Without access to alternate universes, it's really hard to know why our prospects are overwhelmingly busts.

I read something a while back (couldn't find it right now) that showed Timmins has an above average track record by certain measures like total games played in the NHL or something like that. But I'm not overly impressed. Outside of that brilliant 2007 draft (perhaps a lucky draft? and also a decade ago already...), and having the guts to draft #27 and #11, there really isn't much to say about the guy as far as I am concerned.

The Habs seem to draft very well when they are in the top 10, and while I totally understand why drafting ~25th is like climbing out of a deep well, I still don't understand why Timmins isn't under the same kind of pressure from the fans as Bergevin, Julien, and the departed Therrien.

The AHL is also a big albatross, no doubt, and has been for far longer than Lefebvre has been on board. We need to remember that Pacioretty was almost ruined in Hamilton too (until Desharnais came along... weird but true.) I wonder what would have happened to Gallagher's career if the lockout lasted the entire season, or if he didn't make the team out of camp. Gallagher didn't look great in Hamilton. It's scary, but the way I look at it the Habs almost let two of its pillars rot in the AHL.

Couple a shaky track record at the draft table with inexplicable coaching in the AHL and what you get is a cupboard full of SPAM (which I enjoy with basmati rice and a fried egg, but not on my 1st line).

And the worst part is that the blame is distributed, so it's harder to fix.