Seriously, What Did You Expect?

The entire QMJHL and CHL for that matter knew what was coming, and people are still somehow shocked by the moves/signings some organizations have made.

Taylor MacDougall and the entire Moncton Wildcats braintrust are leading the way on that front, but seriously, what did you expect?

Perhaps the most shocking offseason course of events is that Gardiner MacDougall is still at the helm given all the rumours of a potential jump to the pros.

Taylor MacDougall has fundamentally strengthened their roster into a potential championship juggernaut.

The Wildcats are landing some massive assets based on multiple variables. The coach, the facility and a winning culture. “If you build it, they will come,” is taking on an entirely new meaning with both MacDougall’s at the helm.

Going from a rebuilding team with key assets to the prospect of going back to back with the additions they have made is creating quite the buzz, but it shouldn’t come as a shocking revelation.

What did people expect Taylor and Gardiner MacDougall to understand and just accept the traditional approach a season after hoisting a cup….rebuild, retool and just be somewhat competitive? I think not!

Well before the Wildcats boarded the plane to Rimouski for the Memorial Cup these moves were no doubt being discussed and put into motion.

Clearly there’s really no off-season when you’re a leader of a hockey club, especially one with a championship pedigree.

Let’s get one thing straight, the Moncton Wildcats are doing everything in their power to build another winner.

They haven’t broken the law or broke an unwritten rule, or committed some kind of a new aged “hockey crime” by signing all of these players, they’re trying to assemble a team and a winner.

Seriously, what did you expect? Gardiner MacDougall has made a career of doing that. There’s another perception out there that when MacDougall would go out on scouting expeditions that players would be lined up and waiting to join UNB. He’s a winner, he created a winning program. Obviously, the recruits/players knew that going in and they wanted to be part of that winning culture, but GMac knew then how to build a winner and that’s exactly what they’re building towards here in Moncton.

How are the London Knights perennial favourites or highly competitive year after year?

Well it shouldn’t come as a surprise, they have a great coach, GM, and they have a great culture. That’s how you develop and win at the junior level. Clearly it doesn’t hurt to have arguably the best facility in the CHL and an owner that is passionately driven to win.

Seriously, though what did you expect?

The Moncton Wildcats are going to be very very good and perhaps might very well be a contender for another championship. They will undoubtedly have to make some tough decisions with regards to their overagers which is never easy, but as I wrote before Taylor MacDougall’s best work is still yet to come.