fantilli or Carlson? Absolutely. Both Fantilli and Carlsson look to be future all-stars, cornerstones of their franchise who will put up 80 points a year. Currently, the Habs are missing that. Yes, big right-handed defensemen don't grow on trees, but neither do point-per-game players. I believe the Canadiens will finish 27th in the NHL this year and eighth in the Atlantic division. 

Conclusion

Even though this may not be the most positive season preview, Habs fans should still be excited. Whether the Habs win or lose, it will most likely always be exciting. It appears as though we will have the youngest top six in the league and one of the most talented as well. Inexperience will result in poor defence but exciting offence, even if the Habs struggle to finish chances.  It will be another season of learning. 

Go Habs Go

The Beer League Benchwarmer,

William Shoukri 

X: @shoukri_will 

Grading the Habs trade deadline

Kent Hughes was much less busy than expected this deadline. Instead of dealing expiring UFAs or veterans with term, it seemed as though the Canadiens' were stuffed by the rest of the league. 

The Moves

MTL acquires: Dennis Gurianov, F

DAL acquires: Ebgenii Dadanov, F (50% retained)

To me, this deal is fantastic for the Canadiens. They got the younger, bigger, faster, and more skilled player in the deal. Gurianov 25, is only two years removed from a season that saw him score at a 45-point-pace. He proved his worth the season prior to that in the playoffs where he scored multiple important goals, including the goal that sent the Stars to the cup final. Gurianovs production has dipped significantly this season though, amassing only nine points in 43 games. Gurianov is an RFA at the end of this season and reports that his negotiations would go to arbitration were prevalent in the last couple of months. 

Dadanov has not had a good season in Montreal. His production picked up in the last month but other than that his season has been abysmal. Reports that he was unhappy, he was out of the lineup for a period of time, and a serious goal drought are just a few examples of what his season has been plagued with. Evgenii Dadanovs' contract is over at the end of the season, he currently makes 7 million dollars. 

Gurianov is the better player in this deal, after a bad season and threats of arbitration this offseason his value was significantly lower than it should have been. 

Kent Hughes has successfully traded Shea Webers' contract for a 25-year-old power forward.

Verdict: Low risk, high reward.

MTL acquires: Frederic Allard, D

LAK acquires: Nate Schnarr, F

This trade is significantly less exciting. The Canadiens essentially swapped fringe NHL-ers. Allard has played just a single NHL game in his career. Nate Schnarr, 24 has never played an NHL game. Both forwards carry a salary of $750,000. 

Verdict: Unimportant defensive depth.

MTL acquires: Tony Sund, D, 2024 5th round pick (SJS)

PIT acquires: Nick Bonino, F (50% retained by SJS, 25% retained by MTL)

SJS acquires: Arvid Henriksson, D, 2024 5th round pick (PIT), 2024 7th round pick (PIT). 

Montreals' role in this trade is simply the facilitator. The Canadiens retained salary to make this trade cap compliant. Not an exciting deal for Montreal.  

Verdict: Not the team the trade involved

 

Overall Grade: B- 

Kent Hughes found himself the odd man out this deadline. With a team full of backup options for contending teams; the Canadiens were left high and dry during one of the busiest trade deadlines of the last decade. 

Realistically though, this was not a make-or-break deadline for the Canadiens. Most of their most valuable players can be moved in the offseason or next deadline. Still though, most fans were expecting one significant move and even though getting a quality player for Evgenii Dadanov is impressive it didn't carry the oomph of a name like Hoffman, Anderson, or Edmundson. 

Kent Hughes didn't fail this deadline, he came out on top in the few deals he made. The team is in a better position post-deadline than pre so it must be considered a success. 

Still though... a little boring no?

Go Habs Go 

The Beerleague Benchwarmer,

Will Shoukri

 

5 Bold Predictions for 2023

2022 was a good year for the Canadiens, all things considered. The rebuild was started and a clear plan was laid out. Good picks and prospects were acquired and the contracts signed all made sense for the team. 

With the Habs ending 2022 amidst their biggest losing skid of the season I figured I would try and make five predictions for the 2023 year. 

1. Joel Edmundson and Joel Armia will both be moved by the trade deadline in a package deal.

Joel Edmundson being traded is not a particularly bold take. It has been fairly well reported that multiple teams have expressed interest in the veteran blue-liner. Unfortunately, the season has not been easy for Joel; being plagued with injury and poor play. Lately, he has been a step behind the play and has looked lost in his own zone. With a cap hit of less than four million dollars, the Habs should have no trouble dealing him with little to no contract retained. A physical, accomplished, veteran blue-liner will aways hold value on deadline day.

Joel Armia is a slightly bolder prediction but I am confident that teams will see value in him and his contract. With a cap hit of 3.4 million dollars and only six points in 29 games, he will not necessarily be an easy sell. Luckily he has three goals in his last four games, and his play has looked much better as of late. His contract lasts until the 2025 season when he will be 32. Hopefully, with little salary retained Hughes will be able to package these two players for a quality return.

2. The Montreal Canadiens will NOT draft first overall.

This prediction may not be that bold statistically, but I believe many habs fans are already convinced that Bedard will wear la blue blanc et rouge. Personally, I do not believe that Bedard will be a Hab, I think the Habs will win the third overall pick and take Leo Carlsson.

Leo Carlsson may just be exactly what the Canadiens need, at 6 foot 3 and 194 lbs he has a bigger build than Bedard and his game is a little different. Carlsson loves operating in the slot without the puck, acting as a facilitator for the offense. While forechecking, he often switches the role he plays from center to winger. He gets deep and keeps his feet moving to cut off any outlet passes coming through the middle of the ice. 

Defensively he is sound, he is an aggressive and physical defender who heavily relies on his skating and positioning to dismantle the offense. 

Leo Carlssons' game excels where Caufields' and Suzukis' lack. His playstyle will complement the two of them fantastically. 

Leo Carlsson will be a serious impact player in the NHL, he has first-line all-star potential, and I believe the Canadiens will be able to select him third overall. 

3. Justin Barron will not make the 2023/24 opening night roster

Justin Barron is not having a bad season with Laval this year. I'm not sure if I would say he's having a great one either though... 

With 16 points in 25 games, he's currently on pace for a 50-point season and was recently selected to the AHL all-star team. 

Unfortunately, he has not shown the progression in other areas we would have liked to see. Barron will still often look panicked and lost in his own zone. When pressured during zone exits, he is liable to panic and blow the pass. He is also susceptible to pressure in the offensive blue line, oftentimes resulting in him resorting to getting the puck deep and the Rocket losing possession. 

Barron is currently up with the Canadiens because of injuries to Matheson and Guhle but in five games this year he has been invisible at best. 

Hopefully, this take is incorrect because Justin Barron is a fantastic talent, but you do have to wonder whether he will be able to cut it in the show. Even if I'm betting against him, I'm truly hoping he gets to play a full season with the big club.

4. Owen Beck will start the 2023 season with the Habs.

Owen Beck is having a fantastic season this year with the Steelheads. He was recently moved to the Peterborough Petes in hopes of winning a championship. 

Beck lead the OHL in faceoff percentage this year and was top ten in points before being moved to the Petes. 

Beck had a fantastic preseason with the Habs this summer, and if the team didn't have extras in the center position I'm sure Beck would have played time with the Habs this year. 

He looks poised to take the next step and start his NHL career. I see Owen Beck as one of the premier third-line centers in the NHL. 

5. Carey Price will formally announce his retirement.

This is probably the coldest take on this list, but after the ceremony honoring P.K. Subban you would think Price may have some incentive to finally hang them up. This combined with the news from Angela Price that the family is planning to move back to B.C. may mean that Price is finally ready to let go of this team and start living his post-hockey life. 

Price has been on long-term injury reserve since September eighth, and so far the news has been solely negative on his recovery. Price has made it clear that he still lives in daily pain and that his body is nowhere close to ready. 

I believe Price will announce his retirement by September 2023, if not even before the 2023 offseason. 

Carey Price is one of the most accomplished goalies to ever play in the national hockey league. He has played the most game in Canadiens history for a goaltender and holds the most wins in franchise history. Carey Price has an Olympic gold medal, a Jennings trophy, a Vezina award, a Ted Lindsay award, and most recently a Bill Masterton award. 

Merci Beaucoup Carey, the city of Montreal owes you a great deal. 

Thank you for leaving it all on the ice. 

Go Habs Go

The Beer League Benchwarmer

Will Shoukri

Why Josh Anderson needs to be Hughes' first priority

 Josh Anderson has been a part of trade rumors for multiple years; ever since the Canadiens made their run to the final, Anderson has been viewed as a valuable asset on a competitive team. 

For Canadiens fans though, the relationship has started to sour. Andersons' cap hit of five and a half million dollars is not a cheap price for a player who is seen as flashy at best. The former Blue Jacket was acquired in October of 2020 by former Canadiens gm Marc Bergevin and was signed to a seven-by-seven. 

Since signing with the Habs, Anderson has amassed 70 points in 160 games. He has scored 47 goals and is a -47. With a salary of seven million dollars, most fans would have expected much more. 

Standing at 6'3 226 pounds, Josh Anderson fits the model of power forward perfectly. He's an extremely strong skater whose speed is his greatest asset; he is not a finesse player. His hands are good but not great, and his defensive play is not as good as you would want it to be. 

The problem lies in the results of the eye test. Some nights Josh Anderson will be the most noticeable player on the ice, creating chances and chaos for his team. On other nights he will be worse than invisible; his highlight reel will consist of lost puck battles and missed defensive assignments.

At 28, Josh Anderson appears to be past his prime. He is performing even worse than last year. Last season he averaged .46 points per game, and this season, that number has sunk to .36. He is currently on pace for 29 points this year, which would be his lowest full-season total since his rookie year.

The Habs cannot let Anderson finish this career-low year in Montreal. Teams will still see value in Anderson even with this sample size of poor and unproductive play. If Anderson finishes this season with 82 games played and less than 30 points, he will no longer have any trade value. 

Andersons' contract lasts until he is 33 years of age. For a power forward, the mid-thirties are the beginning of the end, if not simply the end. Look at Wayne Simmonds if you have any doubts. In four years, the Habs will not be able to afford to pay five and a half million dollars to a fourth liner. Andersons' contract has the potential to be a team crippler. 

A fire sale is the most logical course of action. If the Canadiens can package a duo or trio of players for a single first-round pick, it would be a massive win for the organization. 

The Canadiens have assets to spare in forward and on defense. Players like Joel Armia and Mike Hoffman still have value as role players on competitive teams, and the Habs have cap space to retain salary. 

Currently, the Habs have a large number of veterans on expiring contracts. Multiple teams have expressed interest in Joel Edmundson, and names like Hoffman and Monahan still hold weight. Ideally, Monahan will be able to stay with the team but looking toward the future needs to be the main focus. 

A team like the Edmonton Oilers should be Hughes' first choice. A package of Edmundson and Anderson with salary retained should be something Ken Holland wants to see come deadline day. A gritty, physical forward and a good defensive defenseman are what the Oilers need to take the next step (I'm not sure whether Anderson and Edmundson are the best options but they are the ones relevant to the Habs). 

Unfortunately, the Oilers have less than a million dollars in cap space, and their books are a complete mess, filled with buyouts and incoming extensions. 

The only sure things are that Josh Anderson needs to be moved ASAP and that Hughes' has his work cut out for him if he is going to succeed. 

Go Habs Go

The Beer League Benchwarmer

Will Shoukri

Pregame Report Oct 17, 2022

     It hasn't been an easy start to the season for the Canadiens. Unfortunately for the Habs, it feels as though the storylines from last year have continued. After the Habs set the record last season for man-games-lost (because of injury), everyone hoped that after a long offseason to recover, the team would start the season healthy and well-rested. Three games into the season, those hopes have already been dashed. Newly acquired defenseman Mike Matheson is out for eight weeks with an abdominal injury, and Joel Edmundson has still not recovered from the back injury he sustained last season. Paul Byron and Joel Armia are both predicted to return in early November from their respective injuries, but without a training camp performance, their spots in the lineup are muddled to say the least. Jake Allen will not play tonight as he is expecting the birth of his third child.  

    The lineup management so far this year has been confusing. Mike Hoffman and Evgeni Dadonov have severely underperformed, yet Rem Pitlick finds himself sitting on the sidelines after the first two games. After giving Pitlick serious ice-time in preseason, fans assumed coach St Louis was a fan of Rem, but apparently, he did not earn his roster spot. Jonathan Drouin found himself on the outside looking in for the first games of the season, even though his performance in training camp was better than both Hoffman and Dadonov. He is the player replacing Pitlick. Juraj Slafkovsky has been underused five-on-five and has been kept away from the special team lineups. To me, it is apparent that management is not confident that he can play heavy minutes for 82-games. I think that his under-usage is a sign that they plan on keeping him in the lineup long-term. 

    There have been a few positive notes to the beginning of this season. Cole Caufield is the goal scorer we've been waiting for! I would like to thank the 14 teams who passed on this goal scoring machine. The kid is absolutely NASTY! His awareness away from the puck is elite, and his release is among the best in the league. Caufield is a lock for 35 goals, and I believe he'll hit 40 this season. His chemistry with Suzuki has improved since last year, and his defensive play has improved significantly. Kirby Dach is another player who has looked great on the ice. He looks fast and skilled with an above-average IQ. He has been playing with Monahan, who has been taking the faceoffs. Monahan has shown that he can still be the player he was. He could be a second-liner on a contending team. This duo is fantastic because Dach can focus on playing his position without worrying about his faceoffs.   

    The Habs play the Pitsburg Penguins tonight in Montreal. It will be Jeff Petry's first time back in the building, so a tribute should be expected. I expect the Penguins to play hard. They want to start the season 3-0, and they will want to beat the Canadiens simply because they should. I expect big things from Drouin as he plays on the second line with Kirby Dach and Sean Monahan. With quality linemates, I expect to see some offence. The Habs need to start scoring goals ASAP. After being shut out by the Red Wings, fans need to start seeing some goals to keep the team entertaining. This team is full of young offensive talent, so goal-scoring should come.    

Go Habs Go

The Beer League Benchwarmer,

Will Shoukri       

Nick Suzuki and the RBC Problem...

     Multiple announcements were expected on the day of the 46th annual CH golf tournament at Laval Sur-le-Lac. All upper management was scheduled to speak as well as multiple Habs players. 

The first announcement that was expected was the case of the "C". Who would be the captain of the 2022-2023 Montreal Canadiens?  Rumours and opinions flooded Twitter for months. Suzuki, Edmunson, Gallagher, and Caufield were all names circling Habs Twitter. Every Habs fan made it known who they wanted to lead this team through some very important stages in its growth. 

Lo and behold, this morning, Martin St Louis steps up to the mic and announces that Nick Suzuki is going to be the 31st captain of the Montreal Canadiens. A proud-looking Suzuki emerges from the front doors of the clubhouse to address the media. The 23-year-old puts on a brave face and, in french, thanks the fans and states his excitement. He introduces Brendan Gallagher and Joel Edmunson as his assistants and the three players' field questions. he explains that despite his youth, he is confident in himself and the team and will strive to earn his position. On the surface, this seems like a great day for fans; unfortunately, the captaincy was not the only thing announced this morning. 

As the smiling Suzuki emerged from the clubhouse, nobody was looking at the shiny new "C" on his uniform; instead, they were looking at the other side where a big gaudy blue and yellow RBC logo sits. The Canadiens announced earlier today that they would be participating in the NHL's new jersey advertisement program, and this was most fans first look at the changed jersey. Naturally, Habs fans all hate it. The tampering with the Blue-Blanc-Rouge is no joke. What made matters worse is that when Geoff Molson was asked about the advertisement, he responded that the ad was "a great opportunity" and that he was "excited to pursue the idea further" (Source) I think that Habs fans would have preferred something along the lines of "unfortunate necessity" and "we are just trying it out." Geoff Molson instead seems excited about the chance to slap logos all over the most beautiful jersey in professional sports. 

It is very possible that fans are just being dramatic, but with the rise in ticket prices and food costs at the Bell Center, we, as fans, see this as a cash grab. Do the Canadiens really need more revenue? Especially if the cost is making fans unhappy? I sincerely hope that the RBC logo does not stay. At the very least, it should become more stylized; yellow does not belong on our jersey. 

On a side note, congratulations to Nick Suzuki. I wish him the best in his tenure as our new fearless leader!

Go Habs Go

The Beer League Benchwarmer,

Will Shoukri

The Jake Allen Situation

     Jake Allen has proven his worth with the Canadiens time and time again. As a goaltender on a chaotic team, he has stayed steady and calm through all the situations he has been involved in. For a goaltender who only makes $2.85 million a year, he is widely considered a 42-game goaltender, someone who you can rely on to take on more responsibility than a backup goaltender could. 

Allen played 35 games with the Canadiens last season. Even with a 9-20-4 record, he managed to keep a save percentage of .905, which is more than impressive considering how bad the team around him was. It's easy to forget that he was the St. Louis Blues' starting goaltender just three years ago and was a fan favourite for a reason. Jake the Snake has always been clutch. 

With the recent talks of an incoming extension, it prompts the question. What is Jake Allen's future in Montreal? According to Eric Macramalla of TSN, "This is Jake Allen's last season in Montreal." If we take this as fact, we can make some predictions regarding the purpose of his extension. If the Habs can convince Allen to take a team-friendly contract (something under $3.5 million), his value will be high, especially if he has a successful first half of the season. Many teams need a goaltender that can be trusted between the pipes and not break the bank. Jake Allen is an extremely attractive player if you are a contending team that needs some security at the backup position.  

My prediction for the trade is that he is dealt at the deadline and not before the start of the season. That is unless management feels better about Cayden Primeau than the fans do. There has been speculation about Nils Lundkvist of the New York Rangers. With a tandem of Jake Allen and Igor Shesterkin, the Rangers would have one of the best goaltender pairings in the league and arguably the one with the best dollar value. I believe that Kent Hughes would love to include Jake Allen in a deal for Lundkvist, meaning the tandem for the Habs may be Montembault and Primeau for the majority of the season. A pairing that seems like a good recipe for a top-five pick...

Go Habs Go

The Beer League Benchwarmer,

Will Shoukri