With the new NHL season beginning in January, the Montreal Canadiens have a lot questions about their starting lineup on offense.
After the Montreal Canadiens’ virtual trouncing of the Pittsburgh Penguins in last season’s qualifying round of the NHL’s ‘playoff bubble’, the Habs’ first round series versus the Philadelphia Flyers didn’t go as smoothly as they hoped. They got eliminated in six games. Throughout most of the series, the Canadiens found themselves falling into the same usual trap that had been plaguing them all season, letting in early goals and resorting to playing catchup all game.
The Flyers managed to play a sound and airtight defense, outworking, and shutting down Montreal’s smaller and faster forwards. Ultimately, when push came to shove, the Canadiens were getting bounced around with the Flyers managing to take liberties on the smaller Habs players.
However, the Canadiens put up an admirable effort after being the 24th ranked team in the NHL. They saw big steps taken by young centers Jesperi Kotkaniemi (4PTS, 10GP) and Nick Suzuki (7PTS, 10GP), consistent play from their top forwards in Tomas Tatar, Phillip Danault, and Brendan Gallagher, and significant improvement from an injury plagued Jonathan Drouin (7PTS, 10GP).
Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin decided that with his current core finally beginning to hit its stride, their problems highlighted in the first round needed to be addressed and took the steps necessary for the team to reach the next level.
On draft night, he went and trade F Max Domi for power forward Josh Anderson and then inked unrestricted free agent F Tyler Toffoli on Thanksgiving Day. These key acquisitions have provided Habs’ HC Claude Julien with several options in the lineup along with last year’s forward group.