(Laval-sur-le-Lac) Unless I am mistaken, the expression “être dans le mix”, used to designate the Canadiens’ objective in 2024-2025, appeared in the public space last spring.
According to our more or less exhaustive research, Geoff Molson was the first to suggest it, during an interview with TVA Sports shortly before the end of the last campaign. The club’s hockey management then took it up extensively, and the “mix” has now become common practice.
What, however, is meant by the “mix”? That’s less clear. General manager Kent Hughes candidly admitted Monday morning on the sidelines of the Canadiens’ annual golf tournament kicking off the season: “When you choose words, they can mean 10 different things to 10 different people!”
D’où notre question, en somme. Un coup d’œil à la dernière saison de la LNH donne une idée d’à quel point la définition peut être large. Les Red Wings de Detroit, par exemple, y ont cru littéralement jusqu’à la dernière minute. Ils n’ont appris qu’à la fin de la troisième période de leur 82e match de la campagne qu’ils ne participeraient pas aux séries éliminatoires.
Les Devils du New Jersey, eux, n’ont été mathématiquement éliminés qu’une semaine avant la fin du calendrier. Jusqu’au 9 avril, donc, ils ont conservé leurs chances (théoriques) de se qualifier. Ils ont néanmoins raté le coche par 10 points. À ce compte, ont-ils été « dans le mix » ?
Une chose est certaine : le terme est encore à la mode. Devant les journalistes, mardi, Geoff Molson, propriétaire et président de l’équipe, l’a prononcé quatre fois, notamment en assurant qu’il désirait « tout faire pour être dans le mix cette année ».
Jeff Gorton, vice-président aux opérations hockey, l’a quant à lui lancé à deux reprises. Trouver une définition claire n’est pas chose simple pour autant.
« Je pense qu’il y a plusieurs bonnes équipes dans la LNH et qu’atteindre les séries est très difficile, a estimé Molson. On l’a vu, l’an dernier, de bonnes équipes [ont été exclues] at the last minute. For me, being in the mix is being in that group.”
Transaction Deadline
Gorton was a little more specific, saying he wants the Habs to still be “in the game” after the trade deadline. As a point of reference, on March 8, Montreal was 14 points out of last place in the qualifying round, with 19 games to play and six clubs to beat. The improvement in the standings will therefore have to be significant, and quick.
Because historically, the bulk of the series table is known after about twenty games, around American Thanksgiving. Even last season, 13 of the 16 clubs qualified at that time played in the series come spring.
Without making any promises, Gorton was clear in his goal. He wants his players to “play games that really matter in April.” “Competing for a playoff spot would be important for our group,” he said. “It would be an evolution. The last two years, we’ve drafted fifth overall. [en terminant au 28e rang du classement, NDLR]. It would be good to see if we can move forward.”
PHOTO RYAN REMIORZ, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Jeff Gorton
Kent Hughes added a nuance. “I want us to be in the playoff race longer. But I can’t predict whether that means until the last game or whether we’ll be able to [atteindre] the series. »
Nick Suzuki, for his part, wants to believe in his chances “until the end” and extend his season for the first time since 2021. “We want to get back to where we used to be. It’s up to us to go get the victories,” he said.
Ultimately, “we have to move forward,” Kent Hughes summed up.
Goals
If the “mix” is difficult to define, and even more difficult to quantify, the same is true for the performance objectives expected of players, coaches and the management group.
Will leaders be evaluated differently now that more concrete results seem likely on the ice? “It depends on your definition of results,” countered Geoff Molson. “Progress is a result. We have a plan, we are in the third year of that plan, and I am very pleased with the work of all the leaders. I have no doubt that will continue.”
What can we expect if the “mix” proves inaccessible? “We haven’t even started the season, I’m not going to talk about disappointment at this point,” insisted the owner.
Without contradicting his boss, Jeff Gorton nevertheless went a little further. After stating that his club needed to play better defensively, he specified that he was sending this message to “the entire organization”, which includes the coaching staff.
Besides, “there are many ways to evaluate the season, not just by points,” he added.
“I would like to make the playoffs, and I believe our team can do it, but I don’t know [si ça se concrétisera]the manager said again. I don’t think I should tell a player that he has to do this or that, otherwise it will be a disappointment. We have so many players that have to continue to grow… There will be a lot of unknowns in training camp and during the season; a lot to learn about our team.”
“The players will show on the ice if they are ready,” he concluded.
In other words, if they are ready to move on to the famous next level. To jump “into the mix”, finally.