The Florida Panthers became the ninth-straight team to win the Presidents’ Trophy but fail to win the Stanley Cup after suffering a premature exit from the playoffs in the second round. The Panthers were outstanding over the course of the season to finish with the best record, 58–18–6, in the NHL.

However, after beating the Washington Capitals in the first round, they were handed a test of their mettle against the back-to-back champions, Tampa Bay Lightning. Andrew Brunette’s men were not up to the challenge against the experience and nous of the Lightning, folding by a 4-0 margin. It raises the question across the NHL whether finishing top of the standings is a true reflection of the best team in the league. But how does this relate to the Montreal Canadiens?

Missed Opportunity

When the 2022/23 season begins, the Canadiens will certainly not be one of the leading contenders in the NHL odds to win the Presidents’ Trophy, having missed the post-season for the first time in two years, one season removed from suffering a defeat in the Stanley Cup Finals. The Canadiens failed to build on their breakout term and drifted well out of contention in the Eastern Conference by finishing bottom of the standings.

Although the campaign was disappointing, there is no reason for the Canadiens to be too downbeat about their hopes for the next campaign. They have a chance to rebuild their roster with draft picks and signings to bolster the ranks with head coach Martin St. Louis, who guided the franchise back into form after replacing Dominique Ducharme. It was too little too late to turn the campaign completely around, but the Canadiens do have hope for the future.

Room for Hope

Especially in the light of the success of teams that have risen from the wildcard or even second and third place in their respective divisions to win the Stanley Cup. The Canadiens’ 2020/21 campaign was proof of that, as although the divisions were re-aligned for the season, Montreal rose from the pack and defeated talented teams in the playoffs before losing out at the hands of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Canadiens can also take heed from their last Stanley Cup triumph in 1993. They finished fourth in the Prince of Wales Conference, eight games off the pace of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who won the Presidents’ Trophy. However, Montreal unleashed a dominant run in the post-season to brush aside all comers to win the crown, defeating the Los Angeles Kings 4-1 in the Finals. Whereas the Penguins lost in the second round of the post-season to the New York Islanders.

For all their exploits in the regular season, the Penguins failed to rise to the occasion, as did the Panthers in the current among the eight other sides in recent history that have failed to turn their outstanding regular season form into Stanley Cup success.

So, it proves that the Canadiens don’t have to go from the worst to the top of the standings, but an improvement is still required to move into the wildcard or the top three of the Atlantic Division. However, it does prove that all is not lost for the Canadiens.