One goal games suggest they were close and the difference between a loser point and 2 pointer is not much.
They had a TERRIBLE goal differential.
Take out Allen's numbers and prorate Monty's and CP"s numbers without considering any improvement would gain at 36 goals off the goal differential. If Caufeild-Suzuki-Slafkovsky had scored at the same rate in the first 41 games you could add another 23 goals to goals for. There is more but at this point but these 2 facets would put them in the hunt.
5th worst goal differential, 5th worst record checks out completely.
4th worst expected goal differential, 5th worst record checks out completely.
Amongst the youngest teams in the league with the youngest defense while dealing with a crippling amount of injuries. 8 point improvement in the standings two drafts into a rebuild.
Last year was a development year and 2 drafts into the rebuild.Back luck? I would define losing Dach 4 periods into the season from a freak event I would call unlucky myself along with a large body count of other injuries. I will state they they have started to get a handle on it and should continue along this line. I could see a 75 goal swing in the goal differential as the top end of the possible spectrum next year. I expect to see a lot of postings on how the Habs are over rated next year. But go on.
1 goal games may suggest that at first. But you'd only expect 1 goal losses to turn into better standings if they were almost all regulation losses. Again, based on how MTL played over the course of the year, they finished exactly where they should have.
MTLs goaltending is likely to be worse rather than better. You're expecting a 36 goal improvement in net? Utter delusion. MTL already had a +28 GSAx last year. +36 goals would be SIXTY FOUR GOALS SAVED ABOVE EXPECTATION. To provide some context, Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman combined for 44 GSAx last year.
It's MUCH more likely that MTLs goaltending ends up average next year and gets WORSE by 30 goals than it getting better
1st and 2nd place in GSAx combined for 70 GSAx this past year in 117 games. You mean to tell me that you think Montembault and Primeau are going to finish 1st and 2nd in vezina voting respectively?
MTL was a dogshit team last year that has made 0 additions.
Utah fixed their defense, Ottawa fixed their goaltending, Seattle added Montour and Stephenson, NJD fixed their defense and goaltending, buffalo fixed their bottom 6
This is a prime example of a homer post
MTL goalies last year combined for 28 GSAx.
I very much like Montembault, but him and primeau aren't exactly what I'd call elite proven goalies.
If they live up to what they did last year, that would be a massive success for MTL in terms of goalies.
If they get 30 goals worse and finish around 0 GSAx, that would still be good for 2 goalies combining for 4 mill.
But expecting goaltending to improve by 36 goals is utter craziness. If someone thinks Montembault will play that well I recommend they place a large wager on him to win the vezina