When the Habs began their 2016-17 season, they did so with a number of questions marks on the blue line. Is Shea Weber, with his mediocre puck possession record, fit to be a number one, shutdown defenceman? Is Nathan Beaulieu fit to be his partner? Will the Habs find themselves overly reliant on Andrei Markov again this year? And can Jeff Petry still be effective after much of last season was taken from him by injury?
We’re only four games in, and the Habs top-four are doing their best to put these concerns to rest, but even without considering their performance so far, Montreal fans can be grateful that the questions are mostly academic.