As former Gazette sports columnist Michael Farber once wrote: “Only two institutions in Western civilization truly grasp ceremony: the House of Windsor and the Montreal Canadiens.”
There was another example of that Tuesday night as the Canadiens paid tribute to former goaltender and Hall of Famer Ken Dryden — who died last month at age 78 from cancer — during a pre-game ceremony ahead of their home opener at the Bell Centre.
On this week’s Hockey Inside/Out Show The Gazette’s Stu Cowan is joined by former Canadiens teammates and 1986 Stanley Cup champions Rick Green to discuss the touching tribute to Dryden as well as the thrilling 5-4 overtime win over the Seattle Kraken.
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The panel also weighs in on Geoff Molson’s announcement Tuesday that Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes have both been signed to five-year contract extensions that kick in next season. Gorton also gets a new title, president of hockey operations, while Hughes remains as general manager. The panel also weighs in on Lane Hutson’s new eight-year, US$70.8-million contract extension with an annual salary-cap hit of US$8.85 million.
Nilan and Green also talk about how Gorton and Hughes have welcomed the team’s alumni back to the Bell Centre with open arms after they had been shut out by former GM Marc Bergevin and what that means to them. They also discuss how Gorton and Hughes have made Montreal a place where players want to play again.
Look for our three Hockey Inside/Out Bonus episodes later this week with Nilan and Green giving their first impressions of new Canadiens defenceman Noah Dobson, the limited ice time Arber Xhekaj has had to start the season and then they let us know who the funniest teammate they ever had was.
You can also watch or listen to Hockey Inside Out on YouTube and Spotify.
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