5 Biggest Issues Still Facing the Montreal Canadiens This Offseason

By Darrell Samuels

5 Biggest Issues Still Facing the Montreal Canadiens This Offseason

Montreal Canadiens flag — The Montreal Canadiens are Canada’s team. They are the team with 24 Stanley Cups and the most in the NHL. Of the seven Canadian NHL franchises, they are the team who are almost always at the top of the Eastern Conference, by the middle of April each year. There are some great things going on with the team. However, there are some issues that still need addressing if the team has visions of winning their 25th Stanley Cup.

5. Where are the top forwards on this team?

Alex Galchenyuk, Montreal Canadiens

5. Where are the top forwards on this team?

Alex Galchenyuk, Montreal Canadiens — Granted, the team did sign Alex Galchenyuk to a $5.6 million two-year deal this summer. He was the fifth leading scoring forward last season with 46 points over 80 games. Max Pacioretty, David Desharnais and Tomas Plekanec were the team’s top scoring forwards, but where were the other forwards? The team is in need of more players to put pucks in the back of the net.

4. Can backup goaltender Dustin Tokarski carry the team if Price gets injured?

Dustin Tokarski, Montreal Canadiens

4. Can backup goaltender Dustin Tokarski carry the team if Price gets injured?

Dustin Tokarski, Montreal Canadiens — There is always a ruthless attitude in Montreal with the fans. Each fall, they want to be considered the best. Everything else is inconsequential. Price won 44 of his 66 starts last season. Price is human afterall, and is not immune to getting hurt. Tokarski played only 16 games last year.

3. Can Coach Michel Therrien work with stars PK Subban and Carey Price?

Michel Therrien Montreal Canadiens

3. Can Coach Michel Therrien work with stars PK Subban and Carey Price?

Michel Therrien Montreal Canadiens — Coach Therrien is in his second go around as the boss behind the bench of the Canadiens. He returned on June 5, 2012 and led the team to back-to-back 100-point seasons or better. As good as that is, he has had issues with his star players, Subban and Price. Therrien needs to get the most out of his players without ruffling the feathers of his superstar players too much.

2. Can Carey Price be the guy to lead the team to a Stanley Cup?

Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens

2. Can Carey Price be the guy to lead the team to a Stanley Cup?

Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens — No question, Price is fantastic in net. He is without a doubt one of the best goaltenders in the NHL. However, it isn't fair to just assume Price will lead the team to a Stanley Cup. The team won the first playoff series last spring against the Ottawa Senators, but had nothing left to face the Tampa Bay Lightning in the following round.

1. Is this team a Stanley Cup threat?

Stanley Cup

1. Is this team a Stanley Cup threat?

Stanley Cup — The team has Carey Price in net, PK Subban and Andrei Markov on the blue line and a menacing top forward line with Desharnais, Pacioretty and Plekanec. The team has successful seasons. Questions will continue as to how far this team is from elevating themselves from successful 100-point seasons to winning a Stanley Cup.

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Montreal Canadiens

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