Carey The Load – Montreal Canadiens 2018-19 Season Preview

Robert Howard — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 18:13:10 +0000

REVIEW/STATE OF PLAY - It is hard to overstate how devastating the 2017-18 season was after winning their division in 2016-17, the third time in five years. Out of the playoffs in 2015-16 after losing franchise netminder Carey Price for much of the season his return to form was a harbinger of a window to win it all. GM Marc Bergevin has not been shy about making a big off-season trade, but was relatively quiet apart from moving out contentious former third overall draft pick Alex Galchenyuk for Max Domi this season. At the heart of moving out Galchenyuk was the disappointment in his inability to anchor a top two center position, an Achilles’ heel that has haunted Bergevin in all his wheeling and dealing.

TOUGH OFF-SEASON NEWS - The Canadiens entered the offseason with a huge amount of cap space that was meant to be used to solidify the center position. John Tavares was a target and the feeling was a core including Weber, Price and a true number one center would give them a shot in the next few seasons. Tavares declined to consider offers from the team, nor could they use that cap space to land another center such as Ryan O’Reilly in trade or Paul Stastny in free agency.

A further blow was dealt when it was announced that Weber will miss much of the 2018-19 season after undergoing offseason knee surgery for a meniscal tear. He is expected to be out until December at the earliest. After a successful first year in Montreal he missed much of last season with multiple injuries including surgery on his foot to repair a tendon.

Further controversy included Captain Max Pacioretty, who endured a difficult season and enters camp with no offer from the Canadians and a free agent at seasons end. H likely to be traded presumably for the elusive help down the center. A big dip in in his shooting percentage did not help his goal scoring and a knee injury ended his season in March. As a rental his return will be mitigated but there will be interest in a goal scoring left wing at 29-years old.

GM Bergevin say he is ‘not ready to say we’re rebuilding’. Their futility landed them with the third overall pick and they went for a center in Jesper Kotkaniemi from Finland over highly touted wingers and defenseman. They expect Drouin (23), Domi (23), Brendan Gallagher (26), Andrew Shaw (27) Philip Danault (25) and newly acquired Joel Armia (25) to make up their current core heading into their prime, removing Pacioretty from the equation.

They are counting on a number of youngsters to make a leap this year in Jacob De La Rose (23), Nikita Scherbak (22), Artturi Lehkonen (23) and Charles Hudon (24). Scherbak and Hudon were both rookies last season with Scherbak appearing in only 26 games. He did score 30 points in 26 games in the AHL so will be given a chance to earn a full-time spot in training camp. Lehkonen was a disappointment last season after scoring 18 the prior season. It is possible he lines up on the second line with Kotkaniemi but thrusting an 18-year-old into the harshest spotlight in the NHL is a risky gamble. An unforgiving fan base, or management desperation, could force their hand after learning nothing from the Galchenyuk experience, or even pushing Drouin into that role last season.

A CHALLENGE IN THE MIDDLE - The Canadiens brought back Tomas Plekanec for one season to shore up the middle. It now looks like it will be Drouin, Danault, Plekanec in the top three spots. Hardly a dominant line-up and replacing Galchenyuk on the wing with Domi won’t necessarily increase scoring. Bergevin has been clear he prefers to play Drouin on the wing and he was not helped with shuffling back and forth, winning only 42.5% of his faceoffs. The return for Pacioretty, which may not happen until later this season will have an impact. As the forwards stand now, they will continue to be in the bottom third of the league in offense.

The defense suffers a huge loss with Weber out and Carey Price had the most challenging year of his career in 2017-18 and is so critical to any success he will have to rebound. Jeff Petry was one of the few bright spots in a dismal season stepping up in Weber’s absence hitting career highs in points (42) and ice time (23:30). He scored 23 power play points versus seven the prior season. His production is likely tied to his role with Weber out of the line-up. The next two defenders who had the most ice time were veterans Karl Alzner and Jordie Benn. They made a significant commitment to Alzner despite mediocre skating and puck movement, going against the NHL trend towards mobile puck moving blueliners. Victor Mete was another nice surprise in a bleak year, making the team out of training camp as a 19-year-old. Encouraging season for a productive career. Sophomore defence campaigns can be challenging should not be expected to carry the load.

OUTLOOK - The stats were pretty damning finishing 29^th in goals scored, 26^th in goals against, 30^th on the penalty kill, 29^th in faceoff percentage. They also finished 31^st in shooting percentage (7.7%) and 25^th in save percentage (0.980) and might suggest bad puck luck. They will need to see an improvement in both to have any chance at the playoffs this year. The window for a team to win with Price and Weber is in the next two or three seasons, perhaps four before they have $18.357 in annual cap space tied up in two 35-year-olds.

Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire: Top Line Additions

McKeen's Hockey — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 13:03:24 +0000

As the season progresses we are starting to see some trends that can have a strong impact on your fantasy hockey team but a keen waiver wire addition. There are players who have suddenly found themselves either on their team’s top line or with a plum fantasy line mate and are widely available. Some rookies have survived the nine game mark and are now worth investing in and there are always injuries and call ups to keep an eye on.

Benoit Pouliot – Edmonton Oilers, Left Wing 39% owned

While Connor McDavid and Nail Yakupov are widely owned across fantasy leagues, Pouliot is the third man in on that line and number 67 has shown to have some chemistry with number 97 and at only 39% owned is available in many leagues. Coming off a five game point streak don’t sleep on Pouliot.

Pascal Dupuis – Pittsburgh Penguins, Left Wing 31% owned

The Crosby – Kessel combination that many thought would be deadly has failed to click early on and Sid is struggling. As a result, he has been reunited with his old running mate who is healthy again in Pascal Dupuis. Along with Patrick Hornqvist on that line it is only a matter of time before Crosby breaks out and if Dupuis is along for the ride, you want to own him.

Ryan Garbutt – Chicago Blackhawks, Right Wing 15% owned

No, Ryan Garbutt has not scored a goal yet this season, and has only one assist. So why is he on the waiver wire list? He does have 25 shots and 34 hits in ten games and has found himself playing on a line with Jonathan Toews and Teuvo Teravainen. He is generating scoring chances and playing with quality line mates so expect the production to come shortly.

Colin Miller – Boston Bruins, Defence 28% owned

Perhaps you were sleeping on Colton Parayko and missed out on this years John Klingberg, if so step right up and grab Colin Miller. Miller has three points in the last three games, is paired with Zdeno Chara and has worked his way into the Bruins top four. It is not a fluke either as Miller was a key piece in the Lucic deal. He was the second highest scoring defenceman last year in the AHL with the Calder winning Monarchs. He was a sleeper heading into the season, but don’t sleep on him now.

Victor Rask – Carolina Hurricanes, Centre 36% owned

Rask is centering the top line with Kris Versteeg and Eric Staal, which is as god as it gets in Carolina. Rask had an impressive rookie season scoring 33 points and should have no trouble eclipsing that as the Canes top centre this year. His three point game against Tampa on Sunday may be a harbinger of things to come.

Brett Connolly – Boston Bruins, Right Wing 36% owned

Connolly has found himself on a red hot line with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand and has a six game point streak to show for it. The 2010 first round pick of Tampa has fallen under the radar as a result of injuries which slowed his development. Still only 23 he could have a breakout season and be a great value add as a waiver or free agent claim.

Torrey Mitchell – Montreal Canadiens, Right Wing 34% owned

Mitchell has been red hot this season for the Habs with nine points in 13 games including a current four game point streak. He is very valuable in leagues that count peripheral categories as well as he has produced 20 penalty minutes, 14 hits, 10 blocks 18 shots and is a plus -6.

Paul Byron – Montreal Canadiens, Centre 6% owned

For those of you in super deep leagues, Byron was claimed off waiver from Calgary by Montreal and has three points in his first three games. Both his goals are shorthanded goals to boot for leagues that have multi category scoring. Byron is centering a line with Torrey Mitchell and DSP.

All ownership numbers based on Fantrax leagues

All line combinations are from Frozen pools via Dobber Hockey

Paul Byron – McKeen's Hockey

Carey The Load – Montreal Canadiens 2018-19 Season Preview

Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire: Top Line Additions