Quoting: Gordon_Bombay
I don't think so. Buffalo and Montreal were on the same level this year. The Habs had 3 points more in 2 more games. And the Habs did not have more injuries than other teams
Ottawa is actually a team that is rising. They have a lot of talented players and are growing
Teams with more Man-games lost this season than Montreal: CBJ, WPG, PIT, DET, OTT, CHI, BUF, VAN, BOS, TOR, COL, STL, COL, EDM, SJS, NYI
Injuries is just in general, they dont have a ton of depth, to be the same or better they need to stay healthy.
You look at MTLs advanced stats and it points out that they generate good shot rates, good high danger scoring chances but thier finishing is lacking because of no true ppg or "star" player in the line up and the powerplay being in the bottom of the league most of the season.
You look at the Atlantic in general and the Habs have to do the least amount of work to either stay the same or improve. Ottawa is good but still not gonna be there for a couple years, which is they way they likely want it. Detroit is the obvious bottom feeder. That leaves Buffalo and Florida, both of which have thier own turmoil. Buffalo fired 22 people this off season and need to rely on a new GM to steer them into a good off season for them to make a jump over the Habs or risk upsetting thier star again. Florida has stated they want to cut salary by 10 million, pretty hard to do that and stay competitive, signs point to them going through rough times ahead.
So like I said, Habs have to do the least to stay the same or move up compared to the other 4 division teams.