MONTREAL--That must have been a very lonely office on the seventh floor.

Just Gauthier, his fruits and vegetables, and I'm presuming every once in a while Bob popped by for a chat.

Seems Gauthier believed the best way to avoid a mutiny was to not have a crew.

"No hands on deck but mine" is not a business strategy. Even Steve Jobs needed help. Gauthier needed an armada.

After Scott Mellanby was hired I tweeted "Just how understaffed in the front office were the Habs last year?". Since then Bergevin has hired another four.

I have a vision of this big conference room with some of the brightest hockey minds gathered around a classic mahogany table. They're enjoying each other's minds, exchanging ideas about their passion. Mellanby is evaluating talent. Dudley chimes in. Bergevin brings his take. Lapointe, Brisebois, Therrien and his many assistants all there too. Hockey minds gathered to get key player evaluations right.

With Bergevin it is strength in numbers contrasted to Gauthier's ensuring a consensus by never taking a census.

Bergevin consulting with heads of hockey operations. Gauthier consulting with heads of lettuce.

A new day has dawned.

You can feel it everywhere. Smiles all around. Trevor Timmins having the best draft ever. Shackles removed as front office men, scouts, and coaches are actually allowed, wait for it, to speak.

It is going to take time to right this ship after a tsunami of incompetence.

At least now though, the Habs have a new captain who has the security to actually hire a competent crew.