I read a comparison between this team and the 2007-2008 Habs... There in fact are a lot of differences;
- 2007-2008 was heavily reliant on special units to produce offense. We actually are a much better 5 on 5 team.
- It was pointed out that everyone has a career year just like they did in 2007-2008... but in fact it cannot be further from the truth. Guys like Byron, Gallagher, Weber, Lehkonen, Price, Armia and Tatar are pretty much producing to the pace they're used to producing. Domi and Drouin are 23, and were both top-15 picks and top prospects when being drafted. It was EXPECTED that they would end up taking the next step... even if it's a bit more surprising in Domi's case. The only guy where we have a case of "well, he's not going to have a season like that ever again anytime soon" is Jeff Petry, Now it's one guy that's producing way more than he should be. But most players on this team are producing like we should expect of them. Danault, Drouin, Domi and Kotkaniemi are pretty much the difference with last season. And all are just taking the next step in their developement. If you were to ask me, I say Domi's probably a 60 points C in a normal year. Drouin's likely a 70 points winger. Danault is definitely a 50 points center. And who knows how good Kotkaniemi will be. Those 4 under-25 guys and a healthy Weber is the difference with last year.
- 2007-2008 was all about Kovalev's redemption and him taking the whole team on his back. This year, it's always a new guy stepping up. Lately it's been Drouin and Danault. Earlier it was Domi and Tatar. Now Price and Kotkaniemi seem ready to take things in their hands. Then you have Weber just being solid as always. It's way more of a team effort than it was in the Kovalev year.
All in all, this team reminds me more of the 2007-2008... Boston Bruins. Nobody expected anything out of that team. But a bunch of young guys (Lucic, Krejci, Kessel) started stepping up. Chara was rock solid. Their goalie problems disappeared. And their prospect pool was filled with promising young guys. I'd say we're a more talented team that was the Bruins were in 2007-2008, but I feel like our success is way more similar to theirs than it is to the 2007-2008 Habs.