Several important elements of the Habs have left since the last playoff run. Fans are enjoying watching the struggles of veterans like Jesperi Kotkaniemi, who is struggling to make his mark in Carolina.
Used on the third defensive pair in the playoffs, defensemen Jon Merrill and Erik Gustafsson also left at the end of the campaign. No one complained about them, as they were the ones who got the job done last year.
However, both players seem to be thriving in their new teams. In Merrill's case, the Wild defenseman has seven points in 20 games. The former second round pick in 2010 is being used on the second defensive pairing due to the injury to captain Jared Spurgeon.
As for Gustafsson, he has never lived up to expectations since he scored 60 points with the Blackhawks in the 2018-19 season. Here he is off to an encouraging start this season, posting five points in 19 games since his return to Chicago.
