Canadiens: What To Expect From Bolduc
Zach Bolduc’s second season with the Montreal Canadiens should be an impressive one.
Video Transcript
Okay, I’m gonna give you one from the East and one from the West, Ryan.
All right.
So from the East, it’s the Montreal Canadiens.
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And w- we talked about their goaltending.
I think what we haven’t really talked about is the fact that Florida and Toronto are going to be completely different teams this season than they were last year.
So what does that mean for Montreal?
You know, heading into the year, I would say that they have a very, very good chance of being the top team in the Atlantic, but it’s gonna be dependent on can Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Lane Hutson, who all had career years, can they build upon those career years?
Can Jakub Dobes prove that he is one of the top goalies in the NHL?
Mm-hmm.
And if all, if all things, you know, if, if they get all that, then they should be one of the top teams in the Atlantic.
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But y- you know how it is with young teams.
It’s never a, a linear progression.
Sometimes you do take a step back.
So really intriguing to see what direction they go.
From the West, a little bit of a different scenario, but I am really high on the St. Louis Blues.
I really think they could be a dark horse team for one of those wildcard spots.
I like the off-season they had.
You know, we’ve talked about Mason McTavish.
I think the change of scenery’s gonna really benefit him.
I also think Jimmy Snuggerud, who I think is also on this rundown, could have a monster, monster year.
So- Mm-hmm you know, they’ve got the goaltending.
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We know they’ve got some really young, intriguing pieces.
But can they put it together in what is gonna be a really, really difficult Central division?
And can they kinda come out of it, you know, maybe ousting Utah or one of those other teams for a wildcard spot?
Yeah.
And I actually just spoke with GM Alexander Steen this weekend, and, you know, he was saying, you know, when the Blues are at their best, they are the sum of their parts, right?
They are a team first team.
So it will be interesting to see what they can do with this new look roster of theirs.
Michael Augelli, who intrigues you right now?
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Okay, working west to east, short of waiting for Mike Babcock and the Edmonton Oilers to implode, the, most intriguing story in the Western Conference is the San Jose Sharks.
Because Celebrini stepped up to being, you know, I think a top five player in the league, and now they’ve revamped their defense with the addition of Darnell Nurse, with the signing of Trouba, the trade for Kesselring.
You know, that was a big issue for them.
Now the question is whether the young players on that team can step up and get to a level of, to make the playoffs, and whether Askarov is somebody who can, lead them there.
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That’s why maybe Hellebuych could be in the mix for San Jose as one of many teams where he could improve.
In, in the East, Mike mentioned the Leafs.
I think because of all the changes, because of all the focus on Matthews, and the return of Nylander from injury, and, you know, the age of Tavares and McKenna, and all the diff- you know, all the changes, it’s gonna be really intriguing to see how this sort of, mix works.
And, you know, early in the season it’s gonna be tough for them to sort of be, sort of coalesce.
But if they, if they do, then I think they’re pro- they could be a top three team in the Atlantic again.
