If there wasn't a pandemic and 2 X shortened seasons, and new 24 team play-in rules format and then new CDN Div without wildcards, Montreal wouldn't even have qualified for the playoffs the past 2 years.
Montreal isn't built for the wide open regular season, they don't have the guns nor the talent, however they have a playoff style roster, with a series stealing goalie that makes them dangerous come playoff time. Big, strong, physical and strong defensively and really hard to play against.
Our Leafs are flawed the opposite direction as they're built on high end skill and big money players, that record enough offense to outscore their mistakes to succeed in the regular season when the games are more wide open. They fail come playoff time because they're ill equipped for grinding out games and playing the game in the trenches where rush hockey becomes dump and chase and where physical play and time and space are removed and the ice is clogged to prevent rush attacks. Shutdown defensive structure and systems nullify high-end skill, and level the playing surface when you're grinding out 1-0 and 2-1 wins..
In the regular season "offense wins games and makes the playoffs" .. In the playoffs 'defense wins championships" and hard work, effort, compete level trump high-end skill.
Since the goal is to win the Cup, you need a roster capable of winning in the playoffs and a roster good enough to make sure you get in.
Rumor: TOR and John Tavares close to a deal: 3 years at 7 million
Speculation: NO JOKE - Could history be made at TD Garden on April 1st?
