Time. Patience. Faith.
That's what Habs GM Marc Bergevin needs from media and fans alike.
These are not easy concepts in this city.
Frustration is already mounting for Bergevin to put the puzzle together even though he is making his first moves only now and making them nearly flawlessly. Grumblings that he hasn't filled the second line left winger spot are rising in the Twittersphere.
It is a dangerous trend because Bergevin doesn't need people to have faith just until September. He needs people to have faith until September 2014.
Stupid moves are made by GMs who don't have a 5-year plan, but a 1-year shelf-life.
Bergevin has a lot of cachet right now. Let him use it.He needs to execute the long term and not worry about the short term.
So here is the blueprint for the Stanley Cup. The seeds are already planted. A moment in time awaits when all the young talent comes together for an explosion of riches.
Here is your defence for 2014: Gorges, Subban, Emelin, Tinordi, Beaulieu, Ellis.
Basically, 4 to 7 years for that defense to grow together, bond together, learn together, and if they hit their potential, scare the wits out of their opposition together.
That defensive crystal ball doesn't even include Pateryn, or Thrower, or Bennett.
What's perfect is this defence naturally needing more time to reach maturity is ahead of the development curve compared to the Habs offence that is in the pipeline.
That suggests an explosion of talent all at the same moment.
On offence, the seeds are planted in Galchenyuk, Collberg, Eller, Desharnais, Pacioretty, Prust, Kristo, Gallagher, and Bournival.
In net, 2014 is secure and locked up for Cup glory.
So let the GM execute this 'Holy Moly' moment when suddenly you look at the line up and say this is one extremely talented team.
Even better is this future line-up doesn't include all the massive amounts of money coming free one way or another by 2014.
Gomez, Kaberle, Bourque, even Markov put another 15 to 20 million dollars in the pocket for the GM to invest in the best UFAs of the day.
If Cole, Gionta and Plekanec are in decline by that time, then add another nearly $15 million to the mix for that explosion of riches moment.
That's $35 million for UFAs to play alongside highly touted young Habs properties.
Sound good?
In fact, it sounds like what has been a winning formula for many past Stanley Cup winners.
Winners like Chicago: Seabrook and Keith maturing at the same time as Toews and Kane combined with UFA signings like Hossa to simplify an example.
2014.
Wait for it. Wait for an explosion of talent and an equal explosion of money to spend for more talent.
Time. Patience. Faith.
