Puck Daddy's 2016-17 NHL Preview: Montreal Canadiens

Last Season: 38-38-6 (82 points), 6th in the Atlantic, 13th in the East

The Canadiens had a roller coaster ride of a season in 2015-16.

They started the year an NHL record 9-0-0 and quickly looked like big time contenders. Then the injury bug hit Carey Price and the team went down an unrecoverable spiral.

Price suffered a lower body injury in late October. Came back to play three games in late November, and then was out the remainder of the NHL regular season after that. The rest of their year was filled with drama.

First there were the struggles to find the right goaltending with Price out. Mike Condon, Dustin Tokarski and Ben Scrivens tried to keep Montreal afloat but ultimately were unable to do so.

The relationship between coach Michel Therrien and defenseman P.K. Subban was constantly under the microscope and the coach referred to a Subban late-game turnover against Colorado as “selfish.”

This led to constant speculation on Subban’s future with the Canadiens before he was eventually traded to the Nashville Predators during the offseason.

The team’s crowning achievement ended up being a Winter Classic victory over the Boston Bruins.

2015-16 Season, In One Picture

Did They Get Better, Worse, Or Are They About The Same?

Provided Price is healthy, they certainly should improve next season. The Canadiens had a lot of problems but the biggest reason why they underperformed was not having the NHL’s best goaltender.

The team tried to change its culture from the flash that surrounded Subban to a more workmanlike approach. That’s in part why they traded Subban for Weber. The move was ripped locally and the Habs gave up quite a bit of offensive flare with the mobile Subban, but Weber is still a 20-goal threat and should add a level of physicality to their defense.

Montreal signed Alexander Radulov to a one-year $5.75 million contract in hopes the Russian winger can add some offense. He hasn’t been a regular in the NHL since the 2007-08 season. The Canadiens added some insurance in net, signing longtime backup Al Montoya to a one-year contract.

Five Most Fascinating Players

Alexander Radulov. For several years, he has been known as the best player not in the NHL. He bolted the league for the KHL in 2008 with one year left on his Nashville contract and then flamed out in his return in 2012. The Canadiens are hoping that at 30 years old and now a father, Radulov has matured to a level that can make him effective over 82 games. So far Radulov has said all the right things, but he’ll need to prove that those words carry some weight.

Shea Weber. During his time in Nashville with the Predators, Weber almost always was paired with an elite blueliner. Early in his career it was Ryan Suter and then later Roman Josi. The Canadiens don’t have nearly as deep a defense corps and Weber will have to carry a lot of the load for the group. This could hurt his numbers overall.

Carey Price.When he’s healthy, Price is far and away the best goaltender in the NHL. He played just 12 games last season as he dealt with a knee injury and it’ll be interesting to see how he comes back. Price has looked fine in the World Cup of Hockey, but he has also had the luxury of playing behind the NHL’s top defensemen. How will he look during an 82-game grind and will the Canadiens lower is game total?

Max Pacioretty. Pacioretty still had 30 goals and notched 64 points. But the team captain has come under fire of late for how the Habs imploded. There was also a rumor that Therrien called Pacioretty the “worst captain” in team history this past summer. He will need a big year to silence some of his doubters.

Andrew Shaw. The gritty forward was a vital cog in the Chicago Blackhawks’ last two Stanley Cup runs. He was brought in to add some sandpaper to the Canadiens’ game. Shaw is a tough guy to play against, but he’s not exactly a big time scorer. His best season came in 2013-14 when he fired 20 goals. What should Canadiens fans expect from him?

Mascot Hijinks Video Break

Can We Trust Them At Even Strength?

Maybe. The Canadiens held a 50.98 score, venue and zone adjusted 5-on-5 CF% last season. But this was with Subban, who puts up better puck possession numbers than Weber. Last season Weber held a minus-3.35 score, venue and zone adjusted 5-on-5 CF% rel, though he did go up against a lot of Nashville’s tougher match ups.

Pacioretty held a 53.78 5-on-5 score, venue and zone adjusted CF% and forward Tomas Plekanec was at 52.64. Relative to the rest of the team they were also both in positive territory.

Can We Trust Them On Special Teams?

Maybe. Subban had 24 power play points last season but Weber had 26 – though he played in 10 more games than Subban. Weber scored 14 of his 20 goals last season on the man-advantage. His shot is a powerful weapon that can open up other lanes. Radulov should also provide an offensive boost for this team with on the power play. Both should bring a different element to the Habs that saw their PP convert at a woeful 16.2 percent.

The Canadiens ranked 12th in the NHL on the penalty kill at 81.9 percent, but this should improve with a healthy price. The prior season Montreal had an 83.7 percent penalty kill success rate.

Can We Trust Their Goaltending?

Before Price was injured he held a 2.06 goal-against average and .934 save percentage. He may need to play less this season, based on his health struggles last season.

The Canadiens brought in Al Montoya to back him up in case Price needs a night or two off. Montoya has carved a career as being one of the better backup netminders in the NHL, and last season posted a 2.18 goal-against average and .919 save percentage with the Florida Panthers.

Goaltending should once again be Montreal’s strong suit.

Player Mostly Likely To Be In Vegas Next Season

Paul Byron will have two years left on his contract following this season at a $1.667 million salary cap hit.

Coach Hot Seat Rating (1-10, 10 being scorching hot)

8. Therrien won the short-term battle with Subban with the defenseman getting traded, byt the long-term outlook may be different for the coach. But a slow start by the Habs and Therrien’s days could be numbered. His future has been a hot topic the last year and his cause hasn’t been helped by persistent rumors that he doesn’t believe in the team’s core.

Prediction

A healthy Price means the Canadiens will make the playoffs. Weber will score in between 15-20 goals and provide the steady, even-keeled leadership the Canadiens are looking for. Radulov will score near 30 goals and not provide any meltdowns or fodder for local tabloids. Overall it will be a nice bounce back year for the Habs.

2016-17 Season Preview
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Josh Cooper is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @joshuacooper