Montreal Canadiens 2021-22 Predictions, Betting Odds and Season Preview
After last year’s Cinderella run to the cup final, the Montreal Canadiens get set to battle it out in the Atlantic Division once again.
Looking Back
The Montreal Canadiens started last year red hot, going 8-2-2 through the first month of the season, before most of their top names caught the injury bug. They finished the regular season with a 24-32 record on the moneyline, but managed to snag the last playoff spot thanks to the 11 points they managed to pick up from overtime losses.
Come playoff time, the Habs were back in full health to take on their rivals in Toronto as huge first-round underdogs. Montreal was down three games to one, before winning three in a row to complete the epic comeback. Next, they rode that momentum to a sweep of the Winnipeg Jets in the second-round. The Canadiens were once again outmatched in the semifinals, facing off against the heavily favoured Vegas Golden Knights. The magic continued and they took out Vegas in six games, sending Montreal to the Cup Final for the first time since 1993. The Habs would end up facing the Tampa Bay Lightning in the finals. That’s as far as Montreal’s Cinderella run would take them, however. The Canadiens went on to lose in the finals, only managing one win in the series.
Montreal Canadiens Trades / Acquisitions
It’s never a dull moment with Marc Bergevin in charge. The Habs GM’s moves have been making headlines all summer long, just like his past few off-seasons.
Bergevin let fan favourites Phillip Danault and Corey Perry walk in free agency, along with Tomas Tatar and Eric Staal. To offset those subtractions up front, Bergevin signed wingers Mike Hoffman and Mathieu Perreault, as well as centre Cedric Pacquette. He also signed recent Stanley Cup champion David Savard to shore up the blue line.
Hoffman, a perennial 25-goal scorer, should be able to provide some needed offence, while Savard is a steady stay-at-home D-man, fresh off a cup win with Tampa Bay.
The Canadiens biggest subtraction was captain Shea Weber. The defenceman is going to miss the entire season with a multiple career-threatening injuries.
Just as the dust was starting to settle in the off-season, the Carolina Hurricanes offered RFA Jesperi Kotkaniemi an offer sheet, which the Canadiens just could not match. As compensation, they received a first and third-round draft pick and waved goodbye to the 2018 third overall draft pick.
Bergevin flipped the first-rounder from Carolina to the Arizona Coyotes for centreman Christian Dvorak to fill the void left by Kotkaniemi.
Montreal Canadiens 2021-22 NHL Odds
Despite the Canadiens going all the way to the Stanley Cup Final last year, oddsmakers have them at +2900 to win the Atlantic Division and +1495 to win the Eastern Conference on the NHL futures board. The Canadiens have already proven you can never count them out of a playoff series, but repeating last season’s success will be much tougher in 2021-22, considering how good the Atlantic Division is shaping up.
A bet on the Habs to get into the postseason would more than double your money at +151. They’re back in the underdog role with the longest odds to make the postseason of all last year’s playoff teams.
Still technically a rookie, Cole Caufield comes in as a +220 favourite to take home the Calder Trophy on the NHL player props. Caufield had a strong showing in last year’s playoffs, recording four goals and eight assists in 20 games. You might also consider looking at Carey Price (+1400) for the Vezina Trophy. The 34-year-old won the award back in 2015 and last year’s playoff run you can never count Price out.
Montreal Canadiens 2021-22 Season Prediction
The Canadiens are more than comfortable in the underdog role, they proved that last season. Head coach Dominique Ducharme and Price will be huge factors for Montreal, who I see finishing fourth in the Atlantic. A bet on the Habs to make the playoffs seems like a good one. You might also consider taking Price as a dark horse Vezina pick to earn a big return.
