Montreal Canadiens Fantasy Guide: How Will Each Player Fare Next Season?

The Montreal Canadiens roster looks to be pretty much set for next season. Here is our fantasy guide for point production from every Habs player next season.

Right in the middle of the off-season with 63 days left until the 2019-20 season kicks off, things in Habs land are pretty quiet. With no significant moves made in a while and what looks like none to come, here is a fun exercise we can give a try: predicting the production the current Montreal Canadiens lineup will have next season.

Remember that injuries will inevitably happen throughout the season and this is a prediction strictly based on a full 82 games, so don’t read too much into the total goals which comes to: 275. If you subtract let’s say, 20 goals from the total due to guys getting injured or scratched, that would bring them down to 255.

The Canadiens  finished off last season with 246 total goals. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that they finish with 9 more next season. An improved power-play alone could give the Canadiens that added 9. Not to mention players like Drouin, Mete and Kotkaniemi improving or new faces like Poehling possibly making the team and making an impact.

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The first thing you’ll notice is that I have Max Domi taking a slight dip in comparison to last seasons numbers. My reasoning for this is simple, Domi was on another planet to start 2018-19, and while I believe he could do it again, I like to stay somewhat conservative in my projections. This was one of the toughest predictions for me to make though, because I feel as though he could just as easily set another career high due to his age and the possibility of playing with better linemates in the upcoming season.

Next thing you’ll probably take not of are Jonathan Drouin‘s numbers and the career high I predict him to set. It’s pretty clear why I believe this. Drouin was held scoreless in 22 of his last 24 games which is not likely to happen again. On top of that, I truly believe (hope) this is the season we finally see him break out into the player we thought they traded for. With the heightened media pressure in Montreal recently, we’ll get a chance to see what he is really about. Will he live up to the hype, or shrink under Les Bell Centre lights?

Jesperi Kotkaniemi is an interesting case because his totals will depend heavily on his role and linemates. My guess is that he earns an increased role at some point through the first 30 games. Either playing centre alongside Domi, or playing in between Tatar and Gallagher. Claude Julien teased the Tatar- Kotkaniemi- Gallagher line at various times last season so I’m thinking that is a line we likely see more often come 2019-20.

The most obvious factor in Kotkaniemi’s production possibly rising, is the fact that he recorded zero goals on the road this past season. That will not continue into the upcoming season. I consider it simply an odd rookie anomaly. So is it crazy to think he could put up another two goals on top of his previous eleven at home and eight on the road this time around? No, I would bet on it.

That brings me to Phillip Danault who I believe, like Domi, will take a slight dip from last season’s totals but for different reasons. I have Kotkaniemi taking some of Danault’s minutes, ultimately dropping his totals slightly. I expect him to have another multiple Selke nomination worthy season though. He’ll still be an extremely important piece for the Canadiens but will be eased into a more defensive shutdown role in my opinion.

Ryan Poehling builds on what was a fantastic first game. I know what you’re thinking- “Poehling isn’t going to score 3 goals every game!?” Just kidding, I know nobody is actually thinking this (I hope) but I honestly believe this kid is going to have a tremendous season. I am predicting 16 goals because let’s face it, the kid can score. He goes hard to the net and has a shot that is truly underrated. I would expect more points but I have a feeling he will face a similar issue that Jesperi Kotkaniemi was met with last year, linemates that couldn’t finish.

If Poehling earns minutes as the third line centre, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Lehkonen and Armia on his line and despite them being “Finnish”… yeah you know where I’m going with this… Anyway I expect big things from the big rookie. He is the epitome of everything it means to be a Montreal Canadien and was a absolute steal at 25th overall.

Can Artturi Lehkonen start putting the puck in the net at a respectable rate? I think so, especially if he sees more ice time next to Domi and I’m banking on that happening with this projection. Don’t forget that he scored 18 goals in only 13 minutes per game of ice time in his rookie season, playing with Plekanec. He generates so many scoring chances but seems to lack confidence. Hopefully this is the year that changes for the better, and I believe it will.

Now we’ve reached my boldest prediction yet. Victor Mete, 6 goals… what? Yup, you read that right. This is the season Mete finally takes off for the Montreal Canadiens. I can feel it. He has been very unlucky the past couple of seasons, missing wide open nets, whiffing on shots, you name it. I think this is the year that changes. Mete joins the rush like very few can and is often open for a back door play. It’s time his teammates start to realize when he’s open and it’s time for him to start capitalizing.

Lastly, Noah Juulsen and Christian Folin will likely rotate in and out of the lineup, both will likely man the 6th defensive slot on separate occasions unless Juulsen outright wins a full time spot in the starting lineup. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him on a short stint in Laval similar to Mete last season though. Juulsen has what it takes to be a top-6 defender and in the future he may even become a top-4. After an injury riddled season, it will be exciting to see where he is at in terms of his development.

Let’s take a look at the list:

Max Domi: 24 goals 44 assists 68 points

Jonathan Drouin: 21 goals 42 assists 63 points

Tomas Tatar: 24 goals 32 assists 56 points

Brendan Gallagher: 32 goals 22 assists 54 points

Jesperi Kotkaniemi: 21 goals 30 assists 51 points

Phillip Danault: 14 goals 34 assists 48 points

Paul Byron: 21 goals 21 assists 42 points

Ryan Poehling: 16 goals 24 assists 40 points

Artturi Lehkonen: 16 goals 22 assists 38 points

Joel Armia: 15 goals 16 assists 31 points

Jordan Weal: 10 goals 18 assists 28 points

Nick Cousins: 8 goals 19 assists 27 points

Jeff Petry: 12 goals 33 assists 45 points

Shea Weber: 19 goals 22 assists 41 points

Victor Mete: 6 goals 21 assists 27 points

Brett Kulak: 7 goals 18 assists 25 points

Ben Chiarot: 5 goals 19 assists 24 points

Noah Juulsen: 3 goals 10 assists 13 points*

Christian Folin: 1 goals 8 assists 9 points*

It looks to me that the Power-Play next season could make or break the Montreal Canadiens. They were around league average in that department through the last 25 or-so games, if they can build upon that, the Montreal Canadiens could be looking at the first playoff appearance in two years.

The pieces are in place, they just need everything to click. Additional improvements to the roster definitely wouldn’t hurt, that’s for sure. Let’s hope Bergevin isn’t done. If he is, then we need to make the playoffs and moves need to be made during the season if necessary. Missing three out of four seasons is unacceptable, even if I believe he has turned the team around in a major way.

I don’t believe that their “window” is closing anytime soon due to the very young but balanced roster and plethora of prospects on the horizon, but Bergevin owes it to Price and Weber to do everything in his power to ensure that the Montreal Canadiens make the playoffs.