Habsfan98 Opinion: The Montreal Canadiens season 2016-2017
Montreal Canadiens Record:
W: Wins L: Loses OTL: Overtime Loses P: Points
W-L-OTL = 47-26-9 P = 103
Home Record: 24-12-5
Road Record: 23-14-4
Goals for: 226
Goals against: 200
2016-2017 Atlantic Division Champions
Eliminated in the first round by the New York Rangers in six games
Montreal Candiens Top Scores
Total Points: 67, Max Pacioretty (G = 35, A = 32)
Total Assist: 36, Alexander Radulov
Total Goals: 35, Max Pacioretty
Leading Rookie: 28, Artturi Lehkonen (G = 18, A = 10)
Leading Defensemen: 42, Shea Weber (G = 17, A = 25)
Habsfan98 Montreal Canadiens Three stars for the playoffs
GP: Games played G: Goals A: Assist P: Points
W: Win L: Lose OT: Overtime lose Svs: Saves GA: Goals against Sv%: Save Percentage
GAA: Goals Against Average
🌟 Carey Price GP: 6 W: 2 L: 4 Svs: 167 GA: 12 Sv%: .933 GAA: 1.86
🌟 🌟 Alexander Radulov GP: 6 G: 2 A: 5 P: 7
🌟 🌟 🌟 Atturi Lehkonen GP: 6 G: 2 A: 2 P: 4
Opinion on the playoffs
Well the end of the 2016-1017 season has come. The Montreal Canadiens had to match up with bitter original six rival, the New York Rangers. It was a hard-fought series, from the casual observer. But for me, it was a one-sided affair for the later parts of the series. Which ultimately rang true for a rather disappointing game 6 lose, that ended the habs season.
I retrospective. This six game series, showed the many flaws that the Canadiens had throughout the regular season. Poor puck possession, defensive mistakes, terrible defensive zone play, a lack of key scoring, and the most important weakness of all. The lack of a affective top four center, or center depth in general for the Canadiens.
The Canadeins best players were simply out played, and shut down by the Rangers stifling defensive style, and strong puck possession. Max Pacioretty, Alex Galchenyuk, Phillip Danault, and Andrew Shaw where scoreless through the six games of the series. Meanwhile Carey Price was forced to fight a losing battle against the Rangers strong attackers.
Though there were two bright spots for this short playoff. Alexander Radulov and Atturi Lehkonen were really the only two forwards that showed both speed and scoring talents for the habs.
The defense was a not it best against the Rangers for most of the series. The Rangers did a great job getting past and neutralizing the Canadiens puck moving defensemen; while shutting down Shea Weber and the Canadiens power play. Limiting the Canadiens leader in power play goals this season, to just one goal on the man advantage.
Overall that the season ended with just two games won in the post season. The expectation for this team after the Weber/Subban trade was a much better result than this; especially with a healthy and Vezina trophy nominee in Carey Price behind the net, playing good hockey for the habs.
Opinion on the regular season
A lot happened during the regular season.
So, let’s start from the beginning; with the Canadiens having another great start to the season. While the habs got off to a great start in October going 8-0-1 for the month, while carrying that through November with an 8-5-1.
Then the December came, and the wheels started to spin in the wrong direction for the habs. Carey Price was playing at average or in some cases below average in is games. Meanwhile Max Pacioretty was the saving grace of the season; waking up from major offensive slump and score nearly 80% of his goals during this period.
The team however was still close to losing a playoff spot in the Atlantic division to the Ottawa Senators. This prompted Marc Bergevin to make a bold move. Firing Micheal Therrien after a rather ugly lose to the rival Bruins, and hiring Claude Juilen to replace for the second time. (Which any believe was the work of Price, playing poorly on purpose. Which I think was the right idea).
Almost immediately Julien’s systems on both defense and the offense of the Canadien paid off, as Carey Price soon returned to his world class play and carried the Canadiens back to the top of the Atlantic division title.
The Canadiens had man other stories throughout the season. New comers to the team seemed to make an immediate impact for the Canadiens.
Alexander Radulov was a major gamble for the Canadiens, who in the past have made one-years deals like this, only to get burned. Luckily, the infamous curfew breaker, was not only a hard worker from the get go. He proved the doubters wrong with his offensive skills and his tough work ethic.
Artturi Lehkonen was a fabulous addition to the Canadiens. The Young rookie had a great first full campaign with the team. Finishing with 18 goals and 10 assists, for 28 points. And while other rookies where putting together record performances. Lehkonen very quietly established himself as a offensive threat.
Shea Weber was by far the most controversial player on the team this season. While some eye focused on Price, and his return to health. Weber was meant to bring stability and leadership, along with a big shut down defensive style. Weber was a big success in the regular season for the habs, with his hard shot and powerplay abilities.
Paul Byron established himself as a top like scorer. The diminutive forward scored a career high 22 goals and 21 assists. Alex Galchenyuk, Brendan Gallagher, and Tomas Plekanec all had down season. While Gallagher had signignat injuries for most of the season. Plekanec has a dreadful season playing 78 games for the habs. While Galchenyuk, still could not find constancy under Therrien or Julien.
Overall this season in my opinion was a roller coaster that had a disappointing pay off. We habs fans where told this season, we had a much better team. Better than the team that missed the post season, after a historic collapse. Yet, the ending was comparable to that same collapse.
The same problems that plagued the team from begin to end for the habs. A problem that fans, hockey analysts, and other coaches and GMs have seen, talked about, and exploited; especially the later.
The lack to depth at the center position, and the lack of real offensively gifted players for the Canadiens was the ultimate factor for the habs earlies playoff exit. A problem that was very clear throughout the season, and shown very clearly in the post season; has the major flaw for the Montreal Canadiens.
One thing I can’t help is the failure of Marc Bergevin. Although the season was to some a success. For me. I can’t help but feel that this was a bad look for the franchise. Bergevin, trade Subban, based on the idea that his character was the problem. Bringing in a player of Weber’s abilities and age, and saying that we are in a win know mode; then doing nothing to address the real issues of the team. Shows that he not capable of making the moves to make a cup winning team.
I just don’t like the idea of these band aid solutions to the team. When a big move is what the team needs to make the next step. The habs have not had years of being a basement dwelling team, of a team that has tanked for a franchise player like other teams. Bergevin is a product of a Blackhawks organization that had to lose for years, to get where they are.
In the end, I can’t have any confidence in Marc Bergevin as the GM for the Canadiens. It’s clear to me that he and his staff, have overestimated their team’s abilities, while relying too much on Carey Price to carry the teams glaring flaws on him back. Something I hope the owner ship takes to heart. Unless he makes a move to bring in so real offensive punch. I would much rather a new GM, than to see the same seasons mistakes for the 2017-2018 season.
Well that’s it. The season ended on a rather sour note. It felt like a roller coaster, and an adventure with new faces and great times. I just wish the it could have been a better ending than this. I’m happy that was got into the playoffs. But overall, I feel like this team was a bit of an overachieving team. Something the Rangers clearly showed the habs.
Anyways there’s still plenty more that’s going to happen in the off season. Are whole team will change in a flash. Remember. We have a new team joining the NHL next season, which means an expansion draft is looming on this team.
My follow habs fans. The season may be over. But the heartache, the headaches, and the protentional for anger induce vomiting is still possible. The Montreal Canadiens roller coaster. Never stops running.
GO! HABS! GO!
(I’d like to apologize for and one who cant stand terrible spelling and grammar, who read this whole shitty post by the way)