Confirmed with Link: Canadiens Hire Jeff Gorton EVP of Hockey Operations

[n8]

surprised Gorton doesn't just take the job himself.

 

[jay from jersey]

Don’t think I’d want to be going forward with a 32 year old mostly stay at home now McDonagh with 4 more years after this at $6.75 mil per. Just saying. Trouba at this point of his career has more juice to his game and some people crap over him a lot here but I’d rather have him.

I wasn’t jazzed with what Gorton got back for McD but to do the thing that we did I think he needed to be moved. When that deal went down a few jaws might have dropped but if others didn’t think the Rangers were serious about a new direction it pretty much ended there. Moving him meant no one was safe.

Def agree, at the time moving him was the right move. I’d have love to have been a fly on the wall and heard the other offers as well.
At that time, no way was Tampa the only ones interested in trading for McD.
I’m absolutely sure there was at least one more trade package that was at least comparable.

 

[RangerBoy]

Also Montreal's requirement for a bilingual GM is the dumbest thing ever.

Get the best guy for the job and hook him up with a translator.

Gorton needs to hire a Francophone as head coach. It limits the choices. Maybe AV gets fired in Philadelphia and Gorton hires him. It sounds like Gorton will be the boss. The GM won't be making the trades. The Habs GM will be more of an AGM. It would hard to envision Gorton having the JD or Shanahan role where he has a GM who runs the day to day stuff and negotiates the trades. Mathieu Darche was a former NHL player. He is Tampa's AGM and he handles the CBA stuff for them. He would be the guy. He was very active in the NHLPA during the 2012 lockout. The Habs pay him a boatload of money to be their GM.

 

[RangerBoy]

Tough job to take, big challenge. Habs must have offered him a nice contract. Congrats to Gorts and wishing him well.

Always appreciated his approach when he was with the Rangers

Gorton is running his third original 6 organization.

 

[CLW]

Gorton did a lot of positive things here and I think this is a step towards improvement over what Montreal has currently.

Having Gorton not actually be GM where somebody can tie his hands on some of his bad habits seems like his wheelhouse, although I suppose having too much power vis a vis what they get wrong is a criticism you could levy at any GM.

He and JD seemed on the same page to a fault and Gorton would be wise to hire somebody who brings something different to the table.

I've been thinking the same observing the CBJ and the NYR. Without the calming presence of JD the Blue Jackets turned into a 'furnace' between Tort's and Jarmo's intensity and the players got burnt out. With JD back in the fold to balance out Jarmo the Blue Jackets are back on track.

On the other hand JD and Gorts together were far too much of the same phlegmatic patient outlook for the NYR, in the end it's what got them fired. Gorts is plenty smart and patient, adding one or two under his supervision with more direct qualities would be a pretty ideal setup.

 

[pld459666]

Surprising he would go to Montreal. I expected he would end up in Chicago or Anaheim. Habs cleaning house.

The allure of working for O6 franchises is both an on and off the ice thing.

JG, has had the pleasure of now being associated with three of them.

Smart choice by all involved

 

[Larrybiv]

this is one of my fantasties, to watch Gorton/Quinn team up again

My instantaneous s and probably simultaneous thought, as well. Wouldn't that be a knee slapper. A Boston native that doesnt speak a word of French as well. Yeah, that will improve on Quinn's communication skills, what previously was supposed to be his strength.

 

[Larrybiv]

Def agree, at the time moving him was the right move. I’d have love to have been a fly on the wall and heard the other offers as well.
At that time, no way was Tampa the only ones interested in trading for McD.
I’m absolutely sure there was at least one more trade package that was at least comparable.

Maybe somewhat comparable but considering the fact that Tampa was really going for the cup, I have to believe that their package was the best. Apparently we really liked players like Howden and Hayek oh, boy was that a mistake.

 

[eco's bones]

Def agree, at the time moving him was the right move. I’d have love to have been a fly on the wall and heard the other offers as well.
At that time, no way was Tampa the only ones interested in trading for McD.
I’m absolutely sure there was at least one more trade package that was at least comparable.

Toronto.

 

[RangerBoy]

If you are looking at an entire body of work, Trevor Timmons is the guy who needed to be whacked in Montreal. Too many wasted draft picks.

I’m guessing Gorton already has some key people lined up for his new team. Eventually some of the current Ranger staff will make their way to Montreal.

Bobrov will be there. Kravtsov for Cole Caufield.

Clark? He could an advisor to Gorton. They are close friends.

 

[eco's bones]

Wonder if there might be a future trade with Montreal since Gorton is familiar with the Ranger's roster.

Kravtsov? Rangers let Gorton’s Russia guy Bobrov go. If Gorton brings him back and they decide on some kind of rebuild I could see potential for Kravtsov to Montreal.

 

[Daves a mess]

surprised Gorton doesn't just take the job himself.

Molson demands a bilingual GM

 

[leetch99]

If Gorton is smart, he will take French classes.

LeGorton.

 

[CasusBelli]

You have no idea - that mentality isn't just in hockey but everywhere. This is a tough place to be as an anglophone. Even the emergency signs on our public transportation system are written in text half the size of the French equivalent.

Gotta watch out for that language police!

I was in Gatineau years ago, calling a cab. The menu, in French, asked me to press 5 for English. Yeah …

 

[Kakkoforpresident]

Good should make games against the Canadians much easier in the future

 

[cwede]

let's see Jeff and Chris have some fun
Krav/Gauth/Georgie/Hajek/Henriksson/Tarnstrom/Aaltonen (guys Gorts drafted/signed/traded-for)
Guhle/Mysak/Tuch/Poehling/Jake Allen/Chiarot/Kulak/Dobes

then NYR send Nemeth and Tinordi to contenders
maybe Nemeth for Reilly Smith (Cap savings and term favor VGK)

2 rental LHD for this year, easing way for Jones and Guhle next

 

[will1066]

Molson demands a bilingual GM

Underrated post.

Don't forget Labatt Bleu

 

[tomobson]

He ran into cap issues here which partly caused him to create an awful bottom six. That plus the David Quinn hiring probably sealed his fate sooner than expected. I think he learned a lot as the Rangers GM and Montreal will probably be in good hands.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

If theres one thing Jeff is good at, it's re-stocking the system.

If thats the direction they want to go in, he'll get Montreal a top 3-5 farm in no time. He also loves star chasing, so we'll see how that balances out.

 

[CLW]

If theres one thing Jeff is good at, it's re-stocking the system.

If thats the direction they want to go in, he'll get Montreal a top 3-5 farm in no time. He also loves star chasing, so we'll see how that balances out.

As some have pointed out, Gorton has a wealth of experience from mistakes to fall back on. That is a good thing.

 

[JohnC]

Gorton is running his third original 6 organization.

Kind of impressive for a guy that isn’t a part of the NHL’s old boys club

 

[SA16]

Hope the Canadiens are ready for a team of bridge deals.

 

[jay from jersey]

Kravtsov? Rangers let Gorton’s Russia guy Bobrov go. If Gorton brings him back and they decide on some kind of rebuild I could see potential for Kravtsov to Montreal.

I wish.
Maybe they send us Lehkonen on the cheap?

 

[eco's bones]

I wish.
Maybe they send us Lehkonen on the cheap?

Not sure if Kravtsov would get us the Hurricanes 1st (from Kotkaniemi) which looks like a late 1st but if not Montreal’s 2nd is what I’d target.

 

[haveandare]

They just lost a GM who took them to the finals and was a runner up twice for GM of the year.

They had a worse regular season than the rangers last year. They got hot at just the right time in the weird COVID divisions and only had to beat one very good team before getting steamrolled by TB.