Thanks to everyone who participated in the Habs Summer Poll! The results were really interesting and a great way to get a pulse on on how Habs fans are feeling about this coming season. And so without further ado, here are the results as well as my own votes:
1) Which Canadiens Rookie/Prospect will make the team out of training camp? My Answer - C: Charles Hudon Vote Results: A) Sven Andrighetto 17.85% (452 votes) B) Daniel Carr 17.58% (445 votes) C) Charles Hudon 23.89% (605 votes) D) Michael McCarron 13.03% (330 votes) E) Nikita Scherbak 25.39% (643 votes) F) Other 2.25% (57 votes) My feeling is that the versatility of Hudon being able to play Center and Left Wing will be an extra advantage for him over the likes of Scherbak and Carr. The Canadiens never called Hudon up from the AHL last season, even though he was the player that was producing the most. Rather, they wanted him to have a full season in the pro’s to properly develop. While everyone is rightly excited by Scherbak as he is certainly the Habs most offensively skilled prospect, I think that management will decide to start him in the AHL to enable him to have that period of adjustment without the pressure of being with the big club. I was a little surprised that Andrighetto got as much as love as he did, just edging out Daniel Carr for 3rd place. Andrighetto almost seems like the forgotten player in these discussions but clearly he made a positive impression in his short time up with the Canadiens last season. I still think that McCarron will end the season playing the Canadiens, he has playoffs performer written all over him. In the “Other… field, None was a popular answer. With the signing of Alexander Semin this is an entirely possible scenario. However, I believe someone is going to force Bergevin’s hand during training camp and make a case so strong to stay with the Canadiens that it will be impossible to send him down.
2) Will the Canadiens name a captain this season? My answer - B: No Vote Results:
A) Yes 59.4% (1,359 votes) B) No 40.6% (929 votes) I am in the minority here and I don’t think the Canadiens will name a captain for the 2015-2016 season. The leadership core worked well this past season and everyone knows that the true leader of the team is Carey Price. I think they will go another season without a captain to let it play out a little longer between Max Pacioretty and P.K. Subban. However, close to 60% of those who voted think that there will be a new captain this season. Which leads us to...
3) If the Canadiens do name a Captain, who will it be? My answer - C: Max Pacioretty Vote Results:
A) Brendan Gallagher 10.21% (242 votes) B) Andrei Markov 1.94% (46 votes) C) Max Pacioretty 68.41% (1,622 votes) D) Tomas Plekanec 3.12% (74 votes) E) P.K. Subban 14.93% (354 votes) F) Other 1.39% (33 votes) Overwhelmingly, fans and myself believe that Pacioretty is the player that is the most likely to be named the next captain of the Montreal Canadiens. His growth and maturity over the years has been impressive to watch. While I am sure P.K. Subban would be a very good captain, I don’t need our best skater to have the ‘C’. Subban is already a target on and off the ice. He doesn’t need the extra baggage and responsibility that comes with being a captain.
4) Will Alex Galchenyuk start the season playing Center? My answer - B: No Vote Results:
A) Yes 46.42% (1,070 votes) B) No 52.8% (1,217 votes) C) Other 0.78% (18 votes) As much as I would love Galchenyuk to be ready to play Center from the get go, unless there is an injury to Desharnais, Plekanec or Eller, I just don’t see this happening. Galchenyuk has to show that he is ready to commit to play a 200 foot game before he makes the switch. What I would like to see though is for Galchenyuk to play Center on the first power play unit.
5) Will Galchenyuk finish the season playing Center? My answer - A: Yes Vote results:
A) Yes 74.72% (1,688 votes) B) No 24.83% (561 votes) C) Other 0.44% (10 votes) Like most of you, I believe (and hope) that by the end of the season Galchenyuk will be playing Center for the Montreal Canadiens. I think everyone feels that Galchenyuk playing Center gives the Canadiens their best chance at succeeding and winning.
6) How many Canadiens will score 20+ goals this season? My answer - E: 5 Vote results:
A) 1 - 2.99% (68 votes) B) 2 - 6.21% (141 votes) C) 3 - 20.92% (475 votes) D) 4 - 40.82% (927 votes) E) 5 - 27.43% (623 votes) F) Other 1.63% (37 votes) The majority of people feel that there will be the exact same amount of 20+ goal scorers as the season before. I agree that Pacioretty, Plekanec, Gallagher and Galchenyuk will all score at least 20 goals this season as long as they are healthy. However I believe a 5th player will join that group, be it Lars Eller, Zack Kassian or Alexander Semin. The Canadiens offense has to be better than last season and that should translate into more goals...
7) How many Canadiens players will record 60+ points this season? My answer - C: 3 Vote results:
A) 1 - 8.13% (181 votes) B) 2 - 27% (601 votes) C) 3 - 40.75% (907 votes) D) 4 - 18.6% (414 votes) E) 5 - 4.9% (109 votes) F) Other - 0.62% (14 votes) I’m with the majority on this one. I think Pacioretty and Subban will surely reach at least 60 points once again this upcoming season and I expect a 3rd player to join them, be it Plekanec again or another player. I expect Pacioretty to break 70 points this coming season.
8) Will Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin trade for a top 6 forward this season? My answer - B: No Poll Results:
A) Yes 54.93% (1,219 votes) B) No 44.61% (990 votes) C) Other 0.45% (10 votes) This is a tough one as Bergevin has made major moves at the couple of trade deadlines that have improved the club. I think (and hope) that the play of prospects will have had a positive impact on the top Habs top 6. Looking at next year’s crop of free agents, many of them will be playing on playoff teams or fighting for a playoff spot. Eric Stall at this point is the player the most likely to get traded but I would be hesitant to mortgage the farm for him…
9) Which current Canadiens player is the most likely to be traded this season? My answer - D: Tom Gilbert Poll Results:
A) David Desharnais 10.16% (229 votes) B) Alexei Emelin 38.53% (868 votes) C) Lars Eller 10.96% (247 votes) D) Tom Gilbert 17.89% (403 votes) E) Tomas Plekanec 9.72% (219 votes) F) Jarred Tinordi 12.03% (271 votes) G) Other: 0.71% (16 votes) Alexei Emelin has a No Movement Clause this season in his contract so the chances of him going anywhere are quite slim. While Tom Gilbert has been versatile in his ability to step in and play the left and right side of defence, I believe the youngsters will eventually push him out. As a depth defenceman who will be a UFA after the season is over, he could still be interesting to a few teams looking for a veteran. Tomas Plekanec will be an UFA after the season as well but I expect the Canadiens to re-sign him.
10) How far will the Canadiens go in the 2016 Playoffs? My Answer - C: Win first round but lose in the second Vote Results:
A) Playoffs? Forget it, they won't even make it 6.65% (146 votes) B) Canadiens will lose in the 1st round 13.25% (291 votes) C) Canadiens will win the first round but lose in the 2nd round 24.53% (539 votes) D) Canadiens will make it to the Eastern Conference Final but will lose in the 3rd round 24.62% (541 votes) E) Canadiens will win the Eastern Conference Final but lose in the Stanley Cup Final 11.93% (262 votes) F) Canadiens will win their 25th Stanley Cup! 18.89% (415 votes) G) Other 0.13% (3 votes)
So hard yet so much fun to predict. I think the Canadiens will have home ice advantage the first round but I wouldn't be surprised if we see a rematch of the 2nd round with the Lightning coming out on top again. Tampa Bay is still a better team than the Canadiens as long as they keep getting strong goaltending from Ben Bishop. Carey Price is the Habs wild card and obviously anything can happen with him in net... I think we'll see the Canadiens make a bigger jump in the 2016-2017 season once some of the young players have a little more experience under their belts... 11) How many goals will Alex Semin score as a Canadiens during the 2015-2016 season?
My Answer - C) Vote Results:
A) Less than 10 7.4% (163 votes) B) Between 10-15 11.8% (260 votes) C) Between 16-20 26.55% (585 votes) D) Between 21-25 36.5% (804 votes) E) Between 26-30 11.17% (246 votes) F) 30+ Goals 6.08% (134 votes) G) Other 0.5% (11 votes) I expect Semin to score between 16-20 goals this season with the Canadiens. Anything over 20 will be a bonus and a tremendous success. I am sure there will be times when he and coach Therrien won't necessarily see eye to eye. However, I think that by scoring 16-20 goals Semin will have contributed to the Canadiens and hopefully it's powerplay as well.
Thanks to everyone for participating!
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