from Luke Fox of Sportsnet,

Here are six teams that have the best shot to return to the playoffs in 2016-17, ranked in order from most to least likely.

Montreal Canadiens
2015-16 record: 38-38-6, 82 points
Points out of playoff spot: 11

No team will be more scrutinized in 2016-17 than the Habs. Can you trade away a Norris Trophy winner in his prime and become a better team?

Well, when you consider that 2015-16 was an unmitigated disaster and that 2015 Hart Trophy winner Carey Price is finally healthy and ready to go, the answer — in the near term, at least — is yes.

P.K. Subban has a new karaoke bar, but Montreal still owns one of the league's definitive No. 1 defencemen in Shea Weber, who's hot off a 20-goal season. Alex Galchenyuk busted out last season with 30 goals, and he's just 22. A healthy Brendan Gallagher (he missed 29 games last year) and the signing of free agent Alexander Radulov inject a needed scoring punch. And although Andrew Shaw might be overpaid at $23.4 million for the next six years, he should scratch, claw and bite for every penny.

Better goaltending, more offence and a nastier edge makes the Habs a contender in the relatively open Atlantic Division.

read on for five more teams...