The Montreal Canadiens, under the helm of Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes are in a better spot than they have been in decades. Yes, even better than that time that the team went on a historic streak and made it to the Final a few years ago. Since then, the team proved that was a fluke, but there is a lot of talent in this deep prospect pool.
The future's so bright, you have to wear shades. These ones specifically:
Kent Hughes se présentant à son point de presse après avoir obtenu Patrik Laine ET un choix de 2e tour contre Jordan Harris. pic.twitter.com/QOixfqCbyH
— Maxime Van Houtte (@maxvanhoutte) August 19, 2024
Yeah, that was a little redundant, but if there is any reason to use this photo I will use it, because its one of my all time favourites.
But its true. Recently, EP Rinkside said the Montreal Canadiens had one of the top 5 prospect pools in the NHL. With a recent first overall pick, two fifth overall picks, and a couple of high profile, young pickups the likes of Alex Newhook, Kirby Dach and the stylish Patrik Laine, the future is definitely bright.
Its a stark contrast to the many years since their last Stanley Cup win. There have been some pretty good teams in the past, like the team in 2014 where if it wasn't for an unfortunate injury to star goalie Carey Price, who knows what would have happened.
But there have been some real stinkers in there as well. Nothing against Saku Koivu, but when he is one of your best offensive weapons along with an indifferent Alex Kovalev, you aren't icing the most exciting team.
Because even in those good teams of the early 2010s, you look at the biggest names. Andrei Markov, P.K. Subban, Price. Those are all defenders or a goalie. Up front, it was Max Pacioretty and his merry band of misfits and role players.
I mean, for a while David Desharnais was the number one centre for a while. And don't get me wrong, a hard-nosed, small, hard-working forward? Sign me up. One of my favourite current players is Jake Evans, but he has a place, and it is not the top line.
The team brought in players to try to help, like P.A. Paranteau, Alex Semin, and everyone's favourite scoreless wonder Scott Gomez. But the Canadiens were the team that could win a tight game, but outside of Captain Patches, and one season of production from Alex Galchenyuk, goal scoring was scarce.
And now look at the team and prospect pool. Who are the biggest names? You have Ivan Demidov, for sure, and he is the grand jewel in all of this, but outside of him? Lane Hutson, Logan Mailloux, David Reinbacher, Adam Engstrom. Defender, defender, defender, defender.
There are a lot of question marks and maybes on the front lines. Owen Beck will be a fantastic bottom to middle six forward, and that is very important, but should not be relied upon for consistent, high level offence. Players like Sean Farrell, Joshua Roy and Filip Mesar are interesting, and definitely hyped, but they could just as easily not pan out.
Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes have definitely done a better job getting help from outside the team. Kirby Dach was a slam dunk, and hopefully we will have a healthy season of Alex Newhook to see what he can fully do, and we get two years of Patrik Laine to see how he fits and what he can produce.
Its putting a lot on the shoulders of Caufield and Demidov to put pucks in the net, but the best thing is that the Canadiens should also be pretty bad this season, and another high offensive draft pick in what looks to be a pretty weak draft year should round out the team, and make the team a well rounded threat, and a true Stanley Cup Contender for the first time in decades.
Just please don't take another defender, please.