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Habs on the Edge: Playoffs or Pain?

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | By Old Prof | Last updated Mar 17, 2026 2:15 PM ET

This Montreal Canadiens team has you doing a double-take sometimes. On the surface, it’s all youth and energy, built to grow into something special down the road. Except the road seems shorter than expected—the future’s knocking early. Two losses at home (4-2 against the San Jose Sharks and 4-3 against the Anaheim Ducks) reminded fans that the Canadiens might have the right players. But they still need to learn how to win regularly.

Every point matters in the Eastern Conference playoff race, and these were points that slipped through their fingers.

The Canadiens Wisely Aren’t Overreacting Either Way

Montreal isn’t panicking. Their management, led by Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes, has made it clear: they’re not overpaying for instant results. No blockbuster trade deadline splash. No mortgaging the future. That’s why this young core has stayed intact, contracts locked in, and the team poised for a run that could stretch both in years and in salary-cap flexibility.

The Habs have Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Juraj Slafkovský, Lane Hutson, and Noah Dobson—all young (under 27) with long deals in place. Factor in the entry-level talent like Ivan Demidov and goalie Jacob Fowler, and it’s a group that’s already capable in the present but set up to keep improving and playing alongside each other for a long while.

Still, the Canadiens Have to Win a Few to Stay Settled

But the Canadiens are still hovering near the playoff bubble. After Sunday’s loss to Anaheim, they sit third in the Atlantic Division with 82 points, two behind Tampa Bay, who also have a game in hand. This Tuesday, Montreal hosts the Boston Bruins in what feels like a “win or watch the window shrink” game. A win keeps them squarely in the mix. A loss means the margin for error disappears fast in a conference that is suddenly tight all the way through.

This season’s got that bubble feel for the Canadiens—teetering on the edge of the playoffs. Still, it’s a golden chance to build on something. Last spring’s first-round exit to Washington handed the young group its first dose of postseason reality, and they’re chasing more. St. Louis has been right there, watching them adapt to how the playoffs change a team—the toughness they build. They’ve grown together and learned to win. Now they must prove that last season was the start of something real.

The Canadiens Have the Players, But They Need Experience

With the kind of players the Canadiens can ice, Montreal’s job is to hold its ground in the standings, build playoff experience, and make a run that rewards the patience and planning. The window is open, but nothing is guaranteed for this young team.

Still, the postseason could be the first moment for this young Canadiens squad to decide whether “almost” becomes the real deal.

This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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