In addition to making excellent trades, the main player once again presented himself to the media with aplomb and confidence. Add to that his transparency and sensitivity to the players, and he managed to seduce many of them and secure them in his role.
Speaking of people who are less concerned, many thought, when Jeff Gorton arrived, that the next GM would be his puppet. Where are those people now? Have they been convinced by Hughes, or are they too angry that they were wrong?
For now, the co-habitation between the VP of Hockey and the GM is working out well. After only a few weeks, with the help of the addition of Martin St-Louis, the atmosphere and mood of both the team and the fans is much better. There are rarely any nights where the negative is the headline in the media, there is always, even in the bad performances, more positive.
Be honest, watching Hughes go, does he really seem to be Jeff Gorton's yes man? Asking him is almost answering the question!