The Montreal Canadiens received a strong vote of confidence heading into the NHL Stanley Cup this season.
Craig Button said in an interview with TSN Scouting Director Jay Onrait that they are a legitimate contender. He made it clear that the Canadiens deserve serious attention.
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“Yes [the Canadians are a Stanley Cup contender]I don’t think you can look at it any other way,” Barton said.
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Barton noted the team’s rapid rise from last season’s rebuilding group to one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. A year ago, the focus was solely on making the playoffs, but that narrative has changed.
“Well, now what this team has shown with their really good disciplined play,” Barton said. “Rookie goalie tandem [Jakub] Dobes and [Jacob] Fowler, you know, their top line is magic, [Juraj] Slavkovsky, [Nick] Suzuki and [Cole] Caulfield. Caufield is about to score 50 points, and when you do that for the Montreal Canadiens, it’s a different kind of magic.
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“The second line, [Alex] newhook, [Kasperi] Kapanen, [Ivan] Demidov, he’s really great. Blue line, health, and everything that goes with it. “
So, Patton clearly explains why there’s no reason to doubt Montreal’s status as a contender.
Meanwhile, results in Montreal back up that claim. The team’s record is 44-21-10, ranking first in the Atlantic Division. They also earned key wins against tough opponents, including the Carolina Hurricanes and Tampa Bay Lightning.
Reasons why the Montreal Canadiens won the game
Patton also emphasized that these victories were no accident. He noted the Canadiens earned the win through disciplined play and execution. This consistency has helped them prove they can compete with elite teams.
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“When you start thinking about how — it’s not an accident that they won the game,” Barton said. “They win games because they prove they’re not only capable of winning games, but because when they play that way, they’re better than the opposing team.”
“So I think to say that they’re not a legitimate Stanley Cup contender this season would be a real indictment of me not understanding how good the Montreal Canadiens are because they’re just that good.”
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After years of rebuilding and a long Stanley Cup drought dating back to 1993, Montreal has turned around. Now, the team seems ready to challenge at the highest level.
With momentum and confidence growing, the Canadiens have emerged as a serious Stanley Cup contender.
