No more being the bridesmaid

Forever the bridesmaid, never the bride. Another silver medal. Constantly the appetizer, but never the sizzling steak. I could keep going if you'd like, plenty more where that came from (especially on this chilly, gloomy winter day!).

I'm honestly, not trying to be a Debbie Downer, a Negative Nancy or a mood vacuum. It's been a better-than-expected season for the Habs (after decades of roller coasters, and mostly nauseating drops than thrilling highs).

But when trades started trickling in last week (Rasmus Andersson, Kiefer Sherwood) and hearing numerous insiders whispering that we should not be expecting much from the Canadiens pre trade deadline, it suddenly dawned on me: we never aspire to be the best we can be. And don't give me the excuse of "we're young, it's not our time yet". Last I checked it's San Jose who traded for Sherwood, and we have seen, year after year, young teams acquire veterans or missing pieces ahead of the post season. So why should we be any different?

We know winning organizations like the Lightning and Panthers add key components before the deadline, every, single time. I refuse to settle. We, the fans, deserve better, even more so given the Sahara-like drought we have endured for over 30 years.

The truth is this is a young player's league, and we do have several key players in their mid 20s (Suzuki, Caufield, Dobson, Guehle) and other important players like Matheson in their early 30s. My point is young teams can win. And we have more than enough veterans to surround them.

So why wait? Do we need to have a fully mature team before we can add a key piece? Last I checked there is no guarantee next season the team will have the same sort of momentum that they currently have. Seize the day, Kent!

Kenneth, no one is asking you to sell the farm to acquire an aging geriatric veteran! But this team has glaring issues. Late game heroics are nice and dandy, but this brand of hockey, this free willy, shinny type of play is unlikely to garner any sort of success come playoffs.

We need beef (and it doesn't have to be from Alberta!). Size, grit, pugnacity (Brian Burke loved that word). Not so much an injection of talent. We are not looking for a top-pairing D, or a top C. No grand slam is required. Depth. Secondary scoring, meanness. And that, my friends, shouldn't cost you an arm and a leg (perhaps just a pinkie or the index finger).

We've had it with the waver wire pickups, other teams' leftovers, their sloppy seconds. Tired of being the Salvation Army! Enough of being treated like peasants! Montreal deserves better, we are done with being Peasantville!

But we're there. Even if we are not (yet) a cup contender, did anyone think that slow, old, decimated 2021 Canadiens team would come within 3 games of winning a Cup? Imagine if we had added more than a 100 year old Eric Staal and John fkn' Merrill (exactly, no one remembers him- he's the guy who looked like he should be in That 70's show)? What could have been had we only been more aggressive at that trade deadline...

Look it, we've spent years holding the bouquet, fixing someone else’s veil, and pretending we’re totally fine with catching the garter for the 100th time. Enough is enough. We’re done standing idle, while others bolster their lineups and chase their dreams.

At this point, we’ve earned our own spotlight, our own aisle (and frankly, our own open bar).

So no more “always the bridesmaid." No more politely clapping from the sidelines, like a seal at Seaworld. No more waiting for our name to be called like we’re on some back‑order.

It’s our turn. Our moment. Our time to shine this time. Our walk down the goddam aisle.