Habs fans have the faith for the first time in nearly 30 years.
I hit the streets and social media this week to poll folks on what they think of Canadiens executive vice-president Jeff Gorton, general manager Kent Hughes, and head coach Martin St. Louis and I was not in the least surprised to hear that the vast majority think the three dudes are doing a great job.
The fan base hasn’t been this upbeat and united in their praise since the good old days when Serge Savard was running the team, between 1983 and 1995. Ever since Savard was unceremoniously fired as GM by Canadiens president Ronald Corey only four games into the 1995-1996 season, supporters have never been 100 per cent behind the team’s management.
Andrew Zadarnowski, who writes for the site Habs Eyes on the Prize, underlined that fans have been upbeat before, notably in the early going for both Bob Gainey — who was GM from 2003 to 2010 — and he who must not be named (a.k.a. Marc Bergevin) — GM from 2012 to 2021.
But that unanimity was short-lived in both those cases. What’s so unusual about the enthusiasm for Gorton, Hughes and St. Louis is the fact the team has been a bottom-feeder ever since they took over. The first season under their guidance, the team finished dead last and the last two seasons the CH ended up fifth from the bottom.
Don’t get me wrong. I also like these guys and I think they have mostly made the right moves, with the notable exception of picking David Reinbacher instead of Matvei Michkov at the 2023 draft. Corey Pronman of The Athletic ranked Montreal sixth in terms of pipeline prospects this week and his take on Reinbacher is that “he looks like a potential quality top-four defenceman.” If the Austrian D-man is only a three or four and Michkov puts up big numbers for Philly, then that pick will be an undisputed fail.
But mostly the managers have done really well. They’re steady and patient, something you can’t say about any other GMs since Savard left the building. They have a plan and they’re sticking to it. That said, you can only be called a great manager or coach when you get great results. This is the season we’ll finally be able to start judging them because they are at last going to try to get out of the basement this season.
Don Hickey most definitely has the faith. He lives in Barrie, north of Toronto, and is originally from Cornwall, but he’s always been a Canadiens fan.
“I like the new direction, there’s definitely some thought to the process,” said Hickey, sitting with his wife, Beth, at McLean’s Pub Wednesday, having a drink after doing a tour of the Bell Centre. “The drafting of (Juraj) Slafkovsky, fantastic. They found the right kid. Look, I saw the Canadiens at their best with Ken Dryden and all those guys. I think management is making the right decisions, they’re drafting the right players. They’re going to win down the road. Are they going to win this year? I don’t think so. It’s a gradual process.”
Gabriel Balaban is just as positive.
“We have a strong, young team,” Balaban said. “We’re just going to have to give them some time to build some chemistry. And a few years I really hope the Habs can be a Stanley Cup winner.”
Michael Iuliani underlines that it’s a major step forward compared to the Bergevin years.
“It was difficult to see the prior administration not have the right direction,” Iuliani said. “This administration has been very clear since Day 1 in terms of what they’re doing and how they’re going to achieve it. They’re not rushing the young guys too fast. I think asset allocation has been very important. I like the Laine trade. … It’s a low-risk high-reward trade. He’s a 40- to 50-goal scorer in his prime.”
Iuliani is also a St. Louis fan.
“But I’m curious to see how he’ll be when expectations are higher,” he said. “But when expectations were (lower) and it was more about development, he’s done a great job.”
On Facebook, response to my question about management was running at like 95 per cent very positive.
Harm-Harry Duzink: “There is definitely a vision and talent galore in the pipes. What’s not to like?”
Mitch Lafon: “100% faith. Montreal will win a Cup before 2030.”
Of course there are grumblers on social media because, well, it’s social media.
Max Gray delivered something of a ferocious response on Twitter: “I am not goo goo ga ga over these guys. I’m not even on board for this rebuild until I see some results. Not projections, actual f—ing results. Like more wins than losses. Like more goals for than against. Until then, these guys are irrelevant to me.”
That’s way too harsh, even by What the Puck standards, but he has a point. Sports is a results business and you don’t get into the Hall of Fame by losing. That’s why this season is going to be so fascinating. Now Gorton, Hughes and St. Louis need to start winning.