Are the Habs better or worse?
Now that I think Gainey is done, I’m having a hard time trying to decide if the Canadiens are any better.
First I will start with the forwards, if you look at the names Cammalleri for Tanguay (adv Cammalleri), Gomez for Koivu (equal), Kostopoulos for Moen (equal), and Gionta for Kovalev (Advantage Kovalev). Along with who has left, Higgins, Lang, and Dandeneault. I think that this years forwards may not be able to score like last years unless kids like Stewart, Chipchura, Latendresse, S Kostitsyn, and D’Agostini can pick it up this year. So in my opinion our forwards are a downgrade this year.
For defence, Spacek for Schneider (advantage Spacek), Mara for Komisarek (advantage Komisarek), and Gill for Bouillon (adv Gill). Our defence is definately bigger, and I think will be alot harder to play against. There is some mobility problems for Gill, but I think adding him and Mara will help keep the crease clear, and that should help Price.
So to sum up, I feel we will be a better defensive hockey team which should help our 5 on 5, our PK should be better, and I think adding Spacek but loosing Kovalev may make our PP drop a little but no alot. My final prediction is we should be a little better than last year, but will be playing a more defense first game. This years season will all pend on the young guys like A Kostitsyn, Lapierre, Plekanec, and Latendresse.
This is a new look team, that will be playing differently, but I think we will be about the same as last year, Maybe year 102.