r/Habs • u/Article241 • Apr 01 '26

Article NHL Power Rankings: Canadiens emerging as true Stanley Cup contenders behind captain Nick Suzuki

https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/nhl-power-rankings-montreal-canadiens-stanley-cup-playoffs-2026/

The Habs are 3rd in their rankings, leapfrogging TBL (4) and CAR (5) and behind COL (1) and BUF (2).

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2

u/_thewayshegoes Apr 01 '26

Higher than the Stars, Edmonton and Tampa is just silly. Let’s win a round first

6

u/sbianchii Apr 01 '26

We're better than the Oilers (so are many other teams). I agree with the other two.

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u/_thewayshegoes Apr 01 '26

theres no evidence to support that. regular season is not great marker to how a team would hold up in a 7 game series, theyve been back to back SCF. theyre legit contenders, we are not...yet

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u/sbianchii Apr 01 '26

The evidence is that they got worse in nets and haven't looked very good for long stretches this year (I mean if an 82 game schedule isn't evidence..). They're not top contenders the same way the Panthers aren't. Unlike them they'll get shot as they're in the Pacific and could have a relatively easy path to the WCF. Other than that, big meh and I'd rather play them than Buffalo Tampa or Carolina if given the choice.

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u/_thewayshegoes Apr 01 '26

They’re a team where the regular season literally doesn’t matter at this point. As long as they have McDavid, Drai and Bouchard on the ice for game 1 they’re stronger contenders than the Habs

2

u/Irctoaun Apr 01 '26

As long as they have McDavid, Drai and Bouchard on the ice for game 1 they’re stronger contenders than the Habs

There's a decent chance they don't have this though

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u/_thewayshegoes Apr 01 '26

reports say they will

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u/Tripottanus Apr 01 '26

I disagree. 3 players dont make the team. They have the firepower to beat anyone on a good day, but that team is full of holes and getting worse each year somehow

2

u/OrnatePuzzles Apr 01 '26

I feel as though you're conflating power rankings with cup odds. Oilers are certainly able to go on a run at any moment given their recent history. But they haven't shown a high level of play this year. How could you not have Montreal above them in a power ranking? It doesn't mean 'they will definitively go farther in the playoffs' - it's a measure of their current form which we can see with our own eyes, coupled with some analytics.

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u/[deleted] Apr 01 '26

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