Prepared for a Challenging Day Ahead
New and Improved: The Canadiens' Playoff Return and What's Next
Riding high on a 91-point season, and playing valiantly against the Washington Capitals in the playoffs, the Montreal Canadiens find themselves in an intriguing position – sparking the question of whether their rebuild is truly complete.
Guillaume Lefrançois and Simon-Olivier Lorange reported, and Nick Suzuki admitted, "That's exciting. Making the playoffs so quickly is special, and it makes me even more excited about the future." However, Suzuki also expressed hopes that the rebuild wouldn't stretch on for seven years, especially with his contract up in five years.
When asked directly about the rebuild, Suzuki wasn't ready to declare it over just yet, claiming, "We have a lot of picks, young players coming up. Who knows how it will turn out, what kind of players they'll become? It's a process, and each year will be different."
Historically, teams making their first playoff appearance after at least three straight misses have had mixed results. Analyzing 18 such cases since the 2012 NHL lockout uncovers that only three clubs – the Avalanche, Panthers, and Maple Leafs – have made it back to the playoffs twice in that span, only to miss again for another three years following.
Among these teams, only the Avalanche stands out as a potential model to follow, given their recent Stanley Cup victory in 2022, following years of ups and downs. However, making connections between the Avalanche's success and the Canadiens' rebuild might be premature, given the unique blend of factors involved in each club's trajectory.
Juraj Slafkovsky remains overtly optimistic, viewing the team's playoff appearance as evidence that the rebuild is a thing of the past. He believes the team's expectations should be raised, stating "Let's raise the expectations. It will motivate us; we'll play for something." However, veterans like Mike Matheson, while impressed by the team's progress, urge caution.
Matheson sees the team raising the bar and recognizes that "there's still a lot to accomplish in the coming years." The series against the Capitals served as a valuable learning experience, teaching younger players about handling higher levels of competition and setting the stage for even greater challenges in the future.
The Atlantic Division stands as a formidable obstacle, with five of its eight teams competing in the playoffs this year – and expectations remaining high for the up-and-coming Canadiens. As Alexandre Carrier warns, "Expectations, sometimes, they can play tricks on you." The team must be vigilant, preparing diligently for the upcoming season and staying committed to their collective, defensive play.
With the benefits of experience and increased expectations, only time will tell whether the Canadiens can consistently maintain their recent momentum and overcome the challenges ahead in the highly competitive Atlantic Division. The future may not be certain, but Josh Anderson remains optimistic, speaking of a team on the rise: "The fans have several reasons to be excited. We're just getting started."
- Alexandre, along with the team, has been impressed by the Canadiens' playoff return, expressing excitement about the future in hockey, particularly in the NHL.
- Despite the team's promising victory in the 30th season, Suzuki admitted that he hopes the rebuilding process won't extend for seven more years, considering his contract ends in five years.
- The Canadiens, who have shown great potential, are ready to face the challenges in the Atlantic Division, as they aim to build on their playoff success in sports.
- Looking back at history, teams that make a playoff comeback after multiple misses have experienced mixed results, but the Canadiens are eager to follow in the footsteps of teams like the Avalanche, who have achieved greatness after enduring years of ups and downs.
