My boldest prediction for this year is PK Subban will win the Norris Trophy for the second time in his career.
There are many reasons to predict this.
Firstly, he is ridiculously talented.
He is getting more comfortable at carrying the puck and carrying the game.
He will be motivated to live up to his contract.
He is still coming into his physical prime.
His coach will use him more which puts him in the upper echelon discussion right away.
He plays for an excellent team which will help his plus minus to be superior to many other candidates.
His coach has promised to use him on the penalty kill which is pretty close to a must for a Norris winner.
And finally I can not think of a single reason that his play will drop off.
If there is one it is his partner Emelin, who I don't believe will remain as his partner. The reason is my next surprise prediction. This one almost as bold.
Beaulieu with Subban
By the all star break, Nathan Beaulieu will be playing on the top pairing with Subban.
This is a bold sentence because Michel Therrien is a conservative coach who does not like to hurry players into new roles.
I just believe the maturity of Beaulieu in concert with Emelin's difficulty make this a change that eventually has to be made for the obvious improvement of the team.
Galchenyuk to Centre Ice
The next big and out there prediction is that the Habs will finally make the big trade that sees Alex Galchenyuk find that spot at centre that is inevitably his.
Five does not fit into four and one has to go.
I believe Marc Bergevin is such a good GM that he is smart enough to know that eventually there is a moment that a player reaches maximum value and then drops off and that a trade must be made at that moment.
So even though personally I believe that David Desharnais is the player who should go because he has only a small amount of points more than Tomas Plekanec despite vast powerplay time and has always enjoyed the best line mates, it is Plekanec who will be traded to make way for Galchenyuk.
The Habs will seek a defenceman in return.
These are three very bold predictions and I am firmly hanging out on a limb making them but I like the logic behind them and I like the talent of the players Subban, Beaulieu and Galchenyuk who make the predictions possible.
Sekac, Parenteau
Now to some predictions you are expecting:
Sekac is an NHLer without a doubt and will come out to a strong 40 game start until the season becomes too NHL and not enough KHL.
Too much travelling. Too much keeping it at 100 percent in every city every two nights.
Next season he won't have a mid season lull as he becomes established in the tougher routine.
Can't make myself predict it outright but I suspect that PA Parenteau won't find his best game again.
Keep in mind that Parenteau had a terrible season last year not getting in Patrick Roy's good books, so we are looking for a strong bounce back season for a player in his 30s.
The flat out truth is this is actually rare.
Bounce backs happen for young players who fall off because of mental issues, like motivation, from one season to the next.
Let's learn this season why Parenteau fell off so badly last year.
The Habs are trusting this was a personal feud.
In the pre season I didn't see much from PAP but, and this is a very important but, he didn't need to impress in the pre season because he's a veteran.
My logic tells me that he won't be on the first line very long.
It is a very tough call though.
Price and Atlantic Title
Here are a couple easy predictions: Carey Price I feel is the best goalie in the world and I predict he wins a considerable amount of games and has one of the league's best save percentages and will be a finalist for the Vezina - an honour he was robbed of last year.
The Canadiens will be right there for the Atlantic Division title.
Tampa Bay, Boston, and Montreal will all three be right there and it will be simply who stays healthier.
All things being equal, I say the trade of Boychuck for picks weakens Boston, and Tampa I believe will miss Martin St Louis and had many players overachieve last season which will be more significant by comparison than a full season of a healthy Stamkos.
Combine all of that with a more mobile Habs defence with Gilbert and Beaulieu this season significantly better than Murray and Bouillon puts the Habs in first place and another berth in the East Conference final.
This year they win and advance to the Stanley Cup final for the first time since 1993.
They'll lose in that final to the west rep.
The West has 5 teams that are better than any one in the east and whoever survives that intense war rolls the east winner just like the Rangers were rolled over last season.
Enjoy the ride everyone. It's going to be full of exciting moments and great stories.
