MONTREAL – New England Patriots fan Jeff Gorton is closely following the team’s current renaissance under Mike Vrabel and he can’t help but see similarities with Martin St-Louis.
Of course, Vrabel already had experience as a head coach in the NFL when owner Robert Kraft brought him back to Foxborough where he excelled from 2001 to 2008 at linebacker.
In the case of St-Louis, Gorton and general manager Kent Hughes did not hesitate to entrust him with the reins of the Montreal Canadiens even if his coaching experience was limited to minor hockey.
However, St-Louis was quick to rally its troops thanks to its unifying and inspiring leadership.
By watching St. Louis’ work on a daily basis and observing Vrabel’s as a fan, Gorton noticed similarities in the energy and attitude of the two pilots.
“There are a lot of similarities with Martin. It’s obvious to me that Vrabel is very connected with his players. We see him giving them big hugs after each game. I see it in his speeches too. Martin has this same kind of relationship with his players. We sometimes see him jumping for joy with them. When he talks to the players, you can see how excited they are to listen to him. I recognize several qualities between the two,” described Gorton in an interview with the RDS.ca.
In the Canadiens locker room, defender Jayden Struble is the biggest Patriots supporter even though he lived only 25 minutes from Gillette Stadium.
“Obviously, both are very passionate and the players respond well to that. I’ve seen a lot of positive comments from Patriots players, he’s doing a good job,” Struble noted.
As the manager of a sports team, Gorton had every reason to be intrigued by the Patriots and Tom Brady’s 20-year dynasty.
“We always hear about Patriot Waythey have truly built a winning culture. They also brought back people who had success with the Pats. People who knew and surrounded Brady. They pass on the keys to the success of this dynasty. Additionally, Vrabel was able to build the connection with the new and old generation of gamers. It’s pretty fascinating to see them succeed,” Gorton admitted.
Maye, an impact comparable to Hutson and Demidov?
That said, even the most loyal Patriots fans, including those who cheered for them during the Drew Bledsoe era, no one predicted such a rapid return to the top.
In 2024, during quarterback Drake Maye’s rookie season, the Pats settled for a 4-13 record. It would have taken a bit of madness to bet on the 14-3 record they put together this season.
“The NFL is truly a league built around quarterbacks. If you don’t have this general in command of your team, it’s very difficult to win. In hockey, it’s a little less the case, but we still see certain young people who lead their team to success, so it’s partially similar. It’s fascinating how one player can raise the level of play of a team,” admitted Gorton.
A subject that inevitably brings to mind the impact of Lane Hutson and Ivan Demidov on the Canadian while Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky continue their development.
“The impact of the quarterback is huge, but it takes important pieces to surround him. I find it quite similar to hockey. Here we have Demi (Ivan Demidov) and Lane (Hutson) which helps us enormously. This new wave of players is very useful in every sport,” Struble argued pertinently.
Few CH players can encourage the Patriots
Thanks to this dynasty led by Brady and coach Bill Belichick, as well as the geographic proximity to Quebec, the Patriots have won the hearts of many Quebec fans.
However, their success eventually wore out the patience of fans of other teams.
Then it was the Kansas City Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes who ended up displeasing due to their domination. By missing the playoffs, they pleased many fans.
But, surprise, the Patriots played a trick on them by sneaking into the Super Bowl.
“To be honest, it’s a bit unexpected, but it’s exciting. Growing up, I felt like they won every year. It was a great time and I’m happy to see them come back strong,” said Struble.
In the CH locker room, Struble is rather alone in his camp. He is already often teased for his Patriots allegiances.
“We will be off (with the Olympic break) during the Super Bowl so there is a little flat side, because we will not be together to watch the game. But it’s obvious that things are going to heat up in our messaging group. A few players don’t want the Patriots to win. Obviously it would be nice if they won so I could annoy them,” Struble described.
At 57, Gorton looks at it all with a broader context. He remembers the Patriots’ many years of misery during his childhood. But, as he likes to say, in Boston, you don’t have much choice in supporting the Bruins, the Red Sox, the Celtics and the Patriots.
“When I was young, the Patriots were not good, we had to endure difficult seasons, there was talk of moving (in the early 1990s in particular). While my children have only experienced successes. I have to remind them that they had quite a hill to climb first. So I appreciate the journey they’ve had and their return among the elite,” concluded Gorton with an answer that might bring to mind a certain hockey team.
