Montreal Canadiens Suffer Humiliating Preseason Run

Montreal Canadiens fans and commentators are still reeling from the franchise’s disastrous performance during the preseason, which saw embarrassing defeats against teams like the New Jersey Devils and the Ottawa Senators. Among their many defeats, perhaps the lowest moment was a 1-5 loss against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sept. 25. By the end of the horrific preseason, the Habs had lost six of their eight games, leaving even the team’s most devoted fans highly concerned about the future of the franchise.

 

The team that played during the preseason was, after all, a very far cry from the team that finished last season with an impressive record of 47-26-9 and a (albeit brief) playoff run.

 

Throughout the run, the Montreal Canadiens suffered from a glaring issue; many new acquisitions exhibited notably underwhelming performances. In particular, former first-round pick Joseph Morrow became a dependable source for victory-costing turnovers. In addition, veteran Mark Streit’s return to the Habs after eight seasons proved to be a frustrating disappointment, as he failed to match his performance in previous years. Finally, despite his glorious highlights, Brandon Davidson proved to be an inconsistent liability. Even powerhouse players like Max Pacioretty, Shea Weber and Carey Price could not save the preseason from the acquisitions that inadvertently doomed the team.

 

In the last two games, Montreal Canadiens managed to find its groove – at the Bell Centre, the Florida Panthers were defeated 1-3, and the Ottawa Senators suffered a humiliating 2-9 loss. Indeed, in the final stretch, the Habs showed a brief glimpse of their immeasurable potential and limitless talent.

 

Now, as fans spiral into a state of panic and frustration, all eyes are on coach Claude Julien, whose replacement of Michel Therrien near the conclusion of the 2016-2017 season has not been as fruitful as many had hoped. How will Julien respond to the disaster? What exactly happened to the team during the off-season? And, more importantly, where do we go from here?

 

These questions will be answered on Oct. 5, when the Montreal Canadiens begin the regular season by taking on the Buffalo Sabres at the KeyBank Centre. From then on, the team will continue to play visiting games by traveling to the Washington Capitals’ Capital One Arena and to the New York Rangers’ Madison Square Garden. The Montreal Canadiens will play their first regular season home game against the Chicago Blackhawks on October 10.  Go Habs Go!