A Winning Habit
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Montreal Canadiens: Can This Team Compete Next Year Like Marc Bergevin Believes?

By Ken MacMillan

WINNIPEG, MB - DECEMBER 23: Tomas Tatar #90 of the Montreal Canadiens is all smiles as he celebrates his first period goal against the Winnipeg Jets at the Bell MTS Place on December 23, 2019 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Habs defeated the Jets 6-2. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, MB - DECEMBER 23: Tomas Tatar #90 of the Montreal Canadiens is all smiles as he celebrates his first period goal against the Winnipeg Jets at the Bell MTS Place on December 23, 2019 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Habs defeated the Jets 6-2. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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BUFFALO, NY – JANUARY 30: Carey Price #31 of the Montreal Canadiens. (Photo by Nicholas T. LoVerde/Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY – JANUARY 30: Carey Price #31 of the Montreal Canadiens. (Photo by Nicholas T. LoVerde/Getty Images) /

Rested Carey Price would give this roster a chance to compete

In goal, Carey Price will be back and he has been great for much of this season so why won’t he be able to play well again next year? What he really needs is a proper backup goaltender. Right now, the Habs don’t have a second goalie that has recorded more wins than the Toronto Maple Leafs Zamboni driver. Cayden Primeau, Keith Kinkaid and Charlie Lindgren all have one win right now.

The Habs could go out in the summer and trade for a goal scorer, sign a defenseman or draft a future star with the sixth overall pick. However, the biggest need if the team is going to compete next year is a goaltender that can play 30 games.

One interesting option is Jaroslav Halak who was partnered with Price ten years ago in Montreal. Anton Khudobin would be perfect. Thomas Greiss or even Camp Talbot would be far better than Antti Niemi, Keith Kinkaid and Charlie Lindgren.

So, is Bergevin right to be optimistic about the Habs chances next year? Or is he delusional? Well, if you think Suzuki can be a first line center, Kotkaniemi and Domi can be better that what they’ve shown this season, Romanov can play regular minutes and the team can sign a backup goaltender then they do have a chance to compete.

The Atlantic Division has two good teams this year and there is no reason to believe the Toronto Maple Leafs, Florida Panthers or Buffalo Sabres can be better next year. There is no reason to believe the Ottawa Senators or Detroit Red Wings can close the giant chasm between them and the playoffs.

The Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning should still be great teams next year. But there is no question that the Montreal Canadiens could join them in the playoffs in 2021 if a few things go right. If things don’t go right, Bergevin can still trade these guys at next year’s trade deadline. He didn’t hang on to anyone that is going to be a free agent this summer. All of these players are signed through next year.

I guess that begs the question, is making the playoffs competing?

The old adage suggest if you get in anything can happen. Playoffs is often about two teams that are very similar and the one with the goaltender who plays better for two weeks moves on. If Carey Price only has to play 50 games in the regular season instead of 70, I would bet on him against anybody in a seven game series.

Evans is back with the Habs. dark. Next

The Habs have been accused of trying to go in two different directions at the same time. The thing is, they already have one of the best prospect pools in the league. So, why can’t they compete for a playoff spot next year and let their kids marinate for another year in college, Laval, Sweden or Finland. They might be trying to do two things at once, but they also just might be able to pull it all off next season.

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