Montreal Canadiens 2009 Season Preview, Picks & Odds

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Montreal Canadiens 2008-’09 record:
41-30-11, 93 points (2nd in Northeast, 8th in East)

Montreal Canadiens 2008-’09 playoffs:
Lost to Boston Bruins 4-0

Last season did not go the way that Montreal wanted. Their 100 th year was supposed to be a yearlong celebration of the franchise’s glorious history while making a run at the Stanley Cup. After an excellent start, the Canadiens had more strange events surround their team than anyone outside of Tampa Bay, including a coach being fired, three players being accused of having ties to organized crime and their star captain taking a week off to clear his head. Somehow Montreal held onto a playoff berth and their 41-30-11 record earned the 8 th seed thanks to a tiebreaker. Unsurprisingly, Montreal was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs amidst tensions between starting goaltender Carey Price and the Montreal media and fans.

Montreal Canadiens 2009 Preview

Montreal Canadiens General manager: Bob Gainey (628-455-165, 16th NHL year, 2nd team)

Montreal Canadiens Coach: Jacques Martin (517-406-175, 15th NHL year, 4th team)

Montreal Canadiens Captain: TBD

Montreal Canadiens Top Returning Scorer: D Andrei Markov (12 goals, 52 assists, 64 points)

Montreal Canadiens Top Returning Goalie: Carey Price (23-16-10, 2.83, .905)

Montreal Canadiens Key Additions: C Scott Gomez; D Paul Mara; LW Travis Moen; D Jaroslav Spacek; D Hal Gill; RW Brian Gionta; LW Michael Cammalleri; G Curtis Sanford.

Montreal Canadiens Key Subtractions: D Mike Komisarek; LW Chris Higgins; D Doug Janik; RW Alexei Kovalev; C Saku Koivu; RW Tom Kostopoulos; D Mathieu Schneider; D Mathieu Dandenault; LW Alex Tanguay; D Francis Bouillon; D Patrice Brisebois; G Marc Denis; C Robert Lang.

Montreal Canadiens Top Line: LW Michael Cammalleri, C Scott Gomez, RW Brian Gionta

Montreal Canadiens Top Defensive Pairing: Andrei Markov, Paul Mara

Up front, things are going to begin with their big three acquisitions. Gomez and Gionta have chemistry from their days in New Jersey and should both rebound from one of their worst statistical seasons in their careers. Along with Tomas Plekanec, Andrei Kostitsyn and Max Lapierre, there is some talent behind the three new stars but there really isn’t a lot of depth.

The defense is significantly deeper. Spacek will join Andrei Markov (64 points last year!) to give Montreal two of the league’s best offensive blueliners and Mara, Gill, Josh Georges and Roman Hamrlik will allow the Habs to ice three very strong pairings. The defense will be the strength of this team.

The real big question is how Price will react after turning into the Pariah of Quebec last season. At one point, he made a routine save during the final playoff loss and was lambasted with a Bronx cheer, to which he responded with a sarcastic wave. Price was labeled the ‘Loneliest Man in Sports’ by Sports Illustrated last year and he is a concern to collapse under pressure this season. New acquisition Curtis Sanford will be a solid #2 option but if he has to play more than anticipated it will be a long winter in Montreal.

2009 Montreal Canadiens Goaltending:

Cursed by the sophomore jinx, Price imploded in the second half after being voted the Eastern Conference starter for the NHL All-Star Game. Practice habits and off-ice pursuit of night life were questioned as his game suffered. Uses imposing size, quick glovehand and concise movements to foil shooters, but tends to get impatient and makes first move when he’s off his game.

2009 Montreal Canadiens Player To Watch:

LW Max Pacioretty. Scored a goal on his first NHL shot, then endured a 25-game goalless skid following midseason call-up to Habs as injury fill in. Strong forechecker is owner of a heavy slapshot and although still growing, is strong for a 20-year-old. Long, wide skating stance allows him to accelerate quickly.

2009 Montreal Canadiens Offense:

Gomez has been taking intensive French language courses to fit in better in his new surroundings. Having grown up in the Devils system under general manager Lou Lamoriello and a strong Montreal influence, he is well-versed in the ways of discipline and how the Canadiens run their organization. Martin, the former longtime coach of the Ottawa Senators, returns to the Northeast Division after a stint with the Florida Panthers. Cammalleri’s arrival from Calgary should help the offense, too. He posted 82 points (39 goals, 43 assists) in 81 games last season. He was second in the NHL with 19 power-play goals. It will be strange to see someone else wearing the C’ now that longtime captain Koivu has left for Anaheim.

Montreal Canadiens 2009 Season Predictions

They jettisoned 11 players from an eighth-place team and added more small forwards to an already undersized team, then hired a coach known for a grinding, checking game. The Canadiens should make the playoffs, but just barely.

We predict that the Montreal Canadiens will finish 2nd in the NHL Northeast, 7th seed in East: 93 points.

Montreal Canadiens Betting

Montreal Canadiens Stanley Cup Odds: +3000
Montreal Canadiens Eastern Conference Odds: +2000
Montreal Canadiens Northeast Odds: +450

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