The Montreal Canadiens now have a farm team near Montreal. The structure appears much better established since moving to Laval.
The Rocket is currently in a hiring process to fill the sudden departure of Jean-François Houle. Réjean Houle's son recently accepted the head coaching position at Clarkson University.
However, he had just agreed to terms on a contract extension with the organization. Reading between the lines, negotiations between the Houle camp and the Canadiens were evidently challenging.
In an interview on BPM Sports, Jean-François Houle didn't mince words in response to a specific question:
Asked by @anthonymarcotte about whether the Canadiens prioritize development in Laval, J-F Houle admitted he would like the organization to support its farm team more someday 😮 - via @BPMSports
"I hope for Laval fans that when the time is right, the team will bring in veterans to win the Cup." - Jean-François Houle
Thus, it can be concluded that the Canadiens' organization aims to invest in their farm team to develop young players, sometimes at the expense of immediate success.
This isn't necessarily a bad thing. Young prospects need significant playing time to progress before reaching the big league. However, in some cases, could the Canadiens do more to assist the Rocket?
