Dom, everyone’s favourite hockey nerd here, has the Habs as the 2nd most improved team this offseason
2. Montreal Canadiens
Net Rating added: +23
In: Zack Bolduc, Noah Dobson
Out: Emil Heineman, Logan Mailloux, David Savard
If you’re a Canadiens fan, it’s time to get excited. Only one team has improved more over the last summer externally and it’s likely that few teams will improve more internally, given the collective age of Montreal’s roster.
That doesn’t necessarily mean the Canadiens will improve over last year’s finish, but it does mean they are far less likely to regress with significantly more substance behind their results.
The big get is Noah Dobson, who has the potential to be Lane Hutson’s Devon Toews. Dobson is a true top-pair defenseman, someone who adds tremendous upside to Montreal’s back end with his puck-moving ability. He’s a substantial get on his own, but the fact that it also means no more David Savard almost doubles the joy. Between the two, it’s a 16-goal swing.
It’s a similar effect in giving up Emil Heineman for Dobson, and then trading for Zack Bolduc soon after. Heineman is a fine bottom-six player on the rise, but Bolduc showed he’s already top-six caliber in his rookie season. What’s exciting about Bolduc is his defensive game, a sorely missing element from Montreal’s forward ranks beyond Nick Suzuki.
If Montreal stood pat this summer, there was a good chance the team would take a step back after taking several steps forward last season. With Dobson and Bolduc in the fold, Montreal looks poised to build on last year’s surprise playoff berth and prove they belong for the long haul.