General manager Kent Hughes said he was satisfied with the progress of the Montreal Canadiens during the 2023-24 season, but recognized that there was still a long way to go.
The Montreal club completed the campaign with 76 points (30-36-16), eight more than in 2022-23, when the team had collected 31 victories — one more than this winter. The difference comes from the number of tiebreaker losses (16 versus six).
“I’m very pleased with the progress of our young players, the progress of our team overall, because we’ve seen progression in team play as well, and we have young players who continue to progress with us in Montreal, in Laval and also in the amateur ranks,” he said during his end-of-season review on Wednesday at the CN Sports Complex.
While the overall results did not necessarily reflect this progress, Hughes nevertheless insisted that it was real.
“If you look at (Alex) Newhook, there was a progression from the beginning to the end of the season. (Joel) Armia experienced progression from start to finish. Mike Matheson has reached another level. Kaiden Guhle has reached another milestone. If you look at the individual development of the players, you can see a progression,” Hughes said.
“From the beginning to about halfway through the season, we had difficulty dealing with turnovers in games,” he continued. We had problems during the second periods. We’ve played 44 games that ended with a one-goal margin, and there are probably more in the second half of the season. It’s part of our progression, our maturity as a team.
“The fact remains that we don’t have a team to win the Stanley Cup and everyone is aware of that,” he admitted. And it’s our responsibility to Jeff (Gorton, vice-president of hockey operations) and I to do everything to achieve that. But it doesn’t happen in 24 hours. »
Well-identified weaknesses
Hughes also highlighted the progress of Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsky, who smashed personal highs with 77 and 50 points respectively.
And while the bank of prospects and young talent within the organization is touted, Hughes has identified some weaknesses within his club.
“I know we need to add some offensive talent,” he said. I believe we also need to improve on the physical side of our team.
“I believe that in aspects of the game, our special teams will have to be better,” Hughes also admitted. But how much will it improve through additions from outside, by asking more of our current players, or by adjustments to our game? »
Hughes and Gorton, however, echoed their players and head coach Martin St-Louis by not making the word “playoffs” a taboo word during the press conference.
“I want us to make the playoffs. Jeff wants us to make the playoffs, but can I say here that this is a goal next season and if we don’t reach it it will be a failure? No,” Hughes insisted.
” We’ll see. I think it’s fair to expect us to be in the running. But are we going to take this step? I don’t know,” he added.
Tuesday evening, after the Habs’ 5-4 shootout loss to the Detroit Red Wings to end the team’s campaign, veteran Brendan Gallagher said it was up to the players to demonstrate to management that the group is ready to take the next step — seeing Hughes and Gorton make acquisitions to help the team more in the short term.
Both hockey players admitted it’s difficult to know exactly when that moment presents itself during a rebuild.
“I think you feel it when that moment comes to you,” said Gorton, who experienced the transition while managing the New York Rangers. It could come from the right trade offer, or the opportunity to land a key free agent.
“We count on several good players and have a lot of assets,” he added. We’re heading in the right direction and it’s up to Kent, Martin and I to determine when the right time comes. It’s hard to say and we talk about it. We have a plan and we need to make sure we don’t affect our long term goals for a short term opportunity. »
Unshakeable confidence in St-Louis
Hughes also took the opportunity to announce that he had exercised an option on the St-Louis contract, which will therefore be at the helm of the team for the next three seasons.
The Canadian has a 75-100-26 record under the direction of the man who collected more than 1,000 points in the NHL as a player and who was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame even though he was never drafted in the Bettman circuit.
St-Louis always seems to know the pulse of its group and continues to inspire its players to excel.
“I think Martin shows something new every day and we don’t know his full potential as a coach yet,” Gorton said. He has even more to offer, and that’s rare in this industry. »
Hughes recalled a speech St. Louis made to young hockey players several years ago during which he recalled that he “wasn’t the biggest, the fastest or the most talented, but that no one was only as good as he was at improving himself.”
“He has the same mentality as a coach,” said Hughes. He doesn’t believe he has all the answers. He talks with his assistants, with the team, with the advanced statistics department, in the hope of finding solutions. And that’s true for everyone on our coaching staff. »
Hughes also indicated that he will discuss contract extensions with the St. Louis assistants in the coming days.
Regarding the Laval Rocket coaching staff, including head coach Jean-François Houle’s contract which is expiring, Hughes indicated that he will wait until the end of the American League season before look into this matter. The Rocket will play their final two games this weekend and will need help from the teams ahead of them in the standings to sneak into the playoffs.