I really like where this team is headed.
Things I'd like to see, to make them that much of a playoff squad:
- Sign a good 4th line faceoff guy, hitter, at a bargain price.
- At trade deadline, perhaps sign a solid vet shutdown Dman with playoff experience.
I'd also be really pissed if they DON'T sign Carey to an extension by January. This facking policy of not negotiating extensions during the season is ASININE! Sign him to a 6 year $40M deal now!!!
Concerns:
- Obviously health of Gorges and Markov, and also Cole and Pacioretty.
- Physicall fitness and compete level of Gomez. If he comes into camp in the best shape of his life, watch out, now we've got the makings of two excellent offensive lines with speed and grit (Cole/Pacioretty), and if Eller/AK46 can continue their chemistry from the playoffs, a solid young 3rd line too.
I have the Habs finishing 5th, behind the Bruins (at 3rd) and the Sabers (at 4th). Yes, I think that this division will have three of the top teams in the conference. I see Washington and Pittsburgh maintaining their position and the Flyers falling back. The only wildcard is the Rangers, I could easily see them outduel the Habs and Sabres and finish in that 4th spot, although it'll be tough for them to overcome the Pens (with or without Crosby).
What really gets me excited about this team and its progress is the steady "strengthening" of the locker room, and doing so by the addition of not only team leaders but guys with Stanley Cup rings and heavy-duty playoff experience. Cole is just the latest in this trend. Gill's re-sigining spoke volumes. Gionta's selection as Captain before that. And then you throw in the significant playoff experience that Gorges, Subban, Plekanec, Cammy and AK46
have gained over the last two years, especially the deep 2010 run (even Carey, for whom the Halak situation in 2010 was probably the best thing that could have happened, allowed him to develop more of a team approach and to watch the fervor of a deep playoff run without the pressure of being at the center of it all). It all bodes well for Habs fans!
"I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve."
Twitter: @ross10019
CBS Sportsline 14 team H2H keeper (21-man roster, 14 keepers)
Weekly lineup changes (start 9F (3/4C and 6/5W) 5D 2G)
G, A, PPP, SOG, BS, +/-, GAA, W, SV%
Angry Little Elves (formerly Montreal Maulers)
2012, 2013, 2014 & 2015 League Champions
C: Tavares Hintz Larkin Jenner Seguin Schenn Backlund
W: Panarin Marchand Hyman Keller Forsberg Batherson Rust Moore Smith
D: Josi Hamilton Weegar Montour Ekholm Myers Parayko Pettersson Seeler
G: Vasilevskiy Swayman Kuemper