The Canadiens’ Biggest Test Will Be Handling Success

One of the hardest things in sports is not getting noticed. It is staying noticed. That is where the Montreal Canadiens find themselves heading into this season.

Last year, the Canadiens were one of the great stories in hockey. They surprised many people, advanced deep into the playoffs, and showed that this young group could compete with some of the best teams in the NHL. They were one of the most enjoyable stories in hockey and carried the hopes of many Canadian fans. That was the fun part.

This season brings on the heavier weight for Montreal.

This season brings a heavier weight of expectations for Montreal. There is a big difference between chasing a team nobody believes in and being the team everyone is preparing to beat. That is the challenge facing Montreal. The Canadiens do not suddenly need to become a completely different hockey team. They already showed they have the foundation. The question is whether they can handle the pressure that comes with success.

And nowhere will that pressure be greater than in the Atlantic Division. This division has become one of the toughest environments in hockey. Florida believes it can win every year. Toronto expects to be in the conversation. Tampa Bay knows how to survive playoff hockey. Boston, Ottawa, Buffalo, and Detroit all believe they are moving in the right direction.

The Canadiens won’t be able to relax on many nights.

That kind of pressure now comes from day one and creates a different kind of challenge for a young team. The Canadiens are still building. Players like Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Lane Hutson, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Ivan Demidov represent a very exciting future. But young talent does not develop in a straight line.

There will be difficult stretches. There will be injuries. And there will be nights where the team has to find ways to win when the game is not going perfectly. That is where good teams separate themselves.

The next step for Montreal is not proving they belong. They already did that. The next step is learning how to respond when teams are ready.

Can the Canadiens handle the pressure of being expected to win?

Can they find consistency over 82 games? Can their young players learn how to manage the difficult moments? The answers to those two questions will define this Canadiens team. Because becoming a playoff team is one accomplishment. Becoming a team that expects to be there every year is something much bigger.

Montreal has the talent. Now they have to build the habits and confidence that come with success.