It’s a long way down from the top.
There is no more prestigious organization in the NHL than the Canadiens. In many ways — in winning 24 Stanley Cups, with countless legendary players and classic moments along the way — Montreal helped set the standard for what success resembles in the NHL.
But it hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows for the league’s (formerly) premier franchise of late. The Habs haven’t won a Stanley Cup since 1993. OK, sure. You might be thinking, “Whatever. Winning a Cup is hard.”
But it’s worse than simply never being lucky enough in June, Dearest Reader. So much worse. Rather than picture competence and display grace amidst a long title drought, the Canadiens have been a consummate example of dysfunction. A far cry from a team everyone once wanted to emulate.
A mere eight months after appearing in their first Stanley Cup Final in almost 30 years, the Canadiens are finding new ways to hit rock bottom. Following yet another 2-1 defeat to the Blue Jackets (-1.5) on Saturday, we have our doubts there is a bottom in the first place.
After losing to the Blue Jackets 2-1, the Canadiens have gone winless over 9 consecutive games (0-7-2) for the first time since the 2002-03 season.
The last time Montreal went winless in at least 10 straight games was in December of 1998 (11 straight). pic.twitter.com/sWMn2dOHHS
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 12, 2022
The Habs are, in case you had any doubts, the NHL’s worst team. It isn’t surprising they haven’t won in almost a month. It’s more notable that it’s Montreal, NHL royalty by every standard, floundering all about, asking for pity in a manner they do only once every two decades or so. Patrick Roy, er, Martin St. Louis isn’t — wait, no — is walking through that door as the team’s new head coach, but it still doesn’t matter. It won’t change a thing.
We’re more than halfway into the 2021-2022 season, and this lifeless Canadiens bunch has a mere 23 points. Two. Three. You have to try to be that inept.
Who knows what the future will hold for St. Louis and a group that seems determined to fail at every turn. All we know for sure is that this abyss is endless, and that has to kill the very soul of a hockey city like Montreal.
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