Finally, NHL hockey is back. Everyone around Montreal, forced in a lockdown, is having an outlet to distract themselves from COVID-19. Who can blame them? It’s either that or following The Donald south of the border. The Habs are a much better options, aren’t they? Between getting familiar with the newcomers on the team to team scrimmages, reporters finally have some fresh Habs’ content to share with their readers and followers. Even the everlasting trade rumours are back… and few fans will complain.
Scrimmages have started and some of the quotes from the newbies are refreshing to read. Everyone seems to agree that this group of players are fun, but focussed on the work ahead. They want a Stanley Cup and they want it now! They’re hungry.
Everyone marvelled at the speed displayed by Josh Anderson who skates like a guy half his size. Jonathan Drouin was the best player on the ice so far. Jesperi Kotkaniemi‘s shot was described by Jake Allen as “out of this league, a missile”. Paul Byron is eager to prove that he belongs. Everyone is praising Alexander Romanov. All in all, you get the jest of it. Hockey is back and everyone around the Canadiens is excited about it.
The Reset is paying dividends
Remember when, in the Summer of 2018, Marc Bergevin spoke of a “reset”? Most understood but the many P.K. Subban groupies were laughing at the concept. But as usual, they aren’t the ones laughing last. Bergevin, with the help of Trevor Timmins, has done a masterful job at restocking the prospect pool and developing them into solid hockey players. Romanov is joining the team. Suzuki is taking the number centre role. Kotkaniemi seems to be on the verge of proving fans that they were wrong wanting someone else. Jake Evans looked extremely good. And there are many other quality prospects not quite ready to join!
Here are some of the bigger trades made by Bergevin leading up to that Summer of 2018, all the way to today:
| DATE | OUT | IN |
|---|---|---|
| FEBRUARY 2018 | Jakub Jerabek Tomas Plekanec Joe Morrow 2019 5th (WAS) | Mike Reilly 2019 5th (WAS) – Traded 2018 2nd (TOR) – Jacob Olofsson 2018 4th (WIN) – Traded |
| JUNE 2018 | Alex Galchenyuk Hayden Hawkey Simon Bourque 2018 4th (CAL) 2018 4th (EDM) 2019 7th (MON) 2018 5th (FLO) 2018 2nd (WAS) | Max Domi Joel Armia 2019 4th (CAL) – Traded 2018 5th (FLO) – Traded 2018 4th (VEG) – Jack Gorniak 2018 7th (MON) – Brett Stapley 2019 5th (CHI) – Traded 2018 3rd (EDM) – Jordan Harris 2018 5th (EDM) – Samuel Houde 2019 7th (WIN) – Kieran Ruscheinski 2020 4th (WIN) – Jack Smith |
| SEPTEMBER 2018 | Max Pacioretty | Tomas Tatar Nick Suzuki 2019 2nd (CBJ) – Traded |
| OCTOBER 2018 | Rinat Valiev Matt Taormina Will Bitten | Brett Kulak Gustav Olofsson |
| FEBRUARY 2019 | Michael Chaput 2019 4th (CAL) | Nate Thompson 2019 5th (ARI) – Frederik Nissen Dichow Jordan Weal |
| JUNE 2019 | 2019 2nd (CBJ) 2019 4th (MON) 2019 5th (CHI) 2020 7th (MON) 2021 7th (MON) Andrew Shaw Nicolas Deslauriers | 2019 3rd (LAK) – Mattias Norlinder 2019 5th (LAK) – Jacob LeGuerrier 2020 4th (SJS) – Traded 2020 5th (FLO) – Jakub Dobes 2019 7th (MON) – Rafaël Harvey-Pinard 2020 2nd (CHI) – Jan Mysak 2020 7th (CHI) – Traded 2021 3rd (CHI) – TBD 2020 4th (ANA) – Traded |
| JANUARY 2020 | Mike Reilly 2020 4th (SJS) | Marco Scandella Andrew Sturtz 2021 5th (OTT) – TBD |
| FEBRUARY 2020 | Marco Scandella Ilya Kovalchuk Nate Thompson Matthew Peca Nick Cousins | 2020 2nd (STL) – Traded 2021 4th (STL) – TBD 2020 3rd (WAS) – Traded 2021 5th (PHI) – TBD 2020 7th (OTT) – Traded 2021 4th (VEG) – TBD |
| SEPTEMBER 2020 | 2020 3rd (WAS) 2020 7th (CHI) 2020 5th (MTL) | Jake Allen 2022 7th (STL) – TBD Joel Edmundson |
| OCTOBER 2020 | Max Domi 2020 3rd (MON) 2020 2nd (STL) 2020 4th (ANA) 2020 7th (OTT) | Josh Anderson 2020 4th (TBL) – Sean Farrell 2021 2nd (TBL) – TBD 2021 3rd (WAS) 2021 7th (MON) |
And this, folks is the difference between a Retool, a Reset and a Rebuild. A reset is a relatively quick turnaround through the Draft. This allowed Bergevin to wait for the right time to add a free agent here and there and build the team that we’re seeing today. This is now Bergevin’s team, not the one he inherited, bad apples included.
It’s a very exciting time to be a Habs’ fan and having an all-Canadian division, with 8-10 games against each team, is sure to create some rivalries to last for the next decade. The Habs should do well in this setting. Fans from other teams, some media outlets from Toronto included, will be up for a rude awakening from looking at the little respect they’re paying Bergevin’s squad. But we will all be able to enjoy it together. Isn’t it great? Go Habs Go!
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