Before getting to today's team, yes, I am aware that the lockout will happen if something doesn't surface by the end of tonight. However, this blog will continue with the preview, as I'm halfway through and have no intention of stopping over a labor disupte (read: I don't do it for the money).
2011-12 record: 31-35-16 (78 points)
missed the playoffs
Captain: Brian Gionta
It's hard to imagine having a team with such a storied history like the Canadiens could have the circus that it did last year in a year that saw them dead last in the conference. From the coaching debacles to the general manager follies to "being bi, but not lingual," the Canadiens had enough material for a soap opera. The offense was practically non-existent, with the top line of David Desharnais, Max Pacioretty, and Erik Cole being the primary options there. Mid-season acquisition Rene Bourque (acquired in one of those GM follies) did virtually nothing in Montreal. Part of the problem has been the lack of toughness, something the team tried to address with the pick-ups of Brandon Prust and Colby Armstrong. The blue line does indeed have talent, but it's time for PK Subban to finally become the player the Canadiens thought they were getting and for Andrei Markov to be healthy again. Tomas Kaberle showed instances of being the guy that was the number one option in Toronto, and given that he is a second pairing player on the Canadiens, expect some improvement in his numbers that fell off horribly in Boston and Carolina. Carey Price was far and away, the best player on the team, and he did well despite not having a lot of help in front of him.
Prediction: 13th in the East
Band: Alcest
Alcest fills the French speaking quota here, and given the province of Quebec and the zeal in which their people upholding the French-speaking quota, I should expect no complaint letters here.
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