Montreal Canadiens owner says major changes are coming

The Montreal Canadiens are one of the most successful and prestigious franchises in all of sport. The historic team is well known for its commitment to excellence, something that many Canadiens fans believe has been lost after a truly disappointing 2017-18 season. It appears Montreal’s management has also taken notice of the team’s recent shortcomings.

Geoff Molson, the Canadiens’ co-owner and Chief Executive Officer, promised major changes in a letter to the club’s season ticket holders.

One of the most noteworthy statements in Molson’s letter is the fact that he apparently still believes GM Marc Bergevin is the best man for the job. Bergevin has faced plenty of criticism from the media, but it appears he will be given another opportunity to fix the issues that have sunk this team to the bottom of the league standings.

Among many issues on the ice, one of the things that will need to be addressed is the Canadiens’ offense. The Habs dropped from 15th in goals for in 2016-17 to 29th a season later, and this came after adding Jonathan Drouin to the lineup in a trade with Tampa Bay. Montreal is believed to have heavy interest in free agent Jonathan Tavares, who is the big fish in this summer’s class of free agents.

Another portion of the letter that I found very interesting is the mention of changes to the fan experience. The Bell Centre has long been considered one of the best venues in the league, but maybe it’s time for a team that’s been wrapped in tradition as long as Montreal to change things up a bit. It’s been 25 years since the Canadiens last won a Stanley Cup, so it could be time to start new traditions to help spawn a new winning culture. Nothing too drastic, but the changes that the Maple Leafs have made — from playing ‘Right Back Where We Started From’ after a victory to bringing in a new anthem singer — are good examples of subtle changes to a team’s fan experience.

But what’s most important for Canadiens fans is the fact that Molson and Bergevin appear to be willing to hold the entire organization accountable. From the players on the ice to the concession staff selling beer and soda, every facet of the organization appears to be part of the overhaul. And while I wouldn’t worry too much about the fan experience, the commitment to icing a respectable team should be music to every Canadiens fans’ ears.

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