The Bulldogs are coming into the 2008-09 season with a new look; no longer under the leadership of AJ Baines, the Dogs will look to bounce back after a disappointing season of missing the playoffs. Montreal Canadiens GM Bob Gainey did an excellent job of signing many great young prospects and acquiring some good AHL veterans to complete the package. The Dogs are a very inexperienced team, but will most likely make the playoffs and with the proper players getting hot at the right time they should contend for the Calder Cup.

Projected Depth Charts

Left Wing

Max Pacioretty: Perhaps the most exciting addition to the Bulldogs, Pacioretty is a speedy high scoring left winger. After a great season in the NCAA and a very good world junior tournament the expectations are high. It wouldn't be surprising if he ends up in Montreal by the end of the season similar to what Sergei Kostitsyn did last season, if he doesn't end up in Montreal he could potentially score 30 goals with the right line-mates.

Gregory Stewart: He had a very impressive one game call-up to Montreal last season where he fought the Maple Leafs defenseman Bryan McCabe. Stewart is expected to bring a new level of energy to the Dogs; he is a feisty player who has a natural ability to score. Last season, he scored 10 goals as a third line winger.

David Desharnais: The speedy Desharnais stands only at 5' 6" and is likely to be moved to the wing due to the depth down the middle. He will likely be tried on a scoring line with rookie Ben Maxwell, to see if he can bring his 29 goals and 77 assists in 68 games from Cincinnati to the AHL level.

Ryan Flinn: The tough Flinn is expected to add grit and leadership to the Bulldogs this season. The experienced veteran will likely play on either the third or fourth line.

Center

Kyle Chipchura: By far the most NHL ready player on this team, Chipchura will likely end up in Hamilton due to Montreal's amazing depth at center. Chipchura can do it all, skate well, win face-offs and provide important leadership for the Dogs as he was a key contributor to their Calder Cup victory in 2006-07. In order for him to make the jump to the big club, he will have to improve his offensive numbers as last year in 39 games with the Dogs, he amassed just 21 points.

Yanick Lehoux: The former L.A. Kings third round pick is entering his eighth season in the AHL. After a great 2006-07 campaign with San Antonio scoring 31 goals and 42 assists in 72 games, Lehoux went to Russia and had a very disappointing season. Now with the Bulldogs, Lehoux is expected to be a leader similar to former Bulldogs leader Benoit Gratton.

Ben Maxwell: The Montreal Canadiens 2006 second round pick is expected to be one of the better forwards on this team. If Maxwell can stay healthy, it is certain that he will contend with Pacioretty in rookie scoring. Maxwell has a good all around game; he has great playmaking skills, good scoring skills and is responsible in his own end.

Ryan White: White has been a key contributor to the Calgary Hitmen for the past four seasons. He should work his way up the depth charts as the season progresses; however it will take him some time to adapt to playing with men.

Ryan Russell: Russell has a lot of offensive potential, but will need to become stronger before he can showcase it at the AHL level. Russell will likely spend a lot of time in the ECHL, but should be a frequent call-up for the Dogs.

Matthieu Aubin: Another point per game player coming from the ECHL's Cincinnati Cyclones, Aubin has a good chance of playing more then the 20 games he played in the AHL last year.

Olivier Latendresse: Due to his age and the amount of depth the Dogs already have, he is likely going to spend the season in the ECHL.

Right Wing

Matt D'Agostini: The former Guelph Storm is coming off two consecutive 20 plus goals seasons in the AHL, and should be able to increase his productivity. D'Agostini might be called up if the Habs have an injury at the right wing, but if he is not called up he will be on the top line.

Mike Glumac: Glumac is a great addition to the Dogs, as he has been one of the better players in the AHL for the past few seasons. He should get 20 goals and 50 points, and will complement D'Agostini and Trotter to make for a strong RW position.

Brock Trotter: A free agent that Trevor Timmins signed from the University of Denver could pan out to be a big acquisition. Trotter has a natural ability to find the net. Last season in his first 20 games in Hamilton, he got three goals and six assists and has the potential to get 20 goals this year.

Thomas Beauregard: Beauregard played a big offensive role on the Cincinnati Cyclone's Kelly Cup victory. A point per game player in the ECHL, Beauregard is likely to edge out J.T. Wyman for the fourth line right wing position this season.

J.T. Wyman: Coming from Dartmouth College, Wyman should compete with Beauregard for the fourth line spot. Unfortunately, Wyman will likely be cut so he gets more ice-time in the ECHL to further his development.

Left-handed Defense

Pavel Valatenko: Valatenko is going to be one of the most interesting developments on the team. Pavel is one of the most highly touted Russian prospects, as he was their best defensemen in the 2006 World Junior Championships. He brings a good all-around game to the blue line, and should be starting to adapt better to the North American game. This season expect him to step it up and become a top defenseman on this team.

Dan Jancevski: The Hamilton Bulldogs legend, who played a major role in their Calder Cup victory, is likely the guy that the Dallas Stars are going to send to Hamilton. Assuming Jancevski doesn't make the Dallas Stars NHL line-up, which is highly unlikely unless there's an early injury. Jancevski is consistently a solid defenseman that can log a lot of minutes.

Alex Henry: The heavy hitting 6' 5" AHL veteran is going to add depth and size to a blue line that brings a little bit of everything. Henry is returning to the Bulldogs, the team that launched his AHL career in 1999. Henry will be on one of the top two pairings unless Valatenko manages to beat him out.

Conrad Martin: The un-drafted Hamilton Bulldogs signing will likely be a depth guy for the Dogs. Martin should split the season between the ECHL and the AHL.

Right-handed Defense

Shawn Belle: The former St.Louis Blues first round draft pick is expected to finally live up to expectations. He should be on the top pairing with legendary Bulldog Dan Jancevski. Belle possesses great speed and is very responsible defensively.

Chad Anderson: The big 6' 4" right-handed defenseman is coming off a solid rookie campaign with the Philadelphia Phantoms. He adds depth to the Dogs defense and should be a physical presence out there.

Mathieu Carle: The young Matt Carle had a decent rookie campaign scoring 24 points in 64 games. The former second round pick should improve on his numbers this season, and has a good chance of being a top four AHL defenseman by the end of the season.

Yannick Weber: The young defender had a great season last year with the OHL's Kitchener Rangers leading all defensemen with 55 points in 59 games. Weber will likely play a minimal role even strength, but with his lethal shot expect him to play on the power play.

Goal

Marc Denis: The former NHL starter looks to bounce back after a very disappointing 2007-08 season. Denis started last season as Tampa Bay's number one goalie only to get beat out by former Calder Cup winner Johan Holmqvist, and then beat out of the backup role by Karri Ramo. In 32 games with the Norfolk Admirals, Denis had a 2.91 GAA and a .910 save percentage.

Cedrick Desdjardins: The playoff MVP of the Cincinnati Cyclones championship team will most certainly be promoted to the AHL for the full season. Desjardins had a very impressive season posting a .934 save percentage and 1.91 goals-against average. If he can play like he did in the ECHL in the AHL he will steal the number one spot from Denis.

The 23 man roster lines should look like the following:

Forwards
Pacioretty - Lehoux - D'Agostini
Desharnais - Maxwell - Glumac
Stewart - Chipchura - Trotter
Flinn - White - Beauregard
Aubin/Russell

Defense
Jancevski - Belle
Henry - Anderson
Valatenko - Carle
Martin

Goaltenders
Denis
Desjardins