Forwards
The Canadiens continue to be a club looking for more offense, but for each step forward they make to upgrade, they take a corresponding step backward. The big move was the addition of the gifted 22-year-old Drouin from the Lightning, who was immediately signed to a six-year, $33 Million contract, which was somewhat undermined by the departure of Alex Radulov to Dallas.
Drouin is being shifted to center by head coach Claude Julien out of necessity since there is not another viable choice for a top-line pivot. Team captain Max Pacioretty scored 35 goals last season and will need to maintain that level of production for the Habs to have any success.
Alex Galchenyuk was re-signed to a three-year bridge deal and will start the season on the wing, but could be moved to the middle if Drouin struggles. Veteran Tomas Plekanec and Phillip Danault make up a rather weak unit up the middle. Montreal does has depth on the wings with Brendan Gallagher, 20-goal scorer Paul Byron, Andrew Shaw and sophomore Artturi Lehkonen.
Defense
The Canadiens defense continued to be an area of transition after the blockbuster deal that sent PK Subban to Nashville for Shea Weber.
GM Marc Bergevin signed one of the summer blueline prizes in former Capital Karl Alzner and added David Schlemko, Joe Morrow, and Mark Streit. The Canadiens lost Andrei Markov to the KHL when he could not come to an agreement on a new contract, and Alexei Emelin to expansion. They traded Nathan Beaulieu to Buffalo for a draft pick and top prospect Mikhail Sergachev to Tampa Bay in the deal for Jonathan Drouin.
It is arguable whether the Habs are better after all their changes. Weber is still one of the best defensemen in the NHL and had a great debut season with 17 goals. The top four will include the defensively adept Alzner, veteran Jeff Petry, and Schlemko, with the returning Jordie Benn and Brandon Davidson.
Goalies
No goaltender has a bigger burden than Carey Price. After missing most of the 2015-16 season with knee problems, Price bounced back last season with 37 wins (the Habs had 47 total), a 2.23 GAA and .923 save percentage. The 30-year-old signed a new eight-year contract extension this summer and will be relied on to continue performing at an elite level to keep the Canadiens head above water.
Al Montoya provided Montreal with a solid backup, with a respectable 2.67 GAA and .912 save percentage in 19 games.
Questions
Looking ahead to trade deadline – if sellers who could be on the move. If buyers, what area might they need to improve? Center, center, center. That is what Bergevin will be looking for if the Habs are in contention close to the trade deadline. Owner Geoff Molson may have let the cat out of the bag earlier this month when he mentioned the name of John Tavares, but if that type of blockbuster move is unavailable. Montreal has over $8 Million in available cap space to add a high-priced rental.
The fading Plekanec, Torrey Mitchell and Ales Hemsky are unrestricted free agents after the season, but there likely will not be a big return for either of them.
What rookies could make the team? Defenseman Noah Juulsen might have had an outside chance to crack the lineup at some point this season, but a broken foot will keep him out for six weeks. 22-year-old Charles Hudon scored 27 goals in the AHL last season and could get an extended look.
Which player could take a step forward this season? Lehkonen scored 18 goals as a rookie and could get more than 20 based on which line he plays on. Drouin has the speed and skill to be a top line performer, but can he handle the pressure and expectation of being the Habs top line center?
Which players could regress? The answer is also Drouin if he can’t make the transition to the middle. Weber is 32 and showed no signs of decline last season, but with the major minutes logged in Nashville over those many years, how long will be before that becomes a reality.
Are there any training camp battles expected? Peter Holland was brought in to be the Canadiens fourth line center, but he has not been able to nail down a job in Anaheim, Toronto, and Arizona, which could give an opening to farm hand Jacob De La Rose (who scored 14 goals with St. Johns) or the diminutive Daniel Audette.
