This rebuild will be studied in sports management courses for decades. Someone at the John Molson School of Business has to be working on it already: “Brains and Character: The Montreal Canadiens Rebuild, 2021 to 2025 and Beyond.”

Rebuilds are tough. (Ask the Buffalo Sabres, who’ve been at it since 2011 and have missed the playoffs for a record 14 straight seasons.)

The Canadiens’ rebuild dates from Nov. 28, 2021, the day the club fired Marc Bergevin and hired Jeff Gorton as executive vice-president of hockey operations. Less than four years in, the club staged a thrilling drive to the post-season last spring before running into a playoff wall in the form of the veteran Washington Capitals.

How did they do it? Start with smart players with solid character. No Andrei Kostitsyn, Alex Galc

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