I don't see Boston finishing ahead of the Hab this season...I see the Bruins coming back down to the pack. Thornton, Boychuck and Iginla..that's a lot of veteran leadership, grit and size gone from the lineup.
How many of Boston's core players are 25 or younger and still improving? Hamilton, Krug and Reilly Smith. ..perhaps Matt Fraser becomes a core guy.
Habs have Subban, Pacioretty, Galchenyuk, Gallagher, Eller, Beaulieu. Bournival and Tinordi all under 26 and on the upswing....stands to reason that the above group will improve more than Chara, Bergeron, Krejci, Lucic, McQuaid, Seidenberg, etc. Boston adds Spooner as a young player..Montreal adds Sekac.
Montreal beat Boston in the playoffs as well......For me the Habs have their deepest club in 20 years. They're more than five lines deep with NHL talent I think, and at least 8 deep on the blueline. I think they will be able to overcome injuries at every position with the exception of Price of course, but that goes for most teams.
I think the Habs win the east.