Quoting: ReadyToGetFlamed
Look at the turnover from the coaching situation, it's ridiculous. Like how is that even something you are debating this with how we saw how badly the Vancouver management screwed over Bruce. As well as completely mismanaging the Horvat situation. Even just the vibes of the team/enjoyment of playing for the team are way in Montreal's favour, on one hand you have a team that has JT Miller who is one of the most outwardly toxic players in the game, with the only person that was keeping him in check being traded away. On the other you have a team of young guys being coached by a legend of the game as a coach who has been loved by the players. It is true that he doesn't speak french, but you know who also doesn't speak french? Caufield, and it is unanimous love that he gets from the fanbase. In terms of your players, you have Hughes and Miller, that is your entire team that isn't Pettersson (Andrei Kuzmenko's regression from a 27.4% shooting% will be interesting to watch, it's like the Norris situation on steroids) and there is almost no one coming up the pipeline, as Vancouver has a unanimously garbage prospect pool.
The Bruce situation was bad I’ll give you that, but apart from that the new management has been pretty good. Maybe they should have moved Miller instead of giving him his extension, but they didn’t want to do a full rebuild so I understand keeping him
Management did not mishandle the Horvat situation. He was asking for too much money and they got a great return for him rather than giving him the terrible contract the Islanders gave him. And many of Miller’s past and present teammates and coaches have talked about how he’s a great teammate/person and how he’s a great leader (something that nobody ever did with Horvat). Miller isn’t toxic at all. Yes he can rub people the wrong way sometimes, but he’s a great leader and teammate
The Canucks coaching staff also features legends of the game with the Sedins and Gonchar, and Adam Foote is on the staff as well
Miller and Hughes are better than any player currently on Montreal. Kuzmenko, Boeser, Garland, Hronek are better than everyone apart from Suzuki and Caufield. Mikheyev, Beauvillier, and Cole are better than everyone on the Habs part from Suzuki, Caufield, Dach, and Matheson. Demko is way better than Montembeault/Allen. The Habs have Josh Anderson and Sean Monahan in their top 6, and David Savard on their top pair, yet you think they have a better roster than the Canucks?