Dear Readers,

This will be my final blog for Hockeybuzz. I am leaving for personal reasons. It’s been a great ride and one that allowed me to fulfill a childhood dream of covering the Montreal Canadiens. I sincerely want to thank Eklund for opening that door for me as well as those who voted for me in that contest back when Eric Engels moved on. Thank you to my readers, Habs fan or not for taking the time to read my blogs. I really appreciated all those who took the time to comment and enjoyed discussing Habs and hockey with you all. Thank you as well to my fellow bloggers, it was a pleasure interacting with many of you. Most of all, thank you to my husband, sons and the rest of my family (hi Mom and Dad) for your unwavering support and confidence in me.

As such, I present my final 24 Cups = 24 Thoughts:

1)The Canadiens will not win a Stanley Cup without a number one center. They are so weak down the middle that it will be a very disappointing off-season if Marc Bergevin does not address this lack of depth. There are three ways to fix this:

a) Finally develop Alex Galchenyuk to become a full time centerman. He has the talent to do so. However, both sides have to meet in the middle. Claude Julien has to give him the time and space needed to make and learn from his mistakes while Galchenyuk needs to commit himself to playing a 200 foot game. No one is expecting him to become a defensive center. He just needs to become more responsible in his own end.

b) Make a trade. They are not easy to make but hey, life is not easy. Find a way and make it happen.

c) If a trade is impossible, make a splash at the NHL Entry Draft and trade for a top five pick. Some say that this is a weak draft but there is still some talent there that could help the Habs. Maybe not this year but in the near future. Aside from the top two, I would target Casey Mittelstadt at 3-5 overall. At 6”1 and 201 lbs, he already has NHL size as he is a big center from Minnesota. He is smart, plays a complete game but is also quite talented offensively.

2) I do believe that Galchenyuk is a centerman. When given an opportunity such as the end of the 2015-2016 and first quarter of the 2016-2017 seasons he proved that he has what it takes. His skill did not simply disappear in the second half of this season. Confidence is a very fragile thing… However, it would not be surprising if the Canadiens give up on him and he thrives elsewhere. If he is able to bring in a good return then it doesn’t really matter. However, it would just go into the category of another player not properly developed by the Canadiens themselves.

3) Can Bergevin lead the Canadiens to their 25th Stanley Cup? He has a great track record of acquiring bottom six and bottom pairing defensemen but has had more difficulty acquiring true talent. The Jeff Petry trade worked out well and his contract is reasonable. The trade for Thomas Vanek was certainly worth it despite it not ending well. However the Daniel Briere and P.A. Parenteau signings were poor decisions. P.K. Subban and Shea Weber were traded one for one. I still feel strongly that the Canadiens should have received at least a draft pick along with Weber just given Weber’s age, not to mention Subban being the only one of the two to actually win a Norris trophy. I think Bergevin can do it but he needs to start acquiring more skill and not just character.

4) I firmly believe though that Claude Julien is in fact the right man to lead the Canadiens to a 25th Stanley Cup. He is a proven winner and that credibility goes a long way with the players. In a short amount of time he was able to solve the Canadiens penalty kill woes and aid the team’s transition game. However, he was out coached by Alain Vigneault in games five and six of the first round versus the New York Rangers. D.C. The Canadiens had a lead in each of those game but played not to lose as took their foot off the pedal at some point in both second periods. Any in game adjustments seemed too little too late. Now that Julien is more familiar with his roster and the team’s prospects, I expect him to come into training camp completely prepared for the 2017-2018 NHL season.

5) Reports and even Sylvain Lefebvre’s agent say that he is hoping to get an NHL offer to become an assistant coach and if not Bergevin is holding his spot to return as head coach of the Canadiens new AHL affiliate Laval Rocket. Some rumours have Lefebvre replacing J.J. Daigneault as the new defensive coach of the Canadiens. While I have publicly already stated that it is time Julien to bring in fresh blood alongside behind the bench at the expense of Daigneault, replacing him with Lefebvre is not what I have mind. The Canadiens need to be re-energized and invigorated, not be satisfied with the status quo.

6) Julien and Bergevin were both seen in Windsor during the Memorial Cup checking out their prized prospect Mikhail Sergarchev. He did not disappoint. Sergachev played a very active role in the Spitfires Memorial Cup win and proved his naysayers wrong by stepping up and being named to the tournament all-star team. He is physically ready for the NHL but we will see if he can adapt more quickly to the NHL pace come October. Chances are, the Canadiens will be a better team with him in the lineup then without.

7) Noah Juulsen will be turning pro next season and will almost certainly start the year in the American Hockey League. However, it would not be surprising if he gets the first call up for a defenseman during the regular season. Juulsen plays such a solid overall game. He will need some time to adjust to the speed of the professional game but it should not take more than a full season until he is ready to become a mainstay in the top six.

8) NHL Insider Pierre LeBrun reported that Carey Price’s agent and Bergevin would be sitting down shortly to start negotiations on his next contract. I think that Julien is the X factor with keeping Price in Montreal long term. He clearly enjoyed working with the new coach and thrived with the improved defensive play in front of him. If Michel Therrien was still the head coach then I believe there would be much more cause for concern. This deal will be done before the Summer’s over.

9) I think that the average annual salary will stay below the $10 million threshold. Price wants to be part of a winning team. He wants to win the Stanley Cup. He also understands the salary cap and that he needs to be surrounded by talent to help him reach his goal. Currently, Henrik Lundqvist is highest paid goaltender in the league with an average of $8.5 million. I think Price signs for a max term with an AAV of $9.25 - $9.75 million.

10) Obviously I am not in the camp that say it is time to hit the reset button and trade Price. The Penguins are not trading Sidney Crosby for Price, nor is Edmonton going to trade Connor McDavid. There is not exactly an elite player out there that is available that will make the difference. John Tavares might go on the trade market but he alone without Price in net is not going to help the Canadiens. Charles Lindgren is not ready to become a full time #1 netminder in the NHL. He cannot be thrown to the wolves. However, he could become an interesting trade bait for other teams. There is still CHL goaltender of the year Michael McNiven in the pipeline as well as Hayden Hawkeye and perhaps one day Zach Fucale will be able to put it altogether. I would dangle Lindgren to the Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche and Vancouver Canucks to attempt to get a top five pick in this year’s draft along with perhaps a Nathan Beaulieu and picks. There is still high end talent in the 3-5 spot that could help the Canadiens and Price get to the promised land.

11) Speaking of Beaulieu, I don’t think that he will be back with the Canadiens come training camp. If the Canadiens decide to leave him exposed for the Las Vegas expansion draft he will almost surely be taken considering his past history with the Golden Knights head coach Gerard Gallant. It would not be surprising if the Canadiens even make a deal with Golden Knights so as trade him there so as not to lose him for nothing while they select a player like Torrey Mitchell instead. Even if Beaulieu does not end up in Vegas, it seems that there is fewer spots available with the signing of Czech defenseman Jakub Jerabek who plays a very similar game. Perhaps the most likely scenario of him staying is only if Alexei Emelin gets traded away or is selected by the Golden Knights.

12) Andrei Markov will be 39 years old this December. He will be resigned by the Canadiens before July 1st and it will likely be a two year deal as seems to be in as good as shape as ever. Yes he has lost a step or two but Markov is such a smart player that he has been able to compensate for that. As long as his minutes continue to be properly managed there is no reason to believe that he cannot have a season comparable to this past one. Considering his age I would gather that he signs in the $4-$5 million AAV range.

13) While Andrei Markov will eventually retire as a Canadiens, Tomas Plekanec will not. It unfortunately happens to players, they lose their ability to finish as they age. Even though Plekanec is entering the final year of his contract, If Bergevin can free up cap space by trading him away or exposing him at the draft, he must do so. While Plekanec showed signs of offensive life against the Rangers, he disappeared for the Czech Republic at the World Championships. He is still an excellent checking centerman, just not at $6 million.

14) At the draft this June, I would like to see Trevor Timmins take a few more chances on offensively skilled players rather than spending these picks on “character” players. Hindsight is 20-20 but for example, 2015 fifth round draft pick Matthew Bradley has not been signed by the Canadiens and he will likely play for Regina as an overage player in the WHL next season. The team could have selected Troy Terry instead who was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks near the end of the 5th round and can play center or right wing. He has been fantastic for the University of Denver with 45 points in his second season and had a strong World Junior Championships showing with seven points. That’s just one player, there were other options such as Dominik Simon or Connor Hobbs just to name a couple. You’re never going to go perfect at the draft but perhaps it is time for a philosophical change to take few more chances. The Canadiens need skilled players. You can always teach defense. It is much harder to teach offense to someone who just does not possess that offensive talent…

15) A player that I would not be surprised to get traded would be Brendan Gallagher. While he is a fan favorite, his contract is reasonable and attractive at $3.75 AAV million for the next four more years. If he can be part of a package to help bring in a Jonathan Drouin or Matt Duchene, you make that deal.

16) While I would love to see either Joel Bouchard or Dominique Ducharme behind the bench as the inaugural head coach of the Laval Rocket, I would almost rather they get a chance with another organization so that they can make their mistakes their before eventually finding their way to Montreal.

17) It could certainly be argued that the Canadiens rival Toronto Maple Leafs are in better shape than the Canadiens and closer to the Stanley Cup as well. Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander were an embarrassment of riches to have all in their rookie year. However, the “x” card will always be Carey Price. He has the ability to win games and series all by himself.

18) Some feel that Saku Koivu’s #11 deserves to be retired. As much as I liked him as a player and a captain, he still does not compare to those whose numbers are currently hanging in the rafters of the Bell Centre. He was a very good player but that is it. If ever his number is retired by the Canadiens it would be for sentimental reasons only. The next Canadiens to have their number retired? Carey Price providing he signs long term.

19) I think Max Pacioretty has grown into the role of Captain of the Montreal Canadiens. The team made the mistake of not properly insulating him with veteran leadership in his first year and ultimately they paid the price for it with trading away P.K. Subban to acquire Shea Weber, the man-mountain who oozes character and leadership. Had Bergevin properly planned and had someone like a Manny Maholtra, Steve Ott, Mike Weaver in the room, I believe Subban would still be in the Bleu-Blanc-Rouge jersey today.

20) Bold prediction, the Canadiens will make a Stanley Cup final in the next three years.

21) Alexander Radulov is part of the solution and future of the Canadiens. He is still just 30 years old and has lots of hockey to be played. I expect him to have an even better season next year as he has now gone through a full season back in the NHL and will properly train his body and know what to expect come training camp. There is an 80% chance that he comes back to the Canadiens. If he does not resign in Montreal and he gets a digestible contract elsewhere, fans will be up in arms in losing their most skilled player for nothing.

21) I love Artturi Lehkonen. He is my new favorite player on the Canadiens. Lehkonen does everything well and thinks the game at an incredibly high level but is always with a smile. He should be a fixture in the top six for years to come.

22) Which rookie will break out in 2017-2018? I’m going with Sergachev or Charles Hudon. At the minimum Sergachev will be tested in a few regular season games in October to see if he is ready to make the jump and chances are he will. I would love to see Hudon finally be given a real opportunity with the Canadiens but he also has to prove himself and stand out in training camp. He has to be ready to go from the minute the puck drops this September. Everything we have seen so far indicates that he has the tools to become an effective NHL player. I’d like to see a little more desire and hunger from him to make it happen full time.

23) Bold prediction, the Canadiens will make a Stanley Cup final in the next three years.

24) I love hockey. I love watching it. I especially love watching my older son play ice hockey and the joy that the game brings him. I love watching my 16 month old son pick up the mini stick, shoot the puck (a couple of feet anyways) and put both arms up in the air and say “GOAL”. Hockey is a family affair in my household and I love that it is something that brings us all together and that we enjoy en famille. There are no grand illusions that my kids will play in the NHL. It is simply about having fun and being with friends and family. Nice.

Cheers to all and feel free to keep in touch on Twitter!

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