2017-18 record: 29-40-13 (71 points)
Missed the playoffs
Captain: TBA
Look up the phrase "dumpster fire" in the dictionary, and you're likely to see the Montreal Canadiens somewhere in the description. It's apt, as the Canadiens simply haven't been able to do anything right other than find a superstar goaltender. Now, the team that has Carey Price is trying to rebuild...with the same coaching staff and management that got them in this predicament in the first place. Good luck.
The Canadiens were only better than two teams on the offensive side of the ledger, and their inability to find a top line center has been a problem since Saku Koivu last played there, which was a good ten years ago. Their attempts to convert Jonathan Drouin to center didn't pan out, and thus far, neither has the Drouin trade that saw Mikhail Sergachev go to Tampa Bay. Sergachev outscored Drouin, and Sergachev is a defenseman. Their answer this year to the center problem? Bringing back Tomas Plekanec after his brief exodus to Toronto and Jesperi Kotkaniemi, the team's first round pick this year. Regardless of who the top line center is, they now also have the bonus of having no depth on the wings, as Max Pacioretty was traded and Max Domi isn't the offensive source that his trade counterpart Alex Galchenyuk was. Defensively, they ranked 26th. Why did they rank there despite having Carey Price in net? Simple, their unit lacks any kind of foot speed, no one can move the puck except Victor Mete, who should have spent another year in major junior last year, and now, Shea Weber is going to miss the first two months to injury. Where the reinforcements come from is anyone's guess. As for Price, he was rather ordinary, but some of that was injury and some of it was the team in front of him giving him no help. At least Antti Niemi decided to stop letting everything in long enough to get another shot in the NHL with Montreal. Charlie Lindgren will get time in the AHL to get starter's minutes, something he isn't likely to get often backing up Price.
Prediction: 7th in the Atlantic Division
The Canadiens are a directionless team that is likely tanking for Jack Hughes in next year's draft. Knowing that the team has proven to be a destination to stay away from, as evidenced by the John Tavares sweepstakes, the rebuild may be taking longer than expected, even if the regime changes.
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