5 Bold Canadiens Predictions for 2023

The Montreal Canadiens have hit the halfway point of the 2022-23 season. The team is still rebuilding and has a lot of holes to fill. Here are five bold predictions for the Habs in the next calendar year.

Edmundson will be traded at the Trade Deadline. He's playing out of position on the top pair and his intangibles off the ice are invaluable. Edmundson is also Hughes' best chance to acquire another first-round pick.

Juraj Slafkovsky has been pointless in his last 12 games. The 18-year-old rookie is one year closer to unrestricted free agent status. He will finish the season in Montreal. He might play in Laval Rocket during the extended break around NHL All-Star Weekend at the beginning of February.

Canadiens will have their lottery pick in the NHL Draft. They will also have the Florida Panthers' first-round pick. Montreal won the lottery in 2022 and selected Slafkovsky first overall. The Canadiens will make two picks in Top 10 and one in top 5. They want to add more elite young talent to their prospect pool.

Hughes will make another summer splash in Montreal. He made two deals to land Kirby Dach last summer. Hughes will try to sign a top-four defenceman to help the Canadiens' power play. Josh Anderson and prospects could be used as trade bait.

Owen Beck was traded to Peterborough Petes ahead of the Trade Deadline. James Richmond, general manager and head coach of Mississauga Steelheads, predicted that Beck will play in Montreal next year. Beck has been impressive since being selected at no. 33 overall by the Habs in the 2022 NHL Draft. He put up 17 goals and 40 points in 30 games with the Steelhead and won a gold medal with Team Canada at the World Juniors.