New Canadiens Connection: Key Habs Hire

One of the challenges for a rebuilding team is figuring out when the rebuild is actually over. And the Montreal Canadiens are somewhere in that transition right now. Even though the Habs brought plenty of excitement this postseason, it’s not quite time to bid farewell to the rebuild. Now is when teams in Montreal’s position have to dig their heels in, stick to the plan, and not get distracted by suddenly wanting immediate results because they came so close this time around.

After an Eastern Conference Final appearance, it’s easy to focus on what happens next at the NHL level. Who might be added to the roster? Which prospects are ready to make the jump? How much better can this team become over the next year or two?

But one thing that can’t get lost in all of that is development, because even as the Canadiens get closer to perennial contention, they’re still going to rely heavily on young players coming through the system. The next wave of contributors, role players, and potentially impact players are still developing in Laval, or will be arriving there soon, and that’s what makes the recent departure of Pascal Vincent such an important story.

Replacing the head coach of the Rocket isn’t just about filling a vacancy. It’s about protecting one of the most important parts of the organization’s future. And when you combine that with the fact that the Canadiens are still looking to fully address their coaching structure at the NHL level, it raises some interesting questions about where development fits into the next phase of this team’s evolution.

This Week’s Show

On this week’s episode of the Canadiens Connection podcast, we welcome Patrick Williams to the Rocket Sports studio. Patrick is a veteran AHL reporter and award-winning journalist covering the American Hockey League in depth for more than a decade.

We discuss the coaching philosophy of Pascal Vincent, key Canadiens prospects, and a list potential candidates for the position in Laval.

NEW PODCAST: Success Creates a New Problem for the Montreal Canadiens | Canadiens Connection ep 404

We also discussed these important topics on this week’s episode of the podcast:

Canadiens players receive additional honors from the NHL this week.
A key prospect arrives in Montreal for a busy summer of training.
The AHL recognizes a Laval Rocket defenseman as a top prospect.

CC Question of the Week: Which Canadiens prospects currently developing in Laval would you like to see crack the Habs’ opening night lineup?

It is our eighth season, with a new episode of the podcast dropping every Saturday afternoon. Be sure to subscribe using your favorite podcast app! Or watch our episodes on YouTube!