Was this the darkest day in Habs history?

[WinterLion]

I don't think they do that to be honest. They traded Subban, the most popular player. They let go of Markov, a career Habs and unanimously respected. Gainey told fans to GTFO. Gauthier couldn't give two ****s about fans, it was always all about what he wants, heck, he even put an english only speaker as an interim, which despite RC being a horrible coach, the decision was 100% terrific from Gauthier.
He told all those french addicts to go **** themselves, RC is his guy for rest of the year. He set the stage for us to move on from this need of hiring only local guys. But Molson only cared about cash flow, and manifestations in front of the bell center is bad for business. So he stupidly made Gauthier apologize.
What a sad site that was.

But that same moron of an owner fell under Bergevin's spell, who's done nothing for the fans. Bergevin isn't doing anything he thinks fans want. He believes fans view Playstation as how the league works.
His stupid decisions stem from his terrible understanding of management/game.

But now, Molson sees potential issues with cashflow considering how incredibly boring this team has become, and there's nothing he can do from a roster point of view (outside firing the GM but he's invested too much in him), so he's gonna focus on fan experience.

I think those guys mostly do whatever they want. There's a few exceptions where they will pander to fans.

Gainey telling the fans off was fantastic! I agree with most of what you're saying but I'm talking about things going further back. I'm not a Molson hater, I think he will eventually build a winner here. I didn't hate Gilette either, but it was obvious he only wanted to make a quick buck.

 

[WinterLion]

Gillette flipped us like a condo. He put in a new kitchen and a new bathroom, but left the old rusty pipes and crumbling foundation. Sold us for a quick buck and went on to his next venture.

 

[Kriss E]

Gainey telling the fans off was fantastic! I agree with most of what you're saying but I'm talking about things going further back. I'm not a Molson hater, I think he will eventually build a winner here. I didn't hate Gilette either, but it was obvious he only wanted to make a quick buck.

Disagree. I think Gillett loved being an owner. He was often at the games, he hired qualified personnel, didn't nickel and dime the team.
He had to sell because he was going bankrupt.

 

[CDN24]

Disagree. I think Gillett loved being an owner. He was often at the games, he hired qualified personnel, didn't nickel and dime the team.
He had to sell because he was going bankrupt.

Agree. While Gillette was owner three of my friends went on the winter road trip to California. SJ/ANA/LA going to all three games. During the first intermission of the 2nd game they meet Gillette in the concourse-he approaches them as they are wearing Hab jerseys. Invites them to his box for the rest of the game and invites them to join him for the 3rd game of the trip the next day again. He seemed to genuinely enjoy the fans and loved pointing out to everyone how great his habs fans were travelling all the way to California to follow the team.

Gillette might still be owner if not for his other financial issues. If he was we might have a contender by now.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Gillette flipped us like a condo. He put in a new kitchen and a new bathroom, but left the old rusty pipes and crumbling foundation. Sold us for a quick buck and went on to his next venture.

Nah, I was extremely skeptical when he took over but he exceeded all expectations. I'd much rather him as our owner than Molson.

 

[WinterLion]

Agree. While Gillette was owner three of my friends went on the winter road trip to California. SJ/ANA/LA going to all three games. During the first intermission of the 2nd game they meet Gillette in the concourse-he approaches them as they are wearing Hab jerseys. Invites them to his box for the rest of the game and invites them to join him for the 3rd game of the trip the next day again. He seemed to genuinely enjoy the fans and loved pointing out to everyone how great his habs fans were travelling all the way to California to follow the team.

Gillette might still be owner if not for his other financial issues. If he was we might have a contender by now.

Yeah I've heard this, I'm sure he loved Montreal and enjoyed being an owner, but I think his plan was always to sell.

 

[Kriss E]

Agree. While Gillette was owner three of my friends went on the winter road trip to California. SJ/ANA/LA going to all three games. During the first intermission of the 2nd game they meet Gillette in the concourse-he approaches them as they are wearing Hab jerseys. Invites them to his box for the rest of the game and invites them to join him for the 3rd game of the trip the next day again. He seemed to genuinely enjoy the fans and loved pointing out to everyone how great his habs fans were travelling all the way to California to follow the team.

Gillette might still be owner if not for his other financial issues. If he was we might have a contender by now.

He used to often sit among fans too in the red section.

 

[WinterLion]

Nah, I was extremely skeptical when he took over but he exceeded all expectations. I'd much rather him as our owner than Molson.

Yeah I know. Lots of people feel this way and I'm really shocked. He definitely did some good things and brought this team up to speed in many ways... and I do believe he enjoyed his time here. I just think that there is more long term potential in a guy like Geoff Molson who grew up in Montreal, loves hockey and has been a complete Habs fan since he was a little kid. I will admit that Molson has made some big mistakes and will need to get better like everyone, but I have a hard time buying that he doesn't care about the on ice product.

 

[WinterLion]

He used to often sit among fans too in the red section.

Yeah but Molson does too, and so did the old man back in the day. In fact when they are sitting there they have family and friends in their seats.

 

[Kriss E]

Yeah I've heard this, I'm sure he loved Montreal and enjoyed being an owner, but I think his plan was always to sell.

Rich billionaires rarely buy sports franchises as a means to make money. It's more about the prestige of being a club owner.

 

[Kriss E]

Yeah I know. Lots of people feel this way and I'm really shocked. He definitely did some good things and brought this team up to speed in many ways... and I do believe he enjoyed his time here. I just think that there is more long term potential in a guy like Geoff Molson who grew up in Montreal, loves hockey and has been a complete Habs fan since he was a little kid. I will admit that Molson has made some big mistakes and will need to get better like everyone, but I have a hard time buying that he doesn't care about the on ice product.

What long term potential are you referring to exactly? Gillett took a franchise that was going through misery with the Molson family. He turned it around. Made it exciting, and raised its value by 200%.
The only thing they weren't able to accomplish was win a cup. But they put the Habs back into a respectable status.
Now Molson v2.0 comes back in, 7 years later, they have to discuss how they will improve food at the bell center out of complete desperation because the product they are offering to the public is ridiculously dull and flat out bad. Even the fan experience is complete garbage. They are behind the curve, lack innovation and creativity. Their attempt to improve like "ask Marc" or ''ask Molson" questions on twitter is laughable. It is an embarrassement to be honest.

So...what long term potential are you talking about? To devalue the franchise?

 

[BLONG7]

What long term potential are you referring to exactly? Gillett took a franchise that was going through misery with the Molson family. He turned it around. Made it exciting, and raised its value by 200%.
The only thing they weren't able to accomplish was win a cup. But they put the Habs back into a respectable status.
Now Molson v2.0 comes back in, 7 years later, they have to discuss how they will improve food at the bell center out of complete desperation because the product they are offering to the public is ridiculously dull and flat out bad. Even the fan experience is complete garbage. They are behind the curve, lack innovation and creativity. Their attempt to improve like "ask Marc" or ''ask Molson" questions on twitter is laughable. It is an embarrassement to be honest.

So...what long term potential are you talking about? To devalue the franchise?

Good post...........Gillette was a great owner, in contrast to Geoff right now.........

 

[WinterLion]

Rich billionaires rarely buy sports franchises as a means to make money. It's more about the prestige of being a club owner.

You obviously don't know much abut Gillette then.

 

[WinterLion]

What long term potential are you referring to exactly? Gillett took a franchise that was going through misery with the Molson family. He turned it around. Made it exciting, and raised its value by 200%.
The only thing they weren't able to accomplish was win a cup. But they put the Habs back into a respectable status.
Now Molson v2.0 comes back in, 7 years later, they have to discuss how they will improve food at the bell center out of complete desperation because the product they are offering to the public is ridiculously dull and flat out bad. Even the fan experience is complete garbage. They are behind the curve, lack innovation and creativity. Their attempt to improve like "ask Marc" or ''ask Molson" questions on twitter is laughable. It is an embarrassement to be honest.

So...what long term potential are you talking about? To devalue the franchise?

I mean that Gillette sold the team and always was planning to, and Molson intends to keep it.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Yeah I know. Lots of people feel this way and I'm really shocked. He definitely did some good things and brought this team up to speed in many ways... and I do believe he enjoyed his time here. I just think that there is more long term potential in a guy like Geoff Molson who grew up in Montreal, loves hockey and has been a complete Habs fan since he was a little kid. I will admit that Molson has made some big mistakes and will need to get better like everyone, but I have a hard time buying that he doesn't care about the on ice product.

I thought Molson would be great. I was excited that we had a local person invested in the team. But nothing he's done so far suggests that he's going to be up for the job. He talks about transparency and then offers up nothing. We find out Weber's been under the knife weeks later, Molson goes on about how we're going to be great this year... Don't talk about transparency and then do this shit. Treating your customers like idiots is not a viable strategy if you want to be successful.

 

[WinterLion]

I thought Molson would be great. I was excited that we had a local person invested in the team. But nothing he's done so far suggests that he's going to be up for the job. He talks about transparency and then offers up nothing. We find out Weber's been under the knife weeks later, Molson goes on about how we're going to be great this year... Don't talk about transparency and then do this ****. Treating your customers like idiots is not a viable strategy if you want to be successful.

I'm not so upset about those particular things, but I do think he has some learning to do for sure. I just feel more comfortable in the long run with a guy that wants to keep the team indefinitely and has a true born love of the organization. I do hope he continues to improve as team president and if he doesn't, he is humble enough to let someone else take over at some point.

 

[Laurentide]

Chris Chelios < Denis Savard
Patrick Roy < Mario Tremblay
Guy Carbonneau < Reporter
Pierre Turgeon < Shane Corson
LeClair/Desjardins < Mark Recchi
Mike Ribiero < Janne Niinimaa
Andrei Kostitysn > Carter Parise Burns Getzlaf Perry Richards Kesler
David Ficsher > Giroux Foligno Marchand Lucic Berglund
Ryan McDonagh < Scott Gomez
2008-2011 drafts = 1 roster player. Gallagher.

Moves that crippled the Habs for a generation.

Denis Savard was among the team leaders in points for the duration of his time in Montreal and helped the Habs win a Cup in 1993. The Blackhawks won diddly-squat with Chelios. You may prefer Chelios to Savard but a team that wins the Cup is hardly "crippled". Those moves all came after 1993 when the front office completely lost the plot while they were busy pinching pennies to pay for their new arena.

 

[Laurentide]

I'm not so upset about those particular things, but I do think he has some learning to do for sure. I just feel more comfortable in the long run with a guy that wants to keep the team indefinitely and has a true born love of the organization. I do hope he continues to improve as team president and if he doesn't, he is humble enough to let someone else take over at some point.

Harold Ballard wanted to keep the Leafs indefinitely too. And why wouldn't he? They were a license to print money just like the Habs are for Molson. Geoff would be a fool to want to get rid of that cash cow. Unfortunately, he's so dependent on that cow to produce that he is extremely cautious about embarking on any path which might put future profits at risk. So instead he just does nothing and hopes we won't notice because we're too busy enjoying the tastier hot dogs.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I'm not so upset about those particular things, but I do think he has some learning to do for sure. I just feel more comfortable in the long run with a guy that wants to keep the team indefinitely and has a true born love of the organization. I do hope he continues to improve as team president and if he doesn't, he is humble enough to let someone else take over at some point.

The fact that he wants to hang onto the organization forever may be something we come to disdain. I guess we'll have to see.

 

[Laurentide]

Gainey telling the fans off was fantastic! I agree with most of what you're saying but I'm talking about things going further back. I'm not a Molson hater, I think he will eventually build a winner here. I didn't hate Gilette either, but it was obvious he only wanted to make a quick buck.

He only told the fans off because he's the one who was responsible for bringing back Brisebois, who everyone already hated. Sure, they were booing Brisebois (and rightly so. He was an impotent giant; a gutless puke of the lowest order) but they were also booing the GM who went out and re-signed him for no good reason.

 

[ydnarhabs]

It all started when Sam retired and they chose Grundman over Scotty Bowman. Follow that with picking Wickenheiser over Denis Savard who would have taken the load off of Lafleur’s shoulders. After that the trading of Leclair plus Desjardins foe Recchi and then the Chelios for Savard and finally Roy for really nothing.
The Canadiens were at one time aclass act. That is no longer the case. The hiring of inferior GM’s specifically Bergevin and his whole circus act has got us to where we are today. His treatment of Markov, Radulov , Subbie and now Patches is just mind boggling. What criteria and who ultimately decided on thisclown to run this once glorious franchise?
It needs to be rebuilt, first thing is a competent business oriented and hockey knowledgeable President along the lines of Serge Savard. Someone with class and the acumen to build a solid management group. No Roy! He left us and no way he should be rewarded with such an opportunity. Get Serge and a group to find the right man.
Guys I’m 65 and have been blessed to know the great Habs teams. I want to have a new hero to look up to and I want to see us be a competitive team and a Stanley Cup winner at least once more while I’m able to enkjoy it. Keep the faith out there in Habs land. We shall return!

 

[Beige Van]

Denis Savard was among the team leaders in points for the duration of his time in Montreal and helped the Habs win a Cup in 1993. The Blackhawks won diddly-squat with Chelios. You may prefer Chelios to Savard but a team that wins the Cup is hardly "crippled". Those moves all came after 1993 when the front office completely lost the plot while they were busy pinching pennies to pay for their new arena.

Savard was a depth piece by 1993. He had 5 assists in 14 games that postseason. It was, and still is, one of the most brutally awful trades in Habs history.

 

[Laurentide]

Savard was a depth piece by 1993. He had 5 assists in 14 games that postseason. It was, and still is, one of the most brutally awful trades in Habs history.

In his 3 years with the Habs, Savard was 3rd, 2nd, and 6th in team scoring. In 92-93, his so-called "depth" season, he still had 50 points. His time with the Habs was more than credible and he's got a ring to show for it. Chicago won zilch with Chelios even though they supposedly were a better team than Montreal. Again, people who use words like "most brutally awful trades in Habs history" are merely showing their bias. They dislike the trade not because it was actually bad but because the guy leaving town was a personal favorite of theirs. Don't try to pretend that Chelios for Savard or even Subban for Weber is anything close to as one-sided as Carbonneau for Jim Montgomery or Roy for Thibault.

 

[Patccmoi]

I actually strongly believe Molson really cares about the team. I don't think he's just in it for the money or only cares about how much he makes in the end.

Sadly I also believe he is absolutely not competent in the role he has with the team right now, and assigning a rookie GM that clearly has no long term vision (or is totally unable to follow it, doesn't change much) just shot down the team.

Molson came in and fit the top 2 positions with 2 guys who never held the role, MB and himself. He genuinely thought they could do great things together, and they are apparently convincing themselves that they still can. But reality is, they couldn't and they very likely still can't. It's not a matter of caring, it's a matter of putting and keeping the wrong people in place. They are in way over their head and thus rely constantly on improvisation and have a total inability to follow a plan. It's just flatout management incompetence. Has nothing to do with caring.

 

[Beige Van]

In his 3 years with the Habs, Savard was 3rd, 2nd, and 6th in team scoring. In 92-93, his so-called "depth" season, he still had 50 points. His time with the Habs was more than credible and he's got a ring to show for it. Chicago won zilch with Chelios even though they supposedly were a better team than Montreal. Again, people who use words like "most brutally awful trades in Habs history" are merely showing their bias. They dislike the trade not because it was actually bad but because the guy leaving town was a personal favorite of theirs. Don't try to pretend that Chelios for Savard or even Subban for Weber is anything close to as one-sided as Carbonneau for Jim Montgomery or Roy for Thibault.

Yeah, I remember Savard hoisting the cup over his head....in a suit and tie. So what that the Hawks never won a cup with Chelios. Sharks haven't won a cup with Thornton. Does that mean they didn't win that trade?

Savard played 210 games with the Habs and collected 179 points. Chelios played 664 games with the Black Hawks, scored 487 points, and won the Norris twice. He went on to play 575 more games post Hawks in a largely productive capacity. Brutal trade.