The Montreal Canadiens are definitely one of the bigger surprises of the 2016-17 NHL season so far.
After an offseason of intense criticism and speculation that pinnacled with trading superstar defenseman P.K. Subban days before the opening of the free agency market, many had the Canadiens taking a hard fall in the upcoming season.
Last year, it seemed as though Montreal had all the pieces necessary to make a Stanley Cup run. After starting the year 9-0-0, injuries and inconsistency over the remainder of the year helped them quietly slip out of the playoff picture and into an early offseason.