Canadiens president Jeff Gorton opens door to aggressive move ahead of trade deadline
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Let’s be honest, Jeff Gorton’s interview with Eric Engels has just fired up all of Montreal.
It’s fair to say the Tricolore has surprised everyone with a 32-17-8 record.
Gorton feels his group now has the mindset to win every night, whether at the Bell Centre or on the road.
The goaltending situation remains the biggest topic of discussion in sports bars. While Gorton says he’s comfortable, the dismissal of Eric Raymond and the appointment of a new goalie coach in Laval show the organization is serious about making changes.
The plan with Jacob Fowler is clear: he must continue his development with the Laval Rocket. Gorton doesn’t want to rush things, even if fans are eager to see the young prodigy.
There’s no denying it — the emergence of players like Oliver Kapanen changes the equation for Kent Hughes. It takes enormous pressure off the immediate need to find a second-line center.
Gorton likes the toughness of his young core, but he knows he has a surplus of players to manage.
A fragile balance between the present and the future
“We’d like to be aggressive, and we will be, if need be.
Kent and I spend a lot of time analyzing that next thing, and we’re in a phase where whatever we do next is really important to get right.”
– Jeff Gorton
The idea isn’t to sacrifice everything for a single spring, but to build a sustainable powerhouse.
You can expect them to make a move only if the price is right. Gorton won’t throw assets out the window for a rental player who doesn’t fit the long-term plan.
The message has been sent to other NHL general managers: the Canadiens are open to a trade.
If an elite goal scorer becomes available, expect Montreal to be in the mix.
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Canadiens president Jeff Gorton opens door to aggressive move ahead of trade deadline
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