Some Early Meandering Thoughts on the Montreal Canadiens’ Season Thus Far
We’re way too early into the 2025-26 NHL season to make definitive conclusions and predictions concerning the Montreal Canadiens but here are a few this-and-thats on all things Habs-related thus far.
First, the rebuild is coming along nicely. Great hot take here, eh?
It’s taken a while to get to this stage. Six years, actually. As you have to include the last two years of the Marc Bergevin administration, who started stocking the shelves through savvy trades and draft picks during his two-year “retool.”
These moves will continue to make a difference for years to come, including Bergevin’s crown jewel heist, captain Nick Suzuki. From what I hear, Interpol and Parisian authorities are investigating this matter.
Team President of Hockey Operations, Jeff Gorton, and General Manager, Kent Hughes, have added considerably more depth and talent post-Bergevin and company. And this is why, at this point in my column, Habs fans and I are kinda getting a wee bit giddy.
On paper, I feel that these two administrations have put together the most exciting/dynamic Montreal Canadiens roster that I’ve personally witnessed since the 70s dynasty era. I’m not saying that Montreal is on a 1970s multi-Cup trajectory. Parity in the NHL makes such an idea an impossibility but something truly remarkable is cooking in the Habs’ kitchen.
Of course, we Hab fans must remain patient. The team is the youngest in the NHL. As a result, there will be some ups and downs. But it is fair to say that, at the very least, we should see an overall improvement from last season. Each young player will have had one more year of seasoning, as will be the case in the years that follow. The best, then, is still to come.
The same goes for the growth curve for coach Martin St. Louis and GM Hughes, who are both on a Juraj Slafkovsky trajectory. Gorton, who’s fully seasoned in his job, is patiently waiting for his peers to soon catch up.
Now, on the matter of patience, I remember my beloved, and sadly departed Dad’s wise adage,
“Never applaud a marathon runner until the race is over.”
Or, as he said it in Greek to me, “Ποτέ μην χειροκροτείς έναν μαραθωνοδρόμο πριν τελειώσει ο αγώνας.”
Full disclosure, I used DeepL to translate this, as my “kitchen Greek” is just that, kitchen Greek. But, I believe that you get my drift on the matter of patience.
And yet, how can I, and most of Montreal’s fanbase, not be super excited with the way things appear to be turning out?
If my 1970s comment was too out there for some of you, then maybe we can at least agree that there’s never been this much raw talent on a Montreal roster since the very good years of GM Serge Savard’s tenure during the 80s and 90s.
Both Hughes and Gorton have delivered hope in spades. I’m so happy that they were given five-year contract extensions. This duo truly complements one another like PB & J.
Both have astute eyes in terms of assessing talent. Gorton is extraordinarily good in this area. And Hughes is likewise no slouch in this regard. Hughes also adds exceptional talent as an administrator, negotiator, and player whisperer.
The two have accumulated quite a surplus of prospects, which will eventually be converted into either other younger prospects or draft picks in order to sustain things for the long haul and/or to patch up any missing gaps.
Indeed, I’m absolutely certain that a quality second centre is coming thanks to this accumulation of players and prospects. I just don’t know when.
The Habs have this on their priority list. They are patiently waiting to pounce, just like Toronto Maple Leafs’ GM Cliff Fletcher did back in the 90s with his highway robbery of Doug Gilmour from the Calgary Flames. Hughes and Gorton have the resources, patience, and foresight to make this happen – WHEN the opportunity presents itself. So just hang in there.
Speaking of the Leafs, could you imagine what the trajectory of Toronto would have been on five or six years ago if they had traded one of their core four players for two to three versions of Montreal’s now budding excess defencemen?
Whew! Thank you, Brendan Shanahan and your flawed Shanaplan!
Now it’s fair to say that Montreal’s managerial tandem has made some mistakes. Last time I checked, neither Hughes nor Gorton have walked on water. There is though, a universal rule of thumb in sports that shows time and time again that the best managers make more right decisions than wrong ones. And so far, they are doing really well in the plus column.
One only needs to look back to the accomplishments of the greatest GM in hockey (perhaps sports) history, the late Sam Pollock. He made some lousy trades along with some poor or very unlucky draft decisions. When all was said and done though, no one ever has or will ever match Pollock’s output.
Slowly but surely, he built a formidable hockey power – with a legacy of protégés who successfully applied his methods into multiple hockey markets. His managerial influence continues to reverberate throughout the NHL to this very day.
And we see it now emanating in Montreal. The Montreal Canadiens, like prodigal sons, have found their way back to what was and what should have been.
The Habs are rising. There is a beautiful harbour up ahead. We can all see it.
Yes, ups and downs are happening but this is all a part of the process.
So, don’t get too excited when the Montreal Canadiens win and don’t go on antidepressants when they hit a skid. “Ποτέ μην χειροκροτείς έναν μαραθωνοδρόμο πριν τελειώσει ο αγώνας.”
Allow the wrinkles in the power play to iron themselves out. And just patiently watch the masterpiece that is being painted before our very own eyes. A masterpiece that is at least two or three more years away from its unveiling.
Remember, we’re still in a marathon – the final quarter, so to speak. And while the race is not yet over, things sure look promising.
And now, because you have been kind enough to read my giddy column up to this point, I’m going to give you some more free bonus content topped with a bit of “Marinaro sauce.”
It’s too early to pass judgment on the Zach Buldoc and Logan Mailloux trade. This could ultimately be a win-win deal for both sides. “Ποτέ μην χειροκροτείς έναν μαραθωνοδρόμο πριν τελειώσει ο αγώνας.”
Likewise, the Canadiens need to let things ride themselves out when it comes to the ultimate fates of Patrik Laine and Kirby Dach.
The same goes for the drafting of David Reinbacher back in 2023 and his sputtering trajectory. Perhaps the best thing to happen to the unfairly maligned youngster may possibly have been his recent arm injury. It just might be a blessing in disguise.
Hockey players, more often than not, say that they are “100% ready” when in reality they’re at 75%. Reinbacher has now received more than four extra weeks of rehab to strengthen his injured knee. As a result, this might allow him to truly be good to go.
Defenceman Arber Xhekaj remains a work in progress. His detractors need to show more patience with this unicorn defender. It’s important to understand that he was denied the proper amount of ice time and skill training that most of his early-drafted peers received in the junior leagues. Do you think that his parents who slept in their car when he went to tournaments could have afforded skill coaches?
Xhekaj has thus far prevailed due to his incredible will and athleticism. Unfortunately, he has been playing developmental catch-up.
Let’s also keep in mind that aside from Jayden Struble, most of Montreal’s defence consists of seasoned and highly talented players. It’s only natural that Xhekaj is going to stand out like a sore thumb when playing alongside these individuals.
I strongly believe that in two years, you will see the full fruition of the potential of this gifted individual for many, perhaps a Zdeno Chara number of years – be it on the Habs or somewhere else. At the very least, I will have by then, memorized how to spell his name right, and that’s got to count for something.
Sticking to the theme of preparation, I’m convinced that goaltender Sam Montembeault’s early-season struggles stem back to him suffering a major groin injury during last season’s playoffs. This delayed his summer training time and he’s been playing catch-up ever since. There may, as some have suggested, also be a psychological factor at play here rather than merely technical issues.
He may have fallen into a rabbit hole and is struggling to get out. If his woes continue for a few more games, perhaps Hughes might send Montembeault on a week-long, all-expense-paid vacation away from everything that has to do with hockey with his Mrs and have himself a good old-fashioned reset. I’m just spitballing here. Montreal’s fanbase needs to exhibit more patience on whatever ails his game. He’ll bounce back.
And now for a really totally random final thought: Kudos to Tony Marinaro and the Sick Podcast.
I’m so impressed with how he has taken his passion and energy over the last few years and harnessed it into becoming an insightful, engaging, and articulate host.
Marinaro’s still emotional, in a very good way, but he’s way more mature. When listening to the Sick Podcast, I feel like I’m in a room with one of my pals from my old neighbourhood along with some smart guests who add additional insights.
Marinaro is true to himself- a hardcore fan, a humble, self-deprecating everyman – who’s polished up his on-air persona with improved diction and vocabulary. He makes my morning workouts way more enjoyable.
I’ve never met him, and likely never will, but Tony Marinaro would be one public figure that I’d enjoy having a conversation with while partaking on a heaping bowl of gnocchi with a liberal portion of simple, delicious Bolognese sauce. Someway, somehow, in between a discussion on the Habs where we would see eye to eye on most things, I’d trigger a heated debate on a hypothetical seven-game series concerning Greek versus Italian food, deserts included.
Since this won’t happen, I’ll give you my hot take: I give my ancestors a game seven OT win. Yes, for games one and two, we’ll cede blowout W’s with pizza and pasta but after that, “Never applaud a marathoner until the race is over.” We’d win ropeadope style. As for spidinies versus souvlakis, … please.
This constitutes the end of your bonus content in this column. You may now resume whatever activity you plan to do next.