We will never know the difference it could have had.
Four years ago, Claude Julien and Gerard Gallant could have changed their respective hires and who knows exactly what it would have meant today.
After Julien was fired in February 2017 by the Boston Bruins, I was told he listened to two teams: Vegas and Montreal.
We know he accepted the Canadiens offer, which was to train the rest of the 2016-17 season for his former Bruins contract that the Habs took on and then sign a five-year, $ 25 million contract with Montreal that s ‘will last until June. 30 of 2022.
It was exciting for Julien to return to Montreal, but he cleverly took advantage of his situation to get a contract. Good for him.
And we know that the Golden Knights ended up hiring Gallant a few months later as head coach.