Five Hot Takes for the Montreal Canadiens 2020-21 Season

Oct 26, 2019; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports /

With the NHL supposedly getting a start date, it’s time to start really looking at the upcoming season for the Montreal Canadiens, five things in particular.

Last week, it was announced that the NHL season will be coming after all in January. It will be a 56 game season and their has been some division realignments due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. The Montreal Canadiens will play in an all Canadian division along with the 6 other Canadian teams. Let’s take a look at some of my takes for the new season underway. Some of these takes might be a reach, but their called hot takes for a reason…

#5: Jonathan Drouin

Jonathan Drouin is about to enter his 4th season donning a Habs uniform. The first three seasons have been filled with injuries and inconsistency. Drouin’s trial at centre proved to be unsuccessful although he has shown flashes of brilliance on the wing. Most recently, he shined playing alongside Nick Suzuki and the two look to be a promising duo heading into the new season. I think some Habs fans still have a lot of hope in Drouin and management does as well. However, I do not think there is much time left to prove and he knows it. I think Suzuki and Drouin are going to put up some incredible numbers this year.

Hot take: Drouin stays healthy and would be on pace for 70 points in an 82 game season (47 points)

#4: Phillip Danault

Phillip Danault has been a core piece of the Habs forward group for a few years now. Most recently, he complained to the press about his role in the 2020 playoffs. Danault did not like paving way for young breakout centres; Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Nick Suzuki and argued that he may have to look at his options as he will be a free agent at the end of the season. Personally, I believe Danault is a great fit at third line centre.

Danualt has been given first line minutes for a couple years now and really has not put up crazy numbers albeit some solid years around the 50 point mark. I think the Habs will pay Danault nicely and hope he realizes where he stands in the line up as a second/third line centre. Danault may choose to leave the Habs but on any cup contending team he is a 3C.

Hot take: Danault accepts third line centre role and resigns in Montreal long-term

#3 Joel Edmundson

Personally, I am not the biggest fast of the Joel Edmundson signing. Whenever I think of big-slow defensemen, I am haunted by Marc Bergevin‘s signing of Karl Alzner. There is the chance that Edmundson fits in perfectly alongside Jeff Petry but I think he will show to be a liability in our top-4. I think $3.5 million was too much money for Edmundson and on top of that, we are going to be pressed to the cap for years to come now with emerging young players and big signings this summer. I like Edmundson’s size but I don’t think he’s a great skater. I would love him on my third pairing on a contending team but not my top-4 but not at that price tag.

Hot take: Joel Edmundson is big and slow and is the next Karl Alzner

#2: Habs vs Leafs

There is expected to be a Canadian division of all 7 Canadian teams and I think this is going to be very exciting. This means we get to see the Battle of Alberta more than ever and I think the Habs and Leafs are now two teams that can compare on paper. Although Toronto has its stars, Montreal is a much deeper team and that’s what happens when 4 guys get half the cap space. I believe the Canadiens will finish 3rd out of the 7 teams in this division. I think Edmonton and Toronto take the top 2 spots but that does not mean much. The Habs are much better built for the playoffs and can beat either of these teams in a 7 game series. How nice would a Habs Leafs round 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs be?

Hot Take: Habs finish 3rd in Canadian division and face the Leafs in round 1

#1: Nick Suzuki

Nick Suzuki showed a lot of promise in Year 1 and has set some high expectations for his sophomore campaign. As I said before, I think Suzuki and Drouin pick up where they left off last year. Suzuki has been praised by his head coach, Claude Julien, many times for his work at both ends of the ice. While I think Drouin will lead the team in points, I think Suzuki will be the best 200 foot player on the team and one of the best in the league too. This may be the hottest take of them all.

Hot take: Nick Suzuki earns a Selke nomination in Year 2

*Frank J. Selke Trophy is awarded to the forward who shows the most skill in the defensive part of the game. (Last years winner: Sean Couturier)

Next. Danault will be key moving forward. dark

Many people may consider this a long shot but I think this has a chance due to next season’s circumstances. The all Canadian division will feature some incredible players down the middle. Players like Matthews, McDavid, Tavares, Scheifele, Horvat, Pettersson, Monahan and Draisaitl. I think this division has the strongest group of centres of all and Suzuki will have plenty of exposure matching up against these guys every night.

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5 Hot Takes for the 2020-21 Season

By Samuel April | Dec 16, 2020