I think it's important to look at what Hughes, Gorton and St.Louis are actually doing, and what they’re working with. Lots of whinning, for things that were actually asked from the fan base to the past management groups.
They brought in a key talent with Laine, who unfortunately got injured, which set things back a bit. But look at what that says: they’re trying to add quality pieces where they can. It’s easy to criticize moves that don’t work out because of something like injury, but they’re clearly trying to build around a competitive core without sacrificing future assets. If they’re not making splashier moves, it’s likely because they’re wisely avoiding short-term, expensive contracts that could hurt long-term plans.
The truth is, Montreal isn’t an attractive destination for UFAs, as we’ve seen season after season. Hughes and Gorton can’t magically change that overnight, and they’re doing their best to build a core that might actually attract talent down the line by proving Montreal is a place where talent thrives. Patience is key here.
They’re still dealing with a lot of cap constraints from past deals, but they’ve still managed to make room for younger players. This is huge, considering how long fans have been wanting to see prospects get a shot instead of having vets overstay their ice time. Remember how frustrating it was watching young players get benched while older, less productive players stayed in the lineup? They’re actively addressing this by prioritizing the youth.
St. Louis has been great at helping young players succeed. If you look at guys like Caufield, Suzuki, Slafkovsky, Hutson , they’re showing steady improvement (Dach too to an extend, we have to give him time be this season but so far he has improved compared to his days with Chicago). Building a young core takes time, but seeing them develop under a coach who knows how to get the best out of young talent is exactly what this team needs.
Rebuilds aren’t easy, and they don’t happen overnight. Look at teams like the Panthers, Lighting, Devils, and Avs—it took years to get where they are, and they went through the same type of frustration. This is a process, and for the first time in a while, we have a management team that seems committed to building something sustainable instead of going for quick, expensive fixes.
In the end, Hughes and Gorton have a vision for this team that doesn’t mortgage the future, even if it means taking some bumps now. I think we’re finally seeing a shift from reactive decision-making to a proactive, long-term approach, and that’s a great sign for the Habs’ future.
