News Article: Geoff Molson re-affirms confidence in Marc Bergevin, will not hire a president of hockey operations

[jackeymoon]

I keep on saying it... with Price and Weber on board and how difficult it is to trade them, I'm not trading away Gallagher and Tatar and ignoring the Price and Weber window. If Gallagher and Tatar want to be overpaid, we can find that out in the next off season. Then I would consider moving them. And I am open to trading Domi for a D.

How is being a perennial bubble team a window?

 

[Canadiens Ghost]

How is being a perennial bubble team a window?

It's more of a peephole than a window.

 

[Per Sjoblom]

While visiting no mans land, be sure to see the house that Marc and Molson built!

I love that picture.

 

[Runner77]

How is being a perennial bubble team a window?

 

[Runner77]

Money Mol$on is the enabler, and REAL problem.

 

[BLONG7]

It's his toy, he wants to keep playing with it. He doesn't want a really competent guy doing better with his toy. Completely selfish. He is looking at himself in the mirror when he wake up everyday saying to himself "you are President of the Montreal Canadiens, Geoff!".

He has basically put the team in the gutter, and seems quite fine with his performance. People really need to stop buying tickets. This is the only way to hold this joker responsible.

 

[Doc McKenna]

We both joined here 11 years ago, time flies my friend. It's nice seeing you back here, I have enjoyed your no-nonsense approach to the habs and like you, I don't really see much to get excited about with the Montreal Bergevin's.

I wasn't a cynic back in the day. I use to be on HabFans I was always happy with Carbo's habs. Loving the comeback kids and listening to CJAD online with my dad on game nights. However there were realists on that board that weren't happy the habs could barely manage to make the playoffs, despite injuries and an actual lack of talent. But the announcing was good, I got excited just being able to listen to games on the regular instead of once a week on french TV, or the few times a year you could catch a non toronto game on TSN in English. Chat about it on a forum.

Anyway I got tired of what I thought was negativity, and a few posters bending over backwards for our young Dman PK something. When we should have traded him and kept that Macdonut kid. Or some other asset. I didn't like PKs D game much and some thought I was a racist for it. Laughable to say the least. I lurked for a while on HFB. Finally registering and making the odd comment till I felt more comfortable posting. Here I later got labeled as a PK fanboy, after the trade. Again not true, just realistic that weber wasn't the holy grail of hockey and we needed different assets to improve the team, which at the time PK could have fetched, or at least been packaged to get.

The main difference is we went from the late 90's early 00's terribleness to a better club. You are hopeful for your team. Maybe this chip guy can be a good 3rd liner and Higgins looks like a future captain. Ribs, Theo solid in their positions. We had Komisarek, Markov and Souray as our top D men.

Habs had a few ups, a few downs. Had an awesome year that was spoiled with injuries when Gainey went balls in with Lang and Tanguay. Cleaned house and got some great vets while leaving a few fan favs hung out to dry. Made the ECF but was a disaster afterwords making that house cleaning look bad.
Gauthier made some bad PR blunders but was working to improve the team in his own way. There were too many holes to patch on the habs, and bad contracts we needed to ditch. Markovless habs look like dog turd, but I was on this board and doing my best to polish this team, because we still had some potential.

Rookies didn't look terrible, Markov coming back gave some hope, getting rid of dud contracts a lot of hope with the open cap space. Crash and burn seasons we might be picking top 5 for the first time in a long while.

New GM...WTF Therrein? Well he will only be here for a year or two while we rebuild. Man this team looks pretty good with that rookie line and we can probably can move Desharnais and a pick for an asset. Made the ECF, new contracts coming up but...6 years all downhill. That leads to a LOT of cynicism. Hard to be an optimist when you are missing the playoffs even with the NHL pulling the mightiest bullshit ever to shoe horn Chi and Montreal into the playoffs.

I now know why the old timers that saw great Hab teams weren't satisfied with how terrible the habs were. Just making the playoffs for them wasn't good enough. Missing the playoffs was horrible. Missing two in a row was unthinkable.

Now I can only remember 3 SCF appearances 86, 89, 93. I am a little too young to have many memories of our cup runs in the lates 70's or earlier. But I do remember the excitement of 86, I remember that at least we lost to a canadian team and was happy for Lanny and Killerin 89. 93 I remember well. My Hab buddies and I would get together for most of the games. However I wish I had watched more with my dad. I doubt he will see their next cup (if ever) now that he is in his 70's. I don't see any of my Hab friends from that time.

We no longer have much to be cheering for, or to make memories about. My stepson and grandson just don't care much about hockey, leaf fans anyway. My son in law likes the leafs a lot, but prefers the NFL and Pats(ugg Boston). My in laws are all fluent in french unlike myself, but somehow leaf fans. So there isn't anyone in my family to share this with once my dad is gone.

The habs have become far too frustrating. Selfish on my part, but I want a few grown up memories with my parents before they die. But it doesn't look like a thing with how this team tip toes around the shallow end of the pool, never making a splash and always wearing waterwings and floatie while trying to contain corporate costs. Risk adverse.

We need to pic a direction and go with it. I don't care if its trading vet for picks, or trading picks for vets. Staying in one spot and hoping for luck isn't working. And our record shows this.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

The only way Molson will consider changes is if attendance takes a complete nose dive soon from fans losing interest and getting fed up with a losing team thus causing his profits to considerably drop. Unfortunately I don't see that happening since Hab fans will show up no matter how poor the on ice product is it seems.

With the high price for tickets and a poor on ice product in the past few seasons Molson should consider himself very lucky that Hab fans are loyal and still shows up even when the on ice product is bad.

Anyway I've stopped buying the BS Molson keeps trying to sell the Habs fanbase when he does these press conferences since every year. He says the same things every year and yet nothing changes and the team is still poor. Put up or shut up Geoff.

I see another way and it's already under way. TV ratings have gone way down. Even if attendance remains partly full on most nights, the state of the team pulls the ratings down and this will eventually snow ball, because Molson will start getting pressure from the media, but also his partners and the league, especially with the deals soon to run out.

Hopefuly they lose to the Pens. By halfway through next season, if we're at ,500, pressure will start to mount.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

It's more of a peephole than a window.

More like a glor* hole for fans to bend over from

 

[Doc McKenna]

No one here is surprised. I mean even if Molson was to fire bergevin tomorrow a PR person would tell him to say blah blah great leadership blah blah happy going forward, blah blah many years to come. Much like Rush RRHOF speech for this presser. However it feel more like he actually believes those words. Which as newspeaks would say is PROBLEMATIC.

The whole NHL playoff shinanigans is about money not the fans. How do you recoup the lost salaries, how about not having more and more asterix's along players stats and playoff winners. Maybe a longshot wins it? (I know marc is hoping for this one) Now if you are willing to do this, why not make actual reforms to hockey.

Honestly once june rolls around I am done with hockey. I check in for draft and UFA, and not much else till october. Preseason is only OK to get a peepshow of guys we know won't be playing. (Thanks Claude) So I only watch if I need a hockey fix. So just how low will the playoff viewing numbers be. I know some are craving any hockey, but like most HABits, stop it for an extended period and you can mostly break the cycle. I have no interest in watching the habs lose while sitting out at the pool squinting at my phone. It has a fakeness about it that rings hollow to start with.

This is the time that most of us northerners(USA northern states as well) are trying to enjoy the shortness of summer to its fullest extent. I hated playoffs past the long weekend, mostly cause habs were always out. But because that is the canadian start of summer. Wrap up your season its been going on for 9 months, IF you don't include all the PR work that goes into draft and summer long UFA MEGA OVERBLOWN coverage. Honestly we only get August as a month off from hockey. Players as well. Would rather go camping and enjoy a nice canoe ride down a river. Save hockey for our cabin fever, our gloomy darkness, and our shadowy suppers that awaits us in the nearing frostgraves of winter.

I don't miss it right now. I have a lot of projects I finally got started with the pandemic. I just happen to come on to see whats new. I didn't even know about this presser. Hence my near total absence(though some may have rejoiced) on HF for the last 2-3 months.

Sorry got sidetracked about the playoffs. But yeah Molson probably isn't going to replace Marc and his 10 million salary remaining. You will likely eat a whole lot more trying to clean all his crony's out as well. Can't move him like you did with MT to a "scouting position" or other such BS. You know burningbin brings nothing to the table outside of his ability to bully, baffle, and bullshit the media. So he will ride out this shitstorm till at least 2022.

 

[Omar]

The reason we need a President of Hockey Operations is Molson continues to talk about this as a business, he’s a businessman. We need someone like John Davidson who has a hockey vision and can ensure that Bergevin follows suit. Molson isn’t that guy. He’s not a hockey guy and thus can’t hold Bergevin accountable on most points. Someone like Davidson with a proven track record of building teams and winning is the type of President we need. Bergevin knows hockey more than Molson, thus Molson is certainly going to defer to him as he’s more knowledgeable. Molson doesn’t know what it takes to win the Cup, how would he? Get me an experienced executive with a track record of winning in that role.

By the same token, someone like Damphousse or even Shanahan would be pointless as they come in with no experience.

That’s my take.

 

[Bring Bak Damphousse]

So at this point, is anyone still supporting MB? Have the few holdouts joined the dark side yet?

 

[Intangir]

So at this point, is anyone still supporting MB? Have the few holdouts joined the dark side yet?

''Dark side'' is too strong an expression, the reality of it is more akin to a ''I'm tired of MB's bullcrap, and will post on Hfboards about it sporting my manliest pouting expression, while wallowing in mediocre misery as my team's stupid owner and GM make dumb decisions after dumb decision'' stance. And that is pretty generally widespread around here these days, almost as omnipresent as olive oil is in an italian chef's cooking.

Instead of dark side of fandom, I call it sarturday morning.

And Geoff Molson needs to dig his head out of his sorry behind, stop interfering with the team.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

So at this point, is anyone still supporting MB? Have the few holdouts joined the dark side yet?

I wonder if @Runner77 can make us an emperor molson-palpatine shoop?

I'd change my avy just for that

 

[Per Sjoblom]

The reason we need a President of Hockey Operations is Molson continues to talk about this as a business, he’s a businessman. We need someone like John Davidson who has a hockey vision and can ensure that Bergevin follows suit. Molson isn’t that guy. He’s not a hockey guy and thus can’t hold Bergevin accountable on most points. Someone like Davidson with a proven track record of building teams and winning is the type of President we need. Bergevin knows hockey more than Molson, thus Molson is certainly going to defer to him as he’s more knowledgeable. Molson doesn’t know what it takes to win the Cup, how would he? Get me an experienced executive with a track record of winning in that role. That’s my take.

I can see Molson as a croquet guy. "Anyone for croquet?" Dressed in white old fashioned sneakers, white shirt and a white vest or like the below pic including the hat and with a butler (MB) coming with a tray of refreshments like lemonade and cucumber sandwiches, bowing respectfully to Molson and his guests

 

[BLONG7]

The reason we need a President of Hockey Operations is Molson continues to talk about this as a business, he’s a businessman. We need someone like John Davidson who has a hockey vision and can ensure that Bergevin follows suit. Molson isn’t that guy. He’s not a hockey guy and thus can’t hold Bergevin accountable on most points. Someone like Davidson with a proven track record of building teams and winning is the type of President we need. Bergevin knows hockey more than Molson, thus Molson is certainly going to defer to him as he’s more knowledgeable. Molson doesn’t know what it takes to win the Cup, how would he? Get me an experienced executive with a track record of winning in that role. That’s my take.

Bang on............a Bobby Smith, Marty Brodeur, Dean Lombardi etc
Change is needed big time.
Just curious if any of you guys can access The Athletic? Apron Basu wrote an article on Mol$on, the title was, Mol$on reappears, and says nothing, again...but I can't access the entire article because I don't have an account...

 

[Omar]

Bang on............a Bobby Smith, Marty Brodeur, Dean Lombardi etc
Change is needed big time.
Just curious if any of you guys can access The Athletic? Apron Basu wrote an article on Mol$on, the title was, Mol$on reappears, and says nothing, again...but I can't access the entire article because I don't have an account...

It basically calls him out and says the world's gone through a pandemic, there have been worldwide protests surrounding racial injustice, he could have made a statement positioning his organization as a thought leader in this space and yet he only chose to discuss what amounted to his insecurities.

 

[Runner77]

... how this team tip toes around the shallow end of the pool, never making a splash and always wearing waterwings and floatie while trying to contain corporate costs. Risk adverse.

 

[ahmedou]

Their mott0 = No Revenues No Party

 

[Omar]

I wasn't a cynic back in the day. I use to be on HabFans I was always happy with Carbo's habs. Loving the comeback kids and listening to CJAD online with my dad on game nights. However there were realists on that board that weren't happy the habs could barely manage to make the playoffs, despite injuries and an actual lack of talent. But the announcing was good, I got excited just being able to listen to games on the regular instead of once a week on french TV, or the few times a year you could catch a non toronto game on TSN in English. Chat about it on a forum.

Anyway I got tired of what I thought was negativity, and a few posters bending over backwards for our young Dman PK something. When we should have traded him and kept that Macdonut kid. Or some other asset. I didn't like PKs D game much and some thought I was a racist for it. Laughable to say the least. I lurked for a while on HFB. Finally registering and making the odd comment till I felt more comfortable posting. Here I later got labeled as a PK fanboy, after the trade. Again not true, just realistic that weber wasn't the holy grail of hockey and we needed different assets to improve the team, which at the time PK could have fetched, or at least been packaged to get.

The main difference is we went from the late 90's early 00's terribleness to a better club. You are hopeful for your team. Maybe this chip guy can be a good 3rd liner and Higgins looks like a future captain. Ribs, Theo solid in their positions. We had Komisarek, Markov and Souray as our top D men.

Habs had a few ups, a few downs. Had an awesome year that was spoiled with injuries when Gainey went balls in with Lang and Tanguay. Cleaned house and got some great vets while leaving a few fan favs hung out to dry. Made the ECF but was a disaster afterwords making that house cleaning look bad.
Gauthier made some bad PR blunders but was working to improve the team in his own way. There were too many holes to patch on the habs, and bad contracts we needed to ditch. Markovless habs look like dog turd, but I was on this board and doing my best to polish this team, because we still had some potential.

Rookies didn't look terrible, Markov coming back gave some hope, getting rid of dud contracts a lot of hope with the open cap space. Crash and burn seasons we might be picking top 5 for the first time in a long while.

New GM...WTF Therrein? Well he will only be here for a year or two while we rebuild. Man this team looks pretty good with that rookie line and we can probably can move Desharnais and a pick for an asset. Made the ECF, new contracts coming up but...6 years all downhill. That leads to a LOT of cynicism. Hard to be an optimist when you are missing the playoffs even with the NHL pulling the mightiest bullshit ever to shoe horn Chi and Montreal into the playoffs.

I now know why the old timers that saw great Hab teams weren't satisfied with how terrible the habs were. Just making the playoffs for them wasn't good enough. Missing the playoffs was horrible. Missing two in a row was unthinkable.

Now I can only remember 3 SCF appearances 86, 89, 93. I am a little too young to have many memories of our cup runs in the lates 70's or earlier. But I do remember the excitement of 86, I remember that at least we lost to a canadian team and was happy for Lanny and Killerin 89. 93 I remember well. My Hab buddies and I would get together for most of the games. However I wish I had watched more with my dad. I doubt he will see their next cup (if ever) now that he is in his 70's. I don't see any of my Hab friends from that time.

We no longer have much to be cheering for, or to make memories about. My stepson and grandson just don't care much about hockey, leaf fans anyway. My son in law likes the leafs a lot, but prefers the NFL and Pats(ugg Boston). My in laws are all fluent in french unlike myself, but somehow leaf fans. So there isn't anyone in my family to share this with once my dad is gone.

The habs have become far too frustrating. Selfish on my part, but I want a few grown up memories with my parents before they die. But it doesn't look like a thing with how this team tip toes around the shallow end of the pool, never making a splash and always wearing waterwings and floatie while trying to contain corporate costs. Risk adverse.

We need to pic a direction and go with it. I don't care if its trading vet for picks, or trading picks for vets. Staying in one spot and hoping for luck isn't working. And our record shows this.

We feel the same. Thank you

 

[Doc McKenna]

Beauty runner

 

[Runner77]

Beauty runner

Thanks Doc. You provided the inspiration.

 

[Fixxer]

The reason we need a President of Hockey Operations is Molson continues to talk about this as a business, he’s a businessman. We need someone like John Davidson who has a hockey vision and can ensure that Bergevin follows suit. Molson isn’t that guy. He’s not a hockey guy and thus can’t hold Bergevin accountable on most points. Someone like Davidson with a proven track record of building teams and winning is the type of President we need. Bergevin knows hockey more than Molson, thus Molson is certainly going to defer to him as he’s more knowledgeable. Molson doesn’t know what it takes to win the Cup, how would he? Get me an experienced executive with a track record of winning in that role.

By the same token, someone like Damphousse or even Shanahan would be pointless as they come in with no experience.

That’s my take.

On RDS, Damphousse was the only guy who said that he agreed with what Geoff and Bergevin were doing.
(French only, sorry) at the 1:00 minute mark AC - Un président hockey serait-il nécessaire chez le Canadien?

Damphousse says that a lot of owners in the NHL are also President, that Molson's got lots of experience. Says that keeping Bergevin at the job is a decision in itself. Talks about patience, stability and not going to panic. Odds of winning are low (1/31) etc.

 

[montreal]

On RDS, Damphousse was the only guy who said that he agreed with what Geoff and Bergevin were doing.
(French only, sorry) at the 1:00 minute mark AC - Un président hockey serait-il nécessaire chez le Canadien?

Damphousse says that a lot of owners in the NHL are also President, that Molson's got lots of experience. Says that keeping Bergevin at the job is a decision in itself. Talks about patience, stability and not going to panic. Odds of winning are low (1/31) etc.

I actually agree with Damphousse (though I would rather they bring in a non Hab as i hate to see former Habs get crushed around here, at least the ones I liked when they were Habs) I think the plan to build the team for the future through draft picks makes total sense, my problem has been how they have gone about it. This half in and half out, so we miss out on top 5ish picks over several years, while holding onto vets like Petry, Tatar, imo is a mistake. Add to that just terrible decisions in regards to development and coaching. If the focus is on this plan for the future, then Julien should be following that from the start and not over playing grinders like Weal, Chaput, etc...

If Molson is just going to let Bergevin run all over him, then he has no spine and we need someone that will come in and tell him what to do before he makes these mistakes that have been going on for years. Someone with lots of NHL experience imo.

 

[tazsub3]

It was either.. the start of a new era... or the beginning of the end... you choose.

The beginning of the end started when the no balls clown on the right took over the ownership of the team.
That handshake was a mere accelerator of the decent .