5 Bold Predictions for the Montreal Canadiens in the New Year

The Montreal Canadiens are in a great place as we move forward into the new year. Even after Tuesday's loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, they are just two points out of first place in the Atlantic Division with two games in hand. 

It's been a great season so far and could get even better. The Canadiens seem to be finding their stride, winning eight of their last 10. Sure, there will be bumps in the road like Tuesday's loss, but there should be plenty more wins to come as well. 

What else can we expect from the Canadiens in 2015? Here are five bold predictions for the new year. 

Marc Bergevin Wins GM of the Year

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Marc Bergevin

Marc Bergevin is clearly the best-dressed general manager in the NHL. But he's more than just style, and this year, he'll be recognized for that when he wins the NHL General Manager of the Year award. 

Bergevin made some bold moves after last season, unloading captain Brian Gionta, alternate Josh Gorges and popular backup Peter Budaj. He also turned over Rene Bourque, Travis Moen, Ryan White, Douglas Murray and Francis Bouillon.

That core helped the Canadiens reach the Eastern Conference Final last season. Yet he wasn't satisfied with what he saw and wasn't afraid to make the necessary moves. 

He brought in P.A. Parenteau, Jiri Sekac, Sergei Gonchar and Tom Gilbert and promoted Dustin Tokarski, Nathan Beaulieu and Sven Andrighetto. 

An outsider looking at those moves in a vacuum would probably assume the Canadiens were in a rebuilding year. Instead, they're two points out of first with two games in hand.

Bergevin has shown that he isn't scared to shake up his roster. And, for the most part, the moves he has made have paid off handsomely. He deserves some recognition and should win GM of the year in 2014-15. 

Max Pacioretty Leads the League in Plus/Minus

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Max Pacioretty

Max Pacioretty isn't just a scorer anymore. He has developed into an all-around stud. 

Through 40 games, the 26-year-old predictably leads the Habs in goals (17) and points (32). But he also leads the team in plus/minus, by a long shot—his plus-21 is 10 higher than second-place Dale Weise! 

Plus-21 is a very impressive number that ranks him with the best in the entire NHL. Pacioretty sits fifth overall, five back of league-leader Tyler Johnson.

Pacioretty is just a couple solid games away from being atop the league, and he's trending in the right direction. In fact, he hasn't had a minus game since Dec. 12. He's a plus-10 since then, a span of nine games.

Expect Pacioretty's plus/minus figure to keep moving upward as the season moves on. He's become a dominant two-way forward and will lead the league in plus/minus at season's end.  

Carey Price Wins the Vezina

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Carey Price

Let's start this by asking a simple question: If the season ended today, would Carey Price win the Vezina?

Here's a quick look at his numbers through 33 games. He has 22 wins (second in the NHL), a 2.20 GAA (fifth in the NHL) and has made 916 saves (second in the NHL) for a .927 save percentage (sixth in the NHL).

That's a pretty impressive resume, and he'd certainly be in the conversation for the Vezina. If he didn't win, he'd at least be a finalist. 

Who are the other contenders at the halfway point? If we could name just two it'd likely be Pekka Rinne and Marc-Andre Fleury. 

Rinne's 26 wins tops the league. He also sports a cool 2.00 GAA and a .929 save percentage. 

Fleury, for his part, has 20 wins and a league-leading six shutouts, a 2.20 GAA and a .925 save percentage. 

If the award was handed out today, it'd probably go to Rinne with Price finishing second. But by season's end, expect Price to get the hardware at the NHL Awards. 

Price has been unbelievable of late, and that will continue into the second half of the season. His GAA will decrease and his save percentage will increase slightly as he shakes off a few rough games from early in the season. 

Rinne's numbers are incredible right now, but they'll be hard to maintain. Expect him to regress slightly in the second half. And when he does, Price will jump in and steal his first Vezina Trophy. 

Marc Bergevin Makes a Big Move

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Marc Bergevin

With the Canadiens in contention when the trade deadline nears, Bergevin will make a big move. It's tough to say what exactly he'll do, but it will be for a top-six forward or a top-four defenseman. 

Bergevin has made it clear he doesn't mind shaking up the roster. He did it last year when he acquired Thomas Vanek and has already done it this year, trading for Gonchar and shipping Bourque out of town. 

The Canadiens have the assets in place to acquire a difference-maker.

Tokarski could draw trade interest from teams in need of a goaltender. Young forwards Andrighetto and Michael Bournival could be also packaged.

As for prospects, Charles Hudon, who leads Hamilton in scoring, was just named to the AHL All-Star team. Christian Thomas and Jarred Tinordi would also be sought after by opposing GMs.

Looking to juniors, goaltender Zach Fucale just helped Canada win gold at the World Junior Championship, while Mike McCarron has scored nine points in his last three OHL games.

The point is this: Montreal has the young talent in place to make a big move sometime in the next couple months. Don't be surprised to see Bergevin trade some of those assets away to make his team better for the stretch run. 

The Canadiens Win the Atlantic Division

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The Canadiens celebrate a win.

Some might not find this prediction so bold, as the Canadiens sit just two points back of Tampa Bay with two games in hand. But if the Canadiens do hope to win their division, they'll have to figure out how to beat the Lightning.

So far, Tampa Bay has beaten Montreal twice by a combined score of 11-3. The two teams face off against each other three more times in March in what could be the division-deciding games. 

We also can't forget about the Detroit Red Wings, who sit just one point back of the Canadiens with 53. They're division contenders as well, especially when healthy.

And is anyone ready to write off the Boston Bruins? Sure, they're struggling now but are really just one hot streak away from getting back in the picture. 

There is a lot of hockey to be played. But the Habs are rounding into form, having won eight of their last 10. Montreal seems to have found the right mix of guys for the roster and is playing like a team that can win its division and embark on a long playoff run. 

The division will be tight, but come April, the Canadiens will be Atlantic Division champs.

All stats from NHL.com. 

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