Jeff Gorton, vice-president of hockey operations for the Montreal Canadiens, cannot hide his relief. His worst enemy, Chris Drury, general manager of the New York Rangers, failed to lead his team to the Stanley Cup final, beaten by the Florida Panthers in six games.
The defeat of the Rangers, a team largely built by Gorton himself, symbolizes a kind of justice for the former New York leader. Karma often does things well.
This revenge scenario, worthy of the greatest soap operas, highlights an intense rivalry and betrayal that dates back to May 2021.
Around this time, Gorton was abruptly fired as president of hockey operations for the Rangers, a decision seen as cruel and unfounded, especially since he had done an extraordinary job leading a masterfully accelerated rebuild.
But the real betrayal arose from the behavior of Chris Drury, once a trusted friend and colleague. Rumors swirled that Drury had worked behind the scenes to curry favor with Rangers owner James Dolan, leading to Gorton’s ouster.
Relations between the two men, already fragile, deteriorated further. Today, Gorton, with his role as vice-president of the Montreal Canadiens, categorically refuses to negotiate with Drury, even if it could be profitable for the CH.
Gorton’s sense of vengeance may be understandable, and today he must be smiling broadly. Imagine the nightmare if the team you built wins the Stanley Cup without your name on it.
However, this vendetta could harm the Montreal Canadiens. Kent Hughes, general manager of the Canadiens, may have to intervene to prevent Gorton’s personal emotions from compromising the team’s sporting interests.
Because in the business world, letting emotions take over can be the beginning of the end. We don’t want to miss a trade with the Rangers out of pride.
So, while Jeff Gorton relishes his former club’s defeat, he must remember that his current team’s success cannot be sacrificed by his emotions.
The stakes are too high, and hockey, like any big business, requires a cold, unemotional outlook. Let Gorton enjoy it tonight, but forget his revenge tomorrow morning…
