Another long off-season is blissfully fading to an unremarkable end. Yes, we've managed to go three hockey weeks without some sort of unspeakable tragedy (unless you're a diehard Canadiens fan who takes pre-season too seriously).
Real NHL hockey is so close you can taste it, smell it and hopefully not regurgitate from the taste and smell of it. Here's to the next three days being the shortest ones of the year!
We have more to celebrate: Sheriff Shanahan sent a clear message around the NHL with nine pre-season suspensions. And when I say clear, I mean there's very little to dispute about the transparency Shanahan and the league have instilled with their video summaries of each individual case. Whether he's gotten it right or not, fans should be pleased with what should be the systemic quasi-elimination of unnecessary violence acceptance. Got that?
Then again... Canadiens fans might abstain from celebrating Shanahan's decision to not suspend Ryan Malone
for this hit on Chris Campoli. Noted-- you can't win 'em all.
More things that won't be celebrated:
-Starting another season without Andrei Markov.
-An undefined timeline for Sidney Crosby's triumphant return to hockey.
-Stephen Stamkos' Gretzky mullet.
-A Stanley Cup Banner being raised at TD BankNorth Garden.
-Staged fights.
-Headshots and concussions, and the never-ending debate they inspire.
-Touch icing (hybridize it, or make it no-touch; any alternative is more suitable). So Stupid!
-Jacques Martin pressers.
-Roberto Luongo's hurt feelings.
-The countless referee blunders that are sure to inspire controversy this season.
Ahead of the puck dropping Thursday, we'll get into detail about what to expect from your Montreal Canadiens. Before we do, I have a few predictions on things that shouldn't surprise us this NHL season:
1) At one point, the Winnipeg Jets will be among the hottest teams in the league. They have to yield some sort of benefit from the re-invigoration of their market-- and what tremendous enthusiasm we saw from their fans during pre-season. What a difference that should make for the returnees--going from Deadlanta to True North.
Big problem-- Jets have a total of four home games out of their first 15 on the schedule. BRUTAL!
2) Breakouts for Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle. Both these players have really special abilities, and they'll be on full display in Edmonton this season.
3) Jaromir Jagr will return from his hiatus and score at least 50 points this season. That would require him to play at least 50 games. Flyers fans will somehow still be disappointed.
4) Mark Streit will be among the highest scoring defensemen in the league this season.
5) Jeff Carter's inclusion on the Columbus roster won't be enough to propel them to a playoff berth.
6) This will be the year of Ovechkin. He will set personal bests in most categories. And...his team will be competing for the Stanley Cup.
7) Shea Weber will be traded.
8) P.K. Subban will score 20 goals and reach 50 points. People will still hate him without just cause.
9) The Philadelphia Flyers will still be among the six best teams in the Eastern Conference. That said, their potential for a long playoff run is questionable at best.
10) The Leafs won't make the playoffs. It'll be close... but don't be surprised if they fall just short.
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»