Recrutes

Recrutes: Hockey scouting from a professional perspective from Grant McCagg and Habs coverage from a 33 year veteran covering the NHL from Brian Wilde.

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McLean’s Pub Call Of The Wilde: Control Alt Delete

February 5, 2018

By Brian Wilde

 

From 103 points and a division championship to an expected 77 points and a top five draft pick. What went wrong and how did it fall apart so quickly?

It’s a question with a lot of fingers pointed in many directions. There have been so many things that went wrong that it is difficult to know where to start to assess this meltdown.

There are two types of difficulties in hockey. The things you can control and the things that you can not control.

In the category of can not control, the Habs have had their difficulties. Shea Weber injured on night one of the season you can not control. Carey Price goaltending uncharacteristicly poorly to start the season you can not control. Alex Radulov and Andrei Markov exercising their freewill you can not control. Though many like to argue that Radulov and Markov left because they had their feelings hurt, they left because they wanted to make millions of more dollars. Uncontrollable.

You can’t put blame on an organization for the things that one can not control. In the immortal words of everyone who ever walked the earth “shit happens”.

Where you can place blame is mistakes made on the things that you can control. The things that are choices as an organization that you make with the intelligence that you think you have.

In the immortal words of Marc Bergevin, those mistakes are ‘on you’. The mistakes are also on the staff that you hired for the evaluations that they have made.

The many evaluations that you can control are a large part of why the Habs have fallen off a cliff so quickly.

In the pre-season, it was apparent that the evaluations of pro talent by the organization were going badly again and again.

The last nine months is a horrible laundry list of pro scouting errors that has to stop soon or the problems for the Habs will get worse and the club won’t recover quickly as is possible. This is just a partial list of recent poor evaluation by the Habs pro scouts and top managerial men….

– Dwight King was slower than an iceberg and it was apparent on the very first shift in Montreal that he had nothing to give.

– Steve Ott was excellent in the room last season but his career was on its last legs. When the Habs were division champions, the Habs veteran players at the trade deadline were crying for a real boost, an aggressive push, but they got players skating into the sunset.

– This season, they brought in Mark Streit who was the 11th defenceman in Pittsburgh’s cup run. He couldn’t even get on the ice for the Pens. Yet in Montreal he was believed to have potential to be on the power play this season.

– Karl Alzner got walked often in the playoffs last year. He was on the verge of being a healthy scratch in Washington. In the first year of a painful five year deal, Alzner is already looking like a future buy-out candidate.

– David Schlemko was an average defender his entire career. The organization felt he could play with Weber as a 1-2. Turns out that he is what he has always been – a 5-6. That is some seriously bad evaluation.

– Jordie Benn it was also thought could be a partner for Weber. He had a strong start for the Habs last season but in a limited role. If you put him on for top pair minutes against top opponents, immediately you see the limitations that made him a third pair D his whole career.

Talking to scouts who evaluated these Habs moves in the last nine months, the consensus is that too many players are in roles not suitable for them. One scout said “You have Weber and five guys who are 5-sixes. Everyone’s forced to play minutes they can’t, and in situations they can’t”.

All of this evaluation they could control exchanging ideas around that cherry wood table. All this bad didn’t just happen to them. They made it happen. These were their decisions. This was their own freewill.

They had the fourth ranked defence in the NHL and they turned it over. Emelin and Beaulieu surely made many mistakes and Pateryn didn’t set the world on fire, but somehow with Markov, it was the fourth best defence in the NHL. Not 24th.

Is it Martin Lapointe, or Scott Mellanby advising on these pro scouting decisions? They are the new ones recently hired as talent evaluators. Is Martin Lapointe saying Schlemko is a first pair D? Is Scott Mellanby saying he loves Karl Alzner? Is it Larry Carriere? He’s been around a long time. Is it Rick Dudley? He’s also been in the game for ages and in a position of high respect.

No one is going to know who exactly is making these recommendations but whoever is closely scouting these players and recommending them is completely missing the mark. None of these players can do what the organization thought they could.

Ultimately it isn’t on any of these men mentioned above, because these men have a boss. So this is on Marc Bergevin for hiring them and on him for not firing them.

Someone in the pro evaluation department, excuse my language, sucks. Find an alternative.

There are things you can control and things you cannot. In the cannot department, it’s not right to point fingers. You can’t blame Bergevin for Weber’s foot, Price’s pads, or Radulov’s freewill. However, in the ‘can control’ department, it’s a complete mess of missed evaluation. Delete these men.

The only player who has joined the team in the last nine months with strong foot speed is Victor Mete and that was Trevor Timmins’ call. Maybe the Habs shouldn’t sign or trade for anyone going forward unless Timmins evaluates them first.

Paraphrasing the movie The Sixth Sense, if Timmins isn’t involved in the decision …. I see slow people.

It’s on Bergevin to correct what he can control. He needs to correct this horrendous pro player evaluation.

Owner Geoff Molson likely will give his GM one chance to rebuild this. We will know by July 5, 2018 if Bergevin has it in him to turn this around.

Bergevin has to overhaul the defence: Schlemko, Alzner, Benn all have to go.

He needs to trade out veterans. Tomas Plekanec needs to go. The team already has a 3C. It’s Phillip Danault. Teams with two 3Cs miss the playoffs. Teams with two 1Cs win cups. More of the same isn’t needed. More talent is needed.

Max Pacioretty has to go. Bergevin already lost Radulov and Markov to their freewill. Shall he let Pacioretty who is worth a 1C prospect and a first round draft choice walk away for nothing too? He’s worth most in a trade right now which is good timing because he’s worth nothing to Montreal considering the playoffs are lost. In fact, he’s helping the Habs win which is even worse for their draft position.

If Bergevin can’t make these changes to turn the Habs around before next season, then he’s not the man for the job. Simple.

Geoff Molson, please stand by to hit Control-Alt-Delete.

About Brian Wilde

Brian Wilde has worked in hockey since he was 20. He was the rink side host for the Edmonton Oilers at CTV and Ottawa Senators for Sportsnet. He was also lead reporter on the Montreal Canadiens for 17 years at CTV Montreal.

View all posts by Brian Wilde

Reader Interactions

  • Biggest mistake is s Radulov Brian. Had to do what was needed to keep him.. That’s MB’s job. Thinking that Drouin would fill that offensive void (while learning a new position by the way) Is in it self a fireable offence.

    • agreed, not a Habs negative guy like so many these days, but you land a top free agent, he does well and give you some offence, plus says he wants to stay — you HAVE top sign him….

  • Great piece. Let’s hope Molson and Bergy are listening. I Agreed with everything in here EXCEPT Markov. You can and should point the finger at Bergevin. Why? Because, while Markov was not willing to accept a one year deal at $5million, he was willing to accept a one year deal at $6 million. Markov was ready to sign for that, and Bergevin has admitted as much. Bergevin decided the price tag wasn’t worth it, and he was wrong. And by the way, Bergevin, in his cagey way, admitted this too: he admitted he underestimated Markov’s value to the offense.

    So you see Brian, you can say Markov exercised his free will to reject the $5mill offer. But Bergevin exercised poor judgement in not giving Markov the deal he would have accepted.

    • Any GM would take Drouin at 23 yrs old vs Radulov at 31 for the next 5 years. That’s a basic business model mind. Doesn’t take a genius to figure that one out.

      • I see your point but we could’ve had both. Not signing Radulov was the biggest blow over the summer. His heart, passion and enthusiasm was infectious to the rest of the team and is missed big time.

  • Pretty sure it was Forrest Gump who coined “Shit Happens”! Lol

    Great stuff Brian. I think most of us agree with you. If only we could get this message into the appropriate hands inside the Bell Centre!

  • I tend to look at the “human factor” more.markov wanted to remain a hab,so much so he thought hey why even pay an agent his commision,resigning is an open and shut deal after all these years.bergevin saw no agent as a way to low ball markov.it all back fired horribly. I blame bergy there 110%.
    Radulov,ya i think he had no intention what so ever in wanted to resign in mtl.i mean if he did do you start saying 6 yr contract? Rad wanted to use the habs as a way back in the nhl,then spring board out of here,he did just that.
    After markov left bergy paniced,oh shit the fans will string me up,i better get some kind of big name and fast. He did alzner.and then a lineup of backup singers in schlemko,striet. Epic failure,ssn failure.as a result of stupid brain fart bad D carey gets lit up.
    For me bergy is in year 6 of a 5 yr rebuild and again we,re NOT making the playoffs,losing mr,molson $$millions in playoff revenue.the fish stinks from the head down,cut of the head,bergys gotta go,fire every coach except waite.
    Listen i know this idea goes against the grain,because he,s beloved,but rebuilding around a 30 yrold injury prone goalie with an 8 yr 80 million $$$ contract is thee biggest dumb signing. Ok yes price techniclly is thee best,the way he moves,but whats he really accomplished in ten yrs here? Never even been to a cup final. When he came in he had the eye of the tiger,laser focus,had something to prove.won olympic gold ok,vezina whatever. I say now at 31 has lost it,hes got it all,kids,wife,millions apon millions,public kissin his azz how great he is.with the new family his prioritys have changed. Pk got traded just before his new deal kicked in july 1. Trade 31 for a 1c and a top pick,top prospect,trade patch for a 2c. Trade plek for a 2 nd rounder, buyout alzner,waive benn,schlemko.play sherback next ssn.maccarron is the new tinordi, bye.
    Draft a 1d in june.

  • Good article bry. Even mark barberio would have been a better decision than alzner. Benn. Schlemko

  • Enjoyable read RE: controllable/uncontrollable factors.

    I’m of the belief that while you can’t control the will of free agents, you can decide to take action in an effort to tilt conditions your way. From what I’ve read the Habs probably could’ve had Markov back this season had they decided to offer more $.

    The Radulov situation seemed a bit trickier though as it sounds like the Habs and Dallas had identical contract offers. Did Radulov use the Habs offer to leverage a matching offer from Dallas (keeping in mind the adventageous tax incentives)? Did the Habs lowball Radulov throughout negotiations and when they found out Dallas’ offer they tried to match and it was too late?

    I don’t know if the definitive answer in terms of how the negotiations played out is out there and I don’t think the Habs could’ve afforded both Markov/Radu but I think they have to occasionally consider overpaying free agents if they truly want them back in an effort to make it harder for them to leave.

  • Here’s a question I have about Pacioretty—if Bergevin can’t move him at the deadline or at the draft, should he commence contract extension negotiations post-haste and thereby eliminate any worries of him leaving at UFA time? Say they give it a real effort in the summer, make it happen by July 15th. Good to go on a long term basis with your captain and leading scorer. But if it doesn’t happen by that time, pursue the trade option and make it happen before the season starts so that we don’t have a distraction all through the 2018-19 campaign.

  • I don’t think MB can get it done, I just don’t trust him to make the right trades with Plecky and Max.

  • 1st off I love the fact that u excuse ur language at “sucks” but not at shit…
    2nd and tell me if I’m wrong but I believe it was a calculated move by bergy, play a mediocre team that would be in the hunt for the playoffs all season and at the deadline with technically being able to take on players with a 16M cap hit, that’s a 1c 1d and maybe a good 2c, but unfourtunatly injuries were a bit to much

    • I think he did plan that, but it didn’t work out. He didn’t make it to the place that he could load up. I don’t think he should play the UFA market anymore, or any GM in Montreal. It’s a losing battle. Check out Sunday’s Call Of the Wilde. Cheers

      • He planned to have a mediocre team that would make the playoffs? With that defence? I think you’re crediting him too much, Brian. Bergevin has never shown that he has a real plan for the team. He’s reactive, so all the 5-6-7 defensemen that showed up were panic moves after Markov thew Bergevin’s plans in disarray. He gambled, he lost. He never had a plan.

        In naming all the organizational ‘support’ Bergevin has, you neglected to mention Sylvain Lefebvre. You know, the guy who offered himself around the league, was rather pointedly ignored, and then was re-hired by Marc Bergevin. Makes you wonder if Mr. Bergevin’s masochistic qualities hadn’t yet been satisfied. Lefebvre can’t win and can’t develop players. But Bergevin is willing to pay him good money to continue his level of incompetence. Is there any wonder why we question Bergevin’s judgement? He’s not suddenly going to get smarter and wiser. It looks too much like Dunning-Kruger syndrome.

  • Bergevin isn’t going to throw these new dmen under the bus before the season even started. They were to be stopgaps when Markov left and no suitable replacements were available.

    Bergevin also tried to add offense but the price was too high. Imagine had he given up his 1st for a rental or even did the much rumored Galchenyuk, Sergachev, plus 1st trade. Habs would have been in serious trouble. You can’t judge by what the GM says. He isn’t going to tell you what he really thinks. He knows the players and other teams are listening.

    Maybe I’m overly optimistic or blindly faithful, but I still trust the process and believe in Marc Bergevin. But they absolutely must get better down the middle if they’re going to progress passed just being a good regular season team.

  • Nice look at the epic slide of the HABS this year. However, I see a little more focus at the top of the organization -> Molson & Bergevin.
    Molson hired a rookie GM in Bergevin but without a mentor to assist him ie. a hockey qualified NHL executive this was bound to fail sooner or later. Molson who states he’s a fan of the game so I guess he figured that qualified him to be the Team’s President. That’s a very large ego on his shoulders. By basically allowing Bergy free will with hockey operations there was no one looking over his shoulders. Instead of filling the organization with experienced and open minded hockey coaches and assistants and hockey executives he called in all his friends to “work” for him. I had thought at least the hiring of Rick Dudley was a smart move as his Asst GM. He was supposed to be in charge of player acquisitions at the NHL level. Gerard Gallant was a good hire but for the wrong position. He should have been the Team’s Head Coach not an assistant. Hiring Therrien was a terrible mistake because he hired his cronies to be his support team. Let’s see Larry Robinson wanted to return to MTL as the Defensive Coach. But Therrien was intimidated by him and let Bergy know that. Hence we get JJ who wasn’t qualified to be the stick boy. It’s these type of decisions over and over again in the hiring of the wrong people. As well I believe Bergy doesn’t listen to any of his support team. I have only read a few things about Dudley in his time here. Two years ago he went to “scout” Drouin when he was in the AHL. Prior to that when Bergy promoted him to a Senior Executive position. This was done to keep the Sabres from talking to him about their GM position. Timmons is another who was promoted upwards. I think what Bergevin has done is created a group of “Yes Men” with his subordinates. I think Bergy gets information given to him with recommendations but he then decides the course of action even if it disagrees with the recommendation. Look no further than the Stats guy who was totally against the Subban and Weber trade. Bergy did not renew this man’s contract shortly thereafter. You look at our 6 drafts and the 50 some trades Bergy has made. Only 2 trades brought us a Top 6 player(Vanek & Drouin). Bergy doesn’t have the ability to make the right trades. He drafts poorly. He puts the Team’s interests secondary to his friends and his contacts with the French Press and RDS etc. The Drouin trade was based on a lie. He was more interested in acquiring a FRENCH player then getting the Right player. Drouin has been a failure at centre but Bergy’s ego won’t admit this and put him where he belongs. The fact that he Will Not let Gally27 play centre under any circumstances. He’s put forth the idea that he’s not very good defensively. I guess he never watches Drouin play inside our blueline. I guess he didn’t notice for 4 1/2 yrs what DD looked like defensively. But somehow they got around that for him but won’t for Gally27. They failed him Year 1 when they should have returned him to junior with an action and development plan. But Bergy wanted to brag that the 1st junior he drafted made the team in his first camp. But instead they put him at LW on the 3rd line. If Bergy is allowed to continue his GM role then in a few more years for sure Gally27 will leave this org on his own. That can’t happen!
    We need a new Team President – not named Bergevin to clear out Bergy and all of his cronies including Therrien out of the organization. Otherwise this team will continue its decent and stay as a doormat.

  • Excellent pièce. I do believe Markov would have resigned if treated fairly. That’s on MB.
    BTW, Subban and Radulov are the top point getters on their team. 🙂

  • Great articles Brian but I have to respectfully disagree with you on Radulov. Bergevin waited far too long with him. He should have had him locked down before the season ended. I honestly believe he would have accepted a decent offer by the Habs in March. He waited and lost. It’s on him and it was entirely controllable.

  • When MB was hired he used his connections to bring in a cast of loyal employees to help build the team. The mutual respect between MB and his crew was an asset at the time. MB has continually shown his loyalty for his staff even though some have not met expectations. Examples of team fails where MB has stayed loyal that come to mind are the “foxhole”, Farm team struggles, player development and pro scouting.

    It seems to me the MB believes a lot in loyalty. He seemed to be expecting Markov and Radulov to be loyal and was burned. Even though he states “if you want loyalty, get a dog” I believe he attempted to build this team on loyalty. His stubbornness in staying loyal is ultimately his down fall. Today’s NHL is a business and MB needs to make hard decisions if there are weaknesses in the organization.

    Great article Brian! Thanks