Yeah sure ! At this time of the year, we could easily say 12 teams could be contenders, we'll have a better idea in the first months.
But that being said, in the first months last year, the Habs were amongst the best team in the league while the Penguins had trouble making the playoffs...
It's July 12th. Considering Price could be healty all year, Radulov could have an amazing season racking 60 pts, Weber could bring stability while he still can, Galchenyuk could continue what he was doing at the end of the year... with Gallagher producing with regularity and Paccio getting his yearly 60 pts, why not ?
But that's a lot of factors that could go ape ****.
On paper, right now, this team is good. This team could get to the ECF, they did it with a lesser team and last time I checked, being in the ECF makes you a contender.
Today, July 12th, stating the Habs are not contender right now is silly and stupid. But the truth is I could name a lot of team in the same situation.
My call though: They will miserably fail and I'll be the first to laugh and applaud.