Probably not. The top 6 and Goalie are not good enough.

The top 6 is also 2 years older. Suzuki, Caufield each 80+ points. Slaf working towards that, Dach in the 70s, Newhook in the 50s

I disagree on the top6. Why is everyone suddenly crapping on the Habs top6 all of a sudden? Does no one remember when we had Plekanec and Desharnais as 1/2 up the middle? holy tamoly
Suzuki is the best center we've had since Koivu and Caufield will score more than Patches did. Slaf and Anderson are big boys who can take the play to the net.


I agree on goaltending though, it's unconvincing.

If this is 2025, I'd definitely have Hutson in our D lineup.
Guhle - Matheson
Hutson - Reinbacher
Xhekaj - Barron / Mailloux

What about Harris? I don' think Xhekaj is going to be better than him. Just because he is a fan favourite doesn't mean you keep him. Look at Romanov, right?

Thoughts

Suzuki will hit 80 pts 1 time in his career if hes lucky. Hes the 2020s version of Mikko Koivu and Caufield wont hit 80 unless theres another goal scorer which the habs do not have

I can’t see this team making the playoffs in essentially one year (not this but the next). Too many good teams in the Atlantic ahead of Montreal

Slaf, Anderson and Newhook would be 3rd liners on a good team. Based on what we have seen from them and not hypothetical projections.

Bringing up players from 10-15 years ago will not male me change my mind.

Slaf has 80+ point potential, doesn’t seem like a future 3rd liner to me

Says who? This is pure speculation lol.

Just look at his toolbox. Big, Amazingly skilled, decent skater, good speed, great shot, underrated playmaking. He has amazing tools to live up to his pick. This first year was an adjustment year to NA, and it is very common to see Europeans needing to adjust to NA ice. Wouldn’t be surprised if he popped out 40-50 as early as this year

CBJ has a surplus of players on 1-way contracts. They won't be net adding more. Maybe they put together a package to upgrade somewhere, but no one is coming in without one or multiple going out.

he hasnt even played a full season yet, any assessment is speculation. you realize the majority nhl players dont plateau 35 games into their career lol what a ridiculous take.

Talking about speculation, you're taking the sell side on a 19yr old, 1st round pick, based off, what, 40 GP?
Even I don't give up that early. Pessimism isn't meant to be shared, dude. Sorry someone pissed in your cornflakes this morning but that's not our problem.

Caufield will hit 40goals easy. If Suzuki is a 70-80 pt player in his career, and the Habs have 3 others (Dach may be one), then we could have a good 3 line team. How many point-per-game players did VGK have this season? Eichel! That's it

Thats because Stone only played half the year and they had 3 go ppg in the playoffs with a 4th just under

Giving up in Slav so early makes no sense, I ageee. But saying this team can make the playoffs year after next also makes no sense. They’ve been bottom feeders back to back, Atlantic is brutal and both Ottawa & Buffalo (maybe Detroit) are ahead of you in terms on competitive window

Sure, but Stone still avged like a 70 pt season. All I'm saying is you don't need 100pt players. Everyone is crapping on a team that's clearly being built on having 3 good lines, and not paying superstar money.

just dismiss the 3 ppg players in the playoffs part? Caufield is the only one who can get close to that. The rest are fringe 1st liners or fringe 2nd liner. Suzuki isnt even good defensively anymore. An opposing team could just shutdown the Caufield line and run through the rest

My argument is when you have a 3line team make the playoffs, you don't need 100 or 82 point players, that's all I'm saying. Playoffs are different, (so many guys over and underproduce in the playoffs it's kind of comparing apples and oranges.)
'Suzuki...anymore'. You're making it sound like he's 30yrs old man. He is still progressing as a pro, let him learn.