NHL Preview 2024-25 71 SportsForecaster.com

Forwards

Josh Anderson [LW/RW]

  • Age: 30
  • Ht: 6-3
  • Wt: 226
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Mtl 78 9 11 20 -18 74 0.26
Career 644 151 107 258 -47 573 0.40
Forecast 73 15 10 25 - - 0.34

The 30-year-old's offensive game crashed and burned last campaign after he averaged 25 goals per 82 games with the Canadiens since '20-21. His scoring touch had always made up for the defensive holes in his game. However, trying to get a speedy, straight-line scorer to become a more well-rounded player may have killed his confidence.

Joel Armia [RW/LW]

  • Age: 31
  • Ht: 6-3
  • Wt: 216
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Mtl 66 17 8 25 4 34 0.38
Career 614 108 110 218 -8 206 0.36
Forecast 70 12 7 19 - - 0.27

The big forward from Finland survived an early-season demotion to the AHL and rebounded with a career-high 17 goals (in just 66 games) in 2023-24, despite not scoring any on the power play. The offensive surge helped him move up in the lineup, playing a lot on the second line after spending most of his career as a bottom-six forward.

Cole Caufield [LW]

  • Age: 23
  • Ht: 5-8
  • Wt: 175
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Mtl 82 28 37 65 -4 16 0.79
Career 315 134 116 250 -23 52 0.79
Forecast 80 31 39 70 - - 0.88

Although Caufield sees himself as a goal scorer, his offensive surge last campaign stemmed mostly from staying injury-free, making a big jump in assists and playing better off the puck. He has always been a shooter; what has changed is that now when he has a chance to make a play, he makes it. He is harder to defend as a dual threat.

Kirby Dach [C/RW]

  • Age: 23
  • Ht: 6-4
  • Wt: 221
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Mtl 2 0 2 2 2 0 1.00
Career 284 48 80 128 -53 170 0.45
Forecast 69 13 26 39 - - 0.57

The Canadiens had expected Dach to build on his 14-goal, 38-point season in 2022-23. Instead, he played two games before tearing ligaments in his right knee and missing the rest of the '23-24 season. If healthy, the third player taken in the '19 draft possesses an imposing frame that can win puck battles and the skill to score goals.

Jake Evans [C]

  • Age: 28
  • Ht: 6-0
  • Wt: 176
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Mtl 82 7 21 28 -1 24 0.34
Career 378 44 92 136 -22 129 0.36
Forecast 82 9 24 33 - - 0.40

After he was a seventh-round pick in the 2014 draft, Evans has put together an NHL career largely with determination and hard work. No Montreal forward averaged more penalty-killing time last season (3:11 SH TOI/GP). Despite getting minimal power-play time, he set career highs in both assists (21) and average ice time (16:01 TOI/GP).

Brendan Gallagher [RW]

  • Age: 32
  • Ht: 5-9
  • Wt: 183
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Mtl 77 16 15 31 -24 74 0.40
Career 862 240 234 474 23 565 0.55
Forecast 62 10 13 23 - - 0.37

The get-to-the-net style has taken a toll on Gallagher physically. Last season was his first since '18-19 with fewer than 10 games missed. He is still a pest in front of the net, though he gets there less often, and wins plenty of puck battles. Gallagher is learning how to save some wear and tear on his body–and adapt to today's NHL.

Patrik Laine [RW/LW]

  • Age: 26
  • Ht: 6-5
  • Wt: 210
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
CBJ 18 6 3 9 -10 6 0.50
Career 537 224 198 422 -75 201 0.79
Forecast 75 33 32 65 - - 0.87

There has never been any doubt about Laine's ability to put the puck in the net; he scored at a 35-goal pace with the Blue Jackets when healthy last campaign. Staying on the ice is a problem: injuries and mental health issues limited him to just 18 games in '23-24. A natural winger, Laine could greatly help Montreal, but he is risky.

Alex Newhook [LW/C]

  • Age: 23
  • Ht: 5-10
  • Wt: 190
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Mtl 55 15 19 34 -11 18 0.62
Career 313 63 75 138 -9 86 0.44
Forecast 78 18 22 40 - - 0.51

Averaging nearly three more minutes of ice time in his first campaign with the Canadiens than during his final stint in Colorado, Newhook set career highs in goals and points in '23-24–despite missing 27 games with an ankle injury. The native of Newfoundland is at his best when he plays with pace, which makes him difficult to defend.

Michael Pezzetta [LW]

  • Age: 26
  • Ht: 6-1
  • Wt: 219
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Mtl 61 3 9 12 4 59 0.20
Career 200 15 23 38 -9 241 0.19
Forecast 68 2 7 9 - - 0.13

Opponents must keep their heads on a swivel when Pezzetta is on the ice. He led Montreal with 242 hits in 2023-24, despite averaging 7:47 of ice time in 61 contests, and his 30.53 hits per 60 minutes led all NHLers who played in at least 20 games. Pezzetta did not score much but tied for 12th in the league with seven major penalties.

Joshua Roy [LW/RW]

  • Age: 21
  • Ht: 6-0
  • Wt: 192
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Mtl 23 4 5 9 -2 0 0.39
Career 38 6 5 11 -8 4 0.29
Forecast 74 11 16 27 - - 0.36

While Roy did not light up the scoreboard in his first pro campaign the way he did in junior hockey, he left little doubt that he can become a solid NHL player. At 21, he continues to round out his game by learning to finish checks and get involved on the forecheck with consistency. This should make his offensive game more impactful.

Juraj Slafkovsky [RW/LW]

  • Age: 20
  • Ht: 6-3
  • Wt: 225
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Mtl 82 20 30 50 -19 55 0.61
Career 228 51 76 127 -27 151 0.56
Forecast 81 26 34 60 - - 0.74

The No. 1 pick in the 2022 draft will try to build on a second NHL campaign that saw him stay healthy and contribute offensively (16 of his goals and 37 of his points came in the last 46 games). At 6'3'' and 230 pounds, he is a load for opposing D-men to handle on the forecheck. His shot is hard and his offensive instincts are great.

Nick Suzuki [C]

  • Age: 25
  • Ht: 5-11
  • Wt: 205
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Mtl 82 33 44 77 -14 36 0.94
Career 483 146 261 407 -45 143 0.84
Forecast 82 35 47 82 - - 1.00

Last season, Suzuki was Montreal's MVP at just 24 years old. He broke the 30-goal and 75-point marks for the first time. He was helped by getting more power-play time than any other Habs forward (3:38 PP TOI/GP) and by a career-high shooting percentage (17.8%). Suzuki is increasingly looking like a No. 1 pivot and a franchise player.

Defensemen

Goaltenders

Kaiden Guhle

  • Age: 22
  • Ht: 6-3
  • Wt: 202
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Mtl 70 6 16 22 -8 56 0.31
Career 174 17 43 60 -20 137 0.34
Forecast 74 7 18 25 - - 0.34

The 22-year-old Guhle is already an important defenseman who averaged 20:51 of ice time in '23-24. He was second on the Canadiens with 178 blocked shots. More impressive is that he is as good on the right side as he is on the left (his natural side). If Guhle receives greater power-play ice time, it might boost his offensive numbers.

Lane Hutson

  • Age: 20
  • Ht: 5-9
  • Wt: 162
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Mtl 2 0 2 2 -2 0 1.00
Career 112 11 79 90 -6 34 0.80
Forecast 79 6 28 34 - - 0.43

What the 20-year-old lacks in size (5'9'', 158 pounds), he more than makes up for it in talent. His superb vision enables him to make plays under pressure and skate his way out of trouble. Hutson can look like a fourth forward because of his creativity, but he has the ability to break up plays without getting too involved physically.

Logan Mailloux

  • Age: 21
  • Ht: 6-3
  • Wt: 212
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Mtl 1 0 1 1 1 0 1.00
Career 25 2 4 6 -19 14 0.24
Forecast 39 2 12 14 - - 0.36

The 21-year-old's first pro campaign got off to a rocky start but finished with him setting a Laval (AHL) team record for goals by a defenseman–and earning a final-game call-up by the Canadiens. He has great size (6'3'', 220 pounds), skates well and has a huge shot. But he has work to do in his own end and must make better decisions.

Mike Matheson

  • Age: 30
  • Ht: 6-2
  • Wt: 188
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Mtl 82 11 51 62 -24 58 0.76
Career 655 78 203 281 -22 378 0.43
Forecast 77 9 44 53 - - 0.69

The Montreal-area native is coming off a career season in '23-24: only 13 times has a D-man notched more than his 62 points (nearly double his previous career high) in Habs history! He did not focus on just one side of the red line, leading the team with 186 blocks while averaging 25:33 of ice time (third in the NHL) in all 82 games.

David Savard

  • Age: 33
  • Ht: 6-1
  • Wt: 238
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Mtl 60 6 18 24 -1 24 0.40
Career 870 54 188 242 -29 467 0.28
Forecast 66 2 16 18 - - 0.27

The grizzled veteran is the prototype of a defensive defenseman, albeit one who stands 6'1'' and weighs 238 pounds. He is often the slowest player on the ice, but his hockey smarts make up for a lack of speed. Savard was third on the Habs with 163 blocks in '23-24–despite missing 22 games–and first in average penalty-killing minutes.

Arber Xhekaj

  • Age: 23
  • Ht: 6-4
  • Wt: 240
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Mtl 44 3 7 10 6 81 0.23
Career 191 9 21 30 -23 351 0.16
Forecast 62 6 10 16 - - 0.26

The only player in NHL history whose last name begins with X continues to show that he has enough tools to play well in the NHL–as long as he avoids taking bad penalties. He tied for the most penalties taken on the Habs with 29 in just 44 games last campaign, a big reason why he spent time in the AHL. Xhekaj also registered 125 hits.

Sam Montembeault

  • Age: 27
  • Ht: 6-3
  • Wt: 199
'23-24 GP W L OT SO GAA Sv%
Mtl 41 16 15 9 0 3.14 0.903
Career 220 85 90 29 5 3.23 0.897
Forecast 46 19 - - 1 3.08 0.904

Slowly but surely, Montembeault's numbers continue to improve. His goals-against average edged lower and his save percentage improved in 2023-24, but he still has yet to enjoy a true breakout campaign in the NHL. He is capable of stealing games and would be greatly helped by not facing as many shots as he did for much of last season.

Cayden Primeau

  • Age: 25
  • Ht: 6-3
  • Wt: 205
'23-24 GP W L OT SO GAA Sv%
Mtl 23 8 9 4 2 2.99 0.91
Career 58 15 25 7 2 3.73 0.882
Forecast 38 17 - - 3 2.96 0.908

The son of former NHL center Keith Primeau has battled all the way from being a seventh-round draft pick in '17 to a No. 2 netminder role with the Canadiens. Primeau played the best hockey of his career after Jake Allen was traded at the '24 deadline, and made the case that he deserves the chance to be a regular at the highest level.