NHL Preview: Montreal Canadiens

Have the Habs done enough to improve in the offseason? Charlie Boccanegra reports.

The Montreal Canadiens have now made the postseason four consecutive seasons but have never been a legitimate Cup contender. Don’t expect anything to change this upcoming season because this team has not done much to improve itself in the offseason.

Montral will always be competitive and in contention for a playoff position. Coach Jacques Martin has done a good job devising a system that has gotten the most out of limited talent. His defensive schematics have worked to perfection shutting down poor teams but the Habs are still not quite good enough to compete with the league’s elite.

I don’t see any value betting the futures on the Canadiens this season as the oddsmakers have done a great job with what I would consider correct numbers. I don’t see Montreal having any chance of winning the Cup, and it’s extremely unlikely to win the division at 5/1 with Boston and Buffalo being superior teams

The only advantage betting on Canadiens games throughout the year would be on NHL betting UNDERS. Carey Price had a breakthrough season last year proving he is legitimate and can be a top 5 goalie in the NHL. Combine that with the good team defensive structure and it will be tough to score on this Habs team.

Besides electrifying young defenseman PK Subban the D is filled with predominantly stay at home defenseman who are responsible in their own end playing conservatively with Gorges, Gill, Campoli and journeymen Yanik Weber. The only way I would expect to see offensive contribution from the Habs back end would be if Markov comes back and remains healthy. That’s a big if.

Offensively this team will continue to struggle scoring goals, which further supports betting on UNDERS. Plekanec and Cammallerri are skilled forwards who will score goals but are not elite players that can take this team to the next level. Gionta, Gomez and newly signed Cole are all veterans who don’t have the same offensive ability they once did to be first line players.

Max Pacioretty has been pegged as one of those young players that could break through but it will be awfully difficult to happen this year following the brutal injury after the Chara hit last season. Andrei Kostitsyn has already voiced his displeasure from being constantly demoted from the top two lines to a checking role. Don’t expect him to give a full effort resulting in the team not being able to utilize his full potential.