I'm convinced the Habs will be okay. I know the city is having heart palpitations imagining a season of piled-up losses, but it's not going to happen.
There are some issues, but almost all of them can be resolved.
Firstly, here's where they are fine and won't struggle like they are now. The defence will tighten as Jacques Martin won't have it any other way. Gill, Hamrlik, and Spacek will have strong seasons. Most of the forwards will live up to expectations. The penalty kill will be far better than it is now, though the powerplay is a worry without Markov - his outlet pass, point shot and vision are skills to be greatly missed. It appears that Price is alright too. No worries on all these fronts.
The Pros
Here's where I feel most confident coming off the loss in Edmonton: The club is still getting to know each other and understand each other's tendencies. This team will get better as this season progresses. It won't be the other way around like last year. Why? The coach still hasn't decided who should play with whom, though it is painfully obvious that the three big signings have to play together. Late second in Edmonton, Martin finally succumbed and rolled Cammalleri, Gionta, and Gomez together and the club finally had a line that was a threat each shift. When things on this vastly new roster, with more player turnovers than Pillsbury, settle down, you will see the wins come.
The Cons
However, there are some concerns that I don't see as improving in the near term. Andrei Kostitsyn has lost his way. Two years ago he was a part of one of the best lines in hockey with Plekanec and Kovalev, but now he seems lost and ineffective. You can go entire periods and then have to remind yourself Kostitsyn is in the lineup. Max Pacioretty will be a good one, but he needs more seasoning in the minors. He's just not ready for this grind night after night. Georges Laraque simply takes an entire line out of competing. He can't be out there. The Habs will be in so many tight games this year. They can't afford to not be competitive every fourth shift. Matt D'Agostini has to learn how to compete better. He's skillful, but he can be a liability defensively. With these four things, something has to give. It can't stay this way, or there will be long term trouble. They solve half of these issues and they will be fine.
Lastly, and this is vital for everyone who is contemplating going to the hospital to use the paddles, the Habs haven't even played a home game yet. There are few teams with a positive road record season after season. Division winners are often just barely over 500 on the road. Two and three on a trip isn't unusual in the slightest. If the Habs play well at home and we don't even know yet if they will be good at the Bell Centre, then all of this hand wringing will be wasted energy. . They could be a far better team at home. Near 500 on the road and 600 at home is a playoff team. So let's all see a home game first, then decide if Gainey should be let go.
Slow process
I believe Jacques Martin is sowing the seeds of success: tough skates to get in shape, discipline off the ice and on, special teams improvement, line adjustments, and more. Martin understands the process.
It will get better. Look at the Impact. They were almost in last place in the USL at the midpoint of the season. Now they are leading the final after one game.
It is a long season and your Habs team is just now coming together for its first game Thursday at home and I have a feeling it is going to be a good night.
