Patience paying off as Canadiens front office sees rebuild progress

The Montreal Canadiens' rebuild is ongoing, but the worst is over. The players, led by head coach Martin St. Louis, are now committed to the path of excellence.

The famous master plan exists and is being lived through rather than endured. The architects of the front office — president Jeff Gorton, general manager Kent Hughes and associates — treat it as gospel.

Owner Geoff Molson made a bold decision in hiring the executive who was let go by the Rangers, and then the player-agent from the West Island who had built his career in the United States.

Equally ambitious was his decision to fully endorse their proposed plan.

For a few seasons, it was clear that the regime would require patience, that neither the executive who later became president of hockey operations nor the general manager would stray from the blueprint. Gorton and Hughes remained unwavering amid criticism.

From day one, they said they would take the time to rebuild the organization from the ground up and restore its glory.

They promised the club would become a contender again, and for the long haul. A statement that seemed like a risky prediction in an NHL designed for parity, a league carefully regulated to ensure competitive balance.

Gary Bettman took his time, much like Gorton and Hughes in Montreal. However, he laid a solid foundation for American amateur hockey.

This brings the attention back to the Canadiens, as it was mentioned earlier that Gorton and Hughes’s ambitious forecast of long-term Canadiens dominance.

Given what’s unfolded since last season, it’s unlikely the Habs' promising story will turn into a disappointment.

How the Canadiens are building for sustained success

What’s being built, brick by brick, is exciting. For nearly 25 years, the organization chased raw talent in the draft and development system. We hoped for player-development miracles, turning third-line forwards into top-line wingers.

Back then, drafting a player like Zachary Bolduc felt like a godsend. Today, we welcome a Quebec-born talent, a natural scorer taken in the mid-first round at just 22 years old, while also wondering where he’ll fit once the prospect pool is boosted by players like Michael Hage and Alexander Zharovsky.

This isn’t a critique of Bolduc, but a tribute to the quality of work by Gorton and Hughes, work that truly began with the hiring of St. Louis.

A rookie coach, with plenty to learn, was the perfect fit for a team not judged on wins and losses. What looked like chaos from the outside was, in fact, a carefully orchestrated plan from within.

Martin handles everything and energizes the fan base like a charismatic leader. So much so, he earned the time to write his own coaching blueprint, one that will be studied for years.

While Martin managed the room and the fans, Gorton and Hughes were able to execute their vision methodically and deliberately.

Even a reality TV series documented the process. The work has been impressive, though it remains unfinished. Perfection doesn’t exist. A reminder we saw Saturday night in Ottawa.

But the result, and the quality of play on display, has restored the “Glorious” to respectability.