2016-17 record: 47-26-9 (103 points)
Lost to NY Rangers in Conference quarterfinals
Captain: Max Pacioretty
The Montreal Canadiens once again, were reliant on Carey Price to carry the team and once again, that strategy failed, as the Canadiens won the division, but were bounced in a rather weak effort by the New York Rangers in the first round of the playoffs. Now, they may be on the verge of salary cap hell, and there just simply isn't enough bodies to field a Stanley Cup contender. Sure, they'll likely make the playoffs once again, but it may not be long before this version of the Canadiens are talked about in the same breath as the late 90's Buffalo Sabres teams.
Up front, the Canadiens are very strong on the wings, but as always, are weak down the middle. The failure of Alex Galchenyuk to finally claim the top center role only complicates things, as his allergy to playing competent defense is all that holds him back, especially in a Claude Julien system. Max Pacioretty was a 30-goal scorer again, but disappeared in the playoffs, but he was hardly the only one. They really need to find secondary scorers, as Alex Radulov left and Jonathan Drouin is still in prove it mode, and solidify the center spot, and it wouldn't hurt if Phillip Danault takes that next step forward. The blue line was a strength a year ago, but it also lacked speed, something that the Canadiens found out the hard way when they saw what Shea Weber provided as opposed to PK Subban. Weber is still a weapon with the slap shot, but the rest of the supporting cast is changing, as Andrei Markov wasn't tendered an offer and left for the KHL, and Alexei Emelin was plucked in the Expansion Draft. David Schlemko is likely to compete for a spot on the last pairing and Karl Alzner was a nice pickup, but offers nothing that last year's group didn't already have. Price showed no ill effects of injuries that wiped out his 2015-16 season, and as a result, was given an 8-year extension in the off-season. The Canadiens are going to go as he goes once again, and Al Montoya and Charlie Lindgren will see action every once in a while and in the AHL, respectively.
Prediction: 2nd in the Atlantic Division
The Canadiens are still a strong team for as long as Price mans the nets. However, they did little to actually improve their team, as Drouin came at the price of Mikhail Sergachev, who was almost certainly ready for the NHL, and Drouin only merely replaces Radulov, one of the few Canadiens to show up in the playoffs. The Canadiens may be having their last stand as Stanley Cup contenders if they fall well short this season.
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