The Canadiens are among the teams that have improved the most this summer and the reason is surprising according to an expert

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David St-Jean
July 21, 2023 (10:40)

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While several journalists have indicated that the Canadiens were among the teams that improved the least during the summer season, statistics expert Dom Luszczyszyn, who works for The Athletic, states the opposite. According to him, the Habs rank 10th in the NHL in terms of the moves made during the offseason.

At first glance, many fans might attribute this ranking to the trade of Alex Newhook or the contract extensions of Cole Caufield and Sean Monahan. However, the surprising argument behind his reasoning is related to the departure of Joel Edmundson.

"The Canadiens' big win, however, comes from an addition by subtraction. Joel Edmundson was once a defensive beast for the Tricolore, but those days are gone, and the team is much better with him far, far away from their lineup." - Dom Luszczyszyn

Wow! Such a statement was unexpected!

Even though Joel Edmundson's departure seemed increasingly inevitable, as he would have completed the final year of his contract this season, Dom Luszczyszyn firmly believes that the Canadiens have improved by trading the veteran to the Washington Capitals. The 30-year-old defenseman finished last on the team with an atrocious -29 plus/minus rating last season, and his absence from the lineup in 2023-2024 could greatly contribute to the Canadiens' success.

Furthermore, this transaction will allow young defensemen like Justin Barron (and possibly Logan Mailloux?) to take on much more significant roles next year, which will undoubtedly aid in their development. The Canadiens have promising defensive prospects, and the "loss" of Joel Edmundson will provide a real opportunity for them to showcase their talents.

Here is Dom Luszczyszyn's top 10:

1- Dallas Stars
2- Detroit Red Wings
3- Pittsburgh Penguins
4- New Jersey Devils
5- Edmonton Oilers
6- New York Islanders
7- Calgary Flames
8- Carolina Hurricanes
9- Montreal Canadiens
10- St. Louis Blues

Considering that the team's management aims for the Canadiens to be more competitive next season, it will be very interesting to follow the performances of our favorites throughout the 82 games of the year. In your opinion, is the Tricolore among the teams that have improved the most in the NHL this summer?