The Montreal Canadiens’ recent struggles highlight the challenges of rebuilding an NHL team. After a promising mid-season surge, injuries and lack of depth have derailed their progress. Key players like Kaiden Guhle and Emil Heineman’s absences exposed the team’s vulnerabilities, leading to eight losses in nine games.

The Canadiens’ penalty kill unit has been a rare bright spot, improving from 26th to 8th in the league. However, this success may be short-lived. As the March 7 trade deadline approaches, core penalty-kill players like David Savard, Jake Evans, Christian Dvorak, and Joel Armia are likely to be traded.

Montreal’s offensive and defensive stats reveal a mixed bag. While they’ve scored 10 more goals than last season, they’ve also allowed four more. At even strength, they’ve conceded 24 more goals, ranking among the league’s worst defensively.

The upcoming trades could further weaken the team, making the final stretch of the season a tough watch for fans. For those hoping for a high draft pick, the Canadiens’ struggles might offer a silver lining.