what happened to Montreal Canadiens?

[Comeds]

The franchise that has the most Stanley Cup wins and a franchise that seems to have a very long and rich tradition in winning. They haven't been good in a few years, what happened to this franchise>?

I am surprised you didnt ask if they were moving to Portland.

With the exception of this year I have been reasonably happy with the Habs the past few years. They haven't been great, but they have been OK and good at times. They were the top seed in the east a few years ago and went to the eastern finals one year. This year, not so good. I like some of their young players so I have hope.

 

[Voltaire26]

I am surprised you didnt ask if they were moving to Portland.
With the exception of this year I have been reasonably happy with the Habs the past few years. They haven't been great, but they have been OK and good at times. They were the top seed in the east a few years ago and went to the eastern finals one year. This year, not so good. I like some of their young players so I have hope.

Montreal is the class franchise of the NHL (this coming from a Red Wing Fan). The better question is what the fuck happened to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Even when they do make they playoffs (which is rare), they suck.

Montreal moving to Portland? That could (and should) start an international incident.

 

[beantownmaniac]

The franchise that has the most Stanley Cup wins and a franchise that seems to have a very long and rich tradition in winning. They haven't been good in a few years, what happened to this franchise>?

Who cares? They along with their obnoxious fans think they're hockey royalty. I hope they lose for another 50 years.

 

[beantownmaniac]

just one bad season? haven't they missed the playoffs the last few years?

They were in the playoffs last year, lol

 

[Comeds]

Who cares? They along with their obnoxious fans think they're hockey royalty. I hope they lose for another 50 years.

Yeah, their fans are nothing like the down to earth, even tempered, and well spoken Boston Bruin fans.

 

[jstewismybastardson]

broad question ... but if you want an explanation for their dynasty ... exclusivity of french players helped them back in the day

Question: Did the Montreal Canadiens ever have exclusive rights to players from Quebec?

Answer: Prior to the 1960s, there was no NHL amateur draft. The recruitment of prospects was simply a matter of first come, first served. The Montreal Canadiens ensured they were first served by establishing perhaps the greatest farm system in sports history, with junior and senior teams on the prairies, minor pro teams in the U.S. and entire leagues in Quebec. The Leafs operated a similar network in Ontario and beyond. All players signed to those teams remained the exclusive propoerty of the NHL "sponsor" team until they were released or traded.

Prior to 1967, the Leafs and Canadiens held a further advantage. According to A Thinking Man's Guide to Pro Hockey, by Gerry Eskenazi, published in 1973, each NHL franchise had exclusive rights to players within its 50-mile territorial limits. So the Leafs and Canadiens could browse the neighbourhood rinks near Toronto and Montreal at their leisure, while the Rangers had a lock on the next great goalie from Hoboken.

Most of these advantages disappeared in 1963 with the introduction of the amateur draft. But the Leafs and Canadiens continued to benefit from players developed under the old system well into the 1970s.

 

[KennyBanyeah]

LOL.

Montreal scouts heavily in Quebec but they had only 2 French Canadian players play more than 50 games this year.

The team wants to have coaches and GMs who are fluent in French, not necessarily players. It makes sense that these figureheads can speak to > 50% of their fans in their native language.

They'd love to have a Quebecois superstar but those aren't coming around too often these days.

 

[mattola]

They'd love to have a Quebecois superstar but those aren't coming around too often these days.

jstew respectively disagrees

 

[quoipourquoi]

They'd love to have a Quebecois superstar but those aren't coming around too often these days.

They should try to sell the fans on a Steven Stamquos rumor.

 

[beantownmaniac]

Yeah, their fans are nothing like the down to earth, even tempered, and well spoken Boston Bruin fans.

1-I meant many IN Montreal
2-I forgot the

 

[Comeds]

1-I meant many IN Montreal
2-I forgot the

I am not offended, I do not care. I just think the two fan bases have more in common than they do not.

 

[BlueandWhiteForever]

The better question is what the fuck happened to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Even when they do make they playoffs (which is rare), they suck.

1. Richard Peddie
2. John Ferguson Jr.
3. Didn't believe a salary cap was coming
4. Thinking Justin Pogge was the future thus trading Tukka Rask to the Bruins
5. Brian Burke

That about sums it up.

 

[elocomotive]

And they never won again.

And everyone died.

THE END

 

[Comeds]

And everyone died.

THE END

But wait...just when it seemed everyone was dead...there was a cough...a deep breath.....then a shudder! Then a moan as the life left the last one alive.

The end.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

1. Richard Peddie
2. John Ferguson Jr.
3. Didn't believe a salary cap was coming
4. Thinking Justin Pogge was the future thus trading Tukka Rask to the Bruins
5. Brian Burke

That about sums it up.

What about Ballard?