The Montreal Canadiens are drawing serious Stanley Cup chatter, but one analyst isn’t buying the hype.
Randy Timmins thinks the whole conversation is built on shaky ground. In his view, Montreal is being talked about like a division contender when the roster doesn’t look all that convincing, and he says the margin for error is razor-thin.
"Not sure why everyone has the Habs competing for the division. To me, this lineup is just not pretty. One key injury from lottery team."
That’s a blunt assessment, and it has already rubbed plenty of Canadiens fans the wrong way. After all, Montreal did finish third in its division last season and pushed all the way to the Eastern Conference Final, so the idea that the club is suddenly on the edge of the cellar feels like a stretch to many.
There is also the obvious counterpoint: every NHL team is vulnerable when a key player goes down. That part of Timmins’ warning is hard to dismiss outright, even if the conclusion is harsher than most would draw.
Still, the concern isn’t coming out of nowhere. Montreal’s dependence on Nick Suzuki and Lane Hutson stands out, and an extended absence from either player could create real problems for the lineup.
The good news for the Canadiens is that the front office may not be done. Another move before the season begins could help smooth out some of the issues Timmins identified.
Either way, the expectations around Montreal are high again, and that alone changes the tone around the team. But if Suzuki or Hutson were to miss significant time, the Canadiens could find themselves in a much tougher spot - just like plenty of other teams in the division.
In Other News...
Canadiens Still Have One Roster Question Around Xhekaj And Bolduc
Geoff Molson sounded upbeat in a recent interview about where the Canadiens stand after last season, saying he was satisfied with the teams performance and encouraged by the way the roster is developing. He also made clear that Arber Xhekaj and Zach Bolduc remain important pieces in the organizations plans, a notable point with training camp approaching and Montreal still sorting through the edges of its depth chart.
The bigger question is how both players fit once the dust settles. Xhekajs usage has not fully settled into a defined role, and Bolduc remains unsigned after finishing the playoffs on the fourth line, leaving Montreal with one of those familiar late-summer roster puzzles that can shape how a team starts the year. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Roster Puzzle Puts Some Young Pieces In Play
The Canadiens search for help on the right side of their defense has turned into a roster puzzle with real long-term stakes. With future salary-cap room to work with, the front office can afford to think beyond a quick fix, and that has kept attention on a possible move for Zach Whitecloud as Montreal looks to balance its blue line while also adding more size and physicality up front.
What makes the conversation more interesting is the kind of young talent that could be pulled into the discussion if the Canadiens decide to press ahead. Montreal has prospects it would prefer not to move lightly, but it also has to weigh the value of future flexibility against the appeal of helping the current roster now. For the moment, it is still speculation and planning more than action, but the kind of move the Canadiens are considering could reshape more than one part of the lineup. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens May Go Only As Far As Ivan Demidov Takes Them
Montreal did not make many sweeping changes this offseason, choosing instead to tinker around the edges while letting the roster largely carry over. The most notable departures were Brendan Gallagher and Joe Veleno, and the additions were mostly depth pieces aimed at the AHL side, which leaves the Canadiens leaning on internal growth more than outside fixes.
Ivan Demidov is at the center of that bet after a rookie season that put him firmly on the leagues radar and left him second in Calder Trophy voting. He showed plenty of upside, but he also cooled late, and Montreals outlook now hinges on whether he can turn that promise into steadier second-year production. For a team that did not do much to change its ceiling, his next step may end up setting the tone. [Read more 🡒]