The Montreal Canadiens have played four preseason games, and some fans are already disappointed.
Fair enough. They haven’t won a game, and although they have provided some offence in the last two games, there are legitimate reasons to be disappointed in terms of entertainment value.
But anyone who looks at this year’s preseason as a barometer of this team’s capabilities are missing the forest for the trees. It’s understandable. Canadiens fans, and dare I say, fans around the NHL in general, tend to treat the preseason as a tryout. The element of competition adds excitement to the proceedings, and everyone wants to be the first to see the next breakout star.