Montreal Canadiens: Best Bet for Long-Term Success Is to Tank 2022-23

Montreal Canadiens have the first-overall pick. They are looking for a way back to respectability after a last-place 2021-22 season.

The Montreal Canadiens finished last in 2021-22. They had a number of injuries and a league-leading number man-games lost. The fans were treated to a Stanley Cup Final run in the 2021 season. It's not too much to ask of the fans to suffer through a second consecutive miserable season in 2022-23.

Montreal Canadiens lost their final seven games under Dominique Ducharme. They were 8-30-7 under him and they were in line for a high draft pick. Martin St. Louis is projected to be behind the bench instead of DuncharMe. The Habs are in no man's land with regard to their next draft choice in 2023. They can try to make the playoffs, but the deck is stacked against them. There are rumors Weber won't come back and Price's future is up in the air.

The Montreal Canadiens have missed the playoffs in four out of five seasons. They have to go free agency to compete for a playoff spot. The Habs have expensive contracts to Weber and Price. They almost made the Stanley Cup Final last season. In 2019-20 they made a one-off play-in round on a technicality.

The Montreal Canadiens are going to draft Shane Wright. They should avoid signing big-name free agents and aim for an extended stay in the cellar. The most successful teams have suffered through similar extended stays at the bottom of the standings. The Habs should embrace the worst team in NHL now and potentially in 2022-23. It's the best bet to secure sustainable, long-term success at top.