#Habsfan98 NHL Season 2017-2018 Team Opinions

[habsfans98]

Habsfan98 NHL Season 2017-2018 Team Opinions

Man, the off-season was painfully slow this year. But! Thankfully the pre-season was fun, and now the regular season will start in just a couple of hours. So, to kick of the season, I decided to make some opinions for the NHL teams this years. Just some predictions, and expectations that I hope come true.

Remember these are just predictions and opinions. And I have no intention of offending anyone, or the cities that these teams represent. I would love to have counter-opinions and discussions about your teams.  

Anaheim Duck

The Ducks are still considered a cup-contender. Even after the loses of young defenseman Clayton Stoner, and Shea Theodore. Ryan Getzlaf is still the driving force of this team’s offense, along with rising star Rickard Rackell, and their bruising still of play. The real question, is if the John Gibson can elevate his game, and push the Ducks to the Stanley cup final.  

Arizona Coyotes

The Yotes have a chance this year to take a big step up, from being a rebuilding (Mediocre) team. To a potential playoff contender in the Pacific Divison. Max Domi looks to take another step into stardom, with Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Antti Raanta, was brought in from the Rangers to bring capable goaltending, and Derek Stepan joined him to give a veteran presence for the young squad. Who I’m watching for this season, is Anthony Duclair. He had awful season last year, after an incredible rookie season. Will he be able to get back to that form under new head coach Rick Tocchet?

Boston Bruins

For Bruins it’s going to be an interesting year. You’re going to have to hope the Brad Marchand’s “break-out” season wasn’t a total one-off, and that Tukka Rask can have a stable, or Vezina caliber season. I think the Bruins could be a playoff team, but that all depends on whether the younger talent we saw in the playoff last year, develop and mature.

 Buffalo Sabres

Jack Eichel is now the future of the Buffalo Sabres franchise. He is the piece that this team will build around for the next eight years. Meanwhile the rest of the team still has holes. I still question the Sabres defense, which has been the biggest weakness for this team since they started rebuilding. Hopefully the goaltending can hold the fort, until the new GM in Buffalo can find a solution.

 Calgary Flames

Aside from the off-ice drama. The Flames look like a playoff team once again. Only this time with a much deeper defense. Mike Smith will have to be leagues better the Brian Elliot was if the Flames look to challenge the Oilers, Ducks, and Sharks for top bills in the Pacific. Sam Bennet also needs to take the next step, otherwise; I predict that he’ll be trade bait by Christmas.

 Carolina Hurricanes

The Hurricanes might finally get people to go to their games again with the improvements they made this year. Bring in the younger players from the cup winning Blackhawks teams was a gutsy move by the Hurricanes. Scott Darling has the chance to be a number one goaltender, and the young defense has a chance to really shine this year. Oh! And people might finally notice Jeff Skinner for a change!

 Chicago Blackhawks

Stan Bowman went full nuclear and purged the 2016-2017 team, and did his best to bring back the 2014-2015 Stanley cup winning team. Bring back the well-rounded Saad, and fan favorite Patrick Sharp.  However, this team will have to bring up some younger players from the system if they want a chance to stay afloat with the rest of the Central Division.

 Colorado Avalanche

I have nothing to say about this team. Last year was terrible. This year will also be terrible. Your only notable off-season acquisition, was Nail Yakupov. Av’s fan’s your only hope is that Nathan MacKinnon takes another step, and turns into a true super star, Semyon Varlamov doesn’t get hurt again long term (and plays like its 2011-2012), and Joe Sakic gets fired.

 Columbus Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets live and breath with Bobrovsky. If he’s healthy and stays healthy expect the playoffs. If he’s injured and stays injured, you’re out of the playoffs. You traded of Brandon Saad to Chicago for Artemi Panarin, Alexander Wennberg and Zach Werenski will most lickely regress this season, and you better hope that Nick Foligno doesn’t vanish again.

 Dallas Stars 

The Dallas Stars learned their lesson about trying the 1-A/1-B goaltending system. They went out a signed Ben Bishop to a six-year contract. He along with Marc Methot will finally get this team back into the post season. What I’m curious about is the offensive lines of this team. Sighing Radulov to a five-year deal, adds another piece of fire power to this team. There is one important question. Will anyone on this follow Ken Hitchcock rather stubborn defensive system.

Detroit Red Wings

Yeah… I don’t expect this team to make the playoffs. There old, slow, inconsistent, and poorly coached. If the Red Wings have any chance of being a good this year (or any year), they will need to get rid of a few contracts, and aging players. Hopefully, the first season at the new arena won’t be too painful to watch. Side Note: Fix the goal horn in that new arena.

Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers are going to be the second-best team in the Pacific Division. McDavid and Draisaitl are going this team back to the post season. Well, so long as Cam Talbot plays like he did last year. A lot of people have faith that this team will end Canada’s cup drought. What I’m looking forward to is seeing if Kailer Yamamoto stays with the team for the rest of the year.  

 Florida Panthers

This team will be better than last year’s hot-mess. Dale Tallon has done everything he could to return the team to his vision of what a cup-contender in Florida would look like. The important question is whether the key players on this team, stay healthy. The Panthers could be a playoff team, so long has those players aren’t hit with requiring long-term injuries.

Los Angeles Kings

A healthy Jonathan Quick means a chance at the playoffs. Jeff Carter hopefully won’t have to be anchor of the offense this season. Anze Kopitar had a dreaful season last year, and looks to rebound, meanwhile players from the farm system look to make an impact this year. I only have one question. What the fuck is going to happen to Dustin Brown?

 Minnesota Wild

After a lack luster end to the playoff last year. It’s clear that Wild are trying to build from being a just a “get-in-the-playoffs” team. They want to play, to get deep into the playoffs. At this point I’m done doubting Devan Dubnyk, he’s proven himself to be an elite goaltender. The only worry I have for this team, is Zach Parise, he needs to be a better player than he was last year.

 Montreal Canadiens

Oh boy. I hate to say this. But even with Carey Price on the team. I have the habs being a bubble team. The trade for Jonathan Drouin, was a much-needed addition for the habs, then they lose Radulov to Dallas in free agency. However, training camp has had some surprises Hudon, and De La Rose, made the opening night roasters, along with rookie defensemen Victor Mete. The habs can make the playoffs, if they can play a better offensive game. If not. It’s going to be an uphill climb.

 Nashville Predators

The Preds shocked the hockey world making the Stanley cup final last year as a the technically 16 seed team. They lost to a much healthier and deeper Penguins team. The Predators added Nick Bonino to sure up the center position. However, the season is going to be a rough start. The mobile and offensively gifted defense will be without Ryan Ellis for 4-g months, while you’ve also lost James Neal to the expansion draft, and Mike Fisher retired. The Preds can be a playoff team, but that all depends on the young players that stepping up again from the playoffs, and Pekka Rinne standing on his head once more.

 New Jersey Devils

The Devils aren’t going to have much of a season this year. At worst it’s a tank year, at best it’s a year that see’s the team take the steps with it younger players into being a team worth watching in the future. Nico Hischier was a pretty good in the pre-season, and will have to better in the regular season.

 New York Islanders

The whole season is going to be about John Tavares not being signed. Other than that, new coach Doug Weight looks to keep up the momentum from last season’s ending. Josh Ho-sang looks like he’s ready to grow up, and maybe Jordan Eberle will elevate his game to a new level. It’s going to be interesting to see whether Halak can keep Thomas Greiss from the net this season.

 New York Rangers

The Rangers made a few interesting changes this year. Getting rid of some aging players and giving some room for younger players to take a step up this season. However, I worry about trading away Antti Raanta, will Henrick Lundqvist stand on his head once again, or will he be up and down again? You also add Kevin Shattenkirk in free-agency to help with defense. Overall, expect another solid season for this squad.

 Ottawa Senators

The Ottawa Senators once again had lost more than they gained in the offseason. After a surprising run to the conference final. The Sens lost Marc Methot to the expansion draft, and then Eric Karlsson will miss the first few games of the season. Meanwhile highly regarded prospect Tomas Chabot was sent back down to the minors. Craig Anderson is the reason this team is even remotely a playoff team.

 Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers has an underachieving season last year. That’s a fact, yet that landed this team the second pick in this summer draft. They picked Nolan Patrick, who made the opening night roaster for the Flyers. The real question is if captain Claude Giroux can have a bounce back season, after just scoring 14 goals last year. The goal-tending will also be a big question, Michal Neuvirth was good last year; but not good enough to get the team to the playoffs. The addition of Brian Elliot, could be what the Flyers need.

Pittsburgh Penguins 

The Pens are the repeat Stanley cup champions. So, the obvious question is if the Pens and make it a third in a row? What really stops them? Crosby and Malkin are still in their primes, the defense is still solid with a hopefully health Letang, and the younger players like Guentzel, and Rust growing into star players of their own. Even with the loss of Bonino, Chris Kunitz, and Trevor Daley. These are still Stanley cup Champions. So. Expect the playoffs, and expect another deep playoff run. Simple as that.

 St. Louis Blues

Jake Allen can be a number 1 goalie. Now it’s the rest of this team that I worry about. Other than Vladimir Tarasenko looks to once again be the scoring machine of this team, while the rest take to Mike Yeo system. This is a strange team, they lost Kevin Shattenkirk; yet, they don’t look to weak on defense. This is a playoff team, but only just.

 San Jose Sharks

The Sharks can be a playoff team. Even with the lose Patrick Marleau, won’t hurt the team this year. The Sharks will absolutely need the younger players to keep developing with the aging veterans. Meanwhile Martin Jones will have to be rock for the team again. If this team makes the playoffs, he’ll have to play better than he did against the Oilers.

Tampa Bay Lighting 

Everyone needs to be healthy. They also need to STAY healthy. Last year, Tampa lost a lot of key players to various injuries. If this team, wants to get back to being cup-contenders health is the most important thing. The other important factor is Andrei Vasilevskiy. Can he continue is growth into being a number 1 goaltender, or will he regress and for the Lightning to work harder to cover for him.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Matthews, Marner, Nylader. Those are the names that everyone is going to watch this year. If those three can develop to another level of stardom. Then this team will go far if Babcock and keep making this teams young guns growing. Meanwhile, Fredrick Anderson will have to be even better than last season. This team is going to be special, very special.

 Vegas Golden Knights

The newest team in the NHL might be the best assemble expansion team, the NHL has ever seen. Ok, they only get that title because, unlike the last time the NHL expanded. They managed to get a quality NHL goalie. Marc-Andre Fleury is going to be the star of this team. I don’t expect much from the G-knights for this year. They’ll be competitive, but they won’t win much. They need to build from the draft. Still it’s going to be a fun seeing if the residents stick with this team.

 Vancouver Canucks

The Canucks are doing a sort of rebuild. There not going to be that goo this year, but they’re going to try and be a competitive squad. It would be a shame for Canucks fans, but this could be the last year of the Sedin’s being in Vancouver together. It’s a shame that they couldn’t win a cup in Vancouver, but getting rid of them in a trade package could help the future. Other than that, I want to see what Bo Horvat and Jacob Markstrom can grow into elite or star players.

 Washington Capitals

I don’t see the Capitals missing the playoffs. But, I done with calling them cup-contenders. They proved that this year against the penguins. The Capitals are a team, built for the regular season and the regular season only. It’s hard to say what the Capitals need to do to get to the third round or the cup final. In my opinion, they need numb luck, and not to run into the Pittsburg Penguins to get to the Stanley cup finally.

 Winnipeg Jets 

Steve Mason is not the solution to you goaltending problems Winnipeg. You have some solid goal scoring threats in: Laine, Scheiflele, and Wheeler. A great defensive core in: Byfuglien, Trouba, and Myers. However, none these players can fix bad goaltending. You better hope that Mason plays like he did for the Flyers back in 2013-2014. Otherwise… It’s going to be one cold season in Winnipeg.

 Side Note: I wanted to finish this yesturady before the season started tonight. But, I fucked up and forgot about it. I hope that my opinions are even remotely accurate. If you feel differently about your team’s odds this season. Please don’t hesitate to tell me!

[habsfans98]

Habsfan98 Opinion: The Montreal Canadiens season 2016-2017

Montreal Canadiens Record:

W: Wins L: Loses OTL: Overtime Loses P: Points 

W-L-OTL = 47-26-9  P = 103

Home Record: 24-12-5

Road Record: 23-14-4

Goals for:  226 

Goals against: 200  

2016-2017 Atlantic Division Champions

Eliminated in the first round by the New York Rangers in six games

 Montreal Candiens Top Scores 

Total Points: 67, Max Pacioretty (G = 35, A = 32)

Total Assist: 36, Alexander Radulov

Total Goals: 35, Max Pacioretty

Leading Rookie: 28, Artturi Lehkonen (G = 18, A = 10)

Leading Defensemen: 42, Shea Weber (G = 17, A = 25)

 Habsfan98 Montreal Canadiens Three stars for the playoffs

GP: Games played G: Goals A: Assist P: Points

W: Win L: Lose OT: Overtime lose Svs: Saves GA: Goals against Sv%: Save Percentage

GAA: Goals Against Average

  🌟 Carey Price GP: 6 W: 2 L: 4 Svs: 167 GA: 12 Sv%: .933 GAA: 1.86

🌟 🌟 Alexander Radulov GP: 6 G: 2 A: 5 P: 7

🌟 🌟 🌟 Atturi Lehkonen GP: 6 G: 2 A: 2 P: 4

 Opinion on the playoffs

 Well the end of the 2016-1017 season has come. The Montreal Canadiens had to match up with bitter original six rival, the New York Rangers. It was a hard-fought series, from the casual observer. But for me, it was a one-sided affair for the later parts of the series. Which ultimately rang true for a rather disappointing game 6 lose, that ended the habs season.

I retrospective. This six game series, showed the many flaws that the Canadiens had throughout the regular season. Poor puck possession, defensive mistakes, terrible defensive zone play, a lack of key scoring, and the most important weakness of all. The lack of a affective top four center, or center depth in general for the Canadiens.

The Canadeins best players were simply out played, and shut down by the Rangers stifling defensive style, and strong puck possession. Max Pacioretty, Alex Galchenyuk, Phillip Danault, and Andrew Shaw where scoreless through the six games of the series. Meanwhile Carey Price was forced to fight a losing battle against the Rangers strong attackers.

Though there were two bright spots for this short playoff. Alexander Radulov and Atturi Lehkonen were really the only two forwards that showed both speed and scoring talents for the habs.

The defense was a not it best against the Rangers for most of the series. The Rangers did a great job getting past and neutralizing the Canadiens puck moving defensemen; while shutting down Shea Weber and the Canadiens power play. Limiting the Canadiens leader in power play goals this season, to just one goal on the man advantage.

Overall that the season ended with just two games won in the post season. The expectation for this team after the Weber/Subban trade was a much better result than this; especially with a healthy and Vezina trophy nominee in Carey Price behind the net, playing good hockey for the habs.

 Opinion on the regular season

 A lot happened during the regular season.

So, let’s start from the beginning; with the Canadiens having another great start to the season. While the habs got off to a great start in October going 8-0-1 for the month, while carrying that through November with an 8-5-1.

Then the December came, and the wheels started to spin in the wrong direction for the habs. Carey Price was playing at average or in some cases below average in is games. Meanwhile Max Pacioretty was the saving grace of the season; waking up from major offensive slump and score nearly 80% of his goals during this period.

The team however was still close to losing a playoff spot in the Atlantic division to the Ottawa Senators. This prompted Marc Bergevin to make a bold move. Firing Micheal Therrien after a rather ugly lose to the rival Bruins, and hiring Claude Juilen to replace for the second time. (Which any believe was the work of Price, playing poorly on purpose. Which I think was the right idea).

Almost immediately Julien’s systems on both defense and the offense of the Canadien paid off, as Carey Price soon returned to his world class play and carried the Canadiens back to the top of the Atlantic division title.

The Canadiens had man other stories throughout the season. New comers to the team seemed to make an immediate impact for the Canadiens.

Alexander Radulov was a major gamble for the Canadiens, who in the past have made one-years deals like this, only to get burned. Luckily, the infamous curfew breaker, was not only a hard worker from the get go. He proved the doubters wrong with his offensive skills and his tough work ethic.

Artturi Lehkonen was a fabulous addition to the Canadiens. The Young rookie had a great first full campaign with the team. Finishing with 18 goals and 10 assists, for 28 points. And while other rookies where putting together record performances. Lehkonen very quietly established himself as a offensive threat.  

Shea Weber was by far the most controversial player on the team this season. While some eye focused on Price, and his return to health. Weber was meant to bring stability and leadership, along with a big shut down defensive style. Weber was a big success in the regular season for the habs, with his hard shot and powerplay abilities.

 Paul Byron established himself as a top like scorer. The diminutive forward scored a career high 22 goals and 21 assists. Alex Galchenyuk, Brendan Gallagher, and Tomas Plekanec all had down season. While Gallagher had signignat injuries for most of the season. Plekanec has a dreadful season playing 78 games for the habs. While Galchenyuk, still could not find constancy under Therrien or Julien.

 Overall this season in my opinion was a roller coaster that had a disappointing pay off. We habs fans where told this season, we had a much better team. Better than the team that missed the post season, after a historic collapse. Yet, the ending was comparable to that same collapse.

The same problems that plagued the team from begin to end for the habs. A problem that fans, hockey analysts, and other coaches and GMs have seen, talked about, and exploited; especially the later.

The lack to depth at the center position, and the lack of real offensively gifted players for the Canadiens was the ultimate factor for the habs earlies playoff exit. A problem that was very clear throughout the season, and shown very clearly in the post season; has the major flaw for the Montreal Canadiens.

 One thing I can’t help is the failure of Marc Bergevin. Although the season was to some a success. For me. I can’t help but feel that this was a bad look for the franchise. Bergevin, trade Subban, based on the idea that his character was the problem. Bringing in a player of Weber’s abilities and age, and saying that we are in a win know mode; then doing nothing to address the real issues of the team. Shows that he not capable of making the moves to make a cup winning team.

I just don’t like the idea of these band aid solutions to the team. When a big move is what the team needs to make the next step. The habs have not had years of being a basement dwelling team, of a team that has tanked for a franchise player like other teams. Bergevin is a product of a Blackhawks organization that had to lose for years, to get where they are.

In the end, I can’t have any confidence in Marc Bergevin as the GM for the Canadiens. It’s clear to me that he and his staff, have overestimated their team’s abilities, while relying too much on Carey Price to carry the teams glaring flaws on him back. Something I hope the owner ship takes to heart. Unless he makes a move to bring in so real offensive punch. I would much rather a new GM, than to see the same seasons mistakes for the 2017-2018 season.

 Well that’s it. The season ended on a rather sour note. It felt like a roller coaster, and an adventure with new faces and great times. I just wish the it could have been a better ending than this. I’m happy that was got into the playoffs. But overall, I feel like this team was a bit of an overachieving team. Something the Rangers clearly showed the habs.

Anyways there’s still plenty more that’s going to happen in the off season. Are whole team will change in a flash. Remember. We have a new team joining the NHL next season, which means an expansion draft is looming on this team.

My follow habs fans. The season may be over. But the heartache, the headaches, and the protentional for anger induce vomiting is still possible. The Montreal Canadiens roller coaster. Never stops running.  

GO! HABS! GO!

(I’d like to apologize for and one who cant stand terrible spelling and grammar, who read this whole shitty post by the way)