“We’re not far from being a playoff team and competing for the cup, it’s exciting!” – Nick Suzuki
– RDS (@RDSca) April 17, 2024
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Hearing the players and staff talk to the media this morning, you could sense how proud everyone is of the team’s progress.
The Montreal organization has a plan in mind, and to see that the club has improved every year for the past two years is as encouraging for the organization as it is for the team’s fans.
The season might have been even better for the Habs if Kirby Dach hadn’t been injured in Game 2, and if Jake Allen hadn’t had a two-game winning streak.
It’s not all Allen’s fault, and we all agree on that… But the NHL is a results league, and goalies have to find a way to get the job done even when things go wrong.
The Montreal club was still a few points away from a playoff spot with one game to play, and that’s nothing to sneeze at.
This leads Nick Suzuki to believe that the rebuild is further along than most people think, and that the playoffs aren’t far off… A bit like David Savard, who believes in the playoffs as early as next year:
Management and players didn’t necessarily want to talk about the playoffs in recent years, but it feels different.
Suzuki also said this morning that the main objective next year will be to make the playoffs… Whereas this year, we wanted to see the team’s overall progress and the individual progress of the young players.
It’s mainly the club’s “way of doing things” that’s good right now, because Martin St-Louis is a good coach who listens to his players.
“I think Montreal is gonna be a place where players wanna [come] play. I think we’re hearing that more. I think Marty’s a big part of that.”
– Jeff Gorton pic.twitter.com/qJF2p8mLGO
– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) April 17, 2024
Lane Hutson dancing at the blue line…
The first line still having fun…
Logan Mailloux having a strong game in his NHL debut…
And if it continues like this, Suzuki may be – and I do mean may be – right in believing that the playoffs are within reach…
In brief
– Big reinforcements in Laval.
The Canadiens have traded Justin Barron, Logan Mailloux, Joshua Roy and Jayden Struble to the Laval Rocket. Roy has been given the green light to return.
The Canadiens have loaned Barron, Mailloux, Roy and Struble to the Laval Rocket. Roy has been cleared to return to play. pic.twitter.com/sftSMUdkqW
– Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) April 17, 2024
– Jake Allen thanks Devils fans.
Thank you @NJDevils fans for the warm welcome the past 6 weeks. Already looking forward to September. See you then.
– Jake Allen (@34jallen) April 17, 2024
– Nice .
#Habs Juraj Slafkovský’s summer plans include going on vacation somewhere in Spain after the World Championships.
– Priyanta Emrith (@HabsInHighHeels) April 17, 2024
– Next season will be Marc-Andre Fleury’s last in the NHL.
Marc-Andre Fleury said next season will be his last.
“I am [sure],” Fleury said. “A lot of guys have said, guys I know, play as long as you can. If you stop too early, you regret it. I’m very lucky to have the support that the Wild are giving me to stick around for one more.”
– Sarah McLellan (@sarah__mclellan) April 17, 2024
– Let’s see whose!
THAT IS SO EVIL pic.twitter.com/IaBRJ1JoZ6
– kae (@Kae_Wheatbread) April 17, 2024
– Huh!
On Saturday, our Bell Ringer will help us celebrate the goals of the #CFMTL, but also celebrate the life of a person who marked more than one generation.
Marie-Annick Lépine will be with us #LesCowboysFringants#1642MTL #IMFC pic.twitter.com/j1kGA4vDaD
– 1642MTL (@1642Montreal) April 17, 2024
