The Canadiens have exhausted all of their lustre in the market

Picture it. The year is 2037. It's opening night at the Bell Centre for the Montreal Canadiens. Always the franchise of pomp and circumstance, the Habs trot out legends from the past. Only, these are legends only in name.

Long gone are the days of Guy Lafleur and Larry Robinson dropping the puck at centre ice. Ditto for Serge Savard and Yvan Cournoyer. Unfortunately, at this point, the legends consist of an aging Vincent Damphousse and a still spry Patrice Brisebois, a couple of the holdovers from the last time the club won the cup in 1993. 

While it's hard to imagine the franchise not winning another championship over the next 21 years, it's a very real possibility. 

There is only so much mileage you can get out of past history and former glory. At a certain point, a sports team must continue to succeed or risk being considered just another also-ran. Who knows, by the time we hit 2037, maybe the Blue Jackets or Coyotes will have more recent cup wins than the Canadiens. Dare I say possibly even the Maple Leafs? 

You might ask what the danger of not winning is to the Canadiens, citing television revenues, ticket sales and a fan base across the world as key indicators that they have staying power as a top tier franchise. 

The rebuttal is actually quite simple. The Canadiens are not impervious to viable competition and apathy. 

It's true. There are threats to the Montreal Canadiens on the horizon - and they're not just Steven Stamkos or Alexander Ovechkin. 

While it may not be today or tomorrow, or even next year, the Montreal Canadiens will have to fight hard to fend off challengers to their fan base.

Quebec City is desperate for an NHL team. They might not ever get one again. But, what if the league and other owners aren't just using the provincial capital as leverage with weak U.S. hockey markets? What if les Nordiques ACTUALLY come back - and soon?

How do you think that will impact the Canadiens? Don't underestimate this potential threat to Habs Empire, as Annakin Slayd likes to say.  

Think about it. An upstart new team with new uniforms. An underdog story trying to erase past failings and take on the big bad Canadiens? You don't think this fledgling franchise will attract its overwhelming share of curious, nostalgic and even disgruntled fans? We know what Geoff Molson says publicly about an NHL return to Quebec City. But how do you think he really feels? 

Next, while it may never happen, the Expos could return in the future. And then what? If the team is back, it means that they will have secured a viable downtown stadium. With the baseball goodwill absolutely seeping out of Montreal's seams over the last couple of years, there's bound to be an incredible amount of support for a new team here. 

So, where does that leave the Canadiens? It leaves them with a return to the early 80's, when both the Expos and Nordiques were hot, and the Habs weren't, as evidenced by their attendance figures during that period at the Montreal Forum. 

While it used to be wonderful to relive the exploits of the Canadiens from 50 years ago, without new exploits to be equally as proud of, those older accomplishments have simply become a crutch. And that's where we are today. 

The Montreal Canadiens are a classy organization that honours their past winning ways in impressive fashion. Yet they don't seem to have the fire and hunger and steely determination both on or off the ice to ensure that they don't slip further into NHL mediocrity. 

Marc Bergevin began his tenure as GM of the Canadiens will the benefit of the doubt and a ton of goodwill. That has evolved into fans and the media looking at him as though he is the stubborn captain who's willing to go down with the ship that he built. 

At a certain point, you have to take a hard look at a roster and compare it to those that are perennial contenders, and ask yourself what you're missing. The Blackhawks and the Kings come to mind as franchises that get it. Seeing as the Canadiens do not resemble those organizations in any way, other than having poached a few of their personnel over the years, you would think that they would be more open and proactive about changing the makeup of their team. 

Championship teams have championship performers. Is Plekanec that guy? Is Desharnais that guy? Is Markov that guy at this stage in his career? 

If it's title or bust, the Canadiens haven't just busted, they've declared Chapter 11. 

So a message to the Montreal Canadiens organization:

Don't take this fan base and market for granted. There may come a day when your usual pomp and circumstance is on display in front of a less than full and receptive crowd. Don't let it get to that point. Show Habs faithful that there's a plan and vision and ability to execute it - both on and off the ice. 

The alternative? Having to treat Benoit Brunet and his 1993 Stanley Cup Championship with the same marketability as Dickie Moore.

Matthew Ross is a TSN 690 Radio Host. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewWords

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Matthew Ross on Can Am Baseball in MTL

The Future Of Montreal Baseball Is Not Via The 401

Based on a post on the Montreal Expos Facebook Page, there is a plan to have a couple of buses with Expos fans to travel to T.O. to watch a Jays game. I made a baseball vow to myself ever since the last out in Montreal Expos' history. A vow to NEVER support the Toronto Blue Jays in any fashion, even not watching a game on television. (By the way, someone needs to tell Buck Martinez to cut his hair). If you scroll through the comments, you will see my opposition to such an idea.

My guess is that the idea is based upon Quebec Nordiques fans attending New York Islanders' games this past season to demonstrate their interest in having NHL back in Quebec. The same model can't be applied to getting back Major League Baseball (MLB) in Montreal. Primarily, there are not any MLB franchises looking to move nor is the league considering to expand in the near future.

If the objective of the plan is to show that Montreal Expos fans still care about MLB and baseball in general, it should not start with putting money into or supporting an organization that wanted to contract the Expos. It should start here chez-nous in Montreal with the following.

1 - Talking baseball. Tune into TSN 990 Montreal where there are a series of hosts waiting to talk baseball, not hockey, but baseball.
2 - Support local ball. If you are a pure fan of baseball, it is time to get out (en masse) and attend junior and university baseball. When was the last time you took in a LaSalle Cardinals game or attend a free McGill Redmen / Concordia Stingers match-up?

And don't forget putting your support behind the Montreal Baseball Project. I cannot wait until the fan fair, baseball clinic and gala on June 16, 2012.

Related Post(s):

• Montreal baseball news is bittersweet
  

Final Taughts

• Welcome to the NHL Shea Weber. I see that the National Headshot League is growing in a very innovative fashion thanks to Shea Weber going Junk Yard Dog on Henrik Zetterberg not once but twice. Well done!
• Price should be not a Preds nor a Pekka fan. If I am Carey Price, I do not want to see the Nashville Predators and Pekka Rinne win one more game. If the new general manager of the Habs using Rinne as a benchmark for negotiating Price's contract, there is no way I'm offing 31 Rinne type of money, especially if the Preds win the Stanley Cup.
  

Follow me @sportstaughts

Geoff Molson: First An Owner Then A Fan

It is every sports fan dream to be a player, coach or a general manager for their favourite professional sports team. If you are fortunate enough, the ultimate scenario is to be the owner of the team. A perfect example is Mark Cuban, owner of the defending NBA champions, Dallas Mavericks. The sheer joy that he had this past June made up for the years of anguish and thousands of dollars in fines due to his strong attachment to the team as a fan.

Fast-forward to the present and the situation that Geoff Molson finds himself in and the key decisions he has to make in the next few weeks and months to come. (First, as an owner and then a fan).

Do you give up on the 2011-12 season?

As an owner - Of course not. As long as the team is mathematically in contention for the playoffs, you support your organization until it is impossible. Why? Possible playoff revenue thanks to a minimum two home playoffs dates plus the cash from all the Habs gear that usually flies off the shelves in April.

As a fan - For the good of the team going forward, you fold up the tent and try to position the team for a decent draft pick and shed some contracts at the trade deadline. Yes, you want to hold out hope and believe the team is still in the hunt but it will take an implosion of 2 to 3 teams for the Habs to make the playoffs.

What do you do with general manager, Pierre Gauthier?

As an owner - Gauthier's management of the team is poor at best. His role in the signing of Scott Gomez has fans pissed off not to mention his panic prompted trade for Tomas Kaberle to make up for Andrei Markov. The recent Cammalleri - Bourque trade has indicated that there is still trust in Gauthier's abilities to improve the 12th-placed team (as of January 14th, 2011). With this in mind, you have to keep Gauthier in place until: a) you have THE person to take over as general manager that will revamp the entire organization or b) Gauthier's contract expires. Do you want to pay for two GMs at the same time? You are already paying for two head coaches in Cunneyworth and Martin. Yes, you are cash rich; however, when does the necessary expenditures stop? Fellow owner, Eugene Melnyk gave the GM of the Ottawa Senators, Bryan Murray a second chance to rebuild and look at where the team is in standing to date.

As a fan - Gauthier's track record does not bode well for the future of the club. Even with Cammalleri's contract off the books, there is still Gomez to dump, possibly dealing P.K. Subban (if he is a distraction in the dressing room) and signing the franchise, Carey Price. Do you let the GM clean up the mess or wish for someone else to rebuild the team? Pierre McGuire?

Blog posts, tweets and phone calls are demanding for Geoff Molson to act now to change the fortunes of the club. Although he maybe the ultimate fan that bleeds bleu, blanc et rouge, he is an owner first and will make the right business decision that will impact the bottom line.

Final Taughts

• Jacques Martin as a scout? If you were not a big fan of Martin as coach of the Canadiens then you might not be too pleased at the thought of him as a scout. If Martin is not able to change his mindset of how hockey should be played in the "New NHL", he will probably be evaluating young talent based on how the players could fit into his "system" and not the future identity of the hockey club. Moving Martin from head coach to scout is like firing cook of a greasy spoon diner. Although you want to change the diner's menu, you still have the same cook doing the shopping for the ingredients with the same menu in mind.
  
• The Blue Jays were here? Really, who cares? Speaking as jaded Expos fan, I wasn't thrilled at the news that Jays were in town to win the hearts of remaining baseball fans. Well, I guess it was a question of time before the geniuses in the Jays marketing department pounced at the opportunity. They could offer me season tickets and a jet to travel back and forth, I will NEVER be a Jays fan. After the organization voted to contract the Expos, I could not support the team in any fashion. When (and not if) the Jays has a pre-season series versus the Red Sox, I will hoping that nobody shows up to the game even if Denis Boucher comes back and starts on the mount.

Related Posts:

• Cammalleri Habs trade tells us one thing - Pierre Gauthier will probably stay
• Fail for Nail: the next step for the Montreal Canadiens

Follow me on Twitter - @sportstaughts

What's The Point NHL?

"You play to win the game." - Herman Edwards, Former Head Coach, Kansas City Chiefs

Not enough NHL board of directors, GMs, players and coaches have come around to facing this reality in professional sports. It is only in the months of March and April that these stakeholders (including fans) realize that the present points system for wins and loses is completely outdated and flawed. Teams jockeying to qualify for the playoffs seem to play for crucial points by just getting a point in regulation and just skating off to put it the bank regardless if they win.

Fans are always anxious to put forth their own recommendations for a system would be fair and equitable, at least to their favourite team.

Here is my suggestion: toss the points system and just go with: Wins, Loses, Games Behind and Winning Percentage, regardless of when the game is won. If a team loses in overtime or in a shoot-out, they are awarded “Nothing”. Under this system, we will not be subjected to the dopey line that is given by some players in post-game interviews, "Well, at least we got a point." Sounds like a high school punk getting a 60% on an exam, going home and telling his/her parents, "Well, at least I passed".

Isn't the benchmark in professional sports about the number of wins that a team or an athlete racks up at the end of the season?

Of the four major professional sports leagues in North America, (sorry MLS fans), the NHL is the only league that uses a points system to qualify teams for its post season. I can just hear NHL fans saying, "Ian, you're nuts. You can't change the system; it has been a part of the NHL for decades”. Well, so did the red-line and tell me where it is now? With the adoption of the new conference re-alignment format, my suggestion could have been implemented; however, the league will never consider it in a million years. Here’s my theory and it may seem obvious to some, but it is worth highlighting.

It is question of economics folks. The NHL is and will be always be a gate-driven revenue league and depends on "fans" to fill the arenas for 41 dates. The current points system provides fans a false sense of hope thinking that their teams situated at the bottom of the conference standing are still in the playoff hunt. As a result, fans will continue to buy tickets on the premise that there is still "hope".

If the NHL is confident in fan sport support in all of their 30 markets, the board of directors would get rid of the silly points system and stop promoting a mediocre product between the months of October and mid-April. The product on the ice is much better in the playoffs when winning and losing matters and competing for points is an afterthought.

Final Taughts

What could have been with Loria? - Has anyone noticed how much money the Miami Marlins have been spending on free agents? I can't stop thinking about what could have been with Jeffrey Loria still owning the Expos. Say what you will about his hand in the demise of the ball club, he was able to get a new 37 000 seat stadium in Miami and spend cash on players. The Marlins franchise was in the same situation as the Expos (minus the two World Series championships): 1) Attendance issues, 2) Playing in an awful stadium for baseball and 3) Fire sales of impact players.

Decades of mismanagement of the Habs. You would think that selling out 41 dates and winning 24 Stanley Cups would be worth something? Apparently not that much for the Canadiens. The recent acquisition of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment by Rogers and BCE prompted me to look up the valuation of the Toronto Maple Leafs. According to Forbes, the Leafs are valued at $521 million versus $445 million for the Habs. If the Habs are constantly being compared to the Yankees, then Habs executives have a long way to go in terms of maximizing the value of their asset on the ice. No doubt this has to be something on Geoff Molson's "To Do" list after decades of mismanagement of the Habs.

A Test Of Impact For The Montreal Sports Fanatic

Two of the contributing factors that led to the demise of the Montreal Expos were” 1) the lack of attendance and 2) the general malaise on the part of some sports fans in Montreal. Of course, people showed up for opening day in April to pack the stadium; however, nights saw approximately 8000 hardcore fans in attendance. The other 17 000 sports fans had better things to do in April, May and June. No doubt, these fans were too busy focusing on the Montreal Canadiens and their playoff push.

Why am I rehashing this issue? Earlier this week, I was surprised to learn that the Montreal Impact will open its inaugural season in Major League Soccer at the Olympic Stadium on March 17th, 2012. March? Really? I always thought that soccer was a summer sport; but I digress.

With the way that the current edition of the Habs are playing, will sports fans be too busy hand wringing in worry to be interested in the new soccer club in the spring? In the event that the hockey team makes the playoffs, what can the Impact do to compete to gain the attention of sports fanatics in the spring not to mention the rest of the soccer season?

In an interview with the Sporting News, Joey Saputo, President of the Montreal Impact, stated that the organization wants to market games as “big events”. Call me cynical (and please do), I highly doubt that a Montreal Impact vs Chivas USA match-up in the first week of October can be sold as a “big event”, especially if the home team struggles in the standings. One may argue that once the team begins to win consistently and maybe win a championship, fans will pack the stadium. I do not know if that scenario holds water anymore regarding the Montreal sports market. Look what happened to the Alouettes this past season at the box office. After winning two consecutive Grey Cups and putting a competitive team on the field for the last ten years, the organization found it difficult to sell out a 25 000 seat stadium for only 9 home dates. One pathetic reason that was given for the lack of attendance was the road construction around the stadium.

The expanded Saputo Stadium will have a seating capacity of 20 000. Assuming that the Impact has a season ticket base of 13 000 (comprising of their existing fan base from their days in the NASL), 7 000 tickets has to be sold to sports fanatics. Will these fanatics have “uncritical enthusiasm or zeal” to buy tickets weeks / days before the “big event” or in typical Montreal fashion, wait until the last minute to walk up to the ticket wicket?

Final Taughts:

• Palko est pourri. From some bizarre reason, I’ve been enamoured with Kansas City Chiefs QB, Tyler Palko. (Maybe it is because of the name, say it with me, “P-A-L-K-O”). I had the occasion to watch two Chiefs games in past weeks and the quarterback is awful. I wonder if hardcore Chief fans know that Palko is a CFL reject that did not have a sniff of league play but yet he is a starter for their own NFL franchise.

• The NBA is back and it sucks to be the NHL. Christmas Day would not be Christmas Day without NBA games. The league will return on the 25th with a triple header to kick off a 66-game schedule. NBA fans’ gain, NHL loss. NHL apologists thought that hockey would have replaced the hole left by the NBA in the new year in terms of vying for the attention of sports fans in the United States. Wrong. If television ratings are indicators, the hockey league has not been able to pull in new fans. Nice try National Headshot League!!!

Follow Ian on Twitter @sportstaughts