A Winning Habit
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Montreal Canadiens: How Habs Stack Up In Future Atlantic Division Arms Race

By Sebastian Valasek

MONTREAL, CANADA - OCTOBER 12: Juraj Slafkovsky #20 of the Montreal Canadiens, in his first career NHL game battles with Rasmus Sandin #38 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period at Centre Bell on October 12, 2022 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, CANADA - OCTOBER 12: Juraj Slafkovsky #20 of the Montreal Canadiens, in his first career NHL game battles with Rasmus Sandin #38 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period at Centre Bell on October 12, 2022 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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BUFFALO, NY – JANUARY 30: Nick Suzuki #14 of the Montreal Canadiens. (Photo by Nicholas T. LoVerde/Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY – JANUARY 30: Nick Suzuki #14 of the Montreal Canadiens. (Photo by Nicholas T. LoVerde/Getty Images) /

The Risers

On the flip side of that, the basement of the Atlantic Division has become a comfortable home shared by the Canadiens, Senators, Sabres, and Red Wings (except for, of course, the miraculous Cup run of 2021).

The Senators, Red Wings, and Sabres, however, all entered this season with internal and external pressures to make a real push for the post-season. Though the results have been mixed, it is still very early in the season, and their processes point towards a bright future.

Buffalo has been awful for an entire decade. Though they have mismanaged assets and whiffed on several high draft picks, they finally appear to be moving in a positive direction. If most of their young talent develops as planned, they will become a highly competitive team within the next two to three seasons.

Ottawa and Detroit have a mix of developing young players and veterans ready to compete now. Alex DeBrincat, Dylan Larkin, Thomas Chabot, and Brady Tkachuk are at the peak of their powers and counting on the development of players like Lucas Raymond and Tim Stutzle (who is looking like a future Hart winner) among other recent draft picks. Though their prospect pools lack the depth and quality of Buffalo’s, they have more matured talent on their current rosters.

Buffalo, Ottawa, and Detroit have been bad for years and have yet to show definitive proof of concrete progress. However, all three appear likely to enter playoff contention soon, and remain at that level for a while.

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