Regardless of not a lot as having a Montreal Canadiens participant named as a finalist for a significant NHL award, a Hab technically took one dwelling in 2024: first-rounder Michael Hage (E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence), albeit someday earlier than he received drafted.
The ahead is definitely the second Canadiens participant to win. Defenseman Lane Hutson was the primary in 2022. Coincidentally, Hutson simply misses making this checklist of the likeliest Habs to win an award for the 2024-25 season. Nonetheless, general, what’s completely different than lately previous is a few appear like authentic front-runners for (authentic) NHLer {hardware}.
Associated: Likeliest Canadiens to Win NHL Awards in 2023-24
Listed below are the highest 5 likeliest Canadiens gamers to win NHL awards in 2024-25:
5. Joshua Roy (Calder Memorial Trophy)
If there have been area on Hutson’s left aspect on protection, he may need been capable of put himself in line to contend for the Calder Memorial Trophy because the NHL’s prime rookie. Nonetheless, with Mike Matheson, Kaiden Guhle, Arber Xhekaj and Jayden Struble having already established themselves as NHLers to various levels, the deck is considerably stacked in opposition to him.
In the end, fellow-defenseman Logan Mailloux seems to be like extra of a “lock” so to talk to make the crew as an alternative (on the alternative aspect). Even so, ahead Joshua Roy seems to be just like the likeliest of the crew’s potential rookies to get important ice time, as one among its prime forwards after the All-Star Recreation.
However, Roy simply barely qualifies, each as a Calder candidate, by advantage of taking part in simply 23 video games (as an alternative of the utmost 25) final season, and for this checklist. The indisputable fact is Roy faces a stacked rookie class led by Philadelphia Flyers and San Jose Sharks forwards Matvei Michkov and Macklin Celebrini, the latter of whom is likelier nonetheless to get prime minutes on a bottom-feeding crew missing a lot star energy (all due respect, in fact). As additional evidenced by the rest of this checklist, the Canadiens have climbed out of that class.
4. Mike Matheson (James Norris Memorial Trophy)
Defenseman Mike Matheson finds himself in an identical boat as Roy. One take a look at the James Norris Memorial Trophy finalists for final season (Quinn Hughes, Roman Josi, Cale Makar) reveals simply how far he has to go from a manufacturing standpoint to benefit consideration.
Contemplate this: Matheson scored 11 targets and 62 factors. He actually put collectively one of many finest campaigns for a Canadiens defenseman this century (and usually in all honesty), falling brief by two factors to match the 64 of Sheldon Souray (2006-07) and Andrei Markov (2008-09). He was nonetheless a full 30 shy of Hughes, the award’s eventual winner.
That having been stated, Matheson nonetheless completed within the High 10 in scoring amongst NHL defensemen final season. That in and of itself is an accomplishment (even when not an award).
3. Martin St. Louis (Jack Adams Award)
If there have been any justice, Kent Hughes can be in line for the Jim Gregory Normal Supervisor of the Yr Award. Nonetheless, the straightforward fact is that award extra so rewards huge swings that repay within the brief time period than long-term planning. It might have gotten higher lately in comparison with how meaningless it appeared in its early years. Nonetheless, finally you’re not going to win it when you’re managing a crew projected to be a bubble crew at finest.
The Jack Adams Award, given to the coach who contributes essentially the most to his crew’s success, is completely different. All you’ve received to do actually to get seen is make the playoffs as a crew that nobody actually believed might make it. That’s the Canadiens and that’s Martin. St. Louis.
Having simply completed fifth from final, the Canadiens aren’t seen as being on the cusp of incomes a playoff spot. And it’s true that it might take an enormous soar within the standings from the 76 they received final season. Nonetheless, the obstacles within the Canadiens’ approach simply aren’t as daunting as they might have appeared up to now. On the energy of a core of younger gamers who’re continuously bettering and a powerful offseason on Hughes’ half, the Habs might legitimately shock in 2024-25, with St. Louis being a contributor, sure… but additionally a beneficiary.
2. Patrik Laine (Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy)
Clearly the latest Patrik Laine acquisition was a spotlight of Hughes’ offseason to date, with good motive. Laine is simply 26 and a former second-overall decide who was as soon as fawned over for his goal-scoring prowess. As a 19-year-old, he scored 44 targets because the second-leading (however prime aim) scorer for the Winnipeg Jets. So, there’s celebrity potential there.
Whether or not Laine is able to attaining it at this level is debatable. Nonetheless, these aren’t your older sibling’s Canadiens. Whereas, sure, they’ve struggled to attain targets, Nick Suzuki flirted with a degree per recreation final season and Cole Caufield was seen as somebody who might have a shot on the Rocket himself, after scoring 26 in 46 video games in 2022-23. Caufield got here up brief, scoring “simply” 28 final season, changing into extra of an entire participant within the course of to his credit score.
At this level, with Laine being as “previous” as he’s and having simply two years left below contract, the main target ought to be on taking part in him to his strengths quite than making an attempt to make him extra of a greater all-around participant. Granted, Laine hasn’t a lot as approached 40 once more. Nonetheless, with the Canadiens’ prime line firmly established (Suzuki between Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky), Laine can profit from much less consideration from different groups’ prime defensive pairings.
In an odd approach, Laine not being the man with the Canadiens will assist him change into the man once more, as he eyes returning to his previous goal-scoring type (from ‘Patrik Laine a de l’ambition: “Je veux redevenir un marqueur de 40 buts,”’ le journal de montreal, Aug. 19, 2024). Granted, posts like this received’t assist to mitigate expectations and maintain the strain on him low. Nonetheless, as Hughes alluded to within the post-trade media availability, Montreal is a market through which he might thrive.
1. Patrik Laine (Invoice Masterton Memorial Trophy)
A part of the explanation the Canadiens had been capable of purchase a Laine within the first place and at such a low value in addition was clearly how he frolicked within the NHL/NHLPA Participant Help Program. There is no such thing as a denying his worth on the commerce market was extremely low (particularly bearing in mind his commerce request out of Columbus… and big contract). When it comes all the way down to it, there have been few lifelike commerce locations for the maligned star ahead.
Nonetheless, Laine is only one season faraway from a point-per-game marketing campaign with the Jackets. Mix that with how he should perceive time is operating out for him to re-establish himself as one the NHL’s prime offensive abilities. Backside line: He ought to be extremely incentivized to remain wholesome and in a optimistic state of mind, placing him in an unbelievable place to rebound statistically (and in line for Invoice Masterton Memorial Trophy consideration).
That is clearly a delicate matter and it’s essential to emphasise Laine’s psychological wellbeing ought to take priority over any offensive accolades. Particularly seeing as team-wide expectations stay pretty low, that’s the precedence right here.
The commerce itself was thought of low-risk, high-reward for a motive. If it doesn’t work out, the Canadiens received’t have given up all that a lot (defenseman Jordan Harris, who would have needed to struggle for ice time on the Habs). So, no hurt, no foul.
Laine is simply somebody on whom it was worthwhile to take a flyer, as a result of there’s such a good probability on it understanding, and, if it does work out to the extent it realistically can, you’re taking a look at somebody properly price his $8.7 million cap hit. Hughes should see it. In any other case, he wouldn’t have pulled the set off. There’s each motive to drag for him right here, particularly as a win would imply he’s made his approach again to the place he by all accounts ought to be: atop the league’s scoring checklist… perhaps even Montreal to remain long run?
