The Montreal Canadiens are coming off one of their best seasons in recent memory, as they had 106 points and were one series away from the Stanley Cup Final. They are going to be looking to build on that season and be even better.
When looking ahead to the upcoming season, these are three player predictions that, if they come true, should help them achieve that goal.
Chris Kreider has over 40 goals in first season with Canadiens
Chris Kreider was a late addition to the team after he was waived by the Anaheim Ducks; however, that doesn't mean he won't have a huge impact this season. In fact, even though he is towards the end of his career, joining Montreal could set him up to have one of the best seasons of his career as of late.
One of the reasons that Kreider will be a great fit is the opportunity he has to play on the top line with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. The veteran forward excels in front of the net and is one of the best at deflecting shots and cleaning up rebounds.
In 2021-22, Kreider had 52 goals, but since that season has not broken 40 goals in a single season. That changes this season and he finishes with over 40 goals and even pushes Caufield for the team lead in the category.
Nick Suzuki finishes the season with over 110 points
Chris Kreider should benefit from playing on the top line, but Nick Suzuki will also benefit from having a veteran like Kreider on that line. Last season, Suzuki had his first 100-point season of his career and this season he should be able to do it again but even surpass that total.
Suzuki is the playmaker for this line and does a great job getting the puck in the right spots on the ice, which is why he had 72 assists last season. However, the addition of Kreider gives Suzuki more options as he still has Caufield with an incredible shot, but if it's stopped, then Kreider will be there to clean up the rebound in front of the net.
It wouldn't at all be surprising to see Suzuki finish the season with over 80 assists and be in the Top 3 in the category.
Lane Hutson finishes as a Norris Trophy finalist
Lane Hutson has quickly established himself as one of the top defensemen in the NHL, and this season, he will take another step toward getting the hardware to prove it. While he might not win the Norris Trophy, he should be one of the three finalists this season.
Hutson made almost an immediate impact after winning the Calder Trophy in 2024-25 and improved last season with 12 more points to finish with 78 and an impressive +/- of +36.
Even after the season Hutson had, it still feels like he hasn't reached his ceiling and there is another level that he can hit. The Canadiens should see that this year and he probably finishes the season as a point-per-game player and maybe even finish leading the league in points for defenseman.
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