Montreal Canadiens: Tides are turning and the luck is changing
By Omar L
The Montreal Canadiens have had a lot more positive things going their way since the end of the regular season, and it only looks to get better.
In a season where anything that could go wrong did go wrong, it’s nice to see a little right go the Montreal Canadiens way. Of course, the positive swing was a little difficult to believe in at first. Marc Bergevin and Geoff Molson’s words of encouragement and determination momentarily fell on lost ears as the fan base was still frustrated over the turnout of the season. However, both managerial heads harped on a plan and a focus, and the threads have already begun to be stitched together.
It started with the signing of Jake Evans to an entry-level contract. The Habs 2014 seventh-round pick had an impressive senior year come to an end in the finals of the Frozen Four. But the growth the 21-year-old displayed throughout the season, including a pair of clutch goals, has made his entry into the Montreal Canadiens organization, as a player, an exciting one.
Next came with the relief of Sylvain Lefebvre from his duties as head coach with the Laval Rocket. You never want to applaud someone losing their job. However, the Habs farm management needed a chance. Missing the playoffs for the fifth time in six years is one thing, but to be the bottom team in the entire league isn’t a good look. At the same time, player development has been put into question, and the likes of Michael McCarron are at the helm of that.
Bringing in Alexandre Alain and Hayden Verbeek as further additions to the prospect pool as well as Dominique Ducharme to assist Claude Julien behind the Habs bench.
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The Montreal Canadiens winning one of the three lotteries and moving up in the draft is the latest entry in the ‘Good Times Are Coming’ directory.
In many ways, luck had nothing to do with any of the positive moves made in the last three weeks (save for the lottery). All of them could’ve been part of Bergevin’s plan that he was so reluctant to talk about. However, things always change, and the fact that everything has appeared to work out so far is a step in the right direction.
The good luck will have to continue for Montreal and see them through the draft and Free Agency. June may be the time where Bergevin gets the phones out and starts working on some trades. Whether that’s involving Max Pacioretty, Alex Galchenyuk, or both, the organization needs to continue to pile up wins.
The trade needs to be a hit, that third overall pick needs to be a hit, and the Habs have to strike gold on a few of those selections outside of the first round.
Next: Fans React to the Draft Lottery
It may be too early to say the tides are turning surrounding the Montreal Canadiens. It’s possible that this is just the slow clickity-clack progression up the ramp before the rollercoaster falls. But pessimism was never good for anyone, right? For now, things are looking good for the organization, and hopefully, they stay that way.