3 questions facing Montreal Canadiens

NHL.com is providing in-depth roster, prospect and fantasy analysis for each of its 32 teams from Aug. 1-Sept. 1. Today, three important questions facing the Montreal Canadiens.

1. Will the Canadiens show progress after two of their least successful seasons ever?

Montreal's run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2021, with goalie Carey Price and former defenseman Shea Weber emptying their tanks in a five-game loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, is a distant memory already in the wake of consecutive seasons in the Atlantic Division cellar.

The emergence of forwards Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield during that unanticipated playoff run marked the changing of the guard in Montreal, and the growing pains of rebuilding have been compounded by a plague of injuries throughout the lineup.

But despite all the different players pressed into service, a constant identity of the Canadiens has been their ability to compete hard against stronger opponents, a clear reflection of coach Martin St. Louis' impact on his players.

"I think with the roster that we have, we're in a position to improve on what we did last year," Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes said. "And where that takes us, hopefully we're a lot healthier than we were last year and we'll see what happens."

2. Will there be a clear No. 1 goalie?

The Canadiens are likely to go with Jake Allen and Sam Montembeault to start the season, but will either of them stand out as the No. 1 goalie at that point? Allen, who was Montreal's primary goalie at the outset of last season, made 41 starts, his highest total since 2018-19, when he started 45 games for the Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues. He went 15-24-3 with one shutout in 2022-23, a 3.55 goals-against-average and an .891 save percentage.

Montembeault continued to show progress last season, going 16-19-3 with a 3.42 GAA and .901 save percentage in 40 games, including 39 starts. The 26-year-old won a gold medal as Canada's starting goalie at the 2023 IIHF World Championships and will likely split net duties with Allen, barring standout auditions by prospect Cayden Primeau or newly acquired Casey DeSmith during training camp.

3. Can Cole Caufield become Montreal's first 50-goal scorer in 33 years?

It's not a lot of fun when you're in last place, but Cole Caufield has provided a ton of thrills for Canadiens fans starving for offense. Caufield was on pace for 40 goals or more in 2022-23 before a right shoulder injury that required surgery ended his season in late January. His 26 goals in only 46 games led Montreal until Nick Suzuki tied him when he scored in the final game of the season.

The Canadiens, who have not had a 40-goal scorer since Vincent Damphousse in 1993-94, last had a 50-goal scorer in 1989-90 when Stephane Richer scored 51 for his second 50-goal season in three years.

And Caufield is Montreal's purest goal scorer since Guy Lafleur had an astounding run of six straight 50-goal seasons from 1974-75 to 1979-80. So, a return to full health could make Caufield's exploits must-see viewing for Canadiens fans while Montreal continues to rebuild.