It’s too early to tell, but I think the “improvements” by other teams in our division are widely exaggerated. I don’t see a single team where the additions far outweigh what they lost. Every team in our division took risks and there are several I just don’t see paying off. MTL has had no notable losses this offseason and is set to improve significantly in key areas. My only real concern is with our goaltending.
Nothing is guaranteed, but I think the Habs are more competitive this year than last. While it didn’t always show up as wins, this team was consistently involved in meaningful games throughout the year. Change even a couple of those one goal games and OTLs for wins and we’re having a very different conversation right now. For a team that outplayed Detroit in desperation games to end the year (with a severely depleted roster) and still barely beat out OTT for last place, there’s a lot of room to move up. Dach alone could be a significant addition right out of the gate.
It takes only one of Guhle, Hutson, Xhekaj, Struble, Barron, Harris, Mailloux, Reinbacher, or Engstrom to have taken a meaningful step in their development over the summer to make a positive impact on our defence group. While I’d definitely like to see a big addition up front, Newhook and Roy have the capacity to play in the top-6 and it’s possible that one of our vets having career-worst seasons before 30 could turn it around a bit and contribute on the 3rd line. Fingers crossed we see a move though.
We’re potentially looking at a wave of growth and development, not incremental changes or sideways moves, and I think that should be reason for optimism. Even without acquiring a top-6 forward, I’d still put us as competing for 5th in the division.
