Ninety-six points, a 44-30-8 record, and a 7-2-1 run to end the year, yet the Montreal Canadiens couldn’t find their way into a playoff spot. It is a bitterly disappointing pill to swallow after the Canadiens shocked everyone this season, following a 71-point campaign the year before. A tumultuous summer saw the departure of a former top-three pick in Alex Galchenyuk, embattled captain Max Pacioretty was traded on the eve of training camp, and despite an abject disaster of a season, Marc Bergevin was still the general manager.
In came Max Domi, Tomas Tatar (and Nick Suzuki), and the 18-year-old third-overall pick, Jesperi Kotkaniemi.