Montreal Canadiens 2024-25 NHL Season Preview | The Hockey Writers Roundtable

Intro hello everybody and welcome into another season preview show here at the hockey rers YouTube channel I'm your host Matthew zor and we are up to the Montreal Canadians here on the previews going into the 2024 25 season and I've got Ryan sporer here I covers the Canadians here at the hockey writers how's it going Ryan yeah I'm doing all right how about you I'm doing great hockey is uh is almost here where we've gone through the dog days of the summer we're into September now and uh train Camp pretty close to getting started for all the teams and Canadians included I of course didn't make the playoffs last season got another high draft pick and then you know drafted Ivan demidov who is a very exciting prospect to be added to this system uh included to a bunch of other guys that the Canadians already have got either in the lineup or coming uh so very exciting future uh they're not there yet the rebuild is still in progress but every season they better and creating that new core of players uh to build around so let's uh let's get going into the forward group going into this season which saw a big addition and New Addition: Patrik Laine Patrick Lan they H traded for him a few weeks ago and uh he's gon to add a lot to this team veteran wise H he's a goal scorer we all know that um he gone through a few teams uh since he was a really big goal scorer in Winnipeg but hopefully he can get going here so what do you think about uh we'll start start with Lon what do you think about him being added to this group yeah so I had uh earlier in the summer when it was kind of just a pipe dream that the Canadians would trade for Patrick l i kind of wrote a piece suggesting that it only made sense if the price tag was reasonable and it was really Beyond reasonable in the sense that the Canadians only gave up Jordan Harris uh a young defenseman to the clamus Blue Jackets and even got a second round pick coming the other way so obviously the it's contingent on the Canadians absorbing the entirety of Patrick L's $8.7 million capit but I think it's you know the stereotypical uh low-risk High reward type of situation in that L is coming into a situation where well he isn't really coming into it he's coming into a new market but the situation is such that he he's just just got cleared out of the NHL NHL pa player assistance program he this is going to be the second time he requested a trade out of town he's got two years left under contract obviously the luster around him has worn off to a degree and he needs to rebuild his his value as evidence by how little the Canadians gave up to get him so I think it's fairly clear clear that he understands the situation and that he has to put his best foot forward over the next two years uh you know following which his contract will expire uh he needs to ReDiscover his scoring touch in order to be able to score again and and that's why it's you know I don't see him being what some might uh consider a distraction in the locker room I don't see that as being um it's not going to happen realistic I guess is a good way to put it so ultimately the Canadians get a potential emphasis on potential 40 goal scorer seeing as he scored 44 in his back Jets 36 his rookie season he was also effectively a point per game player uh two seasons ago with Blue Jackets on the season before that so the Ks are getting a great player to insert into uh most likely their second line uh I don't see the downside really yeah I I don't either I mean looking at a guy that's H he seems to wanted to come to Montreal he's excited to join the lineup and join a you know a market that's pretty intense uh for high-end players and I it seems to be okay with it so I I I think he's going to be really good I mean obviously going to probably play in the top six I and on the power play he's going to get a lot of opportunities to score and with some really good players so yeah I'm I'm really excited to see what he can do in Montreal too um right what about the rest of the forwards I mean you're looking at guys coming back from injury like Kirby doc probably going to play Forwards - Storylines/Burning Questions hopefully not probably hopefully play a full season uh fingers crossed that uh that he does I I mean there's your second line Center and of course still led by Nick Suzuki and Cole Coffield and Yaris levkovsky on that Top Line which was really good last season um when everyone was healthy that is uh what what do you think about the rest of these uh forwards here yeah so the first line in my opinion uh like you said Suzuki Cofield slowski it's effectively set in stone uh that's why I say that lightning despite being a former 40 four goal scorer is probably going on the second line with Doc as you mentioned um I think the likeliest Winger for them is probably going to be Alex new hook um it just my personal opinion is it should be joshuaa I don't think I think the only way that happens if the Canadians trade Christian borak enabling new hook who filled in at Center for Doc last season after doc suffered a season ending injury two games in that's mouthful but uh new hook down the stretch kind of proved himself as um a viable option down the middle but with vorak um he's appending unrestricted free agent but he's going to be making 4.45 million and he's kind of you know all due respect to him you know he is an NHL and a talented one on that but he's kind of obsolete in terms of what he brings to the table what general manager Kent Hughes um you know has been establishing during the rebuild so I um the Canadians trade vorak enabling new hook to Center the third line which would put W in a top six position and putting him in the best position to succeed because um really uh was showed after the All-Star break that he was one of the best Canadians forwards at you know you know possession wise is um his production maybe leaves something to be desired but I think the general con ensus among analysts is he projects as a top six forward and I the Canadians and uh they're better sered just kind of putting him in that position and especially with Doc who's proven to make his line mates wherever he plays better L who's again you know potential Superstar tal it just makes sense in my especially seeing as new hook had found success with Gallagher and and and Y Aria stretch so that could be in theory the third line that's my my take which would be a pretty good third line now you're looking at it I mean I Gallagher is obviously not the same player he was before but he's still very effective uh guy to playing in your bottom six I mean I'd want Gallagher in my bottom six uh he very good even though he's not the same goal scorer he was in his prime so I mean it it is still I a really good forward group when you're looking at it and if everyone stays healthy they're they're I think they're pretty decent right so we we'll see hopefully that [Laughter] happens all right uh moving to the defense I you know you're looking at Canadiens' Defence this group P didn't see any changes really I throughout the off season I resigned a few guys Lane Hudson comes in for potentially a full season I'll get your take on that uh right now it's projected to be a lot of people want him to be um what do you think about the group first of all is Lane Hudson a guy that's going to start the season in this defense Court I mean he might start uh you might get a few games in uh for an audition purpose uh you know the purpose of an audition but uh the way I see it and you know I I don't have a crystal ball so this is just my opinion I I don't think the Canadians are best served keeping him on uh just for the simple reason that they have so many names on his left side technically above him on the depth chart um and I think it's worthwhile to let him play the season in the American Hockey League with Laval rocket so that he can properly adjust to uh you know the professional game he did get in two games at the end of last season after signing his entry-level contract um but that was mainly because he wasn't eligible for for the AHL at that point once he signed so you know it's all dependent on uh how his training camp goes obviously if he blows everyone away and you know he earns it on his own merits then I don't think Canadians have much of a choice but you're looking at on the left side only you know got Mike Mat who you know scored a career high um 62 points um and 11 goals last season uh and you got then you got kid gouy who just signed for a flat point5 5 million cap until 2031 and then you've got Arbor Jack guy who just signed oneway extension and then you got below him technically jadden strubel who kind of enabled the Canadians to take their time with Jacky last year sending him down or sorry for some context Jacky got injured and the Canadians kept him down in the AHL while stral was effectively taking his spot because he proved himself as being you know for all intensive purposes NHL ready and maybe more consistent than Jacka at that point so in my mind all four of those guys you know following the departure of Harris to the Blue Jackets who would have been another one they NHL ready and and have you know proving themselves to a degree whereas Hudson still has a lot to prove in my mind um I'm actually writing a piece to this effect that will come out on in a few days um but yeah if my opinion means anything I I say that the Canadians take their time with Hudson and let him develop for for a single season in the HL I mean it wouldn't be a bad thing I mean he yeah he had played two games last season and was looked really good but this was against red WIS I mean of course Red Wings team was really good and they were almost to the playoffs but it's two games the two game sample size and yeah he looked good he looked NHL ready he looked like he should be in the lineup but I I do agree I think he probably would serve better playing a lot of minutes in the AHL probably and first Power Play unit all that stuff and and be developed that way and then come in full-time next season and look good so I don't know I I I agree with you I think he'd probably be better S of being in the AHL even though I do want to see him in the NHL because I really like him as a prospect so um but he's going to be a heck of a a defenseman in his prime and I I'm excited so I don't want them to that to be messed up so I think he would be good for sure all right goal tending uh it's the Goaltending - Montembeault & Primeau same tandem uh although I mean Jake Allen has moved on uh traded last season so you got Samuel monmo as the pretty clear-cut starter now uh kayen Primo backing him up uh what do you think about this tandem of course it's going to be the tandem for a bit here until Jacob Fowler comes into the picture but uh this is the tandem right now um yeah for all purposes I'd say so um it's an average Quon tandem um you know the days of carry price are long over where you know you know all the respect to to Malo who's proven capable of you know stealing the odd game I'd say that for the most part you know this isn't a team you know the Canadians teams of the past uh they kind of relied on goaling to a huge degree this isn't the way that Kent huse is building his team when he first came on he he he um expressed how he wanted an offensive minded club and I think he's he's building that especially with the acquisition of Ling so um I don't think that the Canadians are necessarily looking to acquire uh an elite goalie I think they're satisfied with with the you know the play of Monto Mo and Primo especially until Fowler comes on as a projected number one but Malo I mean his stat line isn't exactly eye-catching by any stretch I'm just going to read it here 165 and9 with 3.14 goals against average and a 903 save percentage um that if memory serves 903 that was actually The League average so he's right on the money and I think that the goals against a will improve based solely on the fact that the defense in front of him is going to be it's a young def defensive core is going to have he'll have an additional year of experience under its Collective belt so I think uh in that respect you know he's going to be getting the job done just not he's not going to be doing a super stares type of um Freo you know so I I think there's the potential that Primo usurps malono but I mean I wouldn't really count on it just it's worth noting that um you know he went 89 and4 with a 2.99 goals against average and and 910 save percentage but um after they traded Jake Allen after having you know done a you know utiliz the three- goalie system the entire and he was getting more starts Primo uh actually had 921 save percentage from from the trade deadline on and yeah it wasn't necessarily top competition because he was still the backup but I think you know we he Primo established himself as an NHL caliber goalie whether he remains a backup or he you know takes his game to another level um it's definitely welcome because there was a time when not too long ago he you know there were doubts that he would ever make it so I think the Canadians are are happy with how things have have turned out yeah I I think like Primo's been in the system quite a while now and you're looking at him as now he's finally going to be able to uh be in the NHL as the second goalie rather than being part of the threers uh system there so it it should serve him a bit better and of course mono's proven to be a pretty good go in the NHL I mean not probably not a starter on a contender but he's good he's still a decent goalie so um I mean for now I think the tandem is good like you said but um Fowler is going to be of course the guy you'd assume the way he's been trending so I it it's gonna be interesting when he comes in the picture how it all looks but all the I mean man mono's not on a huge contract so it probably by the time that happens he'll be ready to come in and be the St starter potentially so we'll we'll wait and see for that all right looking at How do the Canadiens stack up in the Atlantic Division? the division uh the Atlantic is a very interesting one there's so many different teams that are at different stages of their either rebuilding or they're in the contend status where are the Canadians fall in here of course they've been at the bottom for a while I do you see them making any sort of movement this division this year I think especially following the acquisition okay let let me put this way in my opinion the Canadians played last season without their second line Center in doc I think Assuming he's healthy that right there kind of solidifies that second line uh and can's jumped from I'm kind of jumping around here again but the Canadians went from a last place finish in 2022 with 55 points then they gained 13 points in the standings for 68 last year they had 76 so they're trending up and that was even without Doc in the lineup so with Doc in the lineup a guy who many had seen as having the capacity to one day take over the mantle of number one Center and you know um exceed the capabilities of Nick Suzuki who just came off a 77 Point Season last year establishing himself as a number one Center in my opinion I think in my mind I had the Canadians competing for playoff spots this coming season even before they acquired l l now with Lon in the mix I think that you have to I I think that should definitely put them in the mix at the end of the season I can't say for sure that they're going to make the playoffs because again they have at least three teams to Lea frog and Senators The Bu Sabers and the Detroit Red Wings to make the playoffs um so yeah and they're all like you said in similar boats in my opinion and again I'm sure this's is going to elicit some kind of strong reaction from the fans but I'd say that the Canadians had the best off season of the four teams and improved so significantly that I mean the Senators only were above them in the settings by two points if memory serves I I don't see how you know objectively speaking anyone can deny that the Canadians are a threat to Leap Frog over them at least I don't think personally I don't I'm not a big fan of what the Red Wings did this off season um uh I mean you know acquiring signing teraso sh but I think he's passed his best before dat um but they also let Daniel spro and they let they traed fabri um they also traded uh Jake wman I believe yeah was defenseman their cending I think is is maybe even below that of the Canadians in my opinion the Sabers of those three teams are probably the biggest threat to actually make the playoffs and I think the Canadians are going to be right there and maybe I I don't think a 90 point finish is out of the question for the Canadians is what I'm saying bottom line I I can see that I mean the thing is they did improve quite a bit to you know getting Lonnie makes a big difference in their in their offense especially if he can ReDiscover what he was uh just maybe a couple seasons ago and and he's going to be like I say playing with some really good players and that's a big boost adding a 40 30 to 40 goal scorer into your lineup and yeah that too I mean that's pretty much an acquisition in itself and you're gonna play a full season so yeah they are a better team and I think they probably be in the wild card fight right so I mean that's that's what I see personally I think they're going to fall short but I mean I I obviously health is a factor because it has been for such a long time for the Canadians and you know they need to stay healthy but if they do I don't see how they reasonably you know tread water in the sings they logically speaking they're going to be a much better team yeah I see that too for sure all right let's uh move into our quick fire round and these are just one or two sentence answers quickly go uh and talk a few bit bit about this so I'll start with the biggest storyline or question mark going into this season for the Canadians uh the top story line in my Biggest Storyline/Question Mark Going Into 2024-25 opinion is Kirby Do's health and the health of the Canadians in general as we just talked about it that Kirby doc has potential to be um a Difference Maker game breaker uh as a third overall draft pick way back when I believe he's only going to be 24 um and he just effectively the Canadians are gaining second line Center someone who proved himself to be a first line uh player when he you know in his first season with the Canadians when he kind of complimented Nick Suzuki and callfield on the top line so in my opinion just his additional loan um is something to kind of I mean it's going to be interesting to see if he returns to form because the injury sustained to his ACL and MCL I if I remember correctly you know there are obviously risks uh involved with that see the long-term um Outlook of a player's skill level but I think that's you can relatively safely assume that he's going to come back near 100% And if that's the case um it's going to be interesting to see just you know how that second line revolves around him he's really young player still too so I mean you're you're looking at and he hasn't played a ton in the last few seasons because of those injuries so h a full season out of him is a big deal so yeah for sure that's a big storyline all right uh one or two breakout Stars uh Breakout Stars this season okay uh let's say F and let's say Doc again just because uh he had um doc had 38 points in 58 games in 2022 2023 when again he kind of complimented Suzuki and Coffield on that first line so I'm kind of operating under the the simple premise that 38 points doesn't necessarily constitute breaking out even though pro rated those kind of amount to over 50 two Game season so I think that if doc stays healthy he will uh well break break out and kind of establish himself as that top six forward that and that number two Center that Canadians have needed for so long um yeah there you go uh all right someone that needs to bounce back uh from last One Player That Needs to Bounce Back season uh I'd say Josh Anderson needs to bounce back because his contract at 5.5 million per um kind of necessitates It kind of played his way out of you know the the top six to start last season and you know with he he was usually good for 20 goals as a Canadian um I I don't think he ever scored more than 32 33 points but he was always consistent for around 20 goals and then you know now he's 30 and his production dropped to to nine goals last season and he kind of just seemed to bring down whatever line he was on and I know it's my opinion it's unlikely that he kind of finds a way [Music] to there are just so many people above him who who it's a deep Team all of a sudden up front and I don't see um a place for him anywhere else other than on on I would put him on the fourth line but he's probably going to make it this second line uh sorry third line I had him on the second line prior to the acquisition of Lon but but you know with L you have to put him on the second line right um yeah he he definitely needs to be establish himself as a middle six forward at least otherwise he's yeah that's going to be it's going to get ugly in Montreal yeah he's getting paid a lot for a p bottom six guy but that's just uh how it goes right now with the lineup but if he could bounce back and may maybe even get some value in a trade uh more value if uh if he does if he's playing well too all right a player or Potential X-Factors it could be a situation too so who or what H could be an X Factor this season um does Lon counts Lon could be yeah he's be an X Factor yeah um yeah let's go with loning I mean doc applies too but Doc it's say lineing just because you know no one really knows what the Canadians are getting and again lowrisk High reward typee of situation and that the ks didn't give up much to get him so whatever they get out of him is is gravy but you're talking about someone who once scored 44 and he's presumably rejuvenated a bad situation uh with the Blue Jackets so I have to believe that especially playing with Doc which is the presumption that you know he's going to be able to ReDiscover his scoring touch and if that happens and he's good for let's say conservatively 30 goals I think that well that's 30 more goals if they didn't have last uh for a team that was struggling to score that's gonna make a big difference for sure we I think those and Doc of course be an X Factor too all right let's talk uh some prospects say Rookie/Prospect That Could Surprise & Make the Team so I mean there's not like lineup is pretty full full but do you see any rookies or prospects that could crack the lineup that no one's expecting at this point that no one's uh I don't see any off the radar prospects making the team if that's what you're asking yeah like you know they're outside you know own backck might be the closest one to off the radar even him I'd say that people are kind of hoping Beyond hope that he makes the team but yeah projected be a bottom six center I I just don't see how the Canadians fit him in especially if dorak doesn't get traded because you're looking at um Suzuki doc um dorak potentially new hook and Evans um you know down middle of the ice for the Canadians uh I guess he could slot in as a Winger but I don't see it happening because Canadians are just so deep up front that in my opinion makes sense to uh let him developing in yeah I agree with that I think probably better off at just developing right now instead of being forced into a bottom six role at this point all right Prospects to Watch outside of making the team uh what prospects and there's quite a few Canadians have in their system but who should everyone be watching this season it's probably an obvious one they just drafted but yeah it's say demov I mean if you can catch the KHL games I I would he's just I don't know if he's um projected to play a huge role on his KHL team politics being a factor unfortunately uh seeing as he's established that he wants to come over to North America so I mean it is what it is but he's got one year left under contract there I believe um but based on projections you know he's yeah no one knows for sure obviously but he was considered to be the second best player available in the draft falling to number five because of in my opinion the political climate and situation um he has potential based on scouting reports to actually be the most offensively Dynamic player taken above mlin celebrini um and we're talking about you know again this is just what I've read ceiling of you know 130 points um I don't know if he ever attains that I don't think anyone does but that's the skill level talk about a legitimate Superstar talent and that would effectively give the Canadians their first gamebreaking talent in in decades talking like you know some may compare him to Alexa kovalov but you know kovalev only mustered a single point per game season with the Canadians I I think that demov legitimately has potential to be the best Canadians draft pick since carry price in 2005 and the best Canadians draft pick up front since skila Flur um part of that is an indictment of the Canadian drafting record for S but it's also a testament to demidov's sheer [Music] skill yeah he's uh he's a special player and likely I shouldn't say likely but very much quite possibly the player the Canadians have been looking forward to you know their Superstar they've been waiting for their superstar demal has potential to be it I I definitely agree I think the Canadians were just static when they got him for sure so he's gonna be exciting when he comes into the NHL all right couple quick questions to end here I who is going to lead the team in scoring H Who will lead the team in scoring (forwards & defense)? and give us a bold prediction for the season I'd say it's a safe assumption that Nick Suzuki is going to lead the team in scoring again he's kind of their jack of all trades master of all um he does everything so well and you know he score he's their Iron Man too so he's like the only one who's is amazing in and of itself but he he scored a career high 77 points last season in 82 games obviously um I think it's quite possible he reaches the point per game Plateau um yeah that just he's G to get all the ice time in the world assuming he stays elevated yeah all right uh a bold Bold Prediction/Hot Take prediction or hot take to for this season for the Canadians I'm not going to say that the Canadians make the playoffs because that just seems so unlikely in my um but I'm going to say that that uh the Canadians have two 40 goal scores in Cole Coffield and Patrick l that's pretty that that bold for Lon because he hasn't done it in a bit but yeah and and Coffield definitely is as capable so yeah definitely something could happen all right well thanks Ryan for coming on the show and talking Canadians I previewing this season because it's going to be I think it's going to be a fun one uh for a lot of the you know the young guys getting more development and this team moving forward even more um because I think in when everyone's in their Prime this is going to be a very fun team to watch you though they're I think they are already but um yeah this team's going to be good but make sure check out everything at the hocky riders.com we got tons of preview content already out on the site and lots of stuff on the substack as well uh make sure checking out throughout the season as we go and um but until our next preview we'll see you next time