A Winning Habit
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Is the playoffs enough for the Montreal Canadiens next season?

By Omar L

TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 14: Shayne Gostisbehere #53 of the Philadelphia Flyers looks for the puck against Jesperi Kotkaniemi #15 of the Montreal Canadiens during the first period in Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 14, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 14: Shayne Gostisbehere #53 of the Philadelphia Flyers looks for the puck against Jesperi Kotkaniemi #15 of the Montreal Canadiens during the first period in Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 14, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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Montreal Canadiens
TORONTO, ONTARIO – AUGUST 14: Montreal Canadiens (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Discussing the biggest takeaway for the Montreal Canadiens after the playoffs, a move Marc Bergevin must make and whether the playoffs are enough next year.

It’s the first roundtable of the offseason where we get into some of the heavier questions for the Montreal Canadiens to tackle over the next few months.

1) What is your main takeaway from the Montreal Canadiens’ performance in the playoffs?

Teddy Elliot: I caught myself repeating Dante’s famous “I’m not even supposed to be here today!” while watching Montreal’s improbable playoff run, but in all fairness, I don’t think anyone was supposed to be here today. But it happened, and here we are.

One major takeaway? In a word – experience. The Habs have a whole lot of young talent that now has playoff experience and going into next season, that will be absolutely crucial to not only the team’s performance but its mindset. The kids, specifically Nick Suzuki and Jesperi Kotkaniemi, know what’s at stake and proved that they hang with the league’s top dogs.

Not only did they handily dispatch the Pittsburgh Penguins and their two-headed beast, but they also gave a top-seeded Philadelphia Flyers team a run for their money and almost pushed them to Game 7. The Canadiens absolutely needed this crucial experience to light a fire under them, and honestly, it was mission accomplished.

The league should be on alert because, with this newfound energy, a depth of riches at the centre position, and a slew of enticing and highly-talented prospects coming soon, the Canadiens are going to be a force to be reckoned with for many years to come.

Emmanuel D: After watching the Canadiens give it their all in the playoffs, I believe there is a good foundation for the future of the organization. Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Nick Suzuki took a step forward in their careers, and so long as they continue on this path, the Canadiens may have finally solved a long-time issue at the centre position.

Carey Price and Shea Weber played strong games, and the Canadiens get some upgrades on defence and a backup goalie, they’ll be in a good position. However, Marc Bergevin should be wary of acquiring immediate help if the price is sacrificing a top prospect.

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