From nothing to contender in a few steps (plus lots of luck)

Team: 2017-18 Montreal Canadiens

Initial Creation Date: Feb. 24, 2018

Published: Feb. 24, 2018

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

First trade is done at trade deadline. Both EDM and MTL need to change some key players and Pacioretty and RNH are the most likely to be traded. By doing this trade, EDM get a first line winger and one of the faster players in the league Paul Byron, that could do amazing things with Mcdavid on the breakout. EDM also gets a top 6 defence that has a physical side that will help out in the west. MTL also gives up Plekanec with half of his salary retained so that Edm can try him out and see if they want to keep him as a third line center.

The De La rose trade is also done at the deadline but I don't know what team would be the most interested in this player so I put up Toronto.

The trade with Arizona is done during the draft day and Arizona will pay to price to get the brothers together. Mtl would now have 5 second rounds picks in 2018.

Now the lucky part, Montreal wins the lottery and gets the first overall draft pick selects Rasmus Dahlin.
After having drafted Rasmus Dahlin and acquiring RNH, John Tavares is seduced to come play in mtl with Carey Price and Shea Weber already there.
Finally, MTL does a major trade with NY Rangers that are currently rebuilding. MTL offers a first, a young winger that has a very good offensive potential with a rookie season of 18 goals, a junior MVP goaltender for Ryan McDonagh but Rangers also have to take on Karl Alzner contract.

With the salary cap going up to 80 M this summer, MTL would have 7M to resign Danault, Carr and McCarron.

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