2006 Montreal Canadiens Preview

2006 Montreal Canadiens Preview from Maddux Sports. With the NHL Hockey Season now is the time to get aquatinted with the 2006 teams and players. Remember if you are NHL hockey betting look no further, as we offer hockey picks and can help you turn a profit betting on the NHL this season.

2006 Montreal Canadiens Hockey Season Preview

In the NHL, you can never underestimate the need for depth. Last season, Montreal captured one of the last playoff berths in the East with fast skating and hot goaltending. Once again they possess impressive speed, but are thin in the second and third lines and questionable in goal. Can they make the playoffs this season?

Center Saku Koivu (17 G, 45 A, 62 Pts) is this team’s highlight film. Joining him on the front line is free agent left winger Sergei Samsonov (23 G, 30 A, 53 Pts) and returning veteran Alexei Kovalev (23 G, 42 A, 65 Pts). Together, they should create a nicely balanced attack. A strong point for the Habs last season was their power play, which placed fifth in the NHL. Overall, the offense was 20th in the league and has not improved over the summer.

The defense is average but not remarkable. Andrei Markov (10 G, 36 A, 46 Pts) led all Montreal defensemen in points and is a solid two-way player who had a rating of plus 13 last year, best on the team. This club needs much more consistent play in its own end from players like big man Sheldon Souray.

Cristobal Huet (36 GP, 18 W, 11 L, 4 OT, 2.20 GA, .929 SP) had the best second half of any NHL goalie and was sound in the playoffs. Competing for the top net spot is David Aebischer (50 GP, 26 W, 17 L, 2 OT, 3.09 GAA. .899 SP), who came to the Canadiens last March via a trade with Colorado. Huet looks like the logical choice, but there are doubts concerning his ability to be consistent.

A lot is riding on the shoulders of Saku Koivu, who’s essential to the success of the Canadiens. Although the team has talent, it lacks experience and consistency. With shifts in this division, they will have to play better than they did last season to be a post-season force.

For more information on the 2006 Montreal Hockey Club check out the Canadiens team website.