Predict the next year’s end-of-season

[A Loyal Dog]

I know this is way, waaay too premature for some, but I thought this would be fun. Let’s all predict who is still a Hab this time next year, what position they’re slotted in, and for fun, let’s predict if the Habs make the playoffs, and if so: how far!

I’ll start.

Will Bergevin still be GM:
Yes.

Who do we lose to Seattle (expansion draft):
Artturi Lehkonen

Who do we lose to 2021 UFA or trade away before TDL 2022:
Joel Armia (UFA)
Ben Chiarot (part of Ekholm trade, along with 1st round pick 2021 + Struble + Tuch)
Brett Kulak (cap dump addition to minor trade)
Victor Mete (for mid round pick)
Eric Staal (retirement)
Jayden Struble (see Chiarot)
Tomas Tatar (UFA)
Luke Tuch (see Chiarot)

Who do we acquire through 2021 UFA or before 2022 trade deadline:
Mattias Ekholm (Chiarot, Struble, Tuch, 1st - overpayment)
Taylor Hall (takes discount; 1-year “reclamation project”)
+ Some minor insignificant “finished” players (cheap 4th line additions, BargainBin style)

Which prospects graduate to the NHL:
Josh Brook
Cole Caufield
Ryan Poehling

Slump or success for the following players:
1. Nick Suzuki - major success (65+ pt season)
2. Jesperi Kotkaniemi - slight success (50 pt season, thanks to Caufield assists)
3. Cole Caufield - major success (20+ goals)
4. Alexander Romanov - slight early-season slump, finishes strong

Will Habs make the playoffs in 2022, and if yes, how far do they reach?
Yes. They Cinderella their way to the conference finals.

Predict the roster pre-playoffs 2022:
Hall - Suzuki - Anderson
Drouin - Kotkaniemi - Caufield
Toffoli - Danault - Gallagher
Poehling - Evans - Perry
(Byron)

Ekholm - Weber
Romanov - Petry
Edmundson - Brook

Price
Allen

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