Making a trip to the playoffs and winning the Stanley Cup is the ultimate goal for any hockey team when training camp commences in September, and the Montreal Canadiens are no different. But with a young team that has been in rebuilding mode for a while, the Habs realistically aren’t even getting close to a deep playoff run in 2024-25.
But that doesn’t mean they won’t have a successful year in what should be a campaign that will bridge them from what was once a rebuilding effort to simply building. Below, I’ve outlined three items in what I’m calling the ‘ultimate checklist’ for a successful year.
No, making the playoffs isn’t one of them, but putting together a respectable performance this season is where I’ll begin.
Finishing fifth or better in the Atlantic
The Atlantic Division could be a tricky one this season, or at least after the Florida Panthers and Boston Bruins once again show why they’re among the most dominant teams in the NHL. Sorry, but that’s a fact, and there’s no way the Canadiens will keep up with them this year.
Anyway, everything else is rather open, with the Toronto Maple Leafs boasting a strong offense but maybe adequate defense and goaltending. The Detroit Red Wings once again look good on paper, but will the hot and cold streaks that ultimately kept them out of the playoffs end?
Then, there is the Tampa Bay Lightning, who just lost its team captain and one of its better blueliners, even if they got a solid consolation in Jake Guentzel. Still, Tampa hasn’t been the same team for a while.
The Ottawa Senators aren’t a good group, and the Buffalo Sabres may have a better bottom-six, but they never addressed their top-six unless you think Jason Zucker has a good season or two left. That said, the Canadiens aren’t guaranteed to finish seventh or eighth in 2024-25, and taking a top-five spot, even if it’s not enough to get them into the playoffs, will create a lot of optimism for 2025-26.
Massive growth from their youngsters
One young player is already crushing it in camp, and while the Habs don’t need to see epic performances from its youngsters immediately, they must grow substantially this year. Juraj Slafkovsky could be leading the way, but I’d rather see Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield in the mix to set career-highs, especially since they’re the more experienced of the trio.
Alex Newhook and Cayden Primeau are another two who must grow, and let’s not forget the blue line, where Arber Xhekaj, Justin Barron, Lane Hutson, Kaiden Guhle, and Jayden Struble should all be better players in April than in October if they make the big club.
This doesn’t mean they need to be borderline All-Stars, but none can afford stagnation if they want to be considered part of the core in the future.
Proving they were right about Patrik Laine
Trading for Patrik Laine was risky, but it could be well worth the reward should he enjoy a resurgence in Quebec. If general manager Kent Hughes didn’t believe Laine was a good fit in Montreal, chances are he never would have traded for someone who is still a young player in this league.
Pair him with some of those up-and-coming forwards and find the right line for him, and Laine will be fine in Montreal. Failing to play to the former second-overall pick’s strengths will hurt the Habs this season, but if they utilize him correctly, they’ll prove to the hockey universe they were right to bring him over.
Should that occur, five of Montreal’s present and future top-six could be filled, meaning there’s only one spot they’ll need to fill shortly down the road. And if you asked me, I’d say that player will be none other than Ivan Demidov.