The Canadiens exceeded expectations last season by reaching the Eastern Conference final — and Craig Button believes that was no fluke.
Indeed, the former general manager of the Calgary Flames said the Canadiens have the talent and depth to be a Stanley Cup contender for at least the next six years.
“You build your team with young players and prospects. Then you watch them grow,” Button told The Gazette by telephone. “This is a team that has a lot of good players in their lineup and still has good players on the horizon. I think they’re going to be in Stanley Cup contention and (the) conversation for at least the next half-dozen years.
“They have good young players progressing nicely,” added Button, who is an analyst for TSN and its director of scouting. “Key positions are covered off. I’m comfortable and confident saying they can be in the Stanley Cup contender conversation.”
There are many components of the Canadiens’ roster Button is bullish about, starting with captain Nick Suzuki, whom he considers an elite No. 1 centre. Button said Juraj Slafkovsky took massive strides last season, when he scored a career-high 30 goals. He also believes Russian rookie Ivan Demidov will only improve.
“I think they have five top-line forwards,” Button said, including Cole Caufield and Alex Newhook in the conversation. “I don’t know how many teams have that luxury.
“How do we account for growth in an individual player’s game? How do we account for maturity? How do we account for those areas of growth that are hard to measure? You can assume, and are hopeful, that a player will mature and take the next step. There’s (potential) there for this team to grow.”
In Jakub Dobes and Jacob Fowler, Button believes the Canadiens have two starting goaltenders, noting general manager Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton, the president of hockey operations, eventually will have to make a decision.
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While Button remains surprised veteran netminder Samuel Montembeault is part of the mix, giving the Canadiens three players at the position, he said management might be loath to have Dobes and Fowler, still early in their NHL careers, carrying the load.
“Dobes has shown he’s a top-notch goaltender and can be a workhorse,” Button said. “The day may come in the future where they have to make a decision, but I think they’re sitting on two No. 1 goaltenders. I don’t know how many teams in the league have that luxury. They’re in a really good spot there.”
Button said he’s not necessarily surprised Hughes hasn’t been actively attempting to tinker with his roster, seeking an elusive second-line centre or another defenceman who shoots right. Button said Canadiens management has always taken a calculated approach and could be waiting until October or November to identify any glaring weaknesses.
“They have all kinds of (depth) to make moves,” he said. “Moves for the sake of making moves … isn’t the right thing to do. This team has shown they have the moxie, competitiveness and skill. When the right move is there to be made, Hughes and Gorton have shown they’ll make it.”
Given his druthers, Button would like to see the Canadiens add some size deeper into their lineup, suggesting it serves as an advantage in the playoffs, wearing teams down while maintaining a competitive edge.
“Carolina isn’t big in terms of their star quality,” Button said. “Where they were really able to grind (teams) down was with the depth at forward and the bottom pair of defence. That would be an area (for the Canadiens) to explore and try to bolster. A bit of heaviness in the depth group.”
Button realizes it’s not easy to make the playoffs, let alone win a round. And he understands the Canadiens are in a tough division, competing against Florida, which figures to be healthier, Tampa Bay and a resurgent Buffalo team. Detroit also is knocking on the door and Toronto could have something to prove after missing the playoffs.
“It feels like now there’s a narrative around the team,” Button said. “I think this team loves to go out and show everybody doubt us at your peril. They just want to play. I don’t think they’re trying to prove anybody wrong. They’re just trying to show everybody they’re a good team, have good players, and we’re going to show you.
“I think they’re a team that’s good enough to return to the final four.”
