5 Christmas Gifts Habs Fans Can Wish For

Oh the weather outside is…bizarre. At least that’s the case here in Montreal. Bizarre is also one of many words used to describe the Canadiens’ season thus far.

We’ve over-analyzed everything but now the time is nigh when it comes to holiday cheers. Santa looked at the Habs’ list, checked it twice, and hopefully he’ll deliver at the very least, these 5 gifts to us loyal fans.

We’ve been all suspicious since training camp when it came to the leadership within the group. With Carey Price, Shea Weber and Joel Edmundson out to start the year, the weight of leadership fell on the shoulders of veterans such as Jeff Petry, Ben Chiarot and Jake Allen.

Petry didn’t make any new friends lately voicing his displeasure at the team’s recent effort as well as taking jabs at the coaching staff. Nor did Jake Allen when he openly said he was fed up of losing.

Losing is never fun but this is a team just removed from a magical playoff run. Granted, some of the key players from that run are no longer with the team (who was that guy that “bolted” for Tampa Bay again because we preferred Armia to him?) but there has to be a way for this team to co-exist.

If you lose, lose like a pro. At least leave it all on the ice and play for a full 60-minutes, which is something we’ve yet to see.

One of the most frustrating things Montreal Canadiens fans had to endure for the past 20 years or so is the annual pre-season press conference. Ownership and GM’s would come out and lay out the goals for the season. One goal that routinely showed up like that one family member that only shows up for Christmas, is “to make the playoffs”.

That needs to stop now.

The goal shouldn’t to “make the playoffs” and then we’ll see. The goal should be what the likes of Serge Savard and Sam Pollock would publicly say “to win the Stanley Cup.”

Otherwise, what’s the point? Not taking knocks at Marc Bergevin who has done what it took during a few trade deadlines in order to get that playoff depth, even going as far as getting hot rentals he knew he’d lose at the end of the season (see Thomas Vanek as an example), but this “we’ll see” vision can no longer be tolerated.

Jeff Gorton and the new General Manager need a plan that openly says “this is our core, these are the pieces we will build around, now let’s go win number 25.”

When Carey Price is on his game, he’s part of the elite of the NHL. When he’s focused and his body is working, he can steal games on his own.

When Carey Price is not on his game, he’s playing frustrated and most of the time with a major injury. Now with a history of hip and knee surgery as well as substance abuse, all hockey fans want is for Carey Price to come back with a clear head and a working and pain free body.

Whether he finishes his career in Montreal or not is moot. He’s 34 and has 4 years remaining on what will surely be the final contract of his career. We know he and everyone else would love to see Price play until he’s pushing 40 and have late career success in the likes of Mike Smith or Marc-Andre Fleury.

It’s true that the season is ultimately lost. We’re a lottery team and more likely than not, some veterans will be moved at the trade deadline in order to acquire draft picks and hope to finally win a lottery draft and potentially get Shane Wright in order to form a devastating 1-2 punch with Nick Suzuki.

The fact of the matter is however, the entire world is craving for a return to the old routines and we don’t want yet another shortened season because of this virus. Make all the Futurama jokes about Omicron Persei 8 all you want, the rise of infections across the world and particularly in North-America is alarming. Let’s cling on to the hope that it doesn’t halt the NHL season. Olympics be damned.