Canada is a nation of sports fans. Whether it be ice skating, American Football, curling, rugby, or basketball, Canadians are huge fans of all kinds of sports. Surveys have been done, which show that three-quarters of the Canadian population follow at least one professional sport. Of course, one sport stands atop the list of Canada’s favorite pastimes. The sport that, at this point, is synonymous with the United States’ Norther neighbors, hockey.

Canada has had a vibrant hockey culture for as long as they’ve been playing the sport, and their teams have dominated international games for most of the 20^th century. Today hockey is more popular than ever, and is considered Canada’s national pastime. Hockey is also a popular amateur sport among Canadians, with men, women, and children playing it for fun, sport, and in amateur tournaments.

Like with most popular sports, hockey has a pretty big betting scene. In Canada especially, hockey is the most popular betting sport. The Canadian hockey scene sees multiple millions of dollars from the betting industry alone. The internet has introduced a whole new way to bet on sports, with the advent of online betting shops. Due to a huge demand, new online betting shops pop up on the internet almost weekly, with sites like www.helpbet.com seeing an increased number of users daily.

One of the most popular Canadian ice hockey teams, is the Montreal Canadiens. The Canadiens have had a long and storied career, with many of hockey’s best players, playing for the team through the years. In this article, we will take a look at a few of Montreal’s best players, and briefly discuss their career.

Ken Dryden

During Ken “four-story goalie” Dryden’s stint as a Montreal Canadien, he won a number of awards including five Vezina trophies and six Stanley Cups. With 258 wins, he had the third highest career wins as a goalie for the Canadiens. To many, he is the best of the Canadiens, tying with another legend, Jacques Plante, in number of playoff shut-outs, each of them having 10. Due to his massive stature, Ken Dryden earned the nickname “the four-story goalie”.

Jacques Plante

Competing with Dryden for the title of “greatest goalie”, and in the eyes of many winning the competition, Jacques Plante certainly is a legend among Montreal’s Canadiens. During his long career he won six Vezina trophies, and six Stanley Cups. On top of that, he won a Hart trophy. He is third in playoff wins for Montreal, behind Dryden and Roy, and is tied with Dryden for number of playoff shut-outs, as stated above. Jacques Plante played competitively in the National Hockey League for 23 years, and retired at the age of 44.

Maurice “Rocket” Richard

Maurice Richard is one of the best hockey players in the game. He was the first to score 50 goals in a season. He set a record for number of goals scored in a career, with 544 goals, a record which Gordie Howe passed in ’63.

He won eight Stanley cups in Montreal, and for four of them he served as captain of the team, and in 1946/47, Maurice Richard won the Hart trophy. The Rocket is rightfully remembered as one of the best National Hockey League players in history.

It is not uncommon to come across a massively popular sport in a country. This is essentially the case in Canada, where hockey remains the dominant sport for fans and gamblers.

This article seeks to discover the reasons behind the growing popularity of hockey betting in Canada. Read on to learn these driving factors.

The Canadian Hockey History

In Canada, hockey is not just another game, no. The sport dates way before the launch of the National Hockey League, which recently celebrated its 100th anniversary. To set the record straight, the NHL was founded in 1917; this means that Canadian hockey is older than that.

Canadians have been passing their love for the sport from one generation to another for over a century. The NHL was launched with a mission to help propagate the passion for hockey in Canada and the US.

Over the past four Olympic ice hockey tournaments, Canada took the first position in three. This is probably one of the reasons why the sport has been gaining more popularity over the past few years.

Canada has proved itself as the hockey powerhouse across the globe. It’s only prudent to say that Canada is the team to beat.

A Close Proximity to National Teams

The NHL boasts 32 teams as of the 2021-22 season, and the number is expected to keep growing. Of the total teams, seven are from Canada: Montreal Canadiens, Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton, and Calgary Flames.

While 7/32 might seem like a small number, you should take note that there is only one Canadian NBA team and no Canadian NFL team at all. In addition, there is only one major Canadian team in Baseball, the Toronto Blue Jays.

Of all major sports leagues in North America (NFL, NHL, MLB, and NBA), only nine teams are Canadian, and seven are hockey teams. These teams are evenly distributed across the country, with the Maples Leafs in southern Ontario, the Senators in northern Ontario, and the Canadiens in Quebec.

Therefore, it becomes feasible for Canadians to place wagers on hockey games because they will not have to travel to other jurisdictions. Even when the locals are not realistically in touch with the teams, they feel close enough and are heavily invested in the games and their outcomes. Many have turned to PayPal casinos for Canadian players to try their luck at online gambling.

Hockey is a Fast-Evolving Sport

Like all other sports, hockey keeps on evolving to keep fans entertained and excited. It is also worth noting that the gameplay is quite fast as well. The game proceeds without much interruption. One cannot call a timeout or overstep the bounds just to get a stoppage, and as such, the game will only stop from an intermission or commercial break.

The league prioritizes speed and skill over toughness and size. Being a continuous sport, hockey bettors get a better chance to actualize their wagers in good time. The NHL plans to deploy an electronic puck-tracking system, which will catalyze hockey betting in Canada.

Easy Availability of Information

With the advent of the internet, it has become easier to access information with the click of a button. Research shows that over 60% of the adult population have access to smart devices with access to the internet.

Canadians can access hockey gambling information from the comfort of their smartphones. This means access to a wide variety of lucrative odds and relevant gambling intel. Therefore, it’s not surprising that more Canadian hockey fans have taken to the betting facet of the sport.

Parity

The NHL is the most popular but not the only hockey league where Canadians can place wagers. The league delivers optimum parity to hockey fans by balancing the teams across the board.

Over the past 16 NHL seasons, there have been 11 teams that won the Stanley cup. St. Louis Blues won the Stanley in the 2018-19 seasons but finished position 30 last season.

This is different from what we have witnessed in other leagues, such as the NBA, where the Golden State Warriors won three of the four seasons between 2015 and 2018. On the other hand, Chicago Bulls took home six NBA championship titles in a span of eight between 1991 and 1998.

The same trend is also seen in the NFL, where the New England Patriots have won the AFC East title each year since 2003. The same team also won three Super Bowls from its last four appearances.

The results are quite unpredictable when it comes to the National Hockey League. This fact alone presents a lucrative gambling opportunity; the underdog plays that pay significantly substantial returns.

High Volatility of Outcomes

Under/over results in hockey, betting remains highly volatile. This means that the team with the worst standings still stands a chance against superior teams. This phenomenon is unique from what we see in leagues like the NHL and the NBA.

The parity witnessed within hockey betting translates to uncertainty. With the punter investing deeper into their research, the overall entertainment value is boosted.

Sports betting is all about watching a high-paced game with a background of hours of research. This explains why Canada’s most popular sport also ranks as the most wagered upon.

The Appeal of Ice Hockey

Ice hockey happens to be the most popular form of hockey in Canada, with the sport keeping fans on the edge of their seats for decades. Therefore, it’s not surprising that ice hockey betting is quite prevalent within the country.

Betting is one of the ways through which fans show support for their teams. Ice hockey wagering is all about putting your money where your mouth is. The betting aspect of any sport is often as popular as the sport itself. At the beginning of 2021, NHL witnessed record viewership as the industry reopened post covid-19 restrictions.

Although a huge majority of fans enjoy the sport without wagering on it, betting often provides more fun to the sport due to invested financial and emotional efforts. However, it is prudent to note that gambling is just a different form of entertainment, and as such, you should not stake more than what you can afford to lose.

Judging by turnover in the Montreal Canadiens roster for the 2021-22 season, one would never imagine that the Montreal Canadiens made it to the Stanley Cup Finals last season.

With expiring contracts, a flat-cap era, and injuries, the Canadiens 2021-22 roster has already seen 9 new faces this season.  And we are only one-fifth into the season. 

Follow the NHL as DraftKings sportsbook is coming to Canada and get ready for all the moving parts as trade deadline might get hectic.

#68  Mike Hoffman

Mike Hoffam is a free-agent signing from the Florida Panthers.  #68 is a number Hoffman wore with all the NHL teams he’s played with (Ottawa, Florida, St. Louis) and now with the Habs.  Only one other player has ever worn #68 in Habs History; Yanick Webber; 2009-13.

#28 Christian Dvorak

Christian Dvorak was acquired from the Arizona Coyotes during the off-season. He previously wore #18 with Arizona.  The no. 28 in Habs history has been worn by 19 other players.  First used back in 1977.  Notable players to wear #28 includes former 50 goal scorer Pierre Larouche.

#85 Mathieu Perreault

Mathieu Perreault was another off-season signing.  Perreault has worn #85 previously with Winnipeg, and Washington.  Morgan Ellis was the only other player to ear this number back in 2016 for three games.

#13 Cedric Paquette

Cedric Paquette signed as a free agent chose lucky number 13, a number he’s worn with previously with Tampa Bay.  Some memorable Canadiens wo have worn this number include Alex Tanguay, Mike Cammerlleri, and Max Domi.

#58 David Savard

David Savard is the big defenceman Habs fans are hoping can fill some of the big shoes left by Shea Weber, who will miss the entire 2021-22 season due to injuries, and possibly never play hockey again.  Savard has worn #58 his entire career; with Columbus and Tampa Bay.  And he becomes the fourth Canadiens player to wear the jersey.  David Desharnais first wore it during the 2009-10 season.

#20 Chris Wideman

Chris Wideman made a return to the NHL tis season after a season in the KHL.  Wideman never wore #20 before.  Wideman becomes the 50^th player ever to wear #20 in Canadiens history; the most in Habs history.  Pete Mahovlich, Mark Hunter, Richard Zednick are some of the players to wear the number for more than one season. Otherwise it’s for transitionary players.

#15 Sami Niku

The Canadiens picked up Sami Niku after he was released from Winnipeg.  Finnish born player, the Canadiens basically gave him this number, as Jesperi Kotkaniemi, another Finnish player, wore it for the last two season before he signed with the Carolina Hurricanes.  Among famous players to wear #15, Maurice Richard wore it when he was first called up back in 1943.  Former Canadiens GM Rejean Houle wore it too.  Bobby Rousseau wore it for parts of 9 seasons.

#24 Adam Brooks

Adam Brooks was picked up off waivers from Toronto.  Brooks becomes the 40^th different player in Habs history to wear this number.  He joins Chris Chelios, Mathieu Schneider, Lyle Odelein, and Phillip Danault.

#55 Michael Pezzetta

Michael Pezzetta took the long way to get to the NHL.  Having played in the ECHL, and the AHL , Pezzetta finaly made his debut in the NHL at the age of 23.  He was given #55, and he’s now the 6^th player in Canadiens history to wear #55.  Igor Ulanov first wore it back in 1998.

#35 Sam Montembeault

With Carey Price not available to start the season, the Canadiens needed to find a back for Jake Allen.  Taken from the Florida Panthers organization , Sam Montembeault was assigned an unofficial goalie number; 35.  I say unofficial because of the 13 players to have worn this number, this marks the 7^th time a goalie has worn it.  And it’s now 5 goalies consecutively.  Mike McPhee was first to war it back in 1984.

The Montreal Gazette’s Steve Faguy writes an excellent summary to Montreal Canadiens viewing guide for the upcoming season.
See link

Some notes to point out.

In Canada, status quo for Montreal Canadiens fans. 
– English:  50 regional Habs games on TSN2, regional restrictions apply.  32 Habs National broadcast games airing on CBC/Sportsnet, or CityTV.  These games air on Monday, Wednesday or Saturday night.  See link above.
– French:  50 regional Habs games on RDS.  Regional restrictions apply.  22 Habs National games airing on TVA Sports.

For those outside the regional area, there is hope.  You can purchase a streaming package for $59.99.  It gives you access to RDS’s package:

• Stream 60 regional Canadiens games and 55 regional Senators games in French (regular season only).
• Only available West of Belleville, ON.
• Not available in Eastern Ontario, Quebec, or Atlantic Canada. This pass is not available on Roku.

https://secure.nhllive.com/pricing?ro=true&lang=en

For Montreal Canadiens fan in the US, big changes this coming season as the NHL TV rights move from NBC/NBCSN to ABC/ESPN , TNT, and Hulu.  The majority of the Montreal Canadiens games will be available on streaming app ESPN+.  So far, no Canadiens game is scheduled to air on linear TV (ABC/ESPN/TNT).

The Montréal Canadiens reached some almighty heights in the makeshift 2020/21 NHL campaign. Defying all odds to make it to the Stanley Cup Finals, the Habs asserted themselves as a team not to be taken lightly. Given the state of the team, the progress laid down a marker. One that indicated that a couple more seasons of growth and savvy acquisitions could see the Canadiens contending for the Cup once more.

However, despite an opening to the free agency in July, which saw Phillip Danault leave for the Los Angeles Kings, but several strong players join the fold, optimism turned to disarray. As September rolled in, Habs fans learned that one of their brightest young stars, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, had been snagged by the Carolina Hurricanes as a restricted free agent.

While general manager Marc Bergevin was proactive to patch the hole, it was still an absurd series of events that saw the Canes make history.

Kotkaniemi Becomes First Offer Sheet Signing in 14 Years

Offer sheet signings simply don’t happen in the NHL anymore, with RFAs usually being coveted for their value as high potential players – particularly those selected early in drafts or who have become regulars in the lines. Still, marking the first of such signings since 2007, the Hurricanes were allowed to offer Kotkaniemi a deal that the Habs didn’t want to match, accounting to $6,100,015 for one year, with a $20 bonus.

These bizarre figures were mustered up by the marketing team in riposte to Montréal’s attempts to lure in Sebastian Aho (Carolina’s number 20) with an offer sheet a couple of seasons back. The team has said that it wasn’t a revenge kick, solely being about acquiring the player and getting the fan base engaged. Regardless, the Habs lost who looked to be a franchise cornerstone up top, having been picked third overall in 2018.

The Habs were hell-bent on building Kotkaniemi as a two-way center, which is what his draft profile billed him as three years ago. However, the Canes are already stacked down the middle. So, the athletic Finn is expected to be utilized on the left, allowing his creativity and high hockey IQ to flourish. Since the coup, the Hurricanes have shifted to the sixth-favourites to win the Cup in the NHL betting odds, now at +1500, with the Habs out at +2800.

A Rather Strong Free Agency That Inspires Hope for next Season

Before the Kotkaniemi incident – and forgetting about the scandalous draft pick – the Habs were enjoying a strong offseason. Danault went for a huge pay packet, and Montréal managed to reel in two top-class free agents as well as some sound depth additions. Cedric Paquette, Chris Wideman, and Mathieu Perreault add good depth on near-minimum deals, but it was Mike Hoffman and David Savard who stole the show.

Both are in their prime and well-respected in the NHL. Savard is coming home after winning the Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He’s not much of a points scorer anymore, but he’s a great puck mover, will put shots on goal, and loves to throw his weight around. Hoffman, on the other hand, is a menace on the powerplay. Last season, with the St. Louis Blues, he scored 17 of his 36 points with the man advantage.

Seeing two highly-rated centers (Danault and Kotkaniemi) departing did hurt the Habs, with the position desperately needing top-six reinforcement for years. To cover the loss of one, Bergevin traded a first and second-round pick to the Arizona Coyotes to get center Christian Dvorak. With a 52.1 faceoff win percentage through over 1,000 duels, 48 hits, and 45 blocked shots, he’s certainly the two-way build that was needed.

The Habs made a lot of noise this offseason, and be it for good or bad reasons, the team may even look a little bit stronger coming into this season. However, it’ll take some doing to get over the team not being active enough to lock in the contract of Kotkaniemi.

If you want to start this season of Fanduel’s NHL fantasy hockey with a bang, then you need to do your research! The most prestigious and successful teams are more likely to have strong players for your game, and the more you know about them, the better your odds will be!

1. Montreal Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens are the most prestigious hockey team in the whole of the NHL. They are also the most valuable, bringing in millions of viewers and sponsors every year. This is because they have won 24 tournaments out of 34 appearances in the life of the NHL sport. They are supreme champions and deserve all the respect we can give!

This amazing team was founded in 1909, and their outstanding record has made them the longest operating professional ice hockey team in the whole world.

2. Detroit Red Wings

Historically, the Detroit Red Wings have been an unstoppable force in the American hockey leagues, which is why they deserve our second spot on our list of prestigious teams. Affectionately dubbed “Hockey Town,” this team has held the Stanley Cup 11 times which is the most amount of wins in the American tournament. However, the most recent win was all the way back in 2008.

A lot of years have passed since that event, but that doesn’t stop the team from being the 4th most valuable in the NHL.

3. Toronto Maple Leafs

A beautiful name for a brutal team, the Maple Leafs have made the finals of the Stanley Cup 21 times, winning 13 in total. They are a force to be reckoned with, which has created a die-hard fanbase to boot!

This team has held some of the greatest players in all hockey history, including Darryl Sitter, Frank Mahobolich, Johnny Bower, Mats Sundin, and Lanny McDonald!

4. Boston Bruins

The Boston Bruins are another team that wants to claim the name “Hockey City,” but we will let the fans fight between these two giants. Instead, let us show off their impressive wins. The Boston Bruins have gotten to the Stanley Cup finals 20 times and have won 6 trophies! Not to mention their 20 Division Championships and 2 President Trophies!

Decorated to high heaven, you’d be a fool to ignore this team!

5. Philadelphia Flyers

The Philadelphia Flyers are worth a whopping $301 million and are the 6th most valuable team in the NHL league. This information may come as a surprise to some NHL fans because it wasn’t too long ago that they were considered the worst team in the league. The Flyers haven’t won a cup since the 1970s, and yet the tough personality and undying fans are what keeps them as a prestigious team in our eyes!

6. New York Rangers

Although the New York Rangers have to compete for air time and competition space with a lot of other hockey teams in their area, they are one of the oldest teams on record. Considered part of the Original Six, the New York Rangers cannot be put onto the sidelines just because other teams are rising up the ranks.

The Rangers have won 4 Stanley Cups, but their most recent win was all the way back in 1994. We aren’t sure how long their origin story can keep them on the prestigious list, but their outstanding value of $461 million is helping hold their anchor!

7. Chicago Blackhawks

The Chicago Blackhawks is another Original Six team, but this group has made it to the Stanley Cup finals 13 times, winning 6 of the games and creating a remarkable 50% winning streak. The only reason why the Rangers took a space above them is because the Blackhawk’s current value is slightly less, coming in at $300 million. 

The Blackhawk’s latest win was in 2015!

8. Vancouver Canucks

The Vancouver Canucks fans have an abundance of passion which almost became their downfall. We “mmm”ed and “ahh”ed about adding them to the list as a prestigious team shouldn’t contain a horde of angry fans who rioted through the streets when defeated. However, just a small percentage of people acted inappropriately during the final, and we cannot blame all Vancouver fans for the actions of a drunkard few.

Instead, let’s praise the strong team that is valued at $262 million and has yet to win a Stanley Cup.

When it comes to top global sports, ice hockey is up there with the biggest. Of course, the NHL is still the spiritual home of hockey and the Montreal Canadiens remain one of the most popular sides to follow. As any Habs fan knows, you are always guaranteed plenty of action, passion and drama when watching the team.

The Canadiens are also a side with a knack for winning, as their 25 NHL league titles and 24 Stanley Cup victories to date show. As with any pro sporting side, though, there are times when things are not going so well or you face a side that is in better form than yours.

Over the years, this has led the Canadiens to go into some games as the underdog. Of course, this is not always a bad thing – if you like to bet online, then backing an underdog that you think can pull off an upset is wise. This is because betting on sports in this way can see you get much better odds and make more money if you are right. While backing the underdog should only be done when you think they have a chance of winning, it can pay off handsomely if you get it right.

Over the years, the Canadiens have clinched some memorable underdog wins that would have made a decent return and also made fans very happy. But which are five of the best?

Vegas Golden Knights 2 – Montreal Canadiens 3: June 16, 2021

Although you could argue that the Canadiens were underdogs in the whole 2021 Stanley Cup semi-final series against the Knights, Game 2 of that series stands out in particular. Coming into it, the Canadiens had already lost the first game 4-1 and were certainly not fancied to pick up a victory in the next match.

When you consider that this 3-2 victory was as visitors to the T-Mobile Arena, then it looks even better. With Carey Price starring in goal, with 29 saves from 31 shots, Joel Edmundson dominant in defense and Paul Byron netting a crucial third goal, it was a brilliant underdog performance.

Stanley Cup qualifiers triumph against Penguins in 2020

 Another famous Canadiens underdog victory involved them facing off against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2020 Stanley Cup qualifiers. Many thought this would be a simple win for the Penguins, as the Canadiens were seeded twelfth going into the series, and Pittsburgh fifth! A combination of Carey Price’s dominance between the pipes, a lackluster series performance from Pittsburgh and forward Jesperi Kotkaniemi’s inspired play all helped.

Montreal Canadiens 5 – Boston Bruins 1: Game 5, 2004 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals

 The Habs were really up against it coming into this quarterfinal series against Boston. Many fancied Mike Sullivan’s Boston bruisers to romp home in this series and their initial drive to 3-1 seemed to confirm this. Game 5, though, proved decisive and was a famed Canadiens underdog win. The forward line of Koivu, Zednik and Kovalev were on fire that night and brought home a memorable victory.

Montreal Canadiens 3 – LA Kings 2: 1993 Stanley Cup Finals Game 2

 Although the Canadiens and Kings looked fairly well matched going into the seven-game 1993 Stanley Cup Final series, a 4-1 defeat in the first game at the Forum shocked many. This led a lot of people to predict a Wayne Gretzky-inspired Kings would then be favorites to take home the cup. The Canadiens, though, brushed this off in Game 2 to clinch a 3-2 win in overtime.

Montreal Canadiens beat Quebec Nordiques in 1984 Stanley Cup playoffs

 1984 saw these rivals meet up in the Stanley Cup playoffs in what was a very eventful series. Interestingly, the Nordiques went into the series as favorites due to a decent performance over the whole season. The Canadiens had not been great and had played .500 hockey for most of 1984. Once the action started, though, the Habs looked much better. The first four games were split evenly in terms of wins before a 4-0 romp in Game 5 put the Canadiens in charge. Trailing 2-0 in the sixth game, the Habs slotted home five goals on the spin to win 5-3 overall.

Canadiens’ underdog victories up there with the best

 For an NHL side with such a rich history, it seems strange to talk about underdog victories for the Habs. As with every team, though, they have had periods in their past when things have not been going so well or they have faced teams who many thought were better. As the above shows, they are not put off by this and usually rise to the occasion.

Based on the regular season, the Montréal Canadiens perhaps didn’t deserve to make it all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals, but that didn’t matter when Artturi Lehkonen’s overtime winner slotted home on June 24.

Of course, the Habs’ schedule didn’t conclude with a Cinderella story ending, with the Tampa Bay Lightning stamping their authority to repeat as champions. Still, the Canadiens became the first Canadian team to reach the last stage of the playoffs since the Vancouver Canuck in 2011, and it was quite some ride.

Now, attentions turn to the upcoming campaign and how Marc Bergevin will ensure that this wasn’t just a flash in the pan. To do that, it’s essential that the GM reviews exactly what brought the Habs a mere three wins away from Lord Stanley and finds pieces that won’t just patch holes, but provide value down the line.

From so far to come so close

It’s now been 28 years since Canada last brought the Stanley Cup home, with the flying Habs being only the sixth team from the Great White North to come within four games since the franchise hoisted the trophy in 1993. While Carey Price blamed himself for the loss, Shea Weber rightly stated that the Lightning are a great team and were better in the series.

Still, that shouldn’t take away from what was an incredible effort from a team written off before a puck was dropped in the postseason. With a 24-21-11 record, the Habs had the least points of any team to get in, but the tight-knit roster grabbed the opportunity with both hands. First fell the Toronto Maple Leafs, and then the Winnipeg Jets, and finally, the Vegas Golden Knights.

The super-hot glove of Carey Price, stalwart team defending, and a bit of luck all contributed to them making a record 35^th appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals. Unlike others who would make it to the Finals, however, Montréal are already being written off, for the most part, to go again next year.

Not much room for improvement right now

While there are some truly menacing and potential contenders in Canada, the Montréal Canadiens enjoyed a fairly easygoing 2021 campaign. The 2021/22 season, however, will see them thrown back into the mix with tyrants like the Boston Bruins and Lightning, as well as the Florida Panthers, who have finally realised their potential.

That said, after last season’s antics, the NHL odds are certainly giving the Habs a nod at success again. Naturally, they see the Lightning, Golden Knights, and Colorado Avalanche as the favourites from +500 to +600, but just four places back are the Habs at +2000 to go all the way, with only the Bruins, Maple Leafs, and Carolina Hurricanes ahead. At the very least, Montréal’s rated in the Eastern Conference’s top seven teams.

Relying on last season happening again this year would be foolish, so Bergevin has a lot of work to do to at least improve the team. For the most part, the problems centre on the seven UFA skaters, certain RFA re-signings, and all with a mere $14.6 million in cap space. This could increase to around $17 million if the Seattle Kraken grab the obvious choice in the expansion draft, but that’s still not a lot to play with for a team with many needs and free agents.

The two key needs that the Habs have to address are the need for another puck-moving defenseman and a point-scoring left wing. If the funds appear, there’s players like Gabriel Landeskog, Alex Ovechkin, and Taylor Hall who certainly fit the bill. Still, given the state of the team and the potential funds available, Alec Martinez presents himself as the best primary target in the free agency.

Most of the improvement that will hopefully be seen this season will come from those already on the roster. If the likes of Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, and Alexander Romanov can all take a forward step this year, the team will improve, with even more well-touted prospects developing lower down.

The Habs shouldn’t expect to run all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals this season, but they can certainly remain a wild card should they make it to the playoffs when regular order resumes in the NHL.  

Even the staunchest of his supporters would have a hard time declaring Marc Bergevin as a realistic candidate for the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award. Yet the Montreal Canadiens GM finds himself nominated for the prize alongside Lou Lamoriello and Bill Zito of the Islanders and Panthers, respectively.

That trophy is typically judged on regular-season form, and so in that sense, Bergevin doesn’t really have a leg to stand on. The Habs were lucky, in some senses of the word, to even reach the playoffs, banking on a run of overtime losses to just see off the Calgary Flames in the hunt for the fourth spot in the North Division.

And yet, the Canadiens have shown their quality in the postseason, and an impressive defeat of the Maple Leafs was followed by a 4-0 demolition of the Jets.

There have even been rumours that Geoff Molson has discussed the possibility of a contract extension with his general manager that would take him through to 2024, and that is a timely issue given that Bergevin’s current deal runs out at the end of the next campaign.

Unless the Habs have a miraculous trade window, it’s unlikely that they will be considered a favourite for the playoffs during the 2021-22 season, and so they will be a long price in upcoming tournaments over the next ear in the NHL betting odds. However, Bergevin’s future is reportedly settled, and the Habs have shown considerable improvements shown during the postseason.

Stable and Able

There is a lot to be said for stability in professional sports.

Habs fans will take some time to get over the dismal regular season campaign in 2020-21, and yet credit must be given to Bergevin for the manner in which the Canadiens have turned their season around in the playoffs.

He has already begun planning for next season, with a new deal offered to Laurent Dauphin, and there’s already mounting suspicion that there will be more activity in the trade window as Bergevin looks to transition his team to be a more strident divisional contender.

There’s no doubt he would have been questioning his own future given the circumstances of the season, the merry-go-round of coaching changes, and that dire end to the campaign will have tested the patience of even the saintliest of hockey’s general managers

But the Habs – and Bergevin – have looked revitalized during the postseason, and that positivity – no matter where the season ends – will surely carry the Canadiens into next term with confidence and hubris.

Having to play 25 games in a 44-day period was unavoidable, but even the strongest of rosters would have struggled with the physical impact both of gameday and the necessary travel. Despite this, the Habs are here, still standing, and ready to contemplate a bright future under their reinvigorated GM.

“I believed in this team since the beginning, and even in January I said we had built a team for the playoffs,” Bergevin said prior to his team’s clash with the Golden Knights.

In 2021-22, Habs supporters might just see the full fruits of that labor.

The first round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs are set, as the Montreal Canadiens were the last team to secure a spot.  The Canadiens are the 16th best team heading into the playoffs.  Same position as last season.

The Canadiens begin their quest for the Stanley Cup on Thursday May 20 vs their rivals Toronto Maple Leafs.  It’s the first time since 1979 that the two teams face off against one another in the post season.

The odds are stacked against the Canadiens.  On that note, for the best online for the best online casino in Canada, check out JackpotCity, a place where you can find quite a few games – including a slot machine called Break Away inspired by our favourite sport, ice hockey – to play while you wait for the next game to start.

This season has been a season like no other.  A season played in a pandemic, in a 56-game shortened season, having a Covid scare, and having a bunch of game re-scheduled.  Forcing the Canadiens to play their last 25 games in 45 days.  The most of any team in that stretch.

After jumping out of the gates when the season started at 7-1-1, the team began to spiral downwards.  To limit the fallout, Habs GM Marc Bergevin fired the head coach, associate coach, and goalie coach.  Gone were Claude Julien, Kirk Muller, and Stephane Waite.

Promoted were Dominic Ducharme as Head Coach (a rookie), and Alex Burrows (another rookie) as Assistant Coach, and Sean Burke as goalie coach.  

But this made me think.  In the past 40 years, when the Canadiens made coaching changes during a season, how do those teams fair during the post season.

1979-1980:  Bernard Geoffrion quit as Head Coach replace by Claude Ruel.  The defending Stanley Cup Champions lost in the Quarter Finals to the Minnesota North Stars.

1983-1984:  Bob Berry was replaced by Jacques Lemaire; during the 1984 post-season, the Canadiens managed to get to the Semi-Finals, only to lose to the NY islanders in 6 games.

1995-1996:  Jacques Demers was fired 5 games into the season.  Mario Tremblay took over.  And the Canadiens lost in the first round to the New Jersey Devils in 5 games.

2000-01:  Alain Vigneault was replaced by Michel Therrien 20 games into the season.  The team failed to make the playoffs.

2002-03:  After 46 games, Michel Therrien was fired and replaced by Claude Julien.  But the Canadiens failed to reach the post-season.

2008-09:  In a surprising move, with a winning percentage 66 games into the season, Guy Carbonneau was fired, and GM Bob Gainey filled the head coaching role for the remainder of the season.  The Canadiens were bounced in a 4-game sweep in the first round vs the Boston Bruins.

2011-12:  In a dreadful season, Jacques Martin was fired at the 32 games mark of the season and replaced by Randy Cunneyworth.  Habs did not make the playoffs.  The two men have never coached an NHL team since.

2016-17:  Michel Therrien , in his second tour of duty with the Canadiens, and after a couple of good seasons, was fired after 58 games and replaced by Claude Julien.  He too was in his second stint with the team.  It didn’t matter, Habs were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the NY Rangers.

2020-21:  After a fast start to the shortened season, Habs GM Marc Bergevin was quick to pull the trigger on Claude Julien.  Julien was let go after 18 games with a record of 9-5-4.  Replaced by Dominique Ducharme who ended the season with a record of 15-16-7.  Remains to be seen how far Habs will go in this season’s playoffs.

Safe to say of all the coaching changes during the last 40 years, only the 1983-84 did it have an immediate impact in the playoffs.