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Thanks for all of your input in the comment thread, emails, and on twitter. I am glad to hear so many opinions and always take them into account....
My standings prediction blogs will be next week, but for now lets get the Rumor Previews for individual teams...
Starting off with an oldie but goodie!
Montreal:
Expectations: How is the fanbase?
Code Red: Expectations are high and the fanbase is unwilling to accept anything less than improvement. This is the city of expectations. Even if the team won the Cup the fanbase would demand improvement. It is what makes Montreal so awesome and so intense.
Salary Cap Status: How much freedom exists to improve upon your structure?
Code Yellow: Team is within the cap for this year and has some space but has to remember to keep space open for major contracts that are on their way.
They have $2 million this year to play with, but no extension yet for Pleks. Next year they only have Gilbert's 2.8 coming off, so they are tight. To make a move they need to move money player for player...Bergevin does excel at those moves however and isn't afraid to make them.
Team Window: Which way is the team heading? Window Open: This is the team that has put together two solid seasons and won some playoff series along the way and their youth is still coming along.
Management Status: Are the GM and/or coach in trouble? Code Yellow: They are established but probably need to reach a certain benchmark to guarantee a return in 2016-17. Bergevin and Therrien appear pretty secure, but as I said, this is Montreal and despite the new contract just starting for Therrien he is the kind of coach who burns out quick and won't fade away. But as long as Price is Price and Price is healthy he would appear safe for next season.
Offense: Where does this team stand offensively? Code Red: This team feels it has the talent it needs but has been very disappointed to this point and is open to a major swap. The Habs need to find the net and figure out a way to get Galchenyuk to be all he can be for them And that means he needs to be the top line center. So far that appears to be the plan. And once that is the plan will the offense find itself? Semin has looked ok so far, but I won't jump to conclusions to call him the savior until he keeps it up into December and January.
Defense: Where does this team stand defensively? Code Yellow: This is team considered solid defensively, but may still missing a key component. One or maybe two additions to the d-corps. Heading towards code Green however. The addition of Petry for an entire season really helps.
Goalie: How solid between the pipes Code Yellow: This team has a bona fide starter but not a proven established backup in case of injury. OK. Carey Price is the BEST goalie in the word. Hands down. However I am, as you all know, very opposed to teams without a proven backup should catastrophe hit.
UFA Situation: How set up are they? Code Yellow: Most key players are signed for this season and next, but one or two could be issues. Pleks is not signed beyond this year and while there were some indications early that a deal would get done, that has become hazier. Dale Weise is also going to be a UFA and has continued to show improvement. Could be an issue.
Potential Buyers at the Deadline? Code Red: This team could be looking to add some help for the stretch, and has a history of doing so
Potential Sellers at the Deadline? Code Green: This team rarely if ever if a seller and this season will likely be in a playoff race.
RFA situation: Possible Issues Code Green: All key RFA's for next season will be easy to re-up Kassian, Smith-Pelly, Bournival, Tokarski....
Rumored Moves So Far: Lars Eller looks to be the player most likely to be moved to make room for Galcheynuk to be moved to Center. Beyond that it has been pretty quiet.
Into the Crystal Ball: Plekanec's uncertainty remains a pretty big issue and the longer it heads into the season it could get interesting. The likelihood of him getting moved is almost zero unless things were to fall apart for the Habs. And even if Carey Price were to fall to a major injuries the Canadiens still have enough talent and speed to stay in the race. Bergevin knows he can't expect Hart/Vezina years from Price however and if Galcheynuk, Kassian and Semin DON'T kick-start the offense it is not impossible to see him attempt to make a major swap of forwards to create something.
Team Score. Adding up the Categories I will attempt to give each team a score based on how active on the rumor mill I can see them being this year. How likely they are to make some noise on the transaction wire. Score and likelihood of deal: 90-100 = team highly unlikely to be involved in trade talks 80-100 = team not likely to be moving players, unless injuries play a factor 70-100 = this team will probably be involved in the average amount of trade talks this season 60-100 = this team will be involved in above average trade talks this season 50-100 = this team will be very likely to make some moves as the year goes along. Below 50 = fun, fun, fun for lovers of rumors.
Montreal Team Score :62 This team has some serious potential to have an interesting year in the Rumor Mill. That much is certain.
Next up: Toronto. (to be fair)
Join us for the Buzzcast today at 1pm ET... Today we will be discussing the Atlantic Division.