Can the Montreal Canadiens finish the next season with 50+ wins?

[Artorius Horus T]

44 wins this season, yet 86 % of you think they won't win 6-8 more next season, interesting point of view.
Canadiens were already the 14th best team in this regular season, while having important players miss games due to injuries.

Byron missed 36 games | 15 goals, 31 points (0.57 ppg), +16, 3 shg, 3 gwg)
Armia missed 35 games | 13 goals (0.42 ppg, +1, 1 shg, 2 gwg)
Weber missed 34 games | 15 goals, 34 points (0.60 ppg, +15, 5 ppg, 3 gwg)
Shaw missed 20 games | 19 goals, 47 points (0.75 ppg, +17, 3 ppg, 3 gwg)

______________________________________________

Their top players s% varied from 7% to 14%, there's tons of improvement on that.

Canadiens are really well structured/built team, i think they have pretty much a set team as it is, no needs for bringing
big names in the off season, only few players what they need to bring back and they're ready for the next season.

 

[Just Linda]

I believe the Habs won't regress but Florida will force and arms race in the Atlantic. Tampa will still be great, Boston won't regress too much, Toronto will still be a contender, Buffalo will be forced to make moves to keep up. Their division gets rougher next year.

 

[Hostile Offer]

Only with significant offseason additions.

 

[Hostile Offer]

44 wins this season, yet 86 % of you think they won't win 6-8 more next season, interesting point of view.
Canadiens were already the 14th best team in this regular season, while having important players miss games due to injuries.

Byron missed 36 games | 15 goals, 31 points (0.57 ppg), +16, 3 shg, 3 gwg)
Armia missed 35 games | 13 goals (0.42 ppg, +1, 1 shg, 2 gwg)
Weber missed 34 games | 15 goals, 34 points (0.60 ppg, +15, 5 ppg, 3 gwg)
Shaw missed 20 games | 19 goals, 47 points (0.75 ppg, +17, 3 ppg, 3 gwg)

______________________________________________

Their top players s% varied from 7% to 14%, there's tons of improvement on that.

Canadiens are really well structured/built team, i think they have pretty much a set team as it is, no needs for bringing
big names in the off season, only few players what they need to bring back and they're ready for the next season.

6-8 more wins is A LOT. You do realize if the Habs had 6 more wins this year they would've finished second in the whole league behind Tampa?

 

[Habs Icing]

It all depends on what our enigmatic GM does. If he continues to make moves like he has the past year then there's a very strong possibility that the Habs will improve. If he makes moves like he did the first six years of his tenure, then I can see the Habs taking a couple of steps back.

Bergevin needs to improve on three spots: backup goalie, top four left defence man and top six scoring threat. The backup goalie shouldn't be a problem, maybe even Lindgren could step up but if he can't MB needs to improve here. At the press conference he said he wasn't bringing back Niemi so that's a step in the right direction. There are top scoring forwards to be had in UFA. MB needs to hit one out of the ballpark here. With the cap space he has had for the last two years there are no excuses for not getting one of the offensive UFAs. The left defence man I'll leave up to MB to figure out how to get. After all he's the one making the big bucks.

I can see MB accomplishing two of the three (backup goalie, signing a scoring UFA) and improving the team enough but to achieve 50 wins that would be a big leap.

 

[bigbabybuda]

I think they overachived this year. I really don't like their roster from top to bottom. I'd be surprised if they made the playoffs.

 

[drktmplr12]

Took 44 wins and collected 96 points, in any other season, they would of qualified.

I'm trying to remember another case where 96 wasn't enough...?

 

[sharks9]

I'll say no because the draft and FA haven't happened yet.

If we make moves there to improve the team it's possible, but not with the team as it is right now.

 

[ole ole]

Probably not 50 wins next season but with the new additions i can see a better season next yr eclipsing the 44 win mark.
I can see us overtaking the Leafs in the standings.Only was a 4 pt spread.

 

[kgboomer]

There's more chance of them finishing with less than 40 than more 50.

 

[bert]

No game breaking talent up front lack strong depth on the back end. Kotakaniemi will need to take an enormous step for them to get there. The following season i could see it happening but not next year. Poehling and Suzuki need to prove they can consistently score at this level.

 

[HockeyDBspecialist]

I actually believe they will slightly regress next season. Strong candidate for regression.

lol, only from a leaf fans.
can't wait to see

 

[PatrikBerglund]

Buffalo will have more wins than Montreal next season.

I'm 1% sure of it!

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

nope.

Tampa, Boston and Toronto aren't going to slide
Florida should be better
Detroit and Buffalo are wild cards, could be better, could be bad again.
Ottawa is everyone's win booster

Just dont see where extra wins come from in that division

 

[Artorius Horus T]

nope.

Tampa, Boston and Toronto aren't going to slide
Florida should be better
Detroit and Buffalo are wild cards, could be better, could be bad again.
Ottawa is everyone's win booster

Just dont see where extra wins come from in that division

Florida is expected to be/do better every damn year, i'm not gonna get fooled this time
(last 5 seasons ive picked them to finish 1-2 in their division)

I just don't believe in Buffalo, at all, their owner is almost as bad as Katz.
As good as Dahlin is, he is still few years away from what he will be in the future.
Skinner's great season (well almost great season) just disappeared to thin air during this season.
no repeat for him i think. Eichel is one heck of a player and that Reinhart fella seems be to pretty okay player after all but other that,
they are still rebuilding, heavily, not a good roster, yet.

Detroit is still bit of a mystery for me, the youth is coming, strong, but they still have those
dinosaurs in the D & G, even if they don't re-sign Kronwall. They probably shouldn't re-sign Vanek
other than that, Wings forward group looks surprisingly well balanced with plenty of skill,
good mix of young stars and older role players, improving but not significantly.

Montreal Canadiens are ahead of all 3 (Florida,Buffalo,Detroit) at the moment
and even further more next season.

 

[VoluntaryDom]

its possible though i wouldnt bet on it. playoffs though? sure. they fix that PP and thats a team i dont want to face in a series.

 

[Mugzy97]

lol, only from a leaf fans.
can't wait to see

Tough to face reality?

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

I'm trying to remember another case where 96 wasn't enough...?

Bruins 2014-15, missed by 2 points with 96.

 

[tony d]

Nope, I think they'll do good again next year but 50 wins is out of the ?.

 

[bobholly39]

44 wins this season, yet 86 % of you think they won't win 6-8 more next season, interesting point of view.
Canadiens were already the 14th best team in this regular season, while having important players miss games due to injuries.

Byron missed 36 games | 15 goals, 31 points (0.57 ppg), +16, 3 shg, 3 gwg)
Armia missed 35 games | 13 goals (0.42 ppg, +1, 1 shg, 2 gwg)
Weber missed 34 games | 15 goals, 34 points (0.60 ppg, +15, 5 ppg, 3 gwg)
Shaw missed 20 games | 19 goals, 47 points (0.75 ppg, +17, 3 ppg, 3 gwg)

______________________________________________

Their top players s% varied from 7% to 14%, there's tons of improvement on that.

Canadiens are really well structured/built team, i think they have pretty much a set team as it is, no needs for bringing
big names in the off season, only few players what they need to bring back and they're ready for the next season.

Im one of the most optimistic Habs fans out there

1. We had no real major injuries this year outside of Weber at the start. We were very lucky in that sense. Odds are we do worst not better with injuries next year . Other teams had way worst injury luck than us last season.

2. A lot of our players had career years/exceeded expectations. On the one hand that's exciting but its also not necessarily sustainable. Or at least - its very possible some players dont perform as well instead of all performing even better

3. 50 wins is a lot. Habs would likely finish with ~110 points or so with 50+wins. Would be good enough for top 3 team in league give or take


Now if you want us to take your question literally and answer *can* they finish with 50 wins? The answer is yes - of course.

But if you're asking *will they* - which is what i take your poll to be - my prediction is no.

 

[Beezeral]

Bruins 2014-15, missed by 2 points with 96.

Panthers last year missed with 96

 

[spiny norman]

Lopsided result.