A Winning Habit
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It’s not possible for the Montreal Canadiens to tank the Qualifier

By Omar L

BOISBRIAND, QC - OCTOBER 05: Alexis Lafreniere #11 of the Rimouski Oceanic skates during the warm-up prior to the game against the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada at Centre d'Excellence Sports Rousseau on October 5, 2019 in Boisbriand, Quebec, Canada. The Blainville-Boisbriand Armada defeated the Rimouski Oceanic 5-3. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
BOISBRIAND, QC - OCTOBER 05: Alexis Lafreniere #11 of the Rimouski Oceanic skates during the warm-up prior to the game against the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada at Centre d'Excellence Sports Rousseau on October 5, 2019 in Boisbriand, Quebec, Canada. The Blainville-Boisbriand Armada defeated the Rimouski Oceanic 5-3. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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Montreal Canadiens
ST PAUL, MINNESOTA – OCTOBER 20: Montreal Canadiens (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

We also have to address Claude Julien‘s mindset with this. Why should he care about a 12.5% at a first overall pick? Julien has the most pressure out of anyone in the organization as one more failed season will likely send him out. Getting the Montreal Canadiens to perform well against the Penguins and potentially should boost his stock in the eyes of upper management. Marc Bergevin and Geoff Molson, on the other hand, are a different story.

This is where the push to tank is going to come from. That first overall pick can change everything for the management. Look at what Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, and Auston Matthews have done for their respective teams. It’s an ultimate game-changer, and with all teams having the same odds. Ironically, similar to how Pittsburgh acquired Sidney Crosby in 2005 as the entire league had a chance at him.

Bergevin can’t walk into that locker room and tell his veterans to lose on purpose. Bergevin can respectfully tell Julien a possible desire to lose, but he can’t force him to push that agenda. It’s going to be a scenario of happenstance if it plays out that way.

I’ve seen some takes on social media stating that if the Montreal Canadiens are down 2-0 in the series, then there should be some healthy scratches to the Pens the sweep, but that’s a tough sell. Teams have come back from the brink of elimination before, and the players in that locker room would want to be part of that storyline.

Next. Five goals that kept the Habs out. dark

Let me be clear. The Habs losing and being included in that second lottery is for the best. However, I don’t think the likes of Weber and Price are going to give up and take the loss. If anything, it would be more fulfilling if they fight, lose, and win the lottery.

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