I continue my POSITIVE Previews where I explain why each of the 32 teams can win the Stanley Cup.
If there is one team you NEVER want to bet against it is the Montreal Canadiens. There is no more passionate fanbase and no hockey city where miracles seem to happen more often than in Montreal. The Canadiens pulled one of those rabbits out of the hat last year and in the first year I picked them out of the playoffs in years they went to the Stanley Cup Finals. It was the kind of run that best exemplifies how one play can change everything. That moment came in game 5 in overtime against Toronto.
Had Montreal lost that overtime game, they lose that series in 5 and we are probably talking about a new GM, a new coach... But that's not what happened.
Instead, we all know what happened, and the result was a ton of experience gained by these young players...Experience can equal confidence and confidence equals wins and wins equal....A Stanley
This team lost two key players in Weber and Kotkiniemi, and Price is injured to start the season...All this feels troublesome, but Price will be back, he will be rested, and Allen is more than capable. Weber had a great playoff and is an outstanding leader, but it feels like time to get more ice time into other hands..mainly Romanov...Kotkiniemi was NEVER respected by this GM or Coach, and Dvorak will get serious ice time and is better defensively...
* Caufield and Suzuki ARE for Real.
They may be young, but they are budding superstars still not getting paid like stars. Having your top two guys on crazy cheap contracts is an enormous plus and gives your GM all sorts of options.
* The rest of the top 9 makes this easily the best top 9 in Montreal in maybe twenty years.
The Top 9 as I see them are...
Suzuki, Caufield, Toffoli, Dvorak, Gallagher, Huffman, Evans and Drouin...Three lines that are fast and can all score.
*Drouin reunited with Coach Ducharme Has Nothing But Potential.
Montreal gave up a A LOT to get this guy. Jonathan Drouin is a great talent, but in the NHL he has struggled mightily. If there is one coach out there who knows how to get the most out of Drouin it would be his former Moosehead coach, Dominque Ducharme. Twice in Halifax Drouin put up 100+ point seasons. Drouin is the epitome of a player who plays better with skilled players and that is what I expect Ducharme to do. It is a HUGE credit to Drouin that he was just awarded the Jean Beliveau trophy for community service.
* Six fast, puck-moving D.
This defense is far from star-studded or spectacular. But this six does remind me a ton of the original six defenders that Vegas put out there. The reality of that six was they were quick enough to play a fast game and keeping your team on the attack is one good way to up your defensive numbers.
In conclusion...
Top to bottom the are the fastest PLAYING team in this division. Even faster than Tampa. That style is the style that wins in the NHL right now and will be able to topple BIGGER slower teams eight times out of ten.
Also...simply THE best Pre-game/ skating onto the ice stuff ever....just TRY not to get chills.
And THAT is why the Canadiens WILL Win the 2022 Stanley Cup
I'm sure you all agree.......right??
Be sure to register your team for another season of the HockeyBuzz Super League Fantasy Game!
It's the best fantasy game every created! The HBSL is a hybrid between a salary cap game and a head-to-head fantasy game. Each week you create your 20 man roster based on the actual NHL salary cap and the actual salary cap hits. You then face-off with a fellow hockey fan. At the end of the regular season, we throw the best 128 teams into a 7-week playoff.
There is a Season Ticket Holder bracket and a Free bracket.
HBSL Season Ticket Bracket
Entrants who were season ticket holders at the start of the NHL season are eligible for the following prizes:
Grand Prize: 4K ultra HDTV
Runner-up: Replica Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals Losers: Customized NHL Jersey
Quarter-Finals Losers: $50 Amazon.com Gift Card
HBSL Free Bracket
Entrants that were NOT season ticket holders at the start of the NHL season are eligible for the following prizes:
Grand Prize: Customized NHL Jersey
Runner-up: $50 Amazon.com Gift Card
Semi-Finals & Quarter-Finals Losers: $25 Amazon.com Gift Card
Last season's winners were announced here Last season's winners and most responded and received their prizes. A few have yet to reach out to [email protected] to claim theirs.
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