MONTREAL, QC. — Training camps are in full swing throughout the NHL. It’s a fresh sheet of ice, so to speak, as players, management, and fans wait to find out what’s in store for the upcoming season. This period just prior to the first puck drop for 2015-’16 is filled with excitement and anticipation. And it’s the perfect time of year for predictions!
Will my team make the playoffs? Who will win the Stanley Cup? Who will be taking home the hardware at the NHL Awards ceremony next June?
The Hockey News has offered their forecast in their Season Preview 2015-16 edition. THN is anticipating a Stanley Cup final between the Washington Capitals and the Anaheim Ducks. Your Montreal Canadiens are predicted to finish third in the Atlantic Division behind the Detroit Red Wings and the Tampa Bay Lightning.
It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Lightning and Red Wings at the top of the division when the season comes to a close. Both teams tied for second in the NHL with a score adjusted Corsi of 53.9 in 2014-15. The Canadiens ranked 22nd in the same category.
The Wings were second in the NHL in the category of shots attempts allowed per 60 minutes of play. The Lightning were close behind ranking third in the league. Despite their moniker of being a defense-minded team, the Canadiens were 23rd in the category.
So if Michel Therrien’s troops were neither offensively nor defensively effective, how did they finish with the second best record in hockey last season?
There is only one answer: Carey Price.
Price had an extraordinary season, one that will live on as one of the best in goaltending history. He posted a record of 44-16-6 with a goals against average of 1.96 and a save percentage of .933 with nine shutouts. Price was not just the best goaltender in the league, he was the best player in the NHL.
Using the WAR metric (wins above replacement) Price’s 5.4 rating stood above Alex Ovechkin (4.3), John Tavares (3.9), Stephen Stamkos (3.5), Sidney Crosby (3.4) and Jonathan Toews (2.6).
Price was appropriately recognized by the league bringing home the Vezina Trophy, the Lindsay Award, the Jennings (shared with Corey Crawford) and the Hart Trophy. So what are the chances that Price repeats this season?
The Hockey News predicts that Alex Ovechkin will win the Hart Trophy ahead of Sidney Crosby and John Tavares. THN’s pick for the Vezina Trophy is the Capital’s Braden Holtby with Carey Price and Jonathan Quick as the runners-up. Another source, My Top Sportsbooks has Price as the favorite to win the 2015-’16 Vezina with 4/1 odds.
Both Holtby and Quick are surrounded by much better teams. The Capitals have a solid defense and a lethal power-play with the Kings perennially being one of the best possession teams in the league. But Carey Price has the proven ability to take the Canadiens on his back.
These will be interesting storylines to follow when the season begins in just a few short weeks. Who are your picks for the Vezina, Hart and Stanley Cup?
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