Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

The three finalists for the position of GM of the Canadiens are today GM

Originally posted on Dose.ca | Last updated May 23, 2025 8:23 PM ET

In 2022, the Canadiens were looking for a new GM after firing Marc Bergevin.

Jeff Gorton was the first to be hired by the Canadiens, and in January, it was Kent Hughes’ turn to win the GM job.

At the time, Hughes wasn’t the only one in the running for the job.

Towards the end of the process, there were still three finalists: Kent Hughes, Mathieu Darche and Daniel Brière.

And clearly, the Canadiens had some good candidates on their list… because all three finalists for the position of GM of the Canadiens in 2022 are now GMs in the National League.

Brière is in Philadelphia, Darche is now on Long Island… and of course, Kent Hughes is still in Montreal.

Ironically, all three of these guys are also first-time GMs in the NHL.

On HNIC Elliotte Friedman says the 3rd finalist (after Darche and Briere) is agent Kent Hughes. The Canadiens are giving Hughes time to decide whether or not he wants to be a candidate before making a final decision. https://t. co/euaBunQSWs

– HabsLinks (@HabsLinks) January 16, 2022

At this level, it’s hard not to give Jeff Gorton credit, and it’s not for nothing that the Canadiens are ready to take care of him.

Maybe we don’t realize it as much, but Gorton plays a big role in the club’s success.

He’s the one who brought Kent Hughes to town, and he also had a hand in the hiring of Martin St-Louis.

Gorton had a final list, and it was an excellent one. If Brière and Darche found a job as GMs in the National League, that means they were also qualified to take the job in Montreal.

But in the end, it’s also hard not to be pleased with the way things turned out.

Kent Hughes – with the help of Jeff Gorton – has done a really interesting job since taking over in Montreal, and the Habs are handling the rebuild in the right way.

We didn’t even expect the club to have a chance of making the playoffs this year… But the work of Hughes and Gorton has enabled the team to achieve this feat.

So did Martin St-Louis… but he would never have been hired by the Canadiens if Hughes and Gorton hadn’t been in charge.

The Canadiens have some great hockey minds in place right now.

Overtime

– Ouch.

The Oilers have been struggling on the penalty kill this playoffs pic.twitter.com/jE3mZisfSs

– BarDown (@BarDown) May 23, 2025

– Filip Eriksson changes clubs.

A change of scenery for Filip Eriksson.

The Canadiens’ prospect leaves Vaxjo and agrees terms with Lulea, the defending SHL champions. #Habs https://t.co/pZ5Wez8Hvj

– Podcast La Relève (@PodcastLaReleve) May 23, 2025

– He’s going to be good.

A Hobey Baker Award finalist and an offensive weapon from the blue line. Zeev Buium finishes his time in Denver with 98 points – the second-most by a team defenseman in their first 2 seasons with the program.

Thank you for the memories, Zeev! pic.twitter.com/ys1SkbCrI3

– Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) May 23, 2025

– The guys are ready for their game tonight.