Are the Habs closer to being a contender or a bubble team?

[TesseractPrice]

I think a cup window could open in 2 seasons if things go very well. Suzuki and Caufield are already seriously good players and should become solid 1st liners. If Kotkaniemi and Romanov blossom, Poehling can become a good 3 center, and Guhle/Norlinder can have an impact on their ELC contract while the current vets under contract can keep their current level of play, the Habs could be a contender by then

This season though, I don't think this roster can do much more than fight for WC2 behind the Bruins, Leafs, Cats and Bolts

The thing to do is develop the core until then and try to keep the team as competitive as possible to foster a winning culture

 

[Non Player Canadiens]

Fight for 8th spot

This should be the team's historical motto at this point, instead of the Flanders Field poem.

 

[RussCourtnallsGhost]

It all depends on the kids and their development. It's an interesting situation, I mean, we're basically going into the season without our #1 centre and our #1 defenceman from last year, but, despite their amazing playoffs, both Danault and Weber had pretty terrible regular seasons last year. It wouldn't surprise me if we had an inverse season next year, as in, we'll have a good regular season but then struggle in the playoffs due to inexperience. Our fate lies in the hands of our young centers: Suzuki/Kotkaniemi/Evans. Give them control of the ship, and see where they can take it! Should be fun.

 

[McGees]

Based on our division we are bubble and decent chance we miss playoffs especially if we have injury troubles, kk doesn’t take next step or our top 4 D play too old and slow for regular season style.
Bolts - champs
TO - regular season heroes
Bos - consistently good
Fla - beasts, could be #1 this year
Sens - up and coming and played very well in 2nd half
Det/Buf - lol

 

[Habs Icing]

If they don’t get a C to help NS they are out of the playoffs, not even bubble team.

My thoughts exactly!

 

[Garbageyuk]

definitely bubble. finished 18th and 24th overall in the last two seasons, and we just lost our #1D with no significant improvements on defense.

Petry is our #1 D, and has been for a while. Losing Weber will hurt, but he's out of his prime for quite a few seasons now. Savard will replace most of what he brings the last couple years.

 

[Non Player Canadiens]

Petry is our #1 D, and has been for a while. Losing Weber will hurt, but he's out of his prime for quite a few seasons now. Savard will replace most of what he brings the last couple years.

agree that Petry is in practice our #1D, not sure about the bolded though. it won't be hard to replace Weber's regular season contributions but he was pretty good in the playoffs.

 

[Garbageyuk]

agree that Petry is in practice our #1D, not sure about the bolded though. it won't be hard to replace Weber's regular season contributions but he was pretty good in the playoffs.

Most.

 

[JianYang]

They are not a contender for a cup, but these last two years have shown that they are a much better playoff team than a regular season team.

The roster has downgraded though even from this summer, so they are probably just bad in both seasons at this point.

 

[MXD]

We're closer to last OA than to a playoff berth at this point.

 

[26Mats]

With Danault in the current lineup, a contender.

Without Danault in the current lineup, a bubble team.

Have to get a C before the season starts to contend.

Danault's not perfect, but worth the extra 500k in "overpayment" if we can't land a replacement

 

[26Mats]

We're closer to last OA than to a playoff berth at this point.

Amazing what a difference losing a player like Danault over 500k makes.

Sometimes you have to "overpay" by 500k to fill a need.

 

[Burke the Legend]

5 Atlantic teams made the playoffs last season so it will be a tough fight and not just for Montreal.

Let's not forget the Habs were on a decent point pace last season until they had to go through that final sprint of 25 games in 40 days with all kinds of injuries piling up simultaneously. 10-13-2 record.

Last season they were on a 86 point pace which would not be good enough but there's also relatively easy ways they can improve that. If the Habs can improve the PP with Hoffman that should help pick up some points. They also need to figure out a way to be better in 3v3 also where their 1W-10L record or whatever cost them standing too. So is it impossible for them to pick up 10-15 points? I don't think so.

 

[1909]

TB and Florida are in for sure. TO, most possibly, Boston and MTL will fight for the 4th spot and Ottawa won't be far behind.

 

[Archijerej]

Bubble team. They have holes to fill on defence and at center. Also, their young players need time to develop into key contributors.

 

[JianYang]

5 Atlantic teams made the playoffs last season so it will be a tough fight and not just for Montreal.

Let's not forget the Habs were on a decent point pace last season until they had to go through that final sprint of 25 games in 40 days with all kinds of injuries piling up simultaneously. 10-13-2 record.

Last season they were on a 86 point pace which would not be good enough but there's also relatively easy ways they can improve that. If the Habs can improve the PP with Hoffman that should help pick up some points. They also need to figure out a way to be better in 3v3 also where their 1W-10L record or whatever cost them standing too. So is it impossible for them to pick up 10-15 points? I don't think so.

The habs went on a 4 game win streak in 3 on 3 when they brought Caufield up, and started employing that ultra conservative keep away game.

But yeah, they finished something like 4-12 last year in OT. That's where another puck mover and some more speed up front could help for sure.

 

[1909]

Bubble team. They have holes to fill on defence and at center. Also, their young players need time to develop into key contributors.

Not major ones. They went to the Finals with that style of players. A 2nd line centerman ? Yes. We gonna have to live or die with KK or a vet centerman on the slump like RyJo or Bozak.

 

[Habs10Habs]

Bubble team for now. But watching Tampa, Boston and Toronto losing vital pieces is definitely going to keep things interesting.

 

[Ozmodiar]

Their lack of center depth makes them a bubble team.

a couple of additions from contender.

a couple of injuries away from bottom 5.

 

[expy]

Team is currently worse than last season.

 

[Treb]

Based on our division we are bubble and decent chance we miss playoffs especially if we have injury troubles, kk doesn’t take next step or our top 4 D play too old and slow for regular season style.
Bolts - champs
TO - regular season heroes
Bos - consistently good
Fla - beasts, could be #1 this year
Sens - up and coming and played very well in 2nd half
Det/Buf - lol

Boston seems to be running with a Ullmark/Swayman duo for now. Quite a drop from Rask/Halak.

 

[JianYang]

Bubble team for now. But watching Tampa, Boston and Toronto losing vital pieces is definitely going to keep things interesting.

Boston is the interesting one. With bergeron not getting any younger, and the loss of krejci, they are taking a hit at center.

Things can still change roster wise, but as of right now, Boston is the team most susceptible of falling out of the playoffs in the division.

I wouldn't be surprised if it's an arm's race between Montreal and Boston right now trying to adress their center woes, because that could end up being the difference between a playoff spot.

I also have some big questions about the habs defense including savard. That's not really a group that can get you through a regular season very easily, and the season is basically toast if Petry goes down.

 

[OldCraig71]

We are in the toughest division in hockey and we just lost 2 key pieces of our lineup, a lineup that barely limped into the playoffs in a weaker Northern division. Many of us felt that even with last year's team fully intact that it would be a tough bet to make it this year in the Atlantic.

With all this being said, we do not know if this is the final roster or not, and when Weber's cap hit comes off the books there might be a trade or trades that help the forward and D group. I believe that we need a puck mover, that has to be a priority and would be a big boost to our offense.

 

[JeffreyLFC]

They are more a bubble team than a contender.

I think the Habs key to longterm success is developing our young centers into legit long term contributors. If they can do that they will be contender for a long time.

- If Suzuki can become a top 10 center...i.e. near PPG if not more, 80pts+
- If Kotkaniemi can become a top 2 center, like 50pts+
- If Poehling can becone a solid 2 way center, like 30pts+
- If Jake Evans can have a similar impact of Danault, shutdown and 20pts ish.

If they manage that and keep them under good cost controlled contracts, the team will contend for a long time. For now it seems like Suzuki and Evans are on track but KK and Poehling will have to show significant improvements.

 

[CristianoRonaldo]

Bubble team, even with Danault and Weber...