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We shouldn’t be surprised by the mediocrity of Marc Bergevin’s record as general manager of the Montreal Canadiens. It’s par for the course for a team that has been shoddily managed for almost the entire period since they last won a Stanley Cup in 1993.

I have been in all kinds of skirmishes online and in the real world since the ill-advised P.K. Subban trade and the common refrain of my critics is that I am simply too negative about our beloved Habs. The sub-text is – the haters will hate.

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Well you know what? I love MY Habs but the Habs that I love are a team dedicated to going all the way, to winning, to living up to their motto – No Excuses. What I don’t love is a team dedicated to staying happily in the middle, hopefully making the playoffs, maybe going a round or two if they’re lucky. What I don’t love is a team that isn’t even trying to be an elite National Hockey League team.

My critics usually come back with the same line – ‘Yeah they haven’t won the Cup since ’93 but they’ve done okay. There’s 30 teams in the league, it’s tough to win, blah blah blah.’