Montreal Canadiens End of Season 2019

[Kephryn]

• So the Montreal Canadiens season is over. They missed the playoffs by a single point.
• The last game was wonderful to watch. A win over Toronto!
• Bob Cole's last game as an announcer.
• Ryan Poehling scores 3 times in his first game and gets the shootout winning goal

This is Bob Cole's last announcing of the overtime and shootout.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehDFVXDUzvQ

I love the sound of the crowd when Poehling scores.
https://twitter.com/CanadiensMTL/sta...21596370038784

The crowd and Poehling on ice interview.
https://twitter.com/2Mandeville1694/...26072204050432

I am disappointed they did not make the playoffs but I am happy for the season they've played. This year was exciting to watch. It was exciting to watch Mete develop with Weber. It was exciting to watch their speed and never give up attitude. Kotkaniemi made is spot on the roster. Tatar, Gallagher, Danault and Domi all had an extraordinary season. Best of all Carey Price was solid.

I am excited to see where this team will be at this same time next year.

So here are some discussion points:

• Who will be signed in the off season? There are a lot of UFA/RFA's
  https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/canadiens
• Who gets traded before the season next year even starts? IE who played their last game as a hab?
• What will happen with arguably the two worst contracts on the team? (I say arguably because some habs fans think Price and Weber are the two worst contracts)
  Weise and Alzner? (I think these are the two worst as they are both playing in the minors and are combined for near 6mil)
• Lastly do the habs make the playoffs next year? How many points do they finish with?

[Josh]

Cole is an absolute legend. I'll miss hearing his iconic voice.

The Habs definitely had a better season than I expected. It seems pretty clear now that the Canadiens are as Price is. If his play and health keep up, I think they're set up for success in the present.

The future looks particularly bright. Of course there's Poehling's heroics in that last game, but Kotkaniemi's rookie season proved that he's strong in all aspects of the game. Danault (26), Domi (24), Shaw (27), and Tatar (28) all had career years and still have room to grow. Gallagher (26) and Kulak (25) are guys you want to keep too. Then there are the prospects. I said it back in June and I'll say it again now - Montreal absolutely cleaned up in the 2018 draft depth rounds. Alexander Romanov (D, 2nd), Jesse Ylonen (RW, 2nd), Allan McShane (C, 4th), Cole Fonstad (LW, 5th), and Samuel Houde (C, 5th) all look very promising. The 2017 picks of Josh Brook (D) and Scott Walford (D) look great as well. Brook took a particularly significant leap and ended up leading all WHL defensemen in points. And of course adding Nick Suzuki (C) to the mix is huge - that Pacioretty trade looks pretty damn good right now. A couple of late 2014 picks stood out as well - Daniel Audette (C, 5th) and Jake Evans (RW, 7th) might be able to make the big leagues next season. Then you've got a couple interesting young goaltenders in Michael McNiven (21) and Cayden Primeau (19).

Jeff Petry, Jordie Benn, and Paul Byron are underrated. Particularly Petry, who would be the team's MVP this season if not for Price.

To answer your questions:

- A goalie will be signed or traded for from another team. Niemi is done, Lindgren isn't the guy, and neither of McNiven or Primeau are ready. Only one of the Habs' UFA players should be aggressively pursued - Jordie Benn. They've gotta get him signed. Jordan Weal is also worth retaining, but Folin, Niemi, and Thompson should not receive offers. The RFA players are Armia, Hudon, Kulak, Lehkonen, and Reilly. I'd retain Armia, Kulak, and Lehkonen while trading the rights to Hudon and Rielly. They should also try to add a top-six left winger, depth right-shooting defensemen, and of course a proper backup.

- I'd bet on Niemi and Thompson having played their last games as Habs. Likely Folin too. If they do manage to find a better left winger than Drouin, Byron could be a casualty.

- As for the worst contract(s) on the team, I think Drouin could potentially be in the conversation. He had a decent year and certainly still has room to grow, but if he regresses then that's a lot of money going to a mediocre player. If we're considering hypotheticals though, Price and Weber do represent the highest risk. If their play or health falter, that's 27.1% of the cap. 34.63% if you consider Drouin as well.

- I think the Habs will likely make the playoffs next year, but I haven't even started my analysis of the other teams yet. It mostly depends on Price though. If he's healthy and on his game, good things will happen.

Tatar - Danault - Gallagher
Drouin - Domi - Shaw
Lehkonen - Kotkaniemi - Armia
Byron - Audette/Suzuki - Weal

Benn - Petry
Kulak - Weber
Mete - Brook

Price
???

[Kephryn]

Just want to throw this out there. Benn is not a top pair D, he's good on the PK but he cannot play at that level consistently.

Also Petry has been very good for the Canadiens this year and last but he is also not a top pair D. He played the start of the season as a top 2 and started to struggle. When Weber came back to take some of Petry's minutes from 26+ down to about 20ish he started to play a lot better again. I am not saying he can't be on the top pair, he is just way more consistent when he isn't playing 25+ minutes a game.

Mete and Weber have been the top pairing for most of the season and they compliment each other so well. Weber has strength and size but is slow. Mete has speed and good puck movement but doesn't have the size. They compliment each other very well. I don't see anything different for next season. I assume they will be playing together again at that top pair.

Mete - Weber
Kulak - Petry
Benn - Reilly -- this last pair, I am not so sure of because I'm not convinced Montreal will sign Benn and I think it will be up to the younger players to make a spot or moves might be made in the off season that might shift some of these

I don't see Byron going anywhere, you have him there on 4th line, he's not a 4th line player... I think you've not watched enough Montreal games this season and you are only looking at stats. Byron is too good on the PK and he can slot in any line if they are not 'clicking'. He can play the first line as well as play on the 4th. He brings so much energy to the players around him I would be shocked if Bryon was traded. He is by far one of the identity players of the team.

The Finnish line Lehkonen - Kotkaniemi - Armia was good. I liked watching them play together but they had just one problem. They could not finish.

[Josh]

Just want to throw this out there. Benn is not a top pair D, he's good on the PK but he cannot play at that level consistently.

Also Petry has been very good for the Canadiens this year and last but he is also not a top pair D. He played the start of the season as a top 2 and started to struggle. When Weber came back to take some of Petry's minutes from 26+ down to about 20ish he started to play a lot better again. I am not saying he can't be on the top pair, he is just way more consistent when he isn't playing 25+ minutes a game.

Mete and Weber have been the top pairing for most of the season and they compliment each other so well. Weber has strength and size but is slow. Mete has speed and good puck movement but doesn't have the size. They compliment each other very well. I don't see anything different for next season. I assume they will be playing together again at that top pair.

Mete - Weber
Kulak - Petry
Benn - Reilly -- this last pair, I am not so sure of because I'm not convinced Montreal will sign Benn and I think it will be up to the younger players to make a spot or moves might be made in the off season that might shift some of these

I don't see Byron going anywhere, you have him there on 4th line, he's not a 4th line player... I think you've not watched enough Montreal games this season and you are only looking at stats. Byron is too good on the PK and he can slot in any line if they are not 'clicking'. He can play the first line as well as play on the 4th. He brings so much energy to the players around him I would be shocked if Bryon was traded. He is by far one of the identity players of the team.

The Finnish line Lehkonen - Kotkaniemi - Armia was good. I liked watching them play together but they had just one problem. They could not finish.

The Finnish line couldn’t finish eh? LOL!

You’re correct that I only watched a handful of Habs games (one in person though!) and rely mostly on stats for these analyses. The lines as I posted them are more of a current depth chart than a prediction :)

[Kephryn]

The Finnish line couldn’t finish eh? LOL!

You’re correct that I only watched a handful of Habs games (one in person though!) and rely mostly on stats for these analyses. The lines as I posted them are more of a current depth chart than a prediction :)

Pun was intended.

Marc Bergevin said at the end of last season the issue with the team was an attitude problem. Everyone laughed and said he should be fired. He was right. Moving Pacioretty and Galchenyuk made a huge difference. What I was saying about Byron is he is a clear piece of the attitude they want on their team.

Montreal's prospects look great. I doubt that many of them will make the team next year. The team in Laval has not been good mainly due to trading their prospects and having young players being claimed off waivers. I see Laval being a way better team next year.

I doubt Benn will be signed by March, I think Montreal will try to sign Weal.