As each NHL team is eliminated from playoff contention -- either mathematically or by losing in the postseason -- we'll take a look at why its quest for the Stanley Cup fell short in 2017-18, along with three keys to its offseason and a way-too-early prediction on what 2018-19 will hold.
What went wrong
Everything. Oh, wait, you were looking for specifics?
Injuries impacted the seasons for goalie Carey Price, defenseman Shea Weber, captain Max Pacioretty, winger Andrew Shaw and about a dozen others.
Jonathan Drouin, a brilliant young offensive player acquired in the offseason, bounced between positions and saw his scoring totals drop. Pacioretty had his worst goal-scoring season since 2010.
When Price did play, it wasn't very well: His .904 save percentage threatened to be the lowest of his career, on the eve of his eight-year deal worth $10.5 million annually kicking in.
All of this added up, in the mind of Montreal fans, to a pink slip for general manager Marc Bergevin. Alas, owner Geoff Molson didn't share the sentiment, declaring that Bergevin shall return next season.
Keys to the offseason
1. Offer John Tavares all the poutine in Quebec.
The friendship between Bergevin and agent Pat Brisson, who represents New York Islanders captain John Tavares, has been well-documented, to the point that some believe it's what is keeping Bergevin in the job -- as a lure for free agency's largest catch.
If the Canadiens have a shot at Tavares through that bond, they have to maximize it: The 27-year-old star is the top-line center the franchise has been chasing for more than a decade, and is essential to opening a window to win with the group Bergevin has built. The Habs can clear the decks to make the money work -- and any offer less than seven years at $10.5 million annually would be a shock.
The key is convincing a guy who has voiced a desire to remain in a comfortable market to leave that comfort zone for the intensity of Montreal stardom. If Bergevin brokers this deal it could totally ... nah, nope, he's still the guy who made the P.K. Subban trade.
2. Ship out Max Pacioretty.
Perhaps this changes if Tavares signs in Montreal, or perhaps not, but it appears the 29-year-old captain might need a clean break from the club.
He's entering the final year of his deal with a $4.5 million cap hit, and has incredible value to a number of teams: the Blues, Hurricanes and Oilers included. Pacioretty wasn't traded at the trade deadline, but a deal at the draft seems like an obvious option for the Habs. He could bring back a package of players if he signs with his new club, from younger defensemen to an impact center. (Speaking of which: He won't be too impactful, but is Tomas Plekanec coming back to hit Game No. 1,000 next season with Montreal?)
3. If Bergevin stays, who goes?
Molson gave his general manager a vote of confidence, but he did say there were elements about the team that needed to change "from top to bottom."
Does that mean some member of the Montreal front office under Bergevin could be swapped out in an effort to change the trajectory of the franchise? Does the coaching staff get reconfigured, knowing that Claude Julien is likely safe?
Realistic expectation for 2018-19
Realistically, based on the past few seasons, one expects Bergevin to bumble his way through the offseason and the Canadiens to still be stuck in this mess of his making. He hasn't earned the benefit of the doubt, nor has he earned the right to have another crack at fixing this.
But when you're a general manager with this much money tied up in veteran players, having made this many high-profile moves on which Molson had to sign off, it's natural for an owner to want to see this investment through before committing to a new executive that will view it all as folly and want to slam the reset button.
As for what the Habs can do on the ice next season, that comes down to three things:
Whether Carey Price is Carey Price again
Whether Bergevin was able to acquire an impact center, and if his name is John Tavares
The team's overall health, which devastated any chance Montreal had for contention this season
Oh, there's a fourth factor as well: Getting the first overall pick and adding Rasmus Dahlin to this defense. This is an option, because Montreal is in the lottery for the second time in three years, a fact which is unacceptable for everyone but their owner, apparently.