Are the Canadiens rebuilding the right way to win a Cup? | HI/O Show 

Steve Yzerman was granted lots of time to rebuild the Red Wings to the point his team is contending for a Wild Card berth. While in New York, impatient Rangers owner James Dolan fired President John Davidson and GM Jeff Gorton early on in the rebuild. In Montreal, before accepting the task of rebuilding the Habs, Jeff Gorton secured the assurance from owner Geoff Molson that he will be patient. That assurance led to the hiring of Kent Hughes and Martin St. Louis. They’re only into Year 3 of a 5-year rebuild. It’s agonizingly slow for some Habs fans.

totally agree with Rick Green, you need the right combination of junior and veteran. No guarantees with a rebuild, you suck long enough and you get the best chances at great picks. But lets face it, this team is a long long way from being a contender

One of my favourite daily activities is hanging out with y'all! Your knowledge based insights, humorous comments and energy keep me entertained and informed about the Habs! I also enjoy reading the comments too! Great job team!

I really liked the lines in the Jersey game. 22-14-20 40-15-89 17-71-11 70-36-56 All four lines seemed relatively effective and the third line, in particular, surprised me with its strong performance. I hope these combinations are kept together for a while to see if they can continue to click.

Great show - do you see a fire sale before the draft with such bad contracts with Gallagher, Anderson, Dvorak, Armia (27 goals for 20 million in cap space) on the books for years to come?

True they are transparent, and the fans are patient, we still have exciting hockey but we are re building.

I like Rick's playing experience and what its like as a player and his adventures haha

Right now, at least, we've got the perfect combination of being good enough to be competitive to develop our young players but bad enough that we're going to get top 10 picks. We've also got ownership, management, scouting and coaching all aligned on building things the right way. Good things take time and since the hire of Gorton and Hughes we've started to refine our processes and actually start building a competitive and resilient organization. Be patient, better days ahead.

Sadly, I agree that Ylonen does not seem to have a future in Montreal; like Andrew, I think that's too bad because he hasn't really had a legitimate opportunity to show what he can do. And Andrew's point about Anderson (and Gallagher) being an obstacle to him getting that opportunity is spot on. I do worry that we are going to give up on him too easily only to watch him go and be an effective middle six winger somewhere else.

In Montreal they don't tolerate tanking because it's the only major sport in ttown compared to other cities that have 3-4 major sports.

As Rick said, you need the "right" veterans to help lead the younger players with their experience and knowledge. With that said, Montreal is on the right track, there is no need for more expensive veterans right now, as we have the ones needed for a non-playoff contender. Now that most of our "rookies" have had at least a couple of seasons under their belts, the Canadiens have a few keepers and trade pieces. So with all the defencemen we have and all those drafts, the Habs have, the next couple of years will be about getting the right veterans to place into the lineup.

I agree that the league has changed. It's more young and quite a bit faster. Right now, the Habs are rebuilding. You rebuild with young players , not old players. You have to build a solid core of fast, talented young players to move forward and upward. But I feel this team is too small and too soft. They get bullied around. What we need up front is more truculence. Big, tough, skillful players who aren't afraid to go into the corners and do whatever it takes to come out with the puck. And who aren't afraid to hit and fight. Like Xhekaj

I feel like newhook, dach and messar would be a really good line cause messars vision is unreal

Is Devorak still around the team?

Stu still hating Shea Weber cause he didn't like talking to media.

Yes what are we doing with Anderson?

'Making the playoffs' is NOT an accomplishment .. it's just a MANDATORY step that must be reached. Not a fan of media guys laying out excuses .. Habs have missed the Playoffs 6 of the last 10 yrs.

Nothing wrong with playing one the 4th line, sometimes its the line that wins games

I can't imagine Toe Blake or Punch Imlach asking young players to contribute to strategy, ask for input or treat young players as young men....

Which forward from another team ( like 27 to 29 years old) the habs should trade for... offering a lot... top 5 type...

Gallagher is a winner, he still can play very good hockey.

Question of the week - are the Habs happy they did not pursue Pierre Luc Dubois as he is floundering again in LA LA Land?

Harvey Pinard is a great add to the Habs, he hasn't been lucky.

I think management is doing it right.....I am looking at 2028 when they start looking for a playoff spot

Who are we too to tell?

I'm sure Hughes will keep or add other great veterans, but since Bergevin's overpaying contracts, it makes it difficult, he left Hughes will his mistakes.

He has the same moves, and every team players in the NHL knows his move.

👌🏼

Well Dach is getting paid a lot to learn. He better not complain

Sad that Gallagher can't follow the game, 4 th line for now.

In 2024 the NHL average height for FORWARDS only is 6’-1” & 198 pounds. ..... YES Size matters .. but more than that, you want LARGE forwards (above the average size) that like to bodycheck .... About 3 years ago I was more involved in stats. Back then, Ovechkin had more hits/bodychecks (per 60 minutes) than ( Mathews + Tavares + Marner + Nylander ) combined ..... That is why Toronto cannot win in the playoffs ... Toronto’s top forwards are SOFT. Montreal is making the same mistake as T.O. The new management is choosing Speed and Skill and ignoring SANDPAPER HITS per 60 minutes ….

Rick Green! Stop saying "you know"...

So where is Price's input on goal? Guy is getting paid $10 million plus a year to hang out in BC? Where is the input from Larry Robinson on a porous and disorganized young defence that keeps "learning"... And getting blown out?

Who was the 11 second player? Name him.

Kids, kids,really? How old is Suzuki? Twenty-four? They are at least 3 years away. That puts him at? Oh, and sorry, Suzuki is a fine hockey player. However, if he's the number 1 center, it won't be enough. Sorry. I am a Habs fan.

Let me guess...YES!. Saved you guys 34 minutes

Gally is still a good player. They should give him some PP time.

wow STU you have no clue

Dude said St.Louis is a good coach he threw Arber under the bus for ONE penalty in a 2 goal deficit but did nothing about Slafkovsky taking 3 penalties and one in a ONE goal deficit so St.Louis is picking his spots it is like Salfkovsky is the teams golden child he in untouchable. There is no doubt whatsoever that Arber is a SMARTER player than Slafkovsky it is not even close so if St.Louis is a good coach he SHOULD be sending a message to Slafkovsky before throwing Arber under the bus and then having him sent down to laval. When this so called great coach sent Arber down told him to work on his game he was a PLUS 3 Slafkovsky and others have never sniffed at +3 only Kovacevic on defense has been a plus.So again St,Louis is picking his spots with anger management or he is simply dumb as nails.

This year has been the biggest disappointment in the last 50 years of me watching.

Insane how the media and the fans have been sold that mediocrity is ok now. Every person on this panel is trying to keep their access to the team so they don't fully speak their minds. If you look at every Stanley Cup winners in the past years; they all have STAR players. The Habs have none. All the teams that contend year after years have game changers... I'm sorry but Nick Suzuki might be a good leader but he's not a star. The Habs are great at marketing mediocrity, i'll give them that.

You might need the right mix but it is a false statement to say vets teach young players how to play right nothing remotely close to accurate.I can use a SIMPLE example you think an elite skater like MCDavid is going to teach young players how to skate faster?You can't take a stupid player who got into the NHL just because he was big and scored some goals playing with other great setup players how to be shifty and creative. Another example when Cole Caufield becomes 28/29/30+ he is a one dimensional player what is he going to teach others?I have watched so many players that continue to shoot low on goalies that ALWAYS go down so a LOT of these players are not too bright but it works because they are playing against others that are not too bright. Dude stated ALL these players work hard ...again inaccurate Mantha is a perfect example a player with the skills to be a 40-40 player but struggles because he is a LAZY player. Suzuki is a hard working player he does have some shiftiness some good IQ but as the teams leader he has some bad negatives too small too weak cannot protect the puck.Suzuki is mostly like the others a "perimeter"player and those type of players can at times look good but imo they are NOT playoff winners.I stated 3 years ago if Coel and Suzuki are our first line we will never win a cup and adding Slafkovsky just made it even worse NONE of these guys are first line players versus other top lines not consistently.