Here are the Hockey News Eastern conference predictions by Adam Proteau who believes the Philadelphia Flyers will win the conference (What????….I think Adam has been smoking something funny!!). As you can see from the below excerpt, Proteau thinks the Habs will win the Northeast division and finish in second place:
2. Montreal Canadiens
Always-Look-On-The-Bright-Side Adam Says: While I work diligently with my team of attorneys to get my 2007-08 pre-season prediction for the Habs permanently sealed in the name of national security, allow me to sing the praises of this year’s edition: They’re fast, super-skilled, smart in their own zone and plutonium-level deadly with the man advantage. Still not completely convinced they’re built for the playoffs, but this is no one-year wonder we’re dealing with here.
Always-Assume-The-Worst Adam Says: For a team that needed a serious grit infusion last year, Georges Laraque may not be the entire answer. Also, will the white-hot hoopla of the Canadiens’ 100-year anniversary serve as motivation, or distraction?