Jack Todd: The Canadiens gamers who caught our eye within the preseason

Article content material

And right here we’re, people, with yet one more annual version of Dr. Prognosticator’s Prognostic Parade as we peer into our crystal ball to forecast the approaching NHL season, together with this shocker:

The Maple Leafs will not win the Stanley Cup.

Article content material

As of late, everyone seems to be making predictions — however we skipped the Athletic’s Eight Daring Maple Leafs Predictions for 2023-24 From Auston Matthews’ Dominance to Trades. We presume it begins: “Auston Matthews will choke within the playoffs.”

Article content material

Now the intense bit.

Connor McDavid (duh) will win the Hart Trophy. And the Richard Trophy. And presumably the Vézina and the Jack Adams.

The Maple Leafs will rack up so many factors, Gary Bettman will simply surrender and hand them the Stanley Cup. Then ask for it again after they’re eradicated (shock, shock!) within the first spherical.

Cale Makar will win the Norris.

Logan Cooley will give Connor Bedard a surprisingly robust combat for the Calder Trophy, whereas Hab followers scream, “They shoulda drafted the little man! And the opposite little man!”

Juraj Slafkovsky will tune out the noise and construct, recreation after recreation and season after season, till he’s a dominating power within the NHL.

And at last, Andrei Vasilevskiy will return from damage, rested and centered, and lead the Tampa Bay Lightning again to the Stanley Cup finals, the place they’ll lose to …

The Colorado Avalanche.

In the meantime, again on the ranch: The Canadiens ended the exhibition season in type, storming again with three late targets to down the Senators B staff 6-4.

With the win, the Habs wrapped up a comparatively transient preseason at 3-3, which suggests they gained three extra video games than final yr, when the preseason mark stood at a gut-punch 0-6-2.

Article content material

Article content material

These are the gamers who caught our eye, a method or one other:

Sean Monahan: Monahan is so good, it’s truthful to say that one of many keys to the Canadiens’ season is his well being. When you’ve got a direct connection to Itzamna, the Mayan god of medication, ship up a prayer to maintain this man on the ice.

Mattias Norlinder: Norlinder was despatched right down to Laval on Monday, but when it had been as much as us, the 23-year-old Swede can be in Montreal’s beginning lineup and would get vital time with the person benefit.

Norlinder’s nifty work previous to his power-play aim towards Ottawa absolutely caught the attention of Martin St. Louis. What impressed us extra, nevertheless, was Norlinder’s reward for the crisp, tape-to-tape go. We haven’t seen passes that sharp since No. 79 was patrolling the blue line.

Samuel Montembeault: Face it, Montembeault didn’t have an awesome preseason. He must be sharper. Given his efficiency final season and on the IIHF World Championships, you need to suppose he shall be. If not — uh-oh.

Juraj Slafkovsky: Sure, he was a bit gradual getting untracked throughout his first interval again after a nine-month layoff, however Slafkovsky improved visibly from shift to shift. He’s a distinct participant now — extra assured, extra aggressive, extra keen to have interaction with that large physique. His aim from the sting of the crease towards Ottawa Saturday was precisely what the Canadiens want from their No. 1 choose.

Article content material

Nick Caufield and Cole Suzuki: The highest offensive duo are so joined on the hip, they’re like one entity, on and off the ice. As they go, so goes the CH.

Kirby Dach: Might need the very best ceiling of anybody at present carrying the CH. You discover Dach each shift when he’s on the market. Paired with Slafkovsky, they create an enormous line with actual talent.

Alex Newhook: Within the first interval towards Ottawa, Newhook turned on the jets and easily blew previous everybody down the fitting wing. It was like watching an even bigger Paul Byron in full flight.

Carrying on that TO custom: By Toronto requirements, the one factor faster than the Blue Jays’ exit from the postseason was Kyle Dubas final spring, speed-dialing Leafs brass to demand a contract extension after successful a single playoff sequence.

We predicted the Jays can be gone in much less time than it takes Bo Bichette to repair his hair. It was virtually true. However the issue wasn’t Bichette, who confirmed up. It wasn’t Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who didn’t, though he’s (with apologies to Michael Farber) the self of his father’s shadow in each method. Nor even John Schneider, the bumbling supervisor who would discover a method to lose with the 1927 Yankees.

No, the issue in Toronto is the place it at all times is — at company HQ. So long as the lads in fits who run the Leafs enable the likes of Cleveland Clowns Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins to run a supervisor like Alex Anthopoulos out of city, it gained’t change.

Heroes: Sean Monahan, Mattias Norlinder, Kirby Dach, Juraj Slafkovsky, Simone Biles, Iga Swiatek, Megan Rapinoe, Kelvin Kiptum, Brock Purdy &&&& final however not least, the nice Dick Butkus.

Zeros: The Blue Jays, Mark Shapiro, Ross Atkins, Joel Armia, Jerry Jones, Pat McAfee, “Coach Prime,” Mike Babcock, Claude Brochu, David Samson &&&& final however not least, Jeffrey Loria.

Now and ceaselessly.

[email protected]

twitter.com/jacktodd46

Article content material

Article content material