Jeff Gorton brings legacy of success to Habs

MONTREAL -- From Stanley Cup Final to a very difficult start to the season, there's no denying the Canadiens have experienced quite a juxtaposition in results over the last calendar year.

But that's the reality of professional sports.
You'll find peaks and valleys at the heart of every sports team's history.
The key is finding someone that can navigate the uncertain terrain, regardless of the situation.
If history is any indication, the Canadiens have done just that by hiring longtime hockey guru Jeff Gorton as their Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations.
"I strongly believe that this organization needs a fresh start," explained Canadiens Owner, President and CEO Geoff Molson. "At this stage, a fresh start is not so much at the team level, but rather at the management level."
Regardless of which direction Gorton and the soon-to-be-hired General Manager decide to take the organization, Gorton has the type of invaluable experience that will help guide the team towards the next peak.
Of course, it's important to note that most decisions, whether in regards to the Draft or trades, are made by a group of dedicated professionals.
We simply can't give credit to one person, but we can definitely note Gorton's history of high-level, intelligent decision-making, as well as his foresight.
As the Director of Scouting for the Boston Bruins, Gorton nabbed several high-end NHLers, including future Hall-of-Famer Joe Thornton. You could argue drafting a player of Thornton's ilk first overall is the hockey equivalent of a slam dunk, though it is comforting to know Gorton has a history of making the right call when a crucial Draft decision arises.

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In addition to Thornton, Gorton also selected future fan-favorite P.J. Axelsson in the 7th round, not to mention a trio of very useful NHL players in their respective first rounds (Sergei Samsonov, Nick Boynton, and Kyle McLaren).
But Gorton's most impressive work, which laid the foundation for the Bruins' Stanley Cup in 2011, took place shortly thereafter. While working as the team's Assistant General Manager, the Bruins chose both Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci in the Entry Draft. He then went on to add the final touches to a contending team during his brief time as the team's General Manager.
In those few months, not only did the Bruins draft Milan Lucic and Phil Kessel, they also moved up in the Draft to select none other than Brad Marchand, an undersized forward from the QMJHL who would go on to frustrate opponents, not just with his antics, but his ability to drive the play better than almost every other winger in the NHL.

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As a final gift to the organization, Gorton pulled off perhaps his greatest coup, trading Andrew Raycroft to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Tuukka Rask.
Gorton had joined the New York Rangers by the time the Bruins toasted with the greatest trophy in sports, but despite not seeing his name engraved on the Cup, it's virtually impossible to ignore the impact Gorton had on that championship run with his steady approach to prospect development and roster construction.
His time with the Rangers was a little different, though, you could easily argue it was yet another successful project.
His lone season as a team scout resulted in the team enjoying their best Draft in the last 15 years. Any Draft that includes several future NHL players should be considered a success. But the Rangers managed to draft several quality players, including Derek Stepan, Dale Weise, and Michael Del Zotto, and they did so without the benefit of having a Top-10 pick.

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Gorton quickly ascended through the ranks, from Director of Player Personnel to Assistant General Manager, and finally, General Manager, where he pulled off some fantastic trades that can only be qualified as complete steals.
"He has a reputation for being a great evaluator of talent as well," said Molson. "I think somebody who lasts all those years as a General Manager must be doing something right."
The first trade of note took place in 2016. It saw the Rangers send centerman Derrick Brassard and a seventh-round pick to the Ottawa Senators for Mika Zibanejad and a second rounder.
Zibanejad has gone on to score over 350 points and counting for the Rangers since the trade, whereas Brassard produced 229 points, only 77 of which occurred during his time with the Senators.
In addition to the fantastic return on investment, Gorton also acquired a second-round pick in the trade. Getting the best player and the best draft pick is a rare feat in the NHL, even more so when there's such a discrepancy in the trade assets, as there was in the Zibanejad deal.
Not to be outdone by his previous deal, Gorton would strike gold once again in 2019, when he traded a pair of draft picks to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for a college defenseman.
That player, Adam Fox, would go on to become one of the youngest Norris Trophy winners in League history, establishing himself as an elite presence on the blue line for the foreseeable future.

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That's not to say everything Gorton touches turns to gold. That's simply an unreasonable expectation in the professional sports landscape.
Mistakes and trades that backfire are inevitable, but going over Gorton's history, those mistakes are few and far between, which is exactly what the Canadiens need at this point in time.
A significant portion of being a hockey executive is mitigating mistakes. Gorton doesn't just have a history of mitigating mistakes and risks, he's shown he has the ability to adapt to various situations that inevitably arise at any time, while also receiving rave reviews from former players and colleagues due to his ability to work within a team.
Whether it's a traditional rebuild or an on-the-fly retool, Gorton has the experience and expertise to serve as the perfect guiding light for a franchise that is seeking a new voice and a fresh start.