Canadiens coaching camp preview: Pressure is on to fulfill excessive expectations

BROSSARD, Que. — With Arber Xhekaj signing on the eleventh hour, the band is formally again collectively, prepared to begin coaching camp, seemingly ready to cruise out of the rebuild and throttle down in the direction of Stanley Cup rivalry.

Though the Montreal Canadiens should still have just a few miles to cowl on that journey, normal supervisor Kent Hughes’ masterful wage cap manipulation — on show as soon as once more in inking Xhekaj for simply $1.5 million earlier than shopping for up 4 prime years of Alex Newhook’s profession for simply $22.2 million — has set them as much as arrive briefly order. He’s obtained the core locked in at a cut price, and with depth overflowing up entrance, on the again finish and in internet, he’s nonetheless obtained some wiggle room and loads of incentive so as to add.

So, buckle up, as a result of this trip is about to get rather more thrilling.

Of course, there are some groups poised to throw spokes within the wheels, particularly within the Atlantic Division, which shall be a brutal gauntlet to run this season.

The Florida Panthers are again after a quick sabbatical from dominating the league, they usually is perhaps even higher than they ever have been by means of back-to-back championship seasons from 2023-25. The Tampa Bay Lightning have saved their rivalry window open whereas the Buffalo Sabres have cracked theirs ajar. And the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators and Boston Bruins all have what it takes to show this division the other way up.

Last 12 months all of us discounted the Sabres’ means to interrupt the NHL’s longest playoff drought and now we’re doing the identical to the Detroit Red Wings for apparent causes (right here’s taking a look at you, Dylan Larkin). But maybe we shouldn’t overlook their coming-of-age roster has had a profitable report over every of the final three seasons and knocked on the door in two of them.

I’d think about the Canadiens aren’t overlooking them.

Still, the Red Wings clearly don’t pose the most important menace to this Canadiens season. The mirror does.

What if they appear in it and understand the bar’s been set too excessive to clear?

After all, the Canadiens are coming off a 106-point season and an look within the Eastern Conference Final. Their captain, Nick Suzuki, posted 101 factors and gained the Selke Trophy because the league’s high defensive ahead. His linemate, Cole Caufield, grew to become the primary participant within the group to high 50 objectives since Stephane Richer did it in 1990. And the strain for them and their teammates to comply with up that spectacular act is so palpable that when proprietor Geoff Molson was requested on the annual golf event Monday about his expectations for the season, he sidestepped the query like he was dodging a hip examine from Xhekaj.

“I don’t like using the word expectation, necessarily,” Molson began. “For me to make use of the phrase expectation for the group, I don’t suppose it’s the correct phrase.

“We’re proud of them, they did great last year, and I have no doubt that they’re going to come back and try to be even better this year.”

When Canadiens president of hockey operations Jeff Gorton got here out 10 minutes later and balked at defining what a profitable season would appear like for the group earlier than saying, “The guys want to be good, they know we have a good team, they know we’re moving in the right direction, and we try not to add any pressure to that,” it definitely spoke to his concern in regards to the effervescent hype out there.

The Canadiens have earned it, little doubt. They’ve put one foot in entrance of the opposite by means of every of the final 4 seasons of this rebuild.

But this step out of it’s a enormous leap, and we’re going to seek out out over the approaching months if the Canadiens are certainly able to take it with out tripping.

Salary cap house: $2,783,924 (in keeping with PuckPedia.com)
GM: Kent Hughes
Head coach: Martin St. Louis
Assistant coaches: Derek Lalonde, Stephane Robidas
Unsigned gamers: None
Key additions: Chris Kreider
Key subtractions: Patrik Laine, Brendan Gallagher, Joe Veleno

What we’ll be taught through the pre-season

1. Where Arber Xhekaj matches

Don’t be stunned if it’s up entrance as soon as everybody’s wholesome, with 5 defencemen in Lane Hutson, Mike Matheson, Noah Dobson, Kaiden Guhle and Alex Carrier forward within the pecking order and Xhekaj and Jayden Struble being pushed by ready-for-primetime gamers like Adam Engstrom and David Reinbacher.

Of course, Guhle’s potential short-term absence may obscure that risk for now. But if the Canadiens intend on giving Xhekaj some runway at ahead at one level or one other this season, testing it out in camp appears like a good suggestion.

Testing it out really feels essential, as a result of with the ability to use Xhekaj and his brother, Florian, on a line collectively as nuclear deterrents to the Tkachuks when Florida rolls round — or the Lightning, Sens, Bruins and Leafs, who’re all constructed brawnier than in current reminiscence — is one thing this group wants to have the ability to do.

2. How the goaltending shakes out

Hughes was unequivocal: He’s wonderful with beginning camp with three goalies however has no intention of holding three round to begin the season.

That’s excellent news for Jakub Dobes, who’s below just about no menace to lose the beginning place in a camp that’ll run lower than two weeks and have solely three pre-season video games (two of them with cut up squads).

What’s much less clear is what it means for Jacob Fowler, who’s nonetheless eligible to return to the American Hockey League with out having to clear waivers.

Not that he ought to be planning to.

Fowler’s a giant a part of the Canadiens future however may also be a giant a part of their current if given the chance. And given his efficiency during the last 12 months, it wouldn’t shock us if he jumped up and grabbed it.

Though once more, the 21-year-old’s obtained restricted runway over a brief camp to try this.

Does Samuel Montembeault have sufficient time to point out he’ll be extra just like the man who completed high 5 within the NHL in objectives saved above anticipated two years in the past slightly than the man who seemingly couldn’t save many of the photographs he was anticipated to final 12 months? Will one other group on the market see sufficient from him over a restricted pattern to commerce for the ultimate 12 months of his $3.15-million contract?

If not, may Montembeault be waived and parked within the AHL in favour of Fowler?

Hughes’ response on the difficulty ensures these questions shall be answered quickly.

3. Who’s left with out a chair?

Remember that overflow I discussed? The one at ahead makes you marvel if all of the regulars beginning camp shall be ending it with the Canadiens.

Hey, depth stimulates inner competitors, and that’s all effectively and good.

But depleting a little bit of it to unencumber extra cap house for a GM nonetheless in search of a premium piece up entrance isn’t solely higher but additionally seemingly essential.

If Hughes doesn’t make a transfer or two quickly, he definitely will earlier than he finally provides. And he may find yourself subtracting greater than only one participant, particularly with some younger ones presently pushing for spots and different younger ones set to reach later this season (right here’s taking a look at you, Michael Hage).

If no different top-six ahead is added earlier than camp breaks, Chris Kreider begins the season on a line with Suzuki and Caufield.

Why? Because Juraj Slafkovsky can drive a line with Ivan Demidov and both of Oliver Kapanen or Alex Newhook and Kreider proved in driving shotgun with Troy Terry and Leo Carlson with the Anaheim Ducks final season that he’s nonetheless obtained the ending means and all-around recreation to excel on this position.

It helps that coach Martin St. Louis already is aware of what he has with Suzuki, Caufield and Slafkovsky. Whenever he needs to reunite them, he’ll be assured it’ll move.

But beginning Kreider with Suzuki and Caufield, and Slafkovsky with Demidov and whomever, may supply the Canadiens higher steadiness up entrance. Think of the trickle-down impact for the opposite two strains, as effectively, as a result of they’re loaded with the expertise, expertise and flexibility to feast on weaker matchups.

Forwards
Cole Caufield — Nick Suzuki — Chris Kreider
Juraj Slafkovsky — Oliver Kapanen — Ivan Demidov
Zachary Bolduc — Jake Evans — Alex Newhook
Alexandre Texier — Phillip Danault — Josh Anderson
Kirby Dach, Florian Xhekaj

Defence
Lane Hutson — Noah Dobson
Mike Matheson — Alex Carrier
Jayden Struble — Arber Xhekaj

*Kaiden Guhle (assuming he doesn’t begin the season on time, one in all Adam Engstrom or David Reinbacher can be on this slot)

Goaltenders
Jakub Dobes
Jacob Fowler