My prevailing take on the Habs: They don't have time.

They have a very good prospect pool, yes, but the veteran pieces they need to have in order to have a legit playoff team (Danault, Tatar, Petry, Gallagher and Armia in particular) are expiring free agents next year. Montreal has enough cap space to bring them back, but you never know what will happen in free agency. Price and Weber are also aging and while Primeau looks like he could be the heir apparent to the former, I don't see one coming up for the latter (not on the right side at least). Without two or three of those guys, this team is a lot less scary imo and I don't know if they can compete in a division that includes teams like Tampa, Toronto, Boston and eventually Florida and hopefully (for their sake) Buffalo.

I think in 3-4 years, if they let all of their prospects mature, they could be a legit contender, but I could also see them falling into a cycle where they're kinda just stuck in the middle. Sounds crazy, but if they could find a way to get a guy like Hall or Pietrangelo in free agency this year, I feel like that could go a long way towards helping their future, even though it will cost them quite a bit.

I know that's not an optimistic take and I don't want to seem like a huge downer, but that's just what I'm seeing, as an outsider.

While not optimistic that's the harsh reality facing the Habs in the next 3 to 4 years.
I really believe that alot of the youngsters need to play together and form a winning culture but not right now at the NHL level. This needs to happen in Laval with guys like KK, Poehling, Ylonen, Brooks, Fleury and Primeau who should all benefit form at least 1 more full year in the AHL playing together. Doing such would have a number of benefits.
1. Gives MB the roster space he needs to go out on the free agent market and sign the players needed to compete. I believe we're a scoring winger, back up G and a top pairing LD away.
2. Gives the youngsters an opportunity to win together, form a culture down in Laval that will then transcend into the NHL as they start to make the jump one by one.
3. Gives the Habs a full year to properly evaluate what they have in the system. This is extremely important heading into the summer of 21 with the expansion draft looming and decisions needing to be made on TT, Petry, Gallagher, Armia, Lekhonen and Weal. Maybe Domi as well.