Montreal Canadiens: Marc Bergevin Can’t Be Blinded By Postseason Success

There were a lot of terms thrown around during the Montreal Canadiens Stanley Cup Final run. Cinderella run, the team of destiny, Canada’s team etc. Normally, when a team gets all the way to the Final and loses, the General Manager tries to make moves to improve the team right now, often mortgaging the future for success today.

That is not the path that Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin should take this offseason.

There is a good reason that this playoff run will be remembered for a long time into the future and got so many nicknames. It brought a country together that was torn apart by the corona virus and related lockdowns. That doesn’t just happen every year.

Play this playoff 100 times, and Montreal likely doesn’t make the Final in 99 of them. But they did, and it was glorious. But what I am saying is that you shouldn’t bet on it happening again. And Bergevin should continue to build for the future, instead of looking to build on last years playoff run.

Montreal’s team has the average age of 27, but that number comes way down when you take out Shea Weber, who is likely to miss at least extended time this coming season; Carey Price, who is likewise possibly missing a lot of time due to hip and knee injuries and might be on his way to the Kraken; Eric Staal, who was a rental and not looking like a good bet to return to the team; and Corey Perry, who is an unrestricted free agent but looks like a good bet to come back in.

Montreal’s greatest forward this run was 21 year old Nick Suzuki. Cole Caufield was a big reason why Montreal got past Vegas, scoring 4 goals in the 6 game series and hasn’t had his rookie season yet. Jesperi Kotkaniemi is 22 and scored 5 goals and was near the top of the team in scoring despite missing multiple games.  Alexander Romanov didn’t play a lot during the postseason, but also didn’t look awful in his time and will only be getting better.

If Bergevin starts to sell the farm for short term success, he will be handicapping the futures of these fine young players. While Suzuki and Caufield look like studs, they need a supporting cast, and right now Montreal has it. First round pick Kayden Guhle, wildcard Sean Farrell and goalie of the future Cayden Primeau all look to factor into Montreal’s bright future, but they have to still be with the team to provide for it.

It is going to be tough for Montreal to repeat the feat that they did last year at full health, but it is becoming clear that Montreal will not be. Captain and stalwart on the back end Shea Weber is dealing with knee, hip and thumb injuries that might mean the end of his career. The best player on this playoff run, Carey Price, is looking at a potentially career altering surgery on his knee and hip.

And the division is starting to look like a tough one. Tampa Bay and Toronto are both great regular season teams, Florida is a team on the rise, and the aging Boston Bruins are still dangerous. Montreal could still make the playoffs, but it is not a given. Especially if the roster stays the same (which it most certainly will not).

Marc Bergevin and the Montreal Canadiens fanbase should not take this past playoff run as the peak of this team, but as a promise of times to come. Think of the next Boston Bruins (shudder the thought, I know, but they are a good model for long term success). There are comparables, such as Caufield and Pastrnak, Suzuki and Bergeron, Gallagher and Marchand.

If Montreal stays the course, they can be the beneficiaries of years and years of great success. Or it could all be thrown away for a hope and a prayer now, and ruin the great thing that is going for the team.

Today’s Cinderella Story may not be tomorrow’s Cup favourite, but it took the Prince days to find the foot that fit the shoe. Montreal’s time will come, sooner than later.