NHL Entry Draft 2009 at the Bell Center

In Montreal, when it comes to hockey, some media have a very unique but very effective  way to put pressure on the Canadiens organization.  For two days now, in what has become the hockey capital, two press points have been held with management personnel:  Boivin two days ago and Bob Gainey, Trevor Timmins and Jacques Martin yesterday.   On French radio station CKAC, excitement took over when the press conference was called yesterday morning: it was expected that the Habs would make the big announcement for what had been the talk of the town, a major trade with the Lightning.  But all Bob Gainey did was to explain the state of his business for the time being.  Following what became a major disappointment, some media members received this as a blow.  Criticism soon flooded the air in CKAC and, once more, angry fans called with sour comments on the GM.

I personally believed however that if you read through the lines, Bob Gainey gave some very precious indications on his plan of action for the coming days.  For the past 3 seasons, Gainey has been one of the most active GM on the free-agent market, trying all he could to land an impact player.  His efforts were unfortunately only met with disappointment.  And so, this year he has now decided to change his strategy and he will try to get this most needed big centreman through the trade market.  “We don’t know who’s going to be on the free-agent market and we won’t know until July 1, but I don’t see that centreman there. I see other good players, but I don’t see a centre” did he say.  According to Tom Lynn, former Minnesota GM assistant, who expressed his opinion in The Hockey News, “The knowledgeable management team will know that the trading market in connection with the entry draft will be their best opportunity to improve their team, and at the best value.”  And so, we know that talks have taken place for the services of Lecavalier.  And what we don’t know is that talks have probably taken place for the acquisition of other impact players should the trade with the Bolts fail.   More trades talk may happen in the heath of the entry draft.  Because landing this much needed big centreman is necessarily the number one action of Gainey’s strategy.   Would he succeed, upcoming free-agents Komisarek, Tanguay, Koivu and Kovalev could be more easily convinced to join a team who would have a greater chance at success.  Would he fail, Montreal would lose its power of attraction for these players.  Course of actions could be to try to get a Lecavalier, Marleau or Doan.  It could also mean acquiring the negotiating rights to the Sedin brothers.  Everything seem possible at this point.  In any case, one thing is for sure: Gainey will do everything that he can possibly do to make this work.  Because in addition to the team’s faith,  Gainey’s job as a GM is also at stake.

On April 30, 2008, I, along with fans from Montreal, travelled to Philadelphia for game 4 of the Stanley Cup playoffs between the Canadiens and the Flyers. While waiting for the players to board the bus who would take them from the hotel to the Wachovia Center, I witnessed Bob Gainey while he proceeded slowly to walk by the fans. All he heard from most of them was “thank you Mr. Gainey”. The fans were excited with their team and were hoping for the Stanley Cup. And so after a heartbreaking loss to the Flyers, Gainey acquired Tanguay and Laraque, and then later on Lang in the offseason, hoping that they would fill up the needs of the team who would then have a true shot at lord Stanley’s graal.
“Fans in Montreal, said Carey Price, can put you very high when things go well, and then throw you under a bus when the team loses”. And so, at the end of this season, Bob Gainey found himself as the target of criticisms from the angry fans and media. What happened to make this team from a Dr. Jekyll to a Mr. Hide? And what is the true value of the team that was on the ice those past two seasons. I strongly believe that the Canadiens can be defined between their 1st place, 104 points season and their 8th place, 93 points season. Last season, the team was plagued by numerous wounds to its key players. The previous year, it had been spared. Last season, many players found themselves in the media for the wrong reasons. The previous year, it was total harmony and team spirit in the dressing room. Last season, the team lost all 6 games against the brilliant Bruins. The previous, they had won all 8 games against Boston. Last season, many key players, deprived from their teammates, underachieved. The previous, they all had a good season. Add to that the extremely high expectations due to the Centennial year and you had the perfect recipe for disaster. So I believe that it is safe to say that the Montreal Canadiens had more of a 4th rank, 99 points team. Which in the NHL, is not so bad. But in the ever demanding Montreal fans, not nearly enough.
This summer, Bob Gainey is now in a very risky business as General Manager. Once more, fans have high expectations for their Habs. Gainey should find ways to retain free agents Tanguay and Kovalev to name just those two. And Komisarek should be back, but not at any price. Since the word went out last winter that Lecavalier was almost a Canadians at one point, fans have been showing their excitement at the possibility of seeing the big number four with a Montreal jersey next season. Would the hockey men draft a few French speaking young talented players next week-end at the Bell center, the crowd would cheer.
So far, Bob Gainey has done things his way. Quietly. But efficiently. He has hired experienced Jacques Martin as head coach, insuring that the dressing room will be dealt with firmly and with discipline next year. He has let go all assistant coaches in both Montreal and Hamilton but Muller, failure no longer being an option. He has also managed the salary cap so efficiently that the team now has the greatest margin in the NHL to hire free agents. Not a small achievement by any means since what made him a contender in the past years might now make him a big winner in that game. There are many reasons to hope it seems. So, it’s time to let this great leader we have in Bob Gainey, show us the way to a new promising season.