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In other words, he sincerely believes that the Habs can surprise just as the Blackhawks did back in the day, going from rebuilding team to Stanley Cup champion. Of course, this comparison is not without reaction. We’re talking about a team that struggled to make the playoffs last year and is still counting on a number of young development players. But according to Grant McCagg, the ingredients are starting to look a lot like the Hawks of Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith before they exploded. Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki in the roles of young offensive stars. Lane Hutson developing into an elite NHL defenseman. Jakub Dobes as a modern vision of a goalie who surprises everyone at the right time. That’s the kind of parallel the former scout seems to want to draw. And Grant McCagg isn’t the first to notice the change in tone around the organization. Over the past year, there has been less talk of “rebuilding” and more of “progression”. The young core is settling in, with players like Ivan Demidov and Noah Dobson being added, and Mike Matheson and Brendan Gallagher serving as mentors and stabilizers. But to say that the Habs are Stanley Cup contenders takes a healthy dose of optimism (or faith in Kent Hughes). The Habs’ former scout, on the other hand, is a firm believer. And he makes it clear that this isn’t a marketing stunt: he’s not looking for clicks, but expressing a real conviction. Still, his statement raises an interesting debate: at what point does a young team cease to be a rebuilding team and become a real threat? If the Canadiens keep up their good form and the young players continue to develop, perhaps the idea will seem less far-fetched than it does today. – David Pagnotta sees Mike Matheson sign a three-year contract worth between $6.25 and $7 million a year.
