Quote:
Originally Posted by Commandant
You missed something kind of important....
You also have to remember that the year Price was hurt, the Habs (a raw rookie in Condon and failed goalie in Scrivens) had the second worst save percentage in the NHL. The team with the worst that year? Calgary.
I don't need to remind you guys what the difference between that level of goaltending (2015-16) and league average goaltending (Cgy in 2016-17) can do for a club.
The 2015-16 Habs are a bubble playoff team with league average goaltending instead of league basement goaltending behind price. Hence why they went out and signed Montoya (after the season) and Lindgren (late in the year out of college).
For those who look at advanced stats, the 2016-17 Habs were a top 5 team in CF% and Fenwick%, they aren't as bad as you think.
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Now you pay a goalie $10.5M per season to watch him play most of those years past his prime. The Habs core is aging and they could quite possibly be the worst team up the middle of any team in the league. They traded Subban for a worse player 4 years older. They traded their top prospect for a young entitled winger who now is only really replacing Radulov.
Great goaltending, average D corp, great left wings, mediocre right wings, putrid centre depth.
Price might carry the team to the playoffs and they will play a structured defensive style but the team is going nowhere and will play a very boring brand of hockey.
I think with the moves made by Bergiven this summer they are likely a bubble team next season.
Calgary got better this summer and are loaded with young players that are still trending up.
Edmonton has the best player in the league not named Crosby and several other young players that could get better.
Toronto loaded with young talent that will get better. Marleau could be a solid addition.
Winnipeg is a team loaded with young improving players and finally have a new goalie.
Ottawa has a team that went deep last year. Chabot has a lot of hype around him but I am far from convinced they will duplicate what they did last year.
Vancouver is a tire fire but hilarious enough they have at least 2 centers on their roster that would be number 1 on the Habs.
In summary. Montreal is likely annywherw from the third to 6th best Canadian team. Their best 2 young players have had attitude issues in their young careers. Drouin might work out but the Galchenyuk rumors persist.