Yeah I'll say it.
When I look at this team, I no longer see an up and coming squad or a team of the future: I see a team that already might be the 2nd best team in the east. The Panthers are the class of the league much less the east, but right behind them in the conference are Montreal.
First of all, I am on record as saying previously on these boards that the Canadiens might be the best situated team in the league. In terms of the players they have, the players they have on the way, the contracts they have, the age of their core players, and the diversity and balance of their core.
The Canadiens are ready to fight for the cup as early as this season.
- They have a legit #1 center with two-way play and 90+ point potential in Nick Suzuki.
- They have a player heading into his sophmore year that can already be argued as the 3rd best offensive defenseman in the league in Hutson, a player who might be a on HOF trajectory.
- They have a game breaking superstar in the making in Demidov
- 40+ goal potential sniper and pure goal scorer in Caufield
- Young former #1 overall power foward in the making in Slafkovsky
- A complete wildcard in Laine who I think can still go off for 35-40 goals one of these years but should at least score a healthy amount of goals the PP if nothing else. (Or traded for cap flexibility).
This team has a deep and well rounded forward group, a very good back end, and goaltending that is solid enough even if unspectacular. They have many depth players on the roster with room to grow and untapped upside like Dach, Guehle, Newhook etc.
Montreal has a prospect pool that, even without Demidov, many regard as a top 5 pool in the league. Players like Reinbacher, Hage, Beck etc have the ability to step into the lineup this season and make an impact.
Lastly, while many teams in the east got worse this off season (my Leafs for example), or are generally on the decline, Montreal got better with two excellent additions in Noah Dobson and Zach Bolduc, two legit adds without giving up a single roster player. They also will improve from within with guys like Demidov and Hutson still having sky-is-the-limit potential to grow into this season.
The Habs were already a playoff team last year and now basically add Demidov, Dobson, and Bolduc + Hutson not being a rookie.
I don't see a single reason why the Montreal Canadiens shouldn't be viewed as cup contenders already or why they shouldn't be viewed as the 2nd best team in the east. Tell me why I'm wrong?
(I'm a Leafs fan as mentioned so a) I take no pleasure in feeling this way and b) don't blame Habs fans for over-hyping their team).
When I look at this team, I no longer see an up and coming squad or a team of the future: I see a team that already might be the 2nd best team in the east. The Panthers are the class of the league much less the east, but right behind them in the conference are Montreal.
First of all, I am on record as saying previously on these boards that the Canadiens might be the best situated team in the league. In terms of the players they have, the players they have on the way, the contracts they have, the age of their core players, and the diversity and balance of their core.
The Canadiens are ready to fight for the cup as early as this season.
- They have a legit #1 center with two-way play and 90+ point potential in Nick Suzuki.
- They have a player heading into his sophmore year that can already be argued as the 3rd best offensive defenseman in the league in Hutson, a player who might be a on HOF trajectory.
- They have a game breaking superstar in the making in Demidov
- 40+ goal potential sniper and pure goal scorer in Caufield
- Young former #1 overall power foward in the making in Slafkovsky
- A complete wildcard in Laine who I think can still go off for 35-40 goals one of these years but should at least score a healthy amount of goals the PP if nothing else. (Or traded for cap flexibility).
This team has a deep and well rounded forward group, a very good back end, and goaltending that is solid enough even if unspectacular. They have many depth players on the roster with room to grow and untapped upside like Dach, Guehle, Newhook etc.
Montreal has a prospect pool that, even without Demidov, many regard as a top 5 pool in the league. Players like Reinbacher, Hage, Beck etc have the ability to step into the lineup this season and make an impact.
Lastly, while many teams in the east got worse this off season (my Leafs for example), or are generally on the decline, Montreal got better with two excellent additions in Noah Dobson and Zach Bolduc, two legit adds without giving up a single roster player. They also will improve from within with guys like Demidov and Hutson still having sky-is-the-limit potential to grow into this season.
The Habs were already a playoff team last year and now basically add Demidov, Dobson, and Bolduc + Hutson not being a rookie.
I don't see a single reason why the Montreal Canadiens shouldn't be viewed as cup contenders already or why they shouldn't be viewed as the 2nd best team in the east. Tell me why I'm wrong?
(I'm a Leafs fan as mentioned so a) I take no pleasure in feeling this way and b) don't blame Habs fans for over-hyping their team).
