The Montreal Canadiens have reached a very difficult stage of their long-term rebuild plan. No, I am not talking about the need to improve the team, though that’s certainly a pressing concern. Just seven games into the 2024-25 season, a chorus of frustration has taken over the Habs-related discussions.
Hope has quickly been replaced by despair, and that’s a very dangerous situation for the organization. It’s easy to suggest fans need to dig deep and stay the course, but for those who have spent their hard-earned money on tickets, patience is a luxury. The Habs are in the entertainment industry, and they’re not offering a very entertaining product.
Fork In The Montreal Canadiens Road Many sports executives will reject the idea that fans can apply enough pressure to force a change. Many executives are lying. Whether they recognize it or not, fans are the driving force behind every aspect of the sports landscape.
It’s why many general managers are fired once fan confidence dissipates. It’s also why new general managers spend a lot of energy connecting with fans, just as Kent Hughes did when we took over from Marc Bergevin. Hughes has hit a point of diminishing returns when it comes to selling hope, a situation that he anticipated from the first day on the job.
He suggested the most challenging stage of the rebuild would be when the honeymoon with fans comes to an end. The room has been cleaned, luggage has been packed, and the taxi bringing fans to the airport is on .