Official announcement from the Canadiens: it is over

Obviously, it's been a few weeks since Martin St-Louis's men were out of the picture for a potential playoff berth, but last night's loss against the Tampa Bay Lightning has sealed their fate.

Indeed, the Canadiens now stand no chance of making it to the playoffs, a sad reality that is starting to frustrate many fans who are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to see their team play in significant games.

Unfortunately, while some held hope for the Canadiens to make the playoffs at the beginning of the season, the same scenario as last year unfolded. The organization was plagued by numerous injuries throughout the year, and the loss of Kirby Dach was keenly felt in the team's performance.

However, although this season does not end with a playoff appearance, there are still many positives to take away.

Head coach Martin St-Louis has finally found a true first line, as Nick Suzuki (72), Cole Caufield (57), and Juraj Slafkovsky (44) all reached personal bests in points. Moreover, the former first overall pick showed rapid progress this year, hinting at a very promising future.

Kent Hughes put an end to the notorious goaltending trio, which should allow Samuel Montembeault and Cayden Primeau to share the net more fairly in the 2024-2025 season. Speaking of the American goaltender, he has made significant strides in his development, this being his first full season in the NHL.

Furthermore, despite his injury, Alex Newhook has proven he can play a key role within the top two units. Even though he spent the entire season with third-line players, the former Avalanche collected 29 points in 48 games, which equates to about 50 points over 82 games.

Lastly, the defensive squad has greatly improved. As usual, Mike Matheson was electrifying offensively, surpassing the 50-point mark for the first time in his career. David Savard was David Savard, dominating in the defensive zone and excelling with the team's young players. Moreover, Arber Xhekaj and Kaiden Guhle, the two defensemen, took on much more responsibility from Martin St-Louis, rising to the challenge brilliantly.

We've also had some revelations: Joel Armia emerged as a significant player in the lineup, Joshua Roy proved he could indeed compete in the NHL, and Jayden Struble showed he has the potential to become a quality defenseman for Montreal.

Certainly, even though the Canadiens will not make the playoffs this year, the future looks very promising for the organization.