Both these teams had terrific years. The Hurricanes finished with 113 points, earning them the top seed in the Eastern Conference, while the Canadiens took a sizable leap from last year, finishing with 106 points, good for third in the Atlantic Division. The Habs and Canes were two of the best teams in the conference this year, but that’s where their similarities end.
This playoffs, specifically the second round series against the Canadiens, was a true breakout for Benson. He had a solid regular season, scoring 13 goals and 43 in 65 games while playing just under 16 minutes a night, but he still felt underappreciated league-wide.
The Blue Jackets weren’t widely viewed as Cup contenders at the season’s opening, but I certainly believe there was excitement about the direction of the club, and the team’s record by mid-December wasn’t really reflective of where they would want to be in their journey towards contention. The bright spot for the Jackets at that time was the amount of the season that remained, and they’ve done a great job righting the ship since the new year.
