TAMPA – The Tampa Bay Lightning consistently bring the best out of the Montreal Canadiens. It is the sign of a healthy rivalry.



But if Claude Julien’s troops might have been justified, after losing in a shootout Saturday, finding motivation by saying they are not that far off from a Stanley Cup contender, Canadiens management would be best served not allowing itself to be so delusional.



Because the emotion that fuels players must not creep into the decisions made in the front office above them.



How is it that the Canadiens, who swept the Lightning in the first round of the 2014 playoffs, are now light years behind them? How has Steve Yzerman and his front office managed to drop the hammer into fifth gear and leave the Canadiens this far back in their rearview mirror?



First things first, before Yzerman arrived to take over as general manager in 2010, the Lightning used high draft picks to acquire a No. 1 centre (Steven Stamkos, No. 1...