Fansided

Each NHL team’s biggest burning question in 2018

By Simon Vacca

EDMONTON, AB - OCTOBER 23: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers lines up for a face off against Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins on October 23, 2018 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)
EDMONTON, AB - OCTOBER 23: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers lines up for a face off against Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins on October 23, 2018 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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MONTREAL, QC – NOVEMBER 01: Max Domi #13 of the Montreal Canadiens celebrates his third period goal with teammates on the bench against the Washington Capitals during the NHL game at the Bell Centre on November 1, 2018 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Washington Capitals 6-4. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC – NOVEMBER 01: Max Domi #13 of the Montreal Canadiens celebrates his third period goal with teammates on the bench against the Washington Capitals during the NHL game at the Bell Centre on November 1, 2018 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Washington Capitals 6-4. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /

Montreal Canadiens: How will they embark upon the outset of the post-Max Pacioretty era?

On September 10, 2018, the Montreal Canadiens made the long-awaited — and much anticipated — move of trading away captain Max Pacioretty.

The decision to ship out No. 67 was a subject of rumination over the course of the past few seasons, as rumblings of Pacioretty’s problematic relationship with Habs’ GM Marc Bergevin had been a recurring staple of discussions occupying the talk circuit of the hockey world. The unflattering dynamic between player and administrator reached an especially public turning point near the end of the summer of 2018, as Bergevin’s awkward response to the mere prospect of attending Pacioretty’s annual golf tournament surely signified the extent to which internal conflict had taken the club by storm.

So Pacioretty found a new home in the Vegas Golden Knights — an exchange that prompted an admirable return in the form of Nick Suzuki, Tomas Tatar and a 2019 second-round draft pick. Both parties looked to have emerged victorious from the deal that was issued.

As the Canadiens embark upon the dawn of a new era, uncertainty looms large. Shea Weber — still sidelined due to injury — was named the club’s 30th captain in its history, celebrating this feat by both literally and figuratively carrying forth a torch to mark the outset of 2018-19.

Yet the team’s sense of direction going forward looks to be somewhat unsettled. With an 11-7-4 record at the time in which this article is being written, few would doubt that a head-turning start has been set into motion. Max Domi has embarked upon one of the most impressive campaigns in recent Habs history, while the likes of Tatar, Jonathan Drouin, Jeff Petry, Brendan Gallagher and Jesperi Kotkaniemi have at some point served as subjects of discussion across the league. Moreover, streaky performances from Carey Price has prompted recurring examinations of the goaltender’s stature between the pipes.

Expect matters of this variety to hover over the background of the Canadiens’ 2018-19 season. It’s a new era in Montreal, as winning ways appear to be within — while simultaneously outside — of Bergevin & Co.’s reach.

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