April 20, 2024
This past week the 2023-24 season for the Montreal Canadiens came to an end. The next day, the management duo of Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton (HuGo) met with the media for their end of season press conferences.
Here are five takeaways from the presser.
This might be the summer when the Habs dip their toes in the free agent market.
The overall message of the presser was clear. This off-season for the Montreal Canadiens is huge, but next off-season will be even bigger.
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure this one out. This is likely the last draft for this regime with a high draft pick. The Habs continue to stockpile assets while prospects are maturing and graduating. Next summer some big contracts will be off the books. Of course, next summer will be the pinnacle of the rebuild.
But Gorton was also clear to add they would be looking at this summer’s free agent pool to see if there is a logical fit to help the Habs. The rebuild is close enough that they can entertain a UFA. The bigger fish might be coming due next summer, but there are a few interesting names available in July. The time has come that it’s worth considering, but they are not likely all in on a free agent until 2025.
Most coaches have a shelf life, but Marty might be one of the rare exceptions.
They had just exercised their option on Coach Martin St. Louis. Gorton talked about learning something knew about Marty every day. Hughes referenced the famous quote from Marty about the thing he had been better at than the others during his playing career was getting better.
Is it possible that Marty’s penchant for being best at getting better will be enough to extend his shelf like through this window and to a Stanley Cup?
That’s what they’re after, by the way.
HuGo is aware of fan reaction to their draft approach, but Slafkovsky leaves them feeling vindicated.
The conversation was about Juraj Slafkovsky, and how pleased they are with his development. Gorton took a brief second to note that when the Canadiens made that selection in 2022, there were some who “thought we didn’t know what we were doing”.
Cheeky.
This management group has their plan, they’re doing their homework, and they’ll make the calls they assess to be best. Of course, this won’t stop the google guys from passionately pointing out HuGo errors and looking foolish later.
The Habs are ready to make a blockbuster trade, but they still need a dance partner.
Sportsnet’s Eric Engels asked about the stockpile of assets available to the Habs as they enter the off-season. Hughes acknowledged they are in good position to make a deal. But he also added that they can identify their targets, and have the assets to make a good offer, but the other team has to be willing to make the trade.
Hughes referenced the last two drafts where they knew they were entering with assets to deal. But he also said they had identified targets that they were unsure would be available to them.
I love that. HuGo is not waiting for news to break that a team may have become disenchanted with a player. They’re doing their own work to identify fits for the Montreal Canadiens and then making their approach.
HuGo intends to make Montreal a place where players want to play.
Now we’re back to where we started – free agency.
It’s been their message since they were hired. HuGo wants to make Montreal a destination that free agents want to choose. They see Martin St. Louis as a major factor in increasing the appeal, and that’s a reason why it was logical to proceed with the option to extend him.
They wasted no time. The word is out early. This guy that players love to play for who can’t think of anything but winning will be in Montreal for at least three more years. Free agents whose seasons have already come to and end, or will gradually find themselves there, will be thinking about their next stop. HuGo wants Montreal to be fresh in UFA minds.
What a difference a regime change makes.
Hab At Her 