Montreal Canadiens: Will Christmas Come Early With New General Manager?
By John Wiens
Player Agents
Player Agents make good GMs. Brian Burke, Dean Lombardi, Peter Chiarelli, and Ray Shero stand out as success stories. The oft-rumoured Pat Brisson likely wouldn’t consider this post, but there are others who might be great fits. One is Kent Hughes, whose case has been examined at length in the media already. There is another name that merits equal consideration:
Emilie Castonguay.
The Montréal Canadiens should have more women on staff. Looking down their organization women are underrepresented, and that’s saying it kindly. New ways of thinking lead to new results, and if thats the direction then its time for the Habs to catch up. The Maple Leafs are employing Haley Wickenheiser and Danielle Goyette. It is only a matter of time before the NHL has its first woman GM, and why not the Habs?
While not necessarily as high profile as Brisson or Hughes, Castonguay’s profile is similar. She already has a rapport with Jeff Gorton. Her highest profile clients are Marie-Phillip Poulin and Alexis Lafreniere. Given Lafreniere’s contract was the standard entry-level deal for a first selection it is likely they are established.
If Kent Hughes is a presumptive front runner it is for many of the same reasons that Castonguay might also be considered. Her roots are in the province so she know the undercurrents of this market and won’t need any education understanding what the Habs mean to their fans. Combine that with already knowing Jeff Gorton, and she would hit the ground running.
She has significant relationships with top players in the Q, so she has an ability to recruit and represent player interests. That might make a difference to players considering a move in free agency. Just as important are her deeper ties to the QMJHL. She has a finger on the pulse of the Q, something that has been woefully lacking during the 17 years that Trevor Timmins ran the scouting department. They will know about the next up and coming players here, and it is reasonable to expect they will draft accordingly. It would be nice to see more of the best Quebec players playing for La Sainte-Flanelle.
The one major difference between Hughes and Castonguay is her playing career in the NCAA. She was a player, he wasn’t. No matter what, she has the infrastructure in place to help rebuild the amateur scouting department which, to be blunt, needs it.
Other Player Agents with Quebec ties : J.P. Barry, Claude Lemieux.