It's only been six months since the Montreal Canadiens were playing in the 2021 Stanley Cup Final, but it probably feels like six years for the floundering club and their fans. Entering the first full week of 2022, the Canadiens sit second-last in the overall standings with just seven wins and 18 points in 34 games.
Injuries to stars such as Carey Price and Shea Weber and the offseason departures of veteran leaders like Phillip Danault and Corey Perry contributed to the Canadiens' stunning decline this season. By the end of November, the club's woeful performance cost general manager Marc Bergevin and head coach Trevor Timmins their jobs.