Montreal Canadiens’ revival: The Gorton and Hughes effect

It was stunning when the Montreal Canadiens reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2021, and equally stunning when they finished last the very next season. But Montreal had a plan: “Be patient. Better things are ahead.” And, as it turns out, they were absolutely right. 

Executive vice president of hockey operations Jeff Gorton and general manager Kent Hughes have guided the Canadiens through their rebuild over the past four years, transforming the team from league laughingstock into a legitimate Stanley Cup contender—a journey nothing short of remarkable. And for that reason, both men will be sticking with the team for the foreseeable future.  

On Tuesday, Canadiens owner and president Geoff Molson announced two major signings, with both Gorton and Hughes agreeing to five-year contract extensions. Each was entering the final year of their existing deals, and Gorton’s title will be elevated from executive vice president of hockey operations to president of hockey operations, while Hughes will continue as general manager. 

The announcement follows star defenseman Lane Hutson agreeing to an eight-year, $70.8 million contract extension just 24 hours earlier, carrying an annual cap hit of $8.85 million beginning next season. 

How Gorton and Hughes Turned the Ship Around 

It was May 2022 at Gila River Arena in Glendale when I was ringside for the David Benavidez–David Lemieux fight. Lemieux, a former middleweight world champion, hailed from Montreal, so naturally, numerous Canadian media members were in attendance throughout fight week. As a lifelong hockey player, I couldn’t resist striking up conversations with my fellow Canadians. I can’t recall the reporter’s name, but we ended up discussing the Canadiens, who were coming off a particularly dismal season. 

Coincidentally, we were seated in the same arena that had been home to the Arizona Coyotes—an arena the team would soon vacate before eventually relocating to Utah. The journalist made a point that resonated: “Montreal might be struggling, but we support our team regardless of whether they’re good or bad. Every game at the Bell Centre,”—he gestured skyward—“FULL capacity.” Coyotes fans, on the other hand, were often less passionate when the team struggled, though the Western Conference Final in 2011 against the Los Angeles Kings had brought the city to fever pitch. Yet a string of broken promises, controversies, and lingering disappointments ultimately led to the inevitable: the team’s departure. 

Montreal was well aware that they had one of the most loyal fan bases in hockey, and they weren’t about to let that go to waste. The Canadiens were in utter disarray when Molson dismissed GM Marc Bergevin and appointed Gorton on November 28, 2021. At that juncture, Montreal ranked 29th overall in the NHL standings with a 6–15–2 record. Gorton faced a formidable rebuilding task, beginning with the hiring of Hughes as general manager on January 18, 2022, followed less than a month later by the appointment of Martin St. Louis as head coach, replacing Dominique Ducharme. Gorton arrived in Montreal fresh off a tenure with the New York Rangers that ended in his dismissal—a decision the Rangers organization will likely long regret. 

When Gorton arrived in Montreal, morale was understandably low. No one wants to be the NHL’s laughingstock, but without a cultural shift, there’s no chance to grow or escape the slump that landed the team in last place. Gorton understood that changing the culture had to come first; the hockey itself was secondary. It was about fostering an environment of enjoyment and respect—treating everyone well, not just the players, but also the staff who maintain the ice, run concessions, and keep the arena operational. It was about not taking oneself too seriously off the ice, so that when the time came to compete, players could focus fully. Surrounded by respect and support, athletes are more motivated, inspired, and driven to perform at their best. 

Establishing a Rapport 

Gorton recognized the need for a partner who could genuinely connect with the players, and that’s where Hughes came into the picture. Just as contract negotiations appeared to be faltering, Hughes approached Hutson with candour and clarity, outlining the team’s overarching objectives. Through open dialogue, both sides found common ground: Hutson was eager to build a lasting legacy in Montreal, and Hughes was committed to accommodating him as fully as possible without compromising the organization’s goals. 

He’s pretty good at explaining his point of view, and I explained mine, and we met in the middle,” Hutson told the Montreal Gazette.  

The foundation of this team is surrounded by being kind, respectful, and affable. The message was so strong, even St. Louis, a former Stanley Cup champion, was personally touched by it. 

“When I got hired, there wasn’t really talk about culture,” St. Louis told The Montreal Gazette. “I think that was a little further. I think when I got hired, it was trying to raise the group emotionally more than anything. So I think that was priority No. 1. 

“You can’t come in and want to explain everything you’re going to do to the players — you can’t do that,” St. Louis added. “You got to just go one thing at a time. And it was clear to me coming in that I had to lift the group emotionally and I thought we did that and we started having some fun. And then as that happens, then you can kind of see like, OK, this is the path. And to me it always started with culture after that. We have to establish that.” 

This could explain how the Canadiens managed to transform from the NHL’s worst team in 2021–22 into a playoff contender just a season later, finishing fifth in the red-hot Atlantic Division. The cultural shift has undeniably been transformative for the franchise. Meanwhile, consider the Buffalo Sabres, who have missed the postseason for 14 consecutive seasons, and the Detroit Red Wings, who are on a nine-year drought. Sometimes, a new approach is all it takes.

The next Canadian franchise to hoist the Stanley Cup may not be the Edmonton Oilers—it could very well be the Montreal Canadiens, the last Canadian team to claim the championship in 1993.