Let’s look into the future and try to objectively evaluate what the state of the union is next October instead of today. Why? Because today is grim.

The GM looks like he’s trying to see if he can hide behind his hair and the head coach has a better tan than record. Today is grim for so many reasons, but let’s leave Price’s knee, Galchenyuk’s spot on the wing, and Therrien’s mysteriously stable employment status for another day. Today, let’s evaluate the state of the union using a looking glass, instead of anger management classes.

Our look into the future starts with today when Marc Bergevin showed once again that he is very agile at making minor deals to improve his roster. His work this deadline season was as good as any.  

Bergevin got a second rounder for UFA Dale Weise. An excellent return considering Weise was a fourth liner hanging on by a thread in Vancouver under John Tortarella, turned him into a 15-goal man and then dealt him for what could be a seven-year asset if Trevor Timmins can find a gem in the late second in a couple years.

Bergevin also had Tomas Fleischmann to deal – a player in September that no one wanted at any price. Fleischmann won a contract and then fell to his level which was pretty average to be honest, but Bergevin was able to turn that into a roster player that he has coveted since drafting him for Chicago in 2011 – Phillip Danault was a former first rounder and though he has not found his mark yet in the NHL, there could be some upside still at his age. One thing we do know is there is no upside left for Fleischmann.

Two players dealt. Two players dealt well.

Bergevin does well in the trade


Now to today, and again Bergevin does well.  Devante Smith-Pelly was acquired for Jiri Sekac who was on the waiver wire last week. Bergevin took that win and parlayed it into another win on deadline day.  Smith-Pelly, it seems, has finished his improvements. He’s stagnated. Very popular in the room, this was a hard blow to Smith-Pelly and the tears were hard to watch, but this is a business, and wins don’t add up being sentimental.

Bergevin acquires Stefan Matteau who was a former first rounder again who at his age, drafted in 2012 by New Jersey, could still see upside in his career. The improvement of Smith-Pelly is finished so this didn’t have downside and it could have upside. That’s a good hockey trade.

Finally, the oddity: Mike Brown is a tough guy and yet another fourth liner who is acquired to give Mike McCarron some protection. The Habs already have John Scott, though. Bergevin said that he preferred Brown in that role because he can skate better. That’s true of course, so why did he get Scott in the first place then? The answer to that from the last newser was that he can’t tell us. 

Let’s not worry about that one though. Really, what are we talking about here? Anything vital overall? Certainly not. Let’s get our ire up for something that matters at least. Not a fourth-line protector picked up on waivers.

Now to the downside

Hope that Marc Bergevin knows he has to fire his coach, but can’t share that with anyone. Bergevin might just be a good car salesman and he can’t tell us the crap that he has seen under the hood but will just simply take care of business when the season is over. Bergevin needs to remember that if you can’t accept that you have a bad employee then you yourself become the bad employee.  If Bergevin doesn’t make Therrien land on this sword soon, he’s going to have to land on the sword himself. Certainly, everyone can see the sword is pointing more to him these last few weeks when he could have just ended all of it with the more courageous decision to say to everyone not “it’s on me” but instead “this is a very good roster and it’s on him.”

It’s easy to be upset about the state of the head coach, but let’s wait until the post mortem to see if he is going to pay for this mess.  And here is the mess in the quickest summation:  If you need a 943 goalie to win at more than a 300 clip with the talented core that the Habs actually have, then you’re a mess of a coach and you have to go. Get that done, and much is forgiven.

The other major issue is this:  Bergevin’s had four years to improve his lineup and what has he done? On defence, a tremendous piece in Jeff Petry. He’s the real deal. Don’t let the malaise fool you in the final days. No one plays hockey at all successfully with a sports hernia. It hurts every single stride and it impacts everything.

On forward though, the top six has not improved one iota in four years.  The Habs need two top six players.  One can be obtained in this draft if the club can win one of the three lottery spots that would put them in the top 3 to get Matthews or one of the two Finns. Failing that, the club could get Dubois.  Bergevin can also win a battle for a free agent that he can put into his top six. So far, he’s been too conservative to win bidding wars most of the time, but one learns from mistakes and perhaps he’s learned what it takes now to improve the top six forwards.

It’s not all that bad

So as grim as it looks tonight, the State of the Union is not all that bad. Alex Galchenyuk is playing great, if not the wrong position. Lars Eller seems to have found another gear. Carey Price will be healthy one day. The defensive group will be as good next year with Markov recovering nicely and Petry finding his better form when he’s healthy again. The head coach just has to be fired for a myriad of bench mistakes that a chimpanzee could see as a problem, and two top 6 forwards will one day be drafted or signed to compliment an excellent back six.

The bottom line is the Montreal Canadiens core group and roster is extremely talented. It is lacking only two essential pieces. There is no reason for this group of talented players to be as bad as they have been this season.  None. The Carolina Hurricanes have half the talent the Habs do and their two goalies are only at 900 this year as well. The difference is the coaching and the stability that good coaching brings.

So change the coach, get those two pieces at top six forwards and with Price back, contest for the Stanley Cup again. Yes, there is no reason that this core group can not get to that height.

Let’s see what October looks like. If there are no changes, well, it’s a good thing Carey Price handles pressure well because, so far, the GM has basically blamed this lost season on his being injured.

No pressure Carey, but we’re going to need 943 when you return or we seem to suck.

Or Marc…  make the right moves, the bold moves, the moves that hurt your friend, but lift up a city. Have the courage to realize that the failing hands to hold high the torch have, in fact, been yours.