It was stunning when the Montreal Canadiens reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2021, and equally stunning when they finished last the very next season. But Montreal had a plan: “Be patient. Better things are ahead.” And, as it turns out, they were absolutely right.
Executive vice president of hockey operations Jeff Gorton and general manager Kent Hughes have guided the Canadiens through their rebuild over the past four years, transforming the team from league laughingstock into a legitimate Stanley Cup contender—a journey nothing short of remarkable. And for that reason, both men will be sticking with the team for the foreseeable future.