Kent Hughes, presented as a visionary general manager and hailed upon his arrival for his past as an influential agent, began to show significant flaws in his management of the Montreal Canadiens.
This start to the season reveals several decisions which, instead of helping the team progress, seem to accentuate existing problems. The failures pile up, and fans begin to see a less rosy portrait of the previously revered DG.
CH’s -17 differential reveals the team’s structural weaknesses. While Hughes has made promises of defensive improvement and structured play, the reality is much different.
The defense continues to collapse under pressure and, despite some interesting offensive performances, the team cannot compensate for the goals conceded.
With only the San Jose Sharks doing worse in the league *differential of (-18 vs -17) it becomes clear that Hughes’ management has failed to solidify this essential foundation for the rebuild.
The youth option adopted by Hughes at the blue line exposes the glaring lack of experience on defense. Hughes took a risky gamble by letting Jordan Harris and Johnathan Kovacevic leave or by not recruiting experienced defensemen capable of guiding these young talents.
The result? A defensive line that is collapsing, unable to stabilize the game. Logan Mailloux, projected as a centerpiece, has already returned to Laval.
Hughes may have underestimated the need for coaching for these young defenders, and this lack of preparation weighs heavily in the current results.
The choice not to invest in a veteran goalie like Marc-André Fleury, or a young prodigy like Yaroslav Askarov is proving costly.
Samuel Montembeault and Cayden Primeau, although showing signs of progress last season, are showing declining performances, with save percentages below .900.
Montembeault was taken out twice in four games.
Primeau, in particular, seems to have lost confidence and does not display a reassuring presence in front of his net. Hughes, by banking on internal hopes rather than a more solid external solution, left the team in a very fragile situation.
The fragility of the goalkeepers adds additional pressure to an already unstable defense.
Much was expected of Kirby Dach, presented as the missing piece to solidify the Canadiens’ center. But with only 5 points and a catastrophic differential of -14, Dach is not the impact player he should have been.
The young center is struggling to establish himself, moving from the first to the fourth line without ever really finding his place.
At 23, he’s still young, but Hughes’ inability to find a quality center to back up Nick Suzuki exposes the weaknesses in his long-term plan.
The reality is that the CH would need Alex Romanov at the moment.
Injury management remains another weak point for Hughes. The lack of roster depth exposes every injury as a crisis for the team.
The injury to Juraj Slafkovsky against the Penguins and that of Patrik Laine considerably weaken the lines. This fragility of the roster, combined with a lack of alternatives, highlights Hughes’ inability to build a courageous team capable of dealing with the misfortunes of the season.
If Hughes was initially seen as a bold and innovative GM, the results this early in the season indicate that he may not have the skills necessary to turn around the organization.
Of course, reconstruction takes time, but the accumulation of questionable decisions and management errors calls into question its ability to complete this project.
Supporters, once hopeful, are beginning to question what was seen as a well-thought-out plan, but which is proving increasingly fragile.
Ultimately, this start to the season exposes Kent Hughes as an ordinary GM, far from the high expectations placed on him.
The Montreal Canadiens, under his leadership, are struggling to find a clear identity, and the promises of renewal seem very distant.
Hughes will have to quickly rectify the situation, because the current status quo will only prolong the frustration of a fan base which is also beginning to lose patience,
Maec Bergevin must be cramped
