6) In the end, Washington brought playoff heat—Ovechkin’s four goals, Strome’s nine points, and a tight system crushed it. Montreal’s young core showed heart (shoutout Anderson!), but they got outmuscled, outsmarted, and outplayed. Back to the drawing board, #Habs! 🏒

5) Inexperience: The kids weren’t ready. Slafkovsky and Demidov made flashy plays but coughed up pucks in big moments. Dumb penalties, like Hutson’s rookie mistakes, killed momentum. Suzuki was a stud, but Matheson’s shaky D and Laine’s no-show didn’t help. Too green for the spotlight. 🌱

4) Physicality: The Caps bullied Montreal. Tom Wilson’s monster hit on Carrier in Game 4 flipped the game, leading to a goal. His Game 3 brawl with Anderson set the tone early. By Game 5, Montreal’s D was gassed, getting smoked along the boards. Caps played grown-man hockey. 💪

3) Puck Luck: Washington got the bounces. In Game 4, a rebound off Caufield’s skate tied it up, sparking the Caps’ 5-2 rout. Montreal kept ringing posts and missing open nets, like they were cursed. Dobes even said the Caps got luckier breaks. Tough luck, Habs. 🤦‍♂️

2) Outcoached: Caps’ coach Spencer Carbery was on point, shutting down Montreal’s rush game and lighting up the power play (2-for-3 in Game 5). St. Louis couldn’t counter Washington’s heavy forecheck, leaving the Habs stuck in their zone. Looked like Montreal was always a step behind. 😴

I agree, not many big and heavy guys besides Laine and Slaf

Love all of your reply, makes us think and maybe even overanalyze, which is part of the fun. In the end, I really hope I’m wrong and that Newhook exceeds expectations. If he becomes that excellent 3C (or more), then it’s a win. Time will tell, but debating it now is what makes this all exciting!

Overall, while Kent Hughes has brought a clear vision to the Canadiens, some of his decisions warrant a critical eye. Time will tell whether they were shrewd gambles or missteps.

Big Unknown: Were Slaf and Reinbacher the Right Picks? Hughes’ legacy will be shaped by his top draft choices. Slafkovský (1st 2022) and Reinbacher (5th 2023) are key long-term investments. It’s too soon to know if they’ll become franchise players or if better options were passed up. Time will tell.

Trading Kovacevic: He was a steady, low-cost defenseman who provided reliable depth. Moving him for a late-round pick seemed questionable, especially as injuries quickly exposed Montreal’s lack of defensive depth. Was this smart asset management or a move made too soon, leaving the team shorthanded?

Believing in Newhook: Hughes bet that Alex Newhook, who struggled in Colorado, would thrive in a bigger role in Montreal. While still early, his play hasn’t erased doubts about his first-round pedigree. Was this a smart gamble on untapped potential or an overestimation of his abilities?

Betting on Kirby Dach: The trade that brought Dach to Montreal cost the team Alexander Romanov. Hughes bet on Dach becoming a top center, but injuries have limited his impact. Meanwhile, Romanov is a reliable defenseman for the Islanders. Was giving up a young, physical blueliner worth the gamble?

The Barron effect.

Totally agree! Armia has really stepped up and become a key piece for the Habs. His ability to win battles, play physical, and contribute in big moments is hard to replace. An extension makes sense, especially if he keeps this level of play.

3/Can I just say how big Armia played? Winning battles all over the ice, I loved his game. This team is on fire right now, and honestly, I don’t know when it’ll stop. #GoHabsGo #MTLvsTBL