The 2017-2018 season was one that linked the Montreal Canadiens to the Edmonton Oilers. The teams did come together for a trade in January seeing Al Montoya join the Oilers for a conditional fourth-round pick, but it goes beyond that. It was a season where both teams were expected to have solid regular seasons and make the playoffs when the reality was instead bottom ten finishing years.
Management was put in the spotlight at both ends where Marc Bergevin and then general manager Peter Chiarelli needed to make changes over the summer for better results. One GM did, while the other did not, and it led the Montreal Canadiens having a good season with a lot more promise for the future despite not making the playoffs.