Allen without retention isn't something that has positive value

also playoffs?

13th in the east in point%.

Last in the NHL in regulation wins.

Bottom 5 in the league in xGoals%.

And just look at the roster.

But hey if you're confident there's +1400 odds on montreal to make the playoffs.

I get that Anderson has scored finally & Slaf hasn’t been sent to minors, but getting ahead of yourself maybe.

I don't believe they will make the playoffs (I would kind of prefer they don't), but they are 4 points out of a wild card spot and 6 out of a division spot.
The East is wide open. Ottawa is pretty much cooked, while Buffalo and Columbus face difficult uphill climbs, but things can change quickly due to the small gap in points.
They are this close despite significant issues and being under development. This isn't a testament to the strength of their roster, but an indication of just how badly the competition has struggled as well.

I don't want them to be buyers regardless. Stay the course. If it happens it happens, but they should still be sellers at the deadline and definitely not spending assets on what is most likely to be a short playoff run.

In the division there's no chance they catch up. Boston TO and Fla are too far ahead and too good.

Florida for example has 16 wins in regulation. You have 6. an 8-3 record in OT/Shootout isn't a sustainable way to win hockey games.

Going into the wildcard. Looking down the rosters:

Detroit Tampa are better and ahead. I'd trust ottawa and buffalo more.

In the metro. Pitt has been unlucky, but the roster is much better and they're playing better hockey.

NJD Carolina are lightyears ahead. They've had the worst goaltending in hockey and still are ahead in the standings. Not catching them.

NYR making it.

Philly looks surprisingly good. Don't see you catching them.

Washington and NYI aren't good teams imo. But they've banked points, are still on par talent wise, and NYI has a top 3 goalie in hockey.

I just don't think Montembault is enough of a goalie to will a bad team to the playoffs in a very deep east.

The only teams in the east I'd take MTL over are CBJ and maybe ottawa.

I said I don't think they are going to make it, for many of the reasons stated, but the possibility exists and can't simply be dismissed off-hand.
Coincidentally Sportsnet just posted an article about how Montreal goaltenders are "stealing" wins. That could be all it takes for the standings to shuffle, especially with teams above them posting lower than expected save percentages and dealing with injuries in net. Stranger things have happened, that's why they play 82 games and don't just cut the season short when it looks like things are pretty much set.
It's snide to scoff at the notion.

But the fact that they're stealing wins is the problem.

With their goalies stealing wins they're still 13th in points%.

Again look at NJD and Car. They've had HORRIFIC goaltending so far. Still ahead.

And the thing is, even going forward

If I'm asked to choose between
Vanacek Schmid, Pyotr Raanta Freddie, and Allen Monty. for the REST of the season.

I'm not sure the Habs goalies are who I go for

Montreal has players below expected in goals and the PP and PK are performing poorly. If they figure one of those things out before those above them, they can gain ground.
Yes the odds are against them. I'm not arguing that.
It's that you are dismissing the possibility altogether.

Senators might say yes, thats a pretty good offer for a rental, only if Beck can play wing, seeing as we have Stutzle, Norris, Pinto, maybe even Greig if needed down the middle

The problem is goalies can flip any second (or a stopgap can be cheaply acquired)

What you're talking about is montreal becoming a significantly better hockey team in every aspect.

Again, in terms of generating chances vs preventing chances against, Montreal is a bottom 5 team in the league.

Just 6 teams in the NHL have an xGoal differential worse than -8.5. Montreal is at -18.

If I had to rank teams in terms of playoff likelihood, Montreal would probably be 15th in the east.

Yeah the thread was created as a simple "what if" scenario, not expecting the Habs to make the playoffs, they probably fall even further down the standings but it is still fun to imagine a stretch run leading to a playoff berth