In for a rude awakening. With divisions going back to normal, the team that finished 18th in the league playing exclusively against a cupcake division probably isn’t making the playoffs.

Habs match up well against good teams. Leafs and Lightning both could struggle next year.

Way too much for both Danault and KK in this post.

You were 8 games under .500. You being in a SCF was like a 5 win team playing in the Super Bowl.

Had it been a normal year with regular divisions and schedule, you miss the playoffs.

You seriously can’t be that delusional.

Those cupcake Kings took out Vegas, does that mean nothing?

Tampa might struggle next year losing some key players. who even knows how Toronto will do. And Boston is only getting older. Habs can easily compete for a WC spot against TOR and BOS and possibly even TB and FLA

You can't seriously be that delusional

No. They definitely got hot at the right time, and when they played good teams they were 5-6. That’s honestly way better than they should have done. But they played 11 games against good hockey teams this year. Tough to take much away from that.

Habs don’t much up well against anyone. They got hot for a couple weeks. That doesn’t negate three years of stinking.

No. Vegas had 1 center and no scoring from it’s forwards in the playoffs because of it. And anything can happen in the playoffs. Columbus swept Tampa 2 years ago in the 1st round. Did that mean anything. TB was still the best team in the league and Columbus was still just mediocre. 💩 happens. 🤷🏻‍♂️

The last CFL season Ottawa went 3-15. They beat 3 playoff teams. Does that mean they were good?

Bergevin has done a great job building this team the last couple of years. Good drafting. Adding Toffoli, Anderson, Edmundson. I honestly thought they would be a lot better than what they were this year. And in the years to come they are going to be a good team. But this team was still below average and it was a fluke that they got to the SCF. The idea that “they were 3 wins away” from the Cup makes them good is rather silly.

Go yell during a moment of silence for a player who just died. That’s classy.

You wouldn’t give them credit even if they won the cup.
Weber, Petry, Gallagher broken hands. Toffoli and Gallagher groins. Injuries work both ways.

Funny, i just did. 🤷🏻‍♂️

The teams i grew up watching in the late 70s were the best team i have seen. Only the Russians of that era could rival them.

I picked them to win the division this year.

But a team 8 games under .500….c’mon.

You sound like Mark Scheifele.

Honestly, I don’t think the Habs care much about where we finish in the standings in the regular season. Build yourself for playoff hockey, get in, and anything can happen.

Exactly right, fans worry so much about winning divisions and standings. They are meaningless. Just make the playoffs and peak at the right time. Winning the President’s trophy and flaming out in the 1st round is pointless.

Then there’s the Leafs…..

What did i say that lacked class. It’s a pretty fair observation for a team that was 18th in the NHL this season, and had a worse winning percentage than buffalo last year. They just aren’t good.

But are they gonna get in? I find that super unlikely if the divisions go back to normal.

We’re not gonna agree. You think a team in the Stanley Cup finals doesn’t match up well against anyone.

That’s why they play the games. Habs have cap space next year. Leafs and Lightning both project to be worse.

Far to early to tell yet, offseason will bring big changes to everyone. I think the only thing we can say for certain about that division next year is Buffalo and Detroit have already been eliminated from the playoffs. 😂

And i think it’s a pretty fair point. They got hot. That happens in hockey all the time. You think columbus matched up well against tampa that year they swept them? No. They got hot for a week. Then the bruins bashed their brains in the next series (tampa was better than boston that year). These things happen.

But here is the problem: what you’re doing is weighting two series against garbage opponents, an impressive win against vegas, and a s**t kicking vs tampa more than you’re weighting the last few seasons, particularly the last two.

That’s like playing a golf course, tripling every hole, but scoring a birdie on the easiest hole and saying, “guys, i think i can play on tour.” Its recency bias and fantasyland.

And Ottawa. Only 5 teams left in the division, including a Lightning team that’s gonna have to amputate multiple limbs.

Ottawa is going to surprise people, they are up and coming. Still think they are 2 years away but they won’t be a doormat either. Buff and Det there is no quick fix for. Their farm systems are not great. They are going to suffer for a couple of years.

By all means if the habs add, they could do damage. Any team can say that though.
Here are the two biggest obstacles i see to montreal getting in.
1. The habs aren’t going to be playing half their schedule against vancouver, Calgary, and Ottawa. They will actually play good teams in the regular season.
2. Their biggest playoff asset was carey price. Is he just going to be the guy he was the last month or two, or is he going to be the guy he was the last four years?

When dealing with sample sizes that big vs sample sizes that are really small, I’m thinking water will find its level.

Tampa isn’t going to stink next year. They’ll do some magic, lose a piece or two, and be right there

Habs played badly against Calgary this year. Happy to have them out of our division. The major holes we had in recent years were fixed by Berg last offseason.
Backup goalie used to be a massive problem. Signed Allen.
Defensive depth? Added Edmundson, who was a revelation next to Petry. And Romanov is going to be a good one.
Size and speed at forward? Anderson is a unicorn.
Scoring? Added Toffoli and now Caufield.
Center position? Suzuki is 100% the real deal.

The future is bright in the 514.