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Predictions
EAST
1. WAS
2. BOS
3. PHI
4. PIT
5. CAR
6. MTL
7. NJD
8. TBL
9. TOR
10. BUF
11. NYR
12. FLA
13. ATL
14. OTT
15. NYI
WEST
1. CHI
2. VAN
3. ANA
4. DET
5. SJS
6. CGY
7. CBJ
8. LAK
9. MNW
10. STL
11. DAL
12. EDM
13. NSH
14. PHX
15. COL
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Back to Preview Main
EASTERN CONFERENCE
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41-30-11
93 PTS
Playoff Result: Lost in 1st round (BOS)
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TOP SCORER: Alex Kovalev, 65
TOP GOAL SCORER: A. Kovalev, 26
TOP ASSISTS: A. Markov, 52
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PP RANK: 13
PK RANK: 11
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Ceiling: $56.8M
Canadiens: $55.69M
Floor: $40.8M
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OPEN 1/2
WAY
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Scott Gomez. $8M worth of “please save
the franchise.” He didn’t earn his hefty paycheck in New York. Good
luck earning it in Montreal.
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Carey Price
Given all the pressure that comes with
being dubbed the next Ken Dryden, Price has shown some chinks in his
armor. But the talented 22 year old should continue to grow and
mature into his role as netminder of the hallowed franchise and lead
them back towards the Stanley Cup. |
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6. Montreal Canadiens
Alex Kovalev, Saku Koivu, Alex Tanguay, Chris
Higgins and Robert Lang have departed, and that’s just half the bunch who
have.
New arrivals Scott Gomez, Michael Cammalleri and
Brian Gionta are signed through 2013-14, and constitute a tremendous
makeover. They’re small, but tenacious and in a day and age when everyone
and his brother is talking about “getting bigger,” the Habs voted for the
opposite.
It’s the end of the Bob Gainey era if the club
falters, and they won’t be obsessing about the height chart if the club can
win at least one playoff round.
Gomez (5’11”) and Gionta (5’7”) played together in
New Jersey. Cammalleri (5’9”) scored 39 goals last season for the Flames,
but before ascribing his success to former linemate Jarome Iginla, it’s only
fair to mention that Cammalleri netted 34 for the brutal 2006-07 Kings.
Travis Moen comes over from San Jose to bring some
grit and will be a key shutdown forward.
Tomas Plekanec, 27, scored 20 goals for the third
time, and his 202 shots were a personal best. 24-year-old Andrei Kostitsyn
was good for 23. Andrei’s brother Sergei, 22, looks to rebound from an
injury-plagued season. These three are the keys to whether the Habs can
scrape together a second line.
Changes are also afoot on defense, where Mike
Komisarek left for Toronto, Mathieu Schneider for Vancouver, and Patrice
Brisebois retired. 6’7” Hal Gill comes aboard after raising the Stanley Cup
with Pittsburgh last June. He’ll help maintain the team’s physical presence
lost with Komisarek’s departure. Paul Mara will also add a steady presence
and Josh Gorges is coming along.
Where the defense improves is with the addition of
offensive-minded D-man Jaroslav Spacek, who jumped ship from Buffalo, where
he scored eight goals and 45 points last season. Spacek and club leader
Andrei Markov (12 goals) should help the offensive production from the
blueline. Defensive prospects Mathieu Carle, 22, and Yannick Weber, 21, have
survived the early training camp cuts and should get a shot with the big
club.
In goal, Carey Price (2.83GAA; .905SV%) won 23 games
last season. His off-ice work ethic was questioned after some photos
surfaced showing Price out on the town. He acquired a “party-guy”
reputation, deserved or not, and will work this season to shed the image. In
Montreal, the scrutiny couldn’t be worse for a guy who’s basically expected
to somehow be the next Ken Dryden. Jaro Halak returns and will battle Curtis
Sanford, who arrives from Vancouver, for the backup position.
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