Montreal Canadiens 24-25 Season Preview

Montreal Canadiens
Atlantic Division

2023-24 Recap
Record (W-L-OTL): 30-36-16
Over/Under: 42-38-2
Home Favorite: 4-1
Home Dog: 10-25
Road Favorite: 1-0
Road Dog: 13-27
Win Score 4 or more: 17 of 30
Lose Give Up 4 or more: 27 of 52
Puck Line Wins: 13 of 30
Puck Line Losses: 25 of 52
Front End Back-to-Back: 6-7
Back End Back-to-Back: 1-12
Goals Scored Per Game: 2.83 (26th)
Goals Against Per Game: 3.43 (26th)

Additions: Patrik Laine
Subtractions: None

Despite one fewer win than the previous season, the 2023-24 Montreal Canadiens saw their point total increase by eight. The Habs played a league high 44 one goal games and went 10-16 in games going past 60 minutes. Their 20 regulation wins was the third fewest in the league, behind only San Jose and Chicago. This is still a team in re-build mode.

Offense
Montreal finished 26th in offense last season, 81 of their 236 goals came from their number one line of Nick Suzuki (33), Cole Caufield (28) and Juraj Slafkovsky (20). After a rookie campaign where he struggled offensively, scoring just 4 goals in 39 games, Slafkovsky showed signs of why the Canadiens selected him first overall in the 2020 NHL Draft breaking out with 20 goals and 50 points in year two. That was good enough for management who gave Slafkovsky an 8-year deal for just under $61 million that kicks in next season.

Kirby Dach who suffered a season ending knee injury in game 2 last season returns to center the second line flanked by Patrik Laine and Alex Newhook. Montreal is counting on a healthy Kirby Dach along with Laine who has six- 20 goals seasons and three seasons of 30 goals or more to provide them with the secondary scoring they so desperately need. The Canadiens are not only looking for Dach and Laine to score at even strength but also improve a power play that ranked 27th and gave up a league high 12 shorthanded goals.

Defense
Keeping the puck out of their net has been a problem for the Canadiens not just last season when their defense ranked 26th overall but for the past three seasons. The 903 goals given up over that time ranks 31st overall trailing only the 930 yielded by Columbus.

Mike Matheson anchors the defense. The 10-year veteran led the team assists (51), was third overall in points and tied his career high in goals with 11. The Habs will have five defensemen, twenty-three and younger on the roster this season. GM, Kent Hughes locked up part of the future signing Kaiden Guhle to 6-year contract at $5.5 million AAV. Boston College standout and 2020 1st round draft pick, Lane Hutson made his NHL debut playing in the final two games of the season. Fan favorite. Arber Xhekaj was extended for two more years. David Savard and Justin Barron round out the group.

Goaltending
With last season’s trade deadline deal of Jake Allen to New Jersey the Canadiens net became less crowded. Samuel Montembeault is the team’s number one goalie and Cayden Primeau is the backup. For a team that finished 26th in team defense, the fact that both goalies finished with a save percentage above .900 is impressive. Montembeault has shown the knack for “stealing” wins for the Canadiens that included a 37 save performance at Florida and stopping 27 of 28 at Colorado. Five times he had games with a save percentage of .947 and higher, earning the Canadiens 7 of 8 points with one no decision.

Primeau had a breakthrough season in 23-24. After starting only 18 games over his first four NHL seasons, he had 18 starts las and was responsible for Montreal’s only two shutouts. Now the Canadiens’ goaltending situation has clarity it should benefit both goalies and hopefully lead to better numbers and results for the upcoming season.

Player to Watch – Patrik Laine
It’s been a rough go for Patrik Laine both on and off ice throughout his NHL career. He was re-instated to the NHL this past summer after completing his time in the NHL/NHLPA’s, Players Assistance Program. His trade to Montreal gives the 2nd overall pick from the 2016 NHL Draft a fresh start and gives the Canadiens another scoring option that this offensively challenged team desperately needs. A 30-goal season from Laine would go a long way in allowing the Canadiens to play meaningful games down the stretch.

Outlook
The Habs have missed the playoffs the past three seasons. Never in franchise history have the Canadiens gone four straight seasons without a playoff appearance. The Laine addition makes them better but at -1400 at DraftKings Sportsbook to miss the playoffs, Montreal looks destined for the 13th time in the last 26 seasons to be watching the post season on tv. One play that’s worth a pizza money bet is Lane Hutson +1000 (DraftKings Sportsbook) to win the Calder Trophy (Rookie of the Year).

Regular Season Point Total: 76.5 (Over/Under -115)

To Make the Playoffs: +750
To Miss the Playoffs: -1400
To Win the Atlantic Division: +7500
To Win the Eastern Conference: +6000
To Win the Stanley Cup: +12000