# @puckempire on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DdkN-vmj8_3
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/70658580-puckempire-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/3345dfece5.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-09-21T22:19:57.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Puck Empire 👑 (@puckempire) — https://gondola.cc/puckempire

## Caption

Continuing on with our 2026-27 standing projections, I've got the Montreal Canadiens at #7, finishing second in the Atlantic Division.

Like Buffalo, I think many are sleeping on the Habs. I understand their ECF play was ugly, as were some playoff moments, but this is still a team that made it to the FINAL FOUR in the playoffs, and still very young with probable growth throughout the lineup.

Offensively, this team is a UNIT, and the only glaring hole is at 2C, however with the winger supporting cast + the potential of Michael Hage joining before the playoffs, I'm really not worried. Nick Suzuki is an elite 1C, and their winger group of Cole Caufield, Chris Kreider, Juraj Slafkovsky, & Ivan Demidov in the top-six could have at least TWO 40+ goal scorers imo. There's depth throughout the forwards as well. This is going to be such a fun, high-flying offense.

Defensively, Montreal is in a great spot imo. Lane Hutson is going to be in the running for the Norris Trophy this year, an ELITE, potentially top-5 defenseman in hockey right now, and I'm super bullish on any team that has him. I also think Noah Dobson will continue to settle in with Montreal and be a great 2D option. Kaiden Guhle will miss some time, but when he's in, he's a great 3D, and then guys like Matheson, Carrier, Xhekaj and Struble can play their depth roles very well. I think David Reinbacher sees the lineup in a depth role as well, and he proved to be a reliable defensive presence in the AHL last season. Outside of Hutson & Dobson this may not be some star-studded blueline, but it's absolutely a great one. They'll be better defensively this season than last season.

In net, Montreal will hope to see Jakub Dobes continue to build off of an incredible rookie campaign, and I think Jacob Fowler should be in over Montembeault. If he develops the way many are hoping, Montreal could have one of the league's premier tandems going forward.

This Montreal team is a force to be reckoned with, and while some outsider fans criticize MSL's coaching, he's still a growing head coach and there aren't many who are as well loved by their players as MSL is in Montreal.

Stanley Cup? 👀

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